The Greek Myths that Shape the Way We Think


Book Description

A fresh and revealing look at the stories at the heart of Greek mythology, exploring their cultural impact throughout history up to the present day. How do ancient Greek myths find themselves retold and reinterpreted in cultures across the world, several millennia later? In this volume, bestselling author Richard Buxton explores the power that eight iconic Greek myths hold in the modern world. Buxton traces these stories and archetypes from their ancient forms through their transformations over time in literature, art, cinema, psychology, and politics. Over their long lives, Greek myths have expressed a myriad of meanings: from aesthetic refinement to erotic fantasy to political power. Greek myths are an integral part of a broader cultural history, their changes in meaning signifying major shifts in art and society; myths that strike a resonant cultural chord in one period may fall out of fashion the next. This erudite yet accessible exploration examines how the world’s most influential myths have survived to the present, and how they have shaped our ideas on everything from family and society to sexuality and culture. As Buxton explains, each of the eight featured myths is fundamental to the way we think about ourselves and the world. The figure of Prometheus has inspired science fiction icons from Mary Shelley to Ridley Scott. The tragedy of Medea has had a profound impact on theater, feminism, and even criminology. Oedipus’s influence stretches far beyond Freud. The rich visual tradition inspired by Greek myths—from pottery to paintings to popular culture —illustrates this wide-ranging, sometimes surprising study, making this book a beautiful object to own as well as a thought-provoking read.




The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think


Book Description

A fresh and revealing look at the stories at the heart of Celtic mythology, exploring their cultural impact throughout history up to the present day. The Celtic Myths That Shape the Way We Think explores a fascinating question: how do myths that were deeply embedded in the customs and beliefs of their original culture find themselves retold and reinterpreted across the world, centuries or even millennia later? Focusing on the myths that have had the greatest cultural impact, Mark Williams reveals the lasting influence of Celtic mythology, from medieval literature to the modern fantasy genre. An elegantly written retelling, Williams captures the splendor of the original myths while also delving deeper into the history of their meanings, offering readers an intelligent and engaging take on these powerful stories. Beautiful illustrations of the artworks these myths have inspired over the centuries are presented in a color plates section and in black and white within the text. Ten chapters recount the myths and explore the lasting influence of legendary figures, including King Arthur, the Celtic figure who paradoxically became the archetypal English national hero; the Irish and Scottish hero Finn MacCool, who as “Fingal” caught the imagination of Napoleon Bonaparte, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Felix Mendelssohn; and the Welsh mythical figure Blodeuwedd, magically created from flowers of the oak, who inspired W. B. Yeats. Williams’s mythological expertise and captivating writing style make this volume essential reading for anyone seeking a greater appreciation of the myths that have shaped our artistic and literary canons and continue to inspire today.




Understand Greek Mythology


Book Description

Ancient Greek myths shaped and were shaped by one of the most important culture in the history of the world. Even today, stories such as Oedipus, Narcissus, Odysseus and the Golden Fleece reverberate through our popular culture. This is the ideal introduction to Greek myth. The opening chapter is a detailed background to Greek culture and mythology. From then on , the book explores eleven well-known Greek myths, retelling them in modern English, and teasing out their meanings and cultural significance.




The Complete World of Greek Mythology (The Complete Series)


