The Complete World of Greek Mythology

Description

The most authoritative illustrated guide to the world of Greek mythology From the first millennium BC onwards, Greek myths have been repeated in an inexhaustible series of variations and reinterpretations. Nowadays they can be found in film, television and computer games. This book combines a retelling of Greek myths with a comprehensive account of the world in which they developed. Throughout, the author draws upon the latest research into ancient Greek story-telling, presenting the material in an attractive, accessible and authoritative style. With its lavish illustrations, detailed genealogical tables of gods and heroes, box features and specially commissioned maps, this is the one essential resource on these classic stories that lie at the heart of western civilization. Epigraph Title Page About the author Other titles of interest Contents Introduction: Myths in Context Chronology of Greek Myth-telling I Contexts, Sources, Meanings General Characteristics of Greek Myths Sources of Evidence Contexts for Myth-telling II Myths of Origin Cosmogony Origins of Humanity Local Origins Bringers of Culture Colonies III The Olympians: Power, Honour, Sexuality Powers and Spheres of Influence Honour and Boundaries Divine Sexuality IV Heroic Exploits Perseus Meleager, Atalanta and the Kalydonian Boar Jason, the Argonauts and Medea Herakles Theseus and the Heroic Athenian Past The Trojan War V Family Sagas The House of Pelops Tereus, Prokne and Philomela Antiope and Her Sons Danaos and His Kin Proitos, Stheneboia and Bellerophon The House of Laios Strong Bonds: Love Between Spouses Same-Sex Eroticism VI A Landscape of Myths Mountains Caves Rivers and Springs The Sea Crete Troy The Underworld VII Greek Myths after the Greeks How Rome Re-imagined Greece The Middle Ages From the Renaissance to the 20th Century Present and Future Further Reading Sources of Quotations Illustration Credits Acknowledgments Index Copyright Page