Product 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.

Customer Reviews (17)

Greek Mythology Rules !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I only have the following word for this book "PERFECT".

Sofia :-)

Completely Satisfied!
I recieved my copy of this book today and spent several hours reading and taking in its beautiful pictures. This book is absolutely marvelous!!!Granted it may not be the perfect study text to Greek Mythology but it is very informative and provided me with the history and pictorial information I was looking for. This book has family trees, maps, beautiful artwork, many artifacts and great insight to the Greek mythical world. Some of the chapters I was completely enthral with were myths origin, heroic exploits and family sagas. All in all it is well laid out and very easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

Greek
I am very happy with this book, it has everything in it, there are illustrations, it is -huge- and has amazing information. Very glad I bought it.

exactly what it says it is
Its obviously a book about Greek mythology so nothing to mess up but the book showed up without a scratch on it and it arrived fast

Fascinating
I love to transport myself to another time and place in some other world....ahhh what if all this was true?If it is I would have loved to been a part of it.Everyone interprets life how they see it and in this mythology book we see how others lived and believed.Be it true or fiction it didn't disappoint me. ... Read more

Product Description
Dating back roughly 3,000 years, the gods of the ancient GreeksÂ--and later, of the RomansÂ--have figured prominently in legendry, poetry, drama, and the visual arts. But todayÂ's readers are often confused when they encounter the myriad names of those deities and try to understand their roles in mythology. This entertaining and mind-expanding book charts 100 of the most prominent characters from Greco-Roman mythology, including the primordial deities, the great gods of Olympus, and the shadowy inhabitants of Hades. Addressing universal themes such as love, jealousy, anger, ambition, deceit, and beauty, the stories told here make fascinating reading while they add significance to countless classical references in our civilizationÂ's literature and art. Author Malcolm Day profiles each god with a short, very readable summary of that personageÂ's acts. He sets each deityÂ's storywithin the larger context of a Â"family treeÂ" that encompasses all major gods. Full-color illustrations showing memorable scenes from classical mythology include reproductions from famous paintings and photos of statuary. Separate chapters are devoted to:

Product Description
In this compelling book, Evslin introduces readers to the wondrous and terrifying world of superhuman beings, such as Medusa and the Minotaur, and the glory of gods like Zeus, Athena, and Poseidon--brought magically to life through exciting retellings of great adventurers such as Perseus, Daedalus, Prometheus, and others. **MASS MARKET PAPER** ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

coolmom
Bought this for school my 13 year old son said it was okay...he didnt seem thrilled but might have liked it more if it wasnt assigned.

Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths
Ordered this for my son for school required reading.It promptly came and was in the stated condition.I would recommend this seller and I guess I would recommend the book though I haven't read it.My son likes it - he is 14 and really into Greek Mythology.

Greek Myths Made Easy
This book wasnt what I thought it was going to be because it was a lot smaller than I expected. But when I started reading it I was pleasantly surprised. It made reading about the Greek Myths bearable because they were nice short and to the point stories without a lot of filler. My mind tends to wander when there is too much filler information but this book was perfect! Definitely recommended if you want to learn about Greek Gods and such without being bored to death.

Heroes, Gods, and Monsters review
The book i bought was ok except for the fact that it was missing pages 38-41. I would have liked to have been notified of this fact.

Superb
I have ordered and purchased many mythology books. My 9 year old is interested in mythology and has read numerous books. After purchasing this book, I can say it not only holds adults, but it captures children as well. My 7 year old highly active and bouncing off the walls can't wait till I read him another story from this book. He sits through them all. He longs to hear more. I don't believe the author meant for his book to be read by children, it holds them captive as well. Out of all the books I have on mythology, this is one I recommend. It doesn't becoming boring, there is no skipping through pages, skimming through chapters, etc. It tells the stories well and holds you there. ... Read more

Product Description
The only work of its kind to survive from classical antiquity, the Library of Apollodorus is a unique guide to Greek mythology, from the origins of the universe to the Trojan War.

Apollodorus' Library has been used as a source book by classicists from the time of its compilation in the 1st-2nd century BC to the present, influencing writers from antiquity to Robert Graves. It provides a complete history of Greek myth, telling the story of each of the great families of heroic mythology, and the various adventures associated with the main heroes and heroines, from Jason and Perseus to Heracles and Helen of Troy. As a primary source for Greek myth, as a reference work, and as an indication of how the Greeks themselves viewed their mythical traditions, the Library is indispensable to anyone who has an interest in classical mythology.

Robin Hard's accessible and fluent translation is supplemented by comprehensive notes, a map and full genealogical tables. The introduction gives a detailed account of the Library's sources and situates it within the fascinating narrative traditions of Greek mythology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Classical Study.
The main literary source for students of Greek mythology is the so-called 'Apollodori Bibliotheca' (Library of Apollodorus).
It was compiled in the first century AD and was the first attempt to unify Greek mythology. It's the only work of his kind to survive from classical Antiquity. The Library of Apollodorus is a unique guide to Greek mythology, from the origin of the Universe to the Trojan war.

It's a pity though that a lot of the myths in this work are a summary of the original story. Nonetheless it's the most important source of Greek mythology and the main source of "The Greek Myths" by Robert Graves.

The Library of Greek Mythology (Oxford World's Classics)
Bought the bookto supplement a DVD course from the Teaching Company for my students.
Reviewed book and is thorough in content. Is to be used as recommended by Prof. teaching
Mythology course. Students seem to like it.

Of Use
The Oxford History of the Biblical World

This title required by professor for class; refresher to classical greek mythology. Excellent reference with explanations presented in an orderly manner.

Great insight to Greek Mythology
After Amazon sending me the incorrect book, and responding quite nicely I might say, I finally got my hands on it. It's really insightful, it even has pages with the family tree. But it's quite boring, interesting only to the curious eye.

