Patricia Turner (1) (1940–)

This one is not as extensive as POSSIBLE but it is the most extensive I have found yet for what it is. This book is what it says, a very concise, inclusive dictionary of deities meant for just the occasion of when you are having a drunken arguement with a friend over who the Babylonians turned to en masse when their wheat wasn't doing quite what it should or who the Sumerians blamed when they couldn't find their keys etc. There are a few lesser gods that have been omitted but they're the show more kind you really have to wonder if Crowley hadn't made them up for a laugh anyway. Provides a detailed but relatively brief listing of each deity's cultural connection, purpose, and history (both real and imaginary). show less

If you're interested in ancient religions or the supernatural in general then this book is a rich treasure trove of information. Entries on some entities are relatively brief. But to my unstudied eye the catalog of pantheons and their constituents seems quite thorough in it's inclusion.

- Peter K.