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.