The Best Compilation of Greek Myths & Legends
Just like the playwrights, Ovid is great in his own sphere (get the Arthur Golding translation--"Shakespeare's Ovid"), but his Metamorphoses are an artistic presentation of a single poet, whereas Apollodorus (though he surely relies on the poets as well) gives the simplest and most demotic/standard versions of the stories. Ovid is Variations on a Theme, while Apollodorus is as close as we get to the theme itself.

Or rather, to the many themes, because his work covers so much more than is in any other work. Some of the more important parts included are: The Theogony (Creation of the Cosmos and Gods), "Rape" (=Abduction) of Persephone, War of Gods and Giants, Prometheus' Fire, the Calydonian Boar, Sisyphus, Jason and the Argonauts, Medea, Bellerophon, Perseus, Hercules (all the great stories) and his children, Europa, Minos, Cadmus, Oedipus and Aftermath, Atlanta and the Apples, Aesculapius and Chiron, Helen's Early Years, the Palladium, Peleus, the Kings of Athens, Theseus, Tantalus, Atreus/Thyestes and all that Mess, Helen and the Trojan War, Achilles and the Iliad, the Odyssey and the other Returns from Troy.

So it's well that this is called The Library, because Apollodorus compresses a huge amount of information into four short books. So rather than being some of the dullest of ancient writing, as one reviewer says, it both treats the greatest stories and does so with economy and swiftness. This is not only a valuable reference book (as is Robert Graves's Greek Myths), but the work I often recommend as the best presentation for anyone who wants a no-nonsense overview of the whole of Greek mythology (and nice because it's one of the ancient Greeks themselves retelling the stories).

Now, if you want a cheap copy, just get the Oxford one. But if you want really excellent notes, get the Loeb edition annotated by Sir James Frazer (author of The Golden Bough), which also has some excellent short essays by him on themes in the stories.

And if you've been studying Greek, get the Loeb one too, which is literal enough to work as a good "pony", though the Greek is quite easy Alexandrian and you won't have any problems with it: My own Greek is not nearly as good as I'd like it to be, but I could read the whole thing in a few days no problem. The only thing I couldn't do is put it down! ... Read more

Product Description
In a work that has become a classic reference book for both the serious scholar and the casual inquirer, Graves retells the adventures of the important gods and heroes worshipped by the ancient Greeks. Each entry provides a full commentary which examines problems of interpretation in both historical and anthropological terms, and in light of contemporary research. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Not quite what i was searching for:
While this book is very informative & covers a great amount of Greek mythology in depth; i was looking for something more concise.
I would however, recommend it if this is what you are searching for.I was looking for a quick reference book covering the subject.

Greek Mythology: Fiction or Fact?
Like no one before him Robert Graves is able to tell the Greek legends about gods and heroes for modern readers. In 'Greek Mythology' he proofs that by his outstanding way of telling stories and by his impressive knowledge of Greek mythology he can capture the imagination of contemporary readers.

Greek myths didn't form a logical and metaphysical unit like the Bible does. Many variants of the same mythological story existed in the Mediterranean world.
The main text constantly refers to an extensive list of notes, comments, and mythology sources after each story. At the same time Robert Graves gives one ore more interpretations - or variants -of the same story. Mostly more than one interpretation of the myth because from one story there were many variants depending the region in Greece where the story was told.

In his introduction he gives a very interesting account about early societies who created the main body of mythological stories. In the beginning those societies were matriarchal (see Demeter and her daughter Persephone). Many myths can only be explained by using elements from those matriarchal - and later on patriarchal, see Zeus and his father Chronos - societies. In a very captivating way Robert Graves explains the change from a matriarchal society into a patriarchal society.
Many myths tell in some kind of a literary code - for instance the birth of Athena (goddess of Wisdom): she rises out of the head of Zeus! - the change from matriarchy into patriarchy.

Robert Graves's main literary source is the so-called 'Apollodori Bibliotheca' (Library of Apollodorus).

could be a lot better
I didn't bother finishing this one.The text is akwardly constructed, as if it has been translated poorly (though it wasn't) and the content comes across as a fairly superficial treatment of the mythology.However it does preserve the violence, sex and such not that would be mostly glossed over in other books with this level of detail.It also has an awful lot of pictures of pertinent Greek art.

So on the whole, it's so-so, but there are a ton of other books on this material and I'd rather read a better one.

Scholarly, but accessible.
I ordered the Graves book "The Greek Myths" because I was looking for book that would explore deeply the various Greek myths without being inaccessible to a newcomer--I've never read anything on the Olympian deities above a third-grade level.On the second count, Robert Graves succeeds perfectly, with an almost overwhelmingly broken down table of contents that lets the reader easily and quickly find the myths he's looking for.The prose is somewhat difficult without being obtuse--younger readers might feel out of place--but I liked the usage.

On the first count, he also seems to have done a wonderful job.The anecdotes are fleshed out without being wordy, and include popular alternative conceptions.They are meticulously documented from their Greek (or Latin) sources, and eminently readable.

In addition to compilation of Greek Mythology, Robert Graves includes his historical and mythological analysis of the myths.On the one hand, it is excellent, and Graves is well able to show off his mastery of mythography by finding in the myths clues for various Hellenic invasions or the deaths of various sacred kings.On the other hand (as other reviews have noted) every third page is a reference to the Moon Goddess in Triad.This in no way detracts from the rest of the work, but it dulls the impact a little of Graves' commentary for casual readers.

In sum, I recommend this book for readers who have some background in the Greek mythology, but would like to learn more.Those interested in Graves' research on the Moon Goddess might prefer his other book, the White Goddess.

Not Free SF Reader
First half of Greek mythology reference and stories.


A swashbuckling adventure story writer Graves most certainly wasn't, but that didn't stop me reading this many times.Of course, in a more reference oriented version as this there are many, many notes etc. to let you delve into this as deeply as you like.


