With a new foreword by storyteller Fiona Collins, this is a mammoth collection of classic translations and tellings of epic tales from the crucible of civilization, in the pocket between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers where language, astronomy, religion and mythology grew from one of the earliest civilizations known to humankind. Undiscovered until 200 years ago, the myths and stories of Sumer, with King lists earlier than the Ancient Egyptians, reveal a rich culture of city states, each with their own gods, with tales of great floods, mighty gods, the origins of humans and the division between earth, the heavens and the Netherworld.The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.