Book Description

A full, authoritative, and wholly engaging account of these endlessly fascinating tales and of the ancient society in which they were created. Greek myths are among the most complex and influential stories ever told. From the first millennium BC until today, the myths have been repeated in an inexhaustible series of variations and reinterpretations. They can be found in the latest movies and television shows and in software for interactive computer games. This book combines a retelling of Greek myths with a comprehensive account of the world in which they developed—their themes, their relevance to Greek religion and society, and their relationship to the landscape. "Contexts, Sources, Meanings" describes the main literary and artistic sources for Greek myths, and their contexts, such as ritual and theater. "Myths of Origin" includes stories about the beginning of the cosmos, the origins of the gods, the first humans, and the founding of communities. "The Olympians: Power, Honor, Sexuality" examines the activities of all the main divinities. "Heroic exploits" concentrates on the adventures of Perseus, Jason, Herakles, and other heroes. "Family sagas" explores the dramas and catastrophes that befall heroes and heroines. "A Landscape of Myths" sets the stories within the context of the mountains, caves, seas, and rivers of Greece, Crete, Troy, and the Underworld. "Greek Myths after the Greeks" describes the rich tradition of retelling, from the Romans, through the Renaissance, to the twenty-first century. Complemented by lavish illustrations, genealogical tables, box features, and specially commissioned drawings, this will be an essential book for anyone interested in these classic tales and in the world of the ancient Greeks.




Greek Mythology


Book Description

Greek myths and legends have inspired men and women around the world for hundreds of years. The stories of Apollo, Perseus, Achilles, and others have sustained the imaginations of old and young alike, even into the present. In fact, characters of Greek myth and legend have found their way into mainstream culture in the form of popular television and film characters. Greek mythology was so influential that even formed the basis of Roman myth. In Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters, you will be exposed to the exciting tales of gods and heroes that formed the canon of the Ancient Greek religion. Greek myth has become a part of us in ways that we do not fully appreciate. In fact, heroes like Achilles, Heracles, and Perseus have helped to form the image that we have today of the hero. The basis for much of the philosophy and dramatic arts that characterize Western society today has its root in Ancient Greek culture, which was closely tied to and spurred on by Greek myth and legend. The Ancient Greeks used the tales of their gods and heroes to help understand their world and their own place in it. In Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters, you will learn about all the gods and heroes by reading the formative myths of the Greeks. Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters explore the Greek gods and the Ancient Greek legends by delving into the tales told by Greek and Roman poets and historians, including Homer. They told tales about the creation of the universe, how the Titans were the first gods before the Olympians, and how the Titans and Olympians went to war with one another. Because the Ancient Greek religion was demonstrated in these tales about their gods and heroes, learning about these figures in the form of stories allows the reader to understand who the Ancient Greeks were and why they were. The world of Ancient Greek legend was very different from our own. The people at the heart of Ancient Greek civilization - living in modern-day Greece, Italy, Turkey, and other places - these people were part of a culture so far removed from the way that we think and perceive today as to be almost unrecognizable to us. Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes and Monsters give you the lens you need to understand, even beginning with a description of the world they lived in and a summary of their history through the major historical periods. In Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters, you will learn everything there is to learn about Greek myth and legend. You will learn about the Titans and Olympians, the monsters, who the major gods and goddesses were, who some of the important heroes were, and how Ancient Greek legend has a legacy that continues among us today. Poets and dramatists like Homer, Hesiod, Euripides, Sophocles, and Aeschylus recorded Greek stories in a form that has allowed them to be read and appreciated today. In Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters, you will learn some of these tales including: Pandora's Box Jason and the Argonauts The Courtship of Leda The Tale of Arachne The Sacrifice of Iphigenia at Aulis Heracles and His Twelve Labors The Judgment of Paris The Trojan War




Greek Mythology


Book Description

The mythology of any people is interesting because it reflects their individual nature and developing life; that of the Greeks is more interesting to us than any other, firstly because it expresses the nature of a people gifted with a peculiarly fine and artistic soul; secondly, because our own thought and art are, in great part, a heritage from the civilization of Greece. Much of this heritage comes to us quite directly from the Greek writers and artists whose works have been preserved. This book is a unique guide into the world of Greek gods and heroes. In a simple yet very interesting way, "Greek and Roman Mythology" brings the fascinating stories of the classical mythology which shaped the thought and artistic expression of the entire Western civilization. Contents: The Gods The World of the Myths The Gods of Olympus: Zeus Hera, Athena, Hephæstus Apollo and Artemis Hermes and Hestia Ares and Aphrodite The Lesser Deities of Olympus The Gods of the Sea The Gods of the Earth The World of the Dead The Heroes Stories of Argos Heracles (Hercules) Stories of Crete, Sparta, Corinth, and Aetolia Stories of Attica Stories of Thebes The Argonautic Expedition The Trojan War The Wanderings of Odysseus The Tragedy of Agamemnon The Legendary Origin of Rome