4 out of 5 ... Read more

Product Description
The most complete collection of Greek and Roman myths specially arranged to be read aloud to children aged five to twelve. "Every child deserves this book. Those who do the reading aloud will be enlightened and rewarded, too."--Edwin Newman Line drawings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Excellent read!
Our 8 year old daughter delights in these read aloud tales and I love how each story is structured. Each myth has three parts; 1. "About the story" which gives you a brief summary and then a list of the characters and help for pronouncing names. This part also lets you know how long the story will take to read aloud which is quite helpful when "Oh pleeeese, just one more!" arrives. 2. "The Myth" - these just roll off the tongue and are so enjoyable and easy to read. Having just read Tom Sawyer aloud, this was just a pleasure. 3. "A few more words" At the end of each myth there's a brief section which talks about the history of certain words used in the story and how they have evolved to current usage. We always read this section and either have an "Aha!" moment or marvel at how interesting it is. We are about half way through and are LOVING this book. It's like a warm glass of milk before bed...

Great Gift
I gave this book as a gift to a family that reads books aloud every night. The children are ages 8 and 10. The parents are educators. The family went through the book in 2 weeks and the parents have reported the book is "fantastic" The 8 year old has been retelling the myths to me daily!I highly recommend this book.

A book for grandparents and grandchildren
This is a marvelous book! I wanted my granddaughters to learn Greek and Roman myths since there are so many references to the stories and the characters in day-to-day media. If they knew more about the tales, I thought they could appreciate the references to them.

I first looked at the book to find out if the girls would like it and get anything out of it. As it turned out, I read it from cover to cover, and couldn't put it down. I had never had school or college classes in these subjects and I was mesmerized.

The plots are summarized at the beginning, which makes the stories easier to understand for people who have no knowledge at all of them. Also at the beginning of each myth is the amount of time it will take to read it -- making bedtime story reading more predictable. And, there is also a pronunciation guide for the names and some of the words, with brief explanations or definitions.

The stories themselves are fascinating, easy to read aloud, print on the pages is clear and not too small, and chapters are of reasonable length to tell a tale and maintain interest. After the end of each, there are short descriptions of words we use in modern times which originated from these myths and the language and culture of ancient times. These can be eye-openers, and have given my granddaughters and I opportunities for many discussions!

This was planned as a learning book. And, it's been a great teacher -- for the reader as well as the listeners!

Classics for kids and parents alike
I have a 4 and 7 yr. old.The stories are above the 4 yr. old's head (though he does play mostly quietly and seem to somewhat listen, which can't be bad...I'd probably be surprised at how much he is learning from his seeming inattentiveness), but have been WONDERFUL for reading to my 7 yr. old.We started out with some other Mythology books from the library (including The McElderry Book of Greek Myths, which I highly reccomend for the illustrations), and we had also just been listening on a car trip to "The Story of the World: History For the Classical Child Volume 1" on CD (also highly reccomend...not as boring as it may sound) which on discs 3 & 4 recounted some Greek history and stories, at an age appropriate level.This was a wonderful precurser to our nightly readings from this book.That said, I am homeschooling my son, and all that is not necessary to enjoy this book on its own as simply some great stories to read.The stories are easier to get through than even some illustrated versions, as they are well written and broken into managably short chunks. My son looks forward to the stories, and is always begging me to read one more.At the beginning of each story, context is given, approximate reading times (most about 10 minutes), helpful pronunciation guides (that also remind you who the primary characters in the story are), and then at the end of each story "A few words more" that tells about words and idioms in our language that came from something related to the story (my son loves the connections he discovers...a great way to begin an awareness of roots of words.) Children can understand and relate to the emotion that is portrayed in the stories, while picking up new vocabulary and elegant speech painlessly from the context.This book does an excellent job of presenting the stories in a compelling, easy to understand, but not dumbed-down manner, that maintains the richness of the stories and enhances them with added context.I found the author's ability to illuminate the human emotion in the stories, highlighted when I read his version of Pygmalion and Galatea, which we had read other versions of.In other versions, Pygmalion came across far-fetched in his love for his statue creation, a seemingly silly fable, but in this version you feel the depths of Pygmalion's emotions, and come away feeling that there is much in the common human condition expressed in this story... the themes are brought out and the story becomes more meaningful.
This is a book I plan to purchase, as it is not one we will outgrow and likely return to and enjoy often.We are on our third time checking it out from the library...and I really don't want to give it back.There are many books I love, that I am just fine borrowing from the library, but this one I really feel is worth the investment to have around as a staple in our home.

Wonderful family reading
I purchased this book for our family to read together.The stories are interesting and not too time consuming.The commentary at the end of the stories are informative, along with the definitions in the beginning of the story.I can't say enough positive things about how this book is organized and written.It has gotten by 7 and 9 year old daughters VERY interested in mythology.I also learn something from every story! ... Read more

Product Description

This new edition is a completely rewritten and revised version of Rose's original, seminal, text. Adding a huge amount of new material, Robin Hard incorporates the results of the latest research into his authoritative accounts of all the gods and heroes.

The narrative framework of the book includes helpful signposting so that the book can be used as work of reference, and alongside the narrative chapters, it includes full documentation of the ancient sources, maps, and genealogical tables.

Illustrated throughout with numerous photographs and line drawings, it will remain the definitive account of ancient Greek mythology for generations to come.

Customer Reviews (2)

Great source
This is a very complete account of Greek myth.With close to 800 pages fully indexed it is easy to locate the stories of the individual gods or heroes you might be searching for.The text has some decent quality black & white images, but they are not the reason to buy this book.It's all about the stories.I've been teaching myth on the college level for 10 years now and have not found a nicer or more complete text accounting of Greek myths.This book also includes lots of genealogical charts so that you can trace the family histories of gods and human heroes.

