India in Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales: From the Creation of the World to the End of the World

The Indian culture — one of the oldest in the history of humanity. Many of its achievements have had a profound influence on the Western world. For example, the plots of a considerable number of European fairy tales trace back to their Indian originals. At the same time, the image of a distant fairy-tale country has inspired European authors for centuries to create amazing stories, captivating with their unique atmosphere and colorfulness. This edition collects retellings of myths and legends, adaptations of fables and fairy tales, as well as an account of what the ancient Greeks wrote about India. In the pages of this book, the young reader will get acquainted with the diversity of Indian mythology, as well as meet well-known ancient heroes, such as Alexander the Great. The text is accompanied by illustrations featuring ancient sculptures, medieval Indian miniatures, and paintings by artists. All unfamiliar names and terms are explained with comments and footnotes to make the acquaintance with new material easy, engaging, and comfortable.