Greek Mythology


Book Description

Before science, there were myths. Today we see them as fiction, butin the past myths were a way to explain all the natural phenomena that surrounded mankind. Every myth present in the book is supported by additional material regarding ancient Greeks' history and culture to help our readers understand the cultural background of the time. The book alsoincludes a genealogical tree to clarify the relationships between the different characters. "Greek Mythology" is a modern collection of ancient Greek myths gathered by History Academy to let the new generations enjoy these ancient immortal tales.Every myth is full of adventures that will amaze both experienced readers and occasional ones.This book is perfect for anyone who's passionate about mythology and art and wishes to know more about myths like Pandora's box or Prometheus' theft of fire. Greek myth has become a part of us in ways that we do not fully appreciate. In fact, heroes like Achilles, Heracles, and Perseus have helped to form the image that we have today of the hero. The basis for much of the philosophy and dramatic arts that characterize Western society today has its root in Ancient Greek culture, which was closely tied to and spurred on by Greek myth and legend. The Ancient Greeks used the tales of their gods and heroes to help understand their world and their own place in it. In Greek Mythology: "Fascinating Stories and Legends of Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Monster", you will learn about all the gods and heroes by reading the formative myths of the Greeks. "Greek Mythology" explore the Greek gods and the Ancient Greek legends by delving into the tales told by Greek and Roman poets and historians, including Homer. They told tales about the creation of the universe, how the Titans were the first gods before the Olympians, and how the Titans and Olympians went to war with one another. Because the Ancient Greek religion was demonstrated in these tales about their gods and heroes, learning about these figures in the form of stories allows the reader to understand who the Ancient Greeks were and why they were. The world of Ancient Greek legend was very different from our own. The people at the heart of Ancient Greek civilization - living in modern-day Greece, Italy, Turkey, and other places - these people were part of a culture so far removed from the way that we think and perceive today as to be almost unrecognizable to us. Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes and Monsters give you the lens you need to understand, even beginning with a description of the world they lived in and a summary of their history through the major historical periods. In "Greek Mythology" you will learn everything there is to learn about Greek myth and legend. You will learn about the Titans and Olympians, the monsters, who the major gods and goddesses were, who some of the important heroes were, and how Ancient Greek legend has a legacy that continues among us today. Poets and dramatists like Homer, Hesiod, Euripides, Sophocles, and Aeschylus recorded Greek stories in a form that has allowed them to be read and appreciated today.




The Greek Myths


Book Description

Not for over a century, since Smith's Dictionary of Classical Mythology first appeared, has the attempt been made to provide for the English reader a complete "mythology," in the sense of a retelling in modern terms of the Greek tales of gods and heroes. This book by Robert Graves supplies the need: in nearly 200 sections, it cover the Creation myths, the legends of the birth and lives of the great Olympians, the Theseus, Oedipus, and Heracles cycles, the Argonaut voyage, the tale of Troy, and much else. All the scattered elements of each myth have been assembled into a harmonious narrative, which notes also many variants which may help to determine its ritual or historical meaning. Full references to the classical sources, maps and copious indices, make the book as valuable to the scholar as to the general reader; and a full commentary to each myth explains and interprets the classical version in the light of today's archaeological and anthropological knowledge.