This might not be a text for the casual reader of myth or for the lover of myth for two reasons: first the stories are mostly detailed summaries taken from the various sources.Reading the account of Agamemnon in this text is NOT the same as reading Aeschylus.The fluid and often beautiful words of Aeschylus are NOT here; a high quality summary of the original stories is presented.Secondly, this text includes variant myths.That is to say that often myths come in multiple versions, not all of which agree on the details.In order to place all of the mainstream myths and all of the variants into a single text the editors have chosen to place the variants into a smaller typeface, which is fine with me.This method immediately alerts the reader that he/she is getting into the side channels of mythic developments and one might want to skip over such materials because this is a very large text.

Overall, this a very good collection of Greek myths.I don't know of any other resource of equal breadth in a single volume.

Good book. Needs to be indexed.
Overall good book with lots of information but it has more potential for kindle users if it was indexed so we could search it. ... Read more

Product Description
What would Apollo's online profile look like? What would Aphrodite say if she had her own blog? Greek mythology hall of famers meet the modern age in a new series that brings the superstars of Greek myth to life with stories that put them in the pantheon! Complete withprofiles, headshots, family trees, fascinating sidebars and irreverent surprises, Mythlopedia is for readers who love action, romance, power struggles and more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Funny and Educational
My daughter learned a lot from this entire series. We both love to sit down and read all of the Mytholopedia books together. The books aren't very big but they are packed with info and entertainment. There are a lot of fun illustrations and the writing is clever and current. These books are a great way to get kids interested in Mythology.

OMG! It's Great!
After reading the first of the Percy Jackson books, and being a lover of the Hercules and Xena television series from years back (am I old???), I realized that I could use a little supplemental knowledge regarding Greek mythology. But, I wasn't prepared to read The Odyssey!
This little book is a great way to begin to introduce Greek folklore to both young and old alike. It's presented in a light but logical fashion with lots of pictures and fun details. Don't pass it up...!!!

Great for Percy Jackson fans
I bought this book and What A Beast! for my son as he read the first Percy Jackson book.He had many questions about the origin of the characters and their stories.No doubt Rick Riordan opened up a new world of mythology for many children.There are background stories that are alluded to in the series that interested my son.This book engages the children with fun short descriptions of each of the Gods.Everytime a new God was introduced in the series, my son turned back to this book for more info.It was very helpful to him and he has spent hours reading it so far.Not an indepth view of Greek Mythology if that is what you are looking for here.

Great intro to mythology
Finally a fun new introduction to Greek mythology for the new millenium kids! Oh My Gods! goes a long way to capture the excitement and the fascination of those incredibly dynamic Mt. Olympus beings. I've loved Greek mythology since 1958, when my grandmother dusted off D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths for me.D'Aulaire is still on my library's shelf -- and it's still just as dusty!Oh My Gods!, with its great graphics and photos, pop-up factoids, and crammed texts, will be greatly appreciated by kids raised on Dorling Kindersley layouts.This is a great addition to any mythology section, and it's the first book I'll give my grandchildren on the subject.Although not the last.As an introduction and a companion guide, Oh My Gods! is a lot of fun, but it just begins to scratch the depths of this fascinating subject.

Fun look up book
I bought this book for my son (age 9) after reading the first Percy Jackson book.My son wanted to learn more about the Olympians and the Greek Gods.I gave him the book after school and he immediatly started to look through it.He spent the next half hour reading (choosing the book over his video games).He really enjoys the book and the colorful cartoons are fun and entertaining (at least for my son) As a quick look up reference guide, it's a fun book to have. ... Read more

Product Description
Vivid, classic retellings of the myths of Greece and Rome, along with stories of the Norse gods and heroes. Zeus and Hera, Apollo, Jason and the golden fleece, the wanderings of Ulysses and Aeneas, thedeeds of Thor, many more seminal stories underlying Western culture.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great for my son
My 10 year old son loved reading this.
It helped with everything that he's studying in school.

Making Myths Tedious
I bought this book based on the other reviews and its low price tag, but was very disappointed. Unless you are very into poetry, I do not believe you will enjoy this book. Somehow, it manages to make exciting myths boring. I would go with Hamilton's mythology book.

Greek & Roman Mythology
While I have not finished reading this book yet, I am throughly enjoying it.I have wanted to read this book since before I could read (my mother had a copy with an interesting looking cover).Then when I learned to read it was too complicated.Now that I am grown (not according to my wife) it is nice to read and understand the book!

bulfinch mythology
Long time favorite; good place to start for novice interested in mythology; always good for a reference book to refresh your memory.

Great Seller, OK book
It is to no offense to the seller- the book arrived on time and in great, promised condition (thanks!) but the book itself is a little confusing. I was shopping for a mythology book that was simple and really easy to read. This does the job, but still probably better from someone with a pre-understanding of mythology and a serious interest in learning more. ... Read more

Product Description
Presented in simple, yet flowing prose, Richard P. Martin delivers an accessible interpretation of the Greek myths for today's readers. Relive the triumphs and tragedies of Herakles, Perseus, Prometheus, Hermes, Zeus, and many more mortals and gods in this must-have volume.

Includes two easy-to-read maps of Ancient Greece, and eighteen original illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

mythology
This book was a great review on greek mythology.I've always been in love with all types of mythology and this book was a great reeducation on what I remembered from my childhood along with a lot of new learning.If you like mythology this book is wonderful~

Superior Myth Collection
When purchasing this book I read a lot of reviews to see whether I should buy it or not.I read some reviews that were disappointed with the book but said it was relatively good. I bought it and read it. Superbly explained in the introduction as to what this book is trying to accomplish should alleviate any doubt to the superior job done on this piece of work.

Greek myths were not handed down to us as lets say a Harry Potter book will be handed down to later generations.Hundreds of Greek communities had developed stories in ancient Greece with the Greek characters we know as the Zeus, Hades, Poseidon and the rest. But in the oral community, before the writing was conceived in Greece, each community had different stories of all these characters.There would have been similarities in all communities but each would have had a different take on the stories, myths.When the state of Greece became more organized and defined, these myths would have come together in a collective consciousness.But no single book or series of books would have collected all these stories.Instead, a multitude of fragments is left to the modern world and these fragments need to be put together in a unified story, or more accurately, stories.

