Objet d'etude fascinant mais difficile d'apprehension, le mythe definit les visions du monde et les identites des societes anciennes. Presentant une analyse comparee de nombreux themes mythologiques, comme le dieu de l'orage, le jeune heros, le chaos, le combat contre le monstre, la royaute, le jugement final, l'organisation du cosmos, et la fondation du royaume, cet ouvrage novateur, et d'une vertigineuse erudition, interroge l'existence possible d'une aire culturelle mythologique-" mythopoietique "-indo-mediterraneenne.
Religious and historical myths defined the worldviews and identities of ancient societies and form a fascinating, but difficult, object of study. In presenting a comparative analysis of several interrelated ancient mythical themes, such as the storm god, the young hero, chaos, combat with monsters, kingship, final judgment, organization of the cosmos, and the foundation of kingship, this thorough and groundbreaking study explores the possibility of a mythological-or "mythopoeic"-Indo-Mediterranean cultural space.