Greek Mythology


Book Description

Greek myths and legends have inspired men and women around the world for hundreds of years. The stories of Apollo, Perseus, Achilles, and others have sustained the imaginations of old and young alike, even into the present. In fact, characters of Greek myth and legend have found their way into mainstream culture in the form of popular television and film characters. Greek mythology was so influential that it even formed the basis of Roman myth. Greek myth has become a part of us in ways that we do not fully appreciate. In fact, heroes like Achilles, Heracles, and Perseus have helped to form the image that we have today of the hero. The basis for much of the philosophy and dramatic arts that characterize Western society today has its root in Ancient Greek culture, which was closely tied to and spurred on by Greek myth and legend. The Ancient Greeks used the tales of their gods and heroes to help understand their world and their own place in it. In Greek Mythology Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters, you will learn about all the gods and heroes by reading the formative myths of the Greeks. This book explores the Greek gods and the Ancient Greek legends by delving into the tales told by Greek and Roman poets and historians, including Homer. They told tales about the creation of the universe, how the Titans were the first gods before the Olympians, and how the Titans and Olympians went to war with one another. Because the Ancient Greek religion was demonstrated in these tales about their gods and heroes, learning about these figures in the form of stories allows the reader to understand who the Ancient Greeks were and why they were. The world of Ancient Greek legend was very different from our own. The people at the heart of Ancient Greek civilization - living in modern-day Greece, Italy, Turkey, and other places - these people were part of a culture so far removed from the way that we think and perceive today as to be almost unrecognizable to us. This book gives you the lens you need to understand, even beginning with a description of the world they lived in and a summary of their history through the major historical periods. In this book you will learn everything there is to learn about Greek myth and legend. You will learn about the Titans and Olympians, the monsters, who the major gods and goddesses were, who some of the important heroes were, and how Ancient Greek legend has a legacy that continues among us today. Poets and dramatists like Homer, Hesiod, Euripides, Sophocles, and Aeschylus recorded Greek stories in a form that has allowed them to be read and appreciated today.




Greek Mythology


Book Description

Greek myths and legends have inspired men and women around the world for hundreds of years. The stories of Apollo, Perseus, Achilles, and others have sustained the imaginations of old and young alike, even into the present. In fact, characters of Greek myth and legend have found their way into mainstream culture in the form of popular television and film characters. Greek mythology was so influential that it even formed the basis of Roman myth. In Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters, you will be exposed to the exciting tales of gods and heroes that formed the canon of the Ancient Greek religion. Greek myth has become a part of us in ways that we do not fully appreciate. In fact, heroes like Achilles, Heracles, and Perseus have helped to form the image that we have today of the hero. The basis for much of the philosophy and dramatic arts that characterize Western society today has its root in Ancient Greek culture, which was closely tied to and spurred on by Greek myth and legend. The Ancient Greeks used the tales of their gods and heroes to help understand their world and their own place in it. In Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters, you will learn about all the gods and heroes by reading the formative myths of the Greeks. Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters explore the Greek gods and the Ancient Greek legends by delving into the tales told by Greek and Roman poets and historians, including Homer. They told tales about the creation of the universe, how the Titans were the first gods before the Olympians, and how the Titans and Olympians went to war with one another. Because the Ancient Greek religion was demonstrated in these tales about their gods and heroes, learning about these figures in the form of stories allows the reader to understand who the Ancient Greeks were and why they were. The world of Ancient Greek legend was very different from our own. The people at the heart of Ancient Greek civilization - living in modern-day Greece, Italy, Turkey, and other places - these people were part of a culture so far removed from the way that we think and perceive today as to be almost unrecognizable to us. Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes and Monsters give you the lens you need to understand, even beginning with a description of the world they lived in and a summary of their history through the major historical periods. In Greek Mythology: Fascinating Myths and Legends of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Monsters, you will learn everything there is to learn about Greek myth and legend. You will learn about the Titans and Olympians, the monsters, who the major gods and goddesses were, who some of the important heroes were, and how Ancient Greek legend has a legacy that continues among us today. Poets and dramatists like Homer, Hesiod, Euripides, Sophocles, and Aeschylus recorded Greek stories in a form that has allowed them to be read and appreciated today. Buy now to embark on a fascinating exploration of the world of Greek myth and legend.