Dr. Martin has responsibly compiled the fragments and retold the myths for us to enjoy. Because of the lack of cultural knowledge for us modern readers, he has to from time to time add comments that inform what would have been readily known to the ancient Greeks. The Greek myths we think we know can be reexamined with a high degree of confidence of knowing we have a reliable accounting of said stories.

This book is highly recommended.Please read the introduction before preceding to the rest.It will help you understand the work and its full intent.

Clear, Exciting Survey of Greek Myth
Richard Martin has created a valuable contribution to myth studies with this clearly written, all embracing survey of Greek Mythology. His writing style is engaging and exciting--you can imagine that Professor Martin is a wonderful teacher. He clarifies all the different versions of the myths and really makes the stories and characters come to life. Highly recommended, especially for students of myth.

ring
ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring. i bet your jealous of me because i can skip well. listen to me ring. ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring bye. love ben

"Just Okay"
Richard P. Martin is a professor at Leland Stanfurd Junior University-and from a former Cal Bear, it showed in "Myths of the Ancient Greeks."His recollection, understanding, and explanation of the myths was certainly satisfactory, but his layout was questionable, at best, and I found my incredible memory-gasp-failing me at times when I needed to recollect stories that had been brought in previous chapters.

This book is more suited for young children than it is for college students or adults.It has hand-drawn pictures (drawn in modernity) lining some pages.Its tone is awfully condescending.It ignores one of the fundamental principles of sound writing, which is to act as though your reader has at least some information and understanding regarding your topic.Yet, I still can't argue with it, because it straightened out the most crooked of all lines, that much-too-long-and-diverse set of Greek narratives that may be considered religious, social, psychological, historical, or even agricultural in nature.Or, at least what I can remember of the book did that for me.

I didn't find this book great and didn't find it horrible, but it leans toward the bad more than the good.I strongly believe that it is in every man's power to just go get an Aeschylus, a Homer, or a Herodotus, and then if he has any questions to ask someone who will know.Nevertheless, for the less hard-working among us, it seems to be a fine alternative. ... Read more

Product Description
Ancient Greek literature has been the inspiration for generations of writers, artists and architects, but much of it is hidden away in obscure, or archaic, translations. This book presents a selection of stories from Ancient Greece retold in modern English. Relive the wonders of Mount Olympus, home to the gods and wreathed in cloud, or explore the halls of Hades, master of the underworld! This book brings to life the woods, rivers and hills of ancient Greece through the stories which their inhabitants have handed down to us through thousands of years. ... Read more

Product Description
The Greek myths are a fascinating part of our cultural heritage, and young children will find these stories of gods, mortals and monsters irresistible. This collection of the best-known stories are retold in a magical and sensitive way.' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

a regrettable choice for young children
I've had this book for many years - bought it to read to my then 3 yr old daughter. After the first read I realized it is HIGHLY inappropriate for younger children due to the very violent and graphic nature of the stories. I am really disturbed that other parents find this suitable to read to their children. Be prepared to be woken up at night when your child has nightmares. I actually took the liberty to rephrase and omit large chunks of the stories before I made the book "scarce." These stories should have really been toned down for this age group or come with a large red sticker emblazened on the cover that says "NOT for young children." This book should be marketed to a much older reader, if that. We have not enjoyed this book and it has collected dust on the book shelf since then. There are so many better options out there. It will go into the donation box next week.

GREAT FOR KIDS
I bought this for my nephew who has taken a huge interest in Greek Gods since Clash of the Titans. This book is wonderfully illustrated, and the lettering an appropriate size for the stipulated age group (5-8)
It will keep his attention and encourage reading.

Wonderful bedtime reader
My four year old son knows the story of Ulysses and the Cyclops almost by heart and does Ulysses' lines. My three year old girl loves Pandora's Box and Bellerophon and Pegasus. If I could ask for any improvement, I would suggest more illustrations. My kids too often ask to see a picture of this or that and, of the pictures in the book, the monsters could be a bit more monstrous.

Excellent Greek myths 'starter' book for young readers
I've been searching for a book on Greek myths that would be simple enough for my 5-year-old, and "Greek Myths for Young Children (Stories for Young Children) fits the bill perfectly. Bound in sturdy hardcover, the book is well-written and ably adapted by author Heather Amery. There is a brief introduction about Greek myths and there are about 16 myths in all:

The Gift of Fire
Pandora's Box
Persephone and the Seasons
The Story of Arachne
The Many Tasks of Heracles
Echo and Narcissus
Daedalus and Icarus
Bellerophon and the Flying Horse
Jason and the Golden Fleece
King Midas
The Adventures of Perseus
The Chariot of the Sun
The Adventures of Odysseus
Theseus and the Minotaur
Pygmalion and his Wife
Eros and Psyche

I liked that there is a guide to pronouncing the Greek names (as found in the book)at the end. The stories are adapted with a younger target audience in mind so details found in the actual full-length myths, such as the minotaur's origins are not explored here (which is a relief!). The reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is because I felt the book lacked sufficient illustrations. The illustrations are quite simple, not exquisitely detailed as found in some other books on myths, but they are colorful and beautiful. I just felt that there should have been more of them given that this is targeted towards children. Suitable for Grades K-5.

The perfect first Greek myth book for young readers
If you have a young child who is interested in Greek myths, but don't like the violent and gruesome illustrations in so many of the other editions, this is the book for you. The colorful pages, with lovely borders, keep your child's attention during the longer stories, and the playful illustrations have lots of color and detail without being too scary or gory.The stories themselves, too, have mediated the violence and do not include lengthy graphic descriptions of fight scenes or death. When Theseus kills the minotaur, for example, we read, "Dodging its massive horns, Theseus struck the Minotaur again and again with his sword. The monster bellowed again, almost deafening Theseus, but he fought on until, at last, the Minotaur sank to the ground and lay still. It was dead." If you compare this with the bloody throat-slitting scene found in most other versions, this is very tame, which I appreciate since my son is only 5. Stories are simply retold, but with lots of detail and attention to the flow of the narrative, and make good bedtime reading.Contains most of the classics, but also some lesser-told tales in the young children's books, like the stories of Arachne and Pygmalion. I previewed all the major anthologies of Greek myths at the library before deciding which one to buy for my son, and this is by far my favorite. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Presents the gods, goddesses, heroes, places, and other aspects of Greek and Roman mythology in alphabetically arranged entries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great book for quick reference on any god
This is a great book if you just need to look up some quick information on a Greek or Roman god.It does go into detail on some of the more important characters like Hercules, but most just have a few paragraphs.My main complaint is that even though it says "Greek AND ROMAN Mythology" about 75% of the characters covered are Greek in origin.It is nice that each character is labeled as either Greek or Roman though.This made writing my Roman Mythology paper much easier.A good book for anyone interested in Mythology :)

what does your heart tell you--KG YO
The book Greek and Roman Mythoglogy A-Z by Kathleen N. Daly is an excellent account of Greek and Roman culture. It is updated to recent facts and contains perpetuate amounts of self-reference to its own chapters. Its easy to find information is key to any myhtology lover or student looking for reference. This books good aspects outshine its bad.

This book is an extraodinary supporter in preparing a reprt for ancient Hellenistic cultures. It not only contains the names of hundreds of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, it has accounts of the societies peoples and writings of eternal scholars and authors and their lifetimes. Also the Geographic features of both civilizations. Even more, it is not just one bias view of a story, but also refers to other's perspectives of the fables.

Despite all of the positive distinctiveness of the book, there are negative traits. The book's photographic support is not very detailed. Also, the book is intended for ages 9-12 but there is a strong presence of nudity. ... Read more

Product Description
A stunning, fully illustrated and comprehensively annotated genealogical map of the universe of Greek myth, presented in a unique, easy-to-use format.

From the television hit Xena, to the Oscar-winning box-office smash Gladiator and to Broadway's Medea, the sagas of antiquity continue to attract avid audiences. Now the lore and legend of Ancient Greece have been distilled into one spectacularly illustrated resource. The Genealogy of Greek Mythology brings to life the complete cast of characters, mortal and mythic alike.

Accompanied by more than 125 captivating full-color photographs of art and artifacts, the narratives and bloodlines mapped out in The Genealogy of Greek Mythology are wonderfully user friendly. Beginning with Chaos-the period before the Earth was born-Vanessa James traces the succession of gods and titans through to the first generations of historically verifiable people of the ancient Aegean. Packed with over 3,000 entries, this incredibly detailed resource also features a star chart, regional map, and who's who guide to the Olympian gods. Each side of the book's unique accordion-paged design can be perused section-by-section or fanned out to reveal the entire genealogy in more than seventeen elegant feet.

Published just in time for the holidays, The Genealogy of Greek Mythology will be a necessity for all students and fans of the culture and literature of Ancient Greece, and a delight for anyone who enjoys an adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Genealogy of Greek Mythology
We really enjoyed the layout of the genealogy and also the details added to explain the various characters and their backgrounds.

I was in awe from my first look at this incredible book
The author spent 18 years researching her subject, consulting with many other experts on mythology, compiling and laying out this book, and creating what the cover accurately calls "The Ultimate Resource for Greek Mythology." It's a gorgeous tome, a scroll as much as a book. My oldest son has spent many fascinating hours poring over it, examining its myriad illustrations, and gaining an understanding of the depth and complexity of classical civilization that could not be acquired in any other way. A bargain at this price and a must for every home library.

Fine book, great resource
I second the five-star review by Katherine Krassan.

This is beautiful book.I taught Greek mythology for years and read extensively on subject and on the pre-Classical civilizations--Crete and Mycenea--that gave birth to the stories.Would that I had had this book.

"Mistakes" perceived by what I take to be a very young reviewer come from not reading author Vanessa James' Introduction--excerpted below:

"Ancient Greek and Latin authors often disagree about the ancestral histories of mythological characters.I have given preference to the Greek authors, except in cases were no Greek account exists or where common usage supports a Latin or Byzantine source.In some cases, where multiple genealogies exist for one person, my choices about their inclusion and placement in the chart could reasonably be debated...."

Beautifully written, well researched book.
The "mistakes" referred to in the first review reveal the limited knowledge of the reviewer.Greek Mythology is ripe with contradictions and variations on popularly accepted myths depending on the source text utilized by the researcher.This author identifies her sources in this meticulously researched book and is clearly recognized as a specialist in this field.When a reader determines to delve into the specifics of this topic it is important to be prepared to recognize that many of the popular conceptions may be exposed in terms of "their" inaccuracy.I highly recommend this unique and beautifully presented book on Greek genealogy - it is a marvelous work on its own and an outstanding reference tool when reading (or re-reading) Homer, The Illiad,The Odyssey and other classics.

Not my idea of a good book
As imprecise and different as many versions of Greek Mythology are, I would not recommend this book. When I bought it, eager to read and trace back the mythological families, I was rather disappointed. Of course, there are many different versions of each stories, but some of these "differences" are rather inaccurate. (ex: Here is a quote from the book "Hippolytus was appalled by her passion, he preffered to hunt at night with the virgin goddess Artemis) Now, I know the myths have many versions, but Hippolytus was a priest, according to Euripides, play, Hippolytus. Besides, Artemis' hunting companions were mainly nymphs, anyway. There were many "differences" such as this in the book. I would not recommend it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great book!
I was spring cleaning and found this little book that I enjoyed when I was in middle school.Now my daughter is really into mythology, what with Percy Jackson and all, but I am sad that Amazon does not sell this book because it is out of print.I guess we will just use the one I have, which is really yellow around the edges, but the contents are still enjoyable.

Excellent reference tool
This is by far the best Greek Mythology reference book I've ever used. It is in encyclopedia form, making information easy to access and decipher. Bernard Evslin has included all relevant information on each topic and goes even further by providing rare factoids in various entries. Although this book is very hard to find, it is well worth the price (I think I paid $3.00). Easy layout and complete information make this this book a treasure among a sea of look-a-likes.

A shame it's out of print
This is an excellent reference of almost any Greek myth of importance, including the illiad and the odyssey. If you want an excellent reference, with better than dictionary definitions, each citation comes with a brief but detailed account of each "character's" significance, than this is the one for you.

Stunning!
Of all the mythology books I've read (which is quite an extensive list), this is by far the best of them.Bernard Evslin's book is extremely detailed and contains only known and proven facts and no minor littlethings that have no use to further a story.Now this is not a book withplot, so don't purchase it mistaking it for one with a story line.What itdoes do, though, is give you a list of Greek mythological characters andtell you about them, much in the form of an encyclopedia.Many lists ofclassical mythology characters include only major people and gods.Notthis book.It contains so many more than just major ones.It has gods andmortals that I have not been able to find information about in any otherway.It also includes many stories of Greek mythology.Besidesmythological charcters, it alsoincludes major objects or events like thephoenix, Pandora's box, or the Trojan War.ALso, also, almost everymythology story is in here, from the birth of Zeus to the capture ofPersephone.By far superb to all others.A great buy for a cheap price. Recommended for people who already know quite a bit about mythology,figuring it doesn't make things easy to understand for beginners. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the stuff legends are made of in 25 of the most beloved tales from Greek mythology, complemented with gorgeous illustrations by artist Tinou Le Joly Senoville. These classic, timeless stories have been crafted into a concise, intriguing, and very readable romp through the human condition. Arranged by emotional theme—cunning, vanity, vengeance, heroism—each exciting tale hones in on the frailties and strengths, desires and jealousies of gods who attempt to act like mortals and mortals who dare to be gods. Originally conceived to help early civilizations comprehend the emotions and culture of an ancient world, these myths remain as compelling today as they were thousands of years ago. From the miraculous birth of Athena in the heavens to Odysseus and his skillful slaying of the Cyclops on Earth to Persephone's abduction into the underworld, Greek Myths is a glorious introduction to the world of mythology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not for kids
This is not a book for children. It is a great book but I don't know why it shows up when you search for Greek Myths for kids. It was sent to my 9 year old as a gift because of his interest after reading the Percy Jackson series. This book is true to the real Greek myths and so mentions the gods/ heroes having sex, prostitutes etc and is not worded for children. Thankfully I had a chance to browse it before he started reading it and returned it.

Good summaries of world-famous myths
A very solid introduction for youngsters into the weird and wonderful world of ancient mythologies. Unlike some, I do not personally believe that the ancient mysteries were superior in any way to the love of Christ.I do enjoy the stories and morals of the stories though.Brett Pedersen

Engaging read - great classic stories
This is a great book.
The myths contained reminded me of those learned at school - they are timeless stories and were engaging to read again.
Some of them especially have a darker side to them, which adds to the intrigue.
The 'exploring further' section gives further information on classical texts and information sources, which seemed helpful, and gave some indication of the thorough nature of the telling of the stories.
There's also a great map, which helps you find your way around the ancient world.
It's a quick read, in a light style; highly recommended.

The Small Book of Greek Myths
Shoshanna Kirk has put together 25 Greek myths and organized them by 12 themes, from "Cunning" and "Desire" to "Heroism".For instance, she puts the story of Narcissus and Echo in the "Vanity" theme which ends hauntingly with "Let us join, let us join, let us join ... Narcissus, captivated by his own gaze, died, diving into himself."

This is a small book in many ways, it is short, and written in a small font.The introductory material is in such tiny print as to be barely readable.

Tinou Le Joly Senoville provides fitting illustrations for each story and by themselves provide reason for looking at this book.It also has a useful, short, glossary, and a succinct essay on delving further into Greek mythology.
... Read more

Product Description
Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Athena -- do the gods and goddesses of Greece have anything to say to us that we haven't already heard? In this book, based on a series of his lectures, the eminent Jungian analyst and writer Edward F. Edinger revisits all the major figures, myths, oracles, and legends of the ancient Greek religion to discover what they can still reveal -- representing, as they do, one of the religious and mythic foundations of Western culture. Building on C. G. Jung's assertion that mythology is an expression of the deepest layers of mind and soul, Dr. Edinger follows the mythic images into their persistent manifestations in literature and on into our modern lives. He finds that the gods indeed continue to speak as we grow in our capacity to listen and that the myths express the inner energies within all of us as much as ever. Heracles is eternally performing his labors, Perseus is still confronting the Medusa, Theseus is forever stalking the Minotaur, and Persephone is still being carried off to life in a new realm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Temenos
This book is an excellent overview of the "inner meaning," thus the psychological value of the unconscious images that are represented in Greek Mythology.If the reader is not interested in that, I would not buy it.The material here is for learning more about the language of the psyche.The book covers all of the major figures of Greek Mythology that are most relevant to understanding the inner meaning of various symbolic forms as they might appear in dreams or other spontaneuous productions from the unconscious.Other reviews of mythology such as Bulfinch's or Edith Hamilton cover the basic "facts" or objective features of mythology, while this book again is focused on relating the figures of Greek Mythology as part of the living heritage of the psyche, the collective unconscious.In this respect, the book is most valuable.

The Psychology of Ancient Greece
In addition to the Greek myths and heroes, the author analyzes the Trojan War, Greek drama (Oedipus), oracles, Dionysus, Orphism, and the Eleusinian Mysteries. Unfortunately, he does not always establish the psychological truth of his interpretations which therefore lack authority. Jungian psychology claims that our dreams are a form of personal mythology in which our private concerns are made into myth. I find this a credible arguement because my dreams frequently contain mythological content, usually a monster that I slay. ... Read more

Product Description
Some of the oldest and most famous stories in the world—the adventures of Perseus, the labors of Heracles, the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts—are vividly retold in this single, connected narrative of the Heroic Age, from the coming of the Immortals to the first fall of Troy. With fresh dialogue and a brisk pace, the myths of this version are enthrallingly vivid. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Not what i was expecting but still nice
I was expecting more of the greek myths like story form but this is still a very helpful guide to brush up on.

Can't get enough of the Greeks
My 10 year old boy can't get enough of Greek mythology.He's read all the Percy Jackson books and has organized a Greek God game at recess.This is just up his alley!He read it over a weekend (when he's not even required to read for school).Loved it!Now the 8 year old is reading it too.

Love It...GET IT!
This books is amusing and well done! I have recommended it to many of my friends and a few family remembers who love Greek stories. This would make a great gift for anyone who loves good stories or someone who loves Greek heroes!

My son loves the book!
My son absolutely loves the book!Received in excellent condition and delivered timely!Many thanks!

An interesting weave of danger, suspense and excitement.
Roger Lancelyn Green, has been able to paint a beautiful anthology of the Greek heros in almost perfect chronological order. The stories are lucid,and Green's enthusiasm gives the book a clear sense of direction up toThe Tale of Troy Divine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Greek Mythology
If you like greek mythology this is a basic book with the tales in order. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ian Myles Slater on: Excellent, But Not to Start With
"Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual" is part of a surprisingly long list of books by Walter Burkert, now Professor Emeritus at the University of Zurich, which have appeared in English translation, beginning with "Lore and Science in Ancient Pythagoreanism" in 1972. This is unusual in an age of supposedly declining interest in Greek and Latin, particularly since his books, while generally packed with information, also address theoretical issues, and are not always easy to understand. A number of them have been controversial, either for his own ideas, or for his challenges to the accepted wisdom. However, they are usually very interesting. The present book, one of his shorter works, is no exception. And it, too, makes demands on the reader.

"Structure and History" forms Volume Forty-seven of the Sather Classical Lectures, an invitational series delivered by Visiting Professors at the University of California at Berkeley since early in the twentieth century, and shows every sign of being aimed at professional scholars. Like many of the other contributions to the lecture series (a surprisingly large number of which have found their way into paperback editions over the years), it keeps the really difficult material tucked away in notes, and the primary argument doesn't need technical knowledge to follow. (Evaluating it is another matter.)

"Structure and History" picks up issues raised in Burkert's earlier, much longer, "Greek Religion" (in Britain, "Greek Religion: Archaic and Classical"), originally published in 1977, and translated in 1985. That is an engaging book which I found quite convincing, at least while reading it, as was the case with his shorter "Ancient Mystery Cults" (1987, originally the Carl Newell Jackson Lectures for 1982), with which it also has some overlaps.

My reaction to Burkert's book on killing as a ritual act, "Homo Necans: The Anthropology of Ancient Greek Sacrificial Ritual and Myth" (1972, translated 1983), was that Burkert got off on the wrong track on several matters. As Ian Morris put it about one of them in "Death-Ritual and Social Structure in Classical Antiquity" (1992), "Burkert's derivation of funerary rituals from hunting and sacrifice ... is ... unnecessarily limiting." But some of the ideas in "Homo Necans" appear in "Structure and History," in what I found a more modest and acceptable form.

In fact, except for "Lore and Science," most of his books can be read as parts of a single investigation of ancient Greek religion in its various manifestations. And even "Lore and Science" deals with the Pythagoreans as a religious movement.

"Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual" appears to be a short survey, but it is NOT for beginners. If you aren't familiar with at least a couple of roughly college-level surveys, you may find yourself lost. I've been reading the sources (Greek, Latin, and others) in translation) as well as studies, for several decades, and from time to time I found myself reaching for Tripp's "Handbook of Classical Mythology" or Feder's "Handbook of Classical Literature," just to be sure I was following the argument correctly. Usually I was. Burkert isn't all *that* desperately obscure (at least not in the old, oracular, German manner), but sometimes I needed to have some lesser-known variants or obscure sources identified. Those even more amateur than myself will do well to bear this in mind before trying the book. And it is worth trying.

It could be used, I would think, as a mythological companion to Burkert's "Greek Religion," which deals mainly with sacred places, rituals, and other material and literary evidence, but only incidentally with mythological narratives. But it is rather heavily committed to basic issues of interpretive method, and is not aimed at fulfilling that function.

The title hearkens back to watchwords of the previous hundred years, including the old Myth-and-Ritual School, following Frazer, and the Structuralists of the middle and late twentieth century, but Burkert has new information -- mostly concrete data from the Ancient Near East -- with which to address the same problems. In place of speculation and anthropology, he has datable texts, presenting myths, and describing or prescribing rituals. He assumes that the reader is already quite familiar with the Greek material, and goes directly to important themes, and the methodological issues they present.

Burkert has covered some of the same material, with much else, in several different contexts: "The Orientalizing Revolution: Near Eastern Influence on Greek Culture in the Early Archaic Age" (1992) and, most recently, in "Babylon, Memphis, Persepolis: Eastern Contexts of Greek Culture" (2004). These return to the problems posed by evidence of older and contemporary civilizations, and their relationship to developments in Greece.

The adventurous may also wish to try Burkert's "Creation of the Sacred: Tracks of Biology in Early Religions" (1996), where again I find his work seeming to become too speculative. But it is interesting, quite enough to be worth the effort; and he may be right. He has treated some of the same problems in "Savage Energies: Lessons of Myth and Ritual in Ancient Greece" (1990, translated 2001). ... Read more