Greek and Egyptian Mythologies
List Price:
Our Price: $11.73
You Save: $23.27 (66%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.35 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Compiler: Yves BonnefoyTranslator: Wendy Doniger
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1992-11-15
ISBN: 0226064549
Number of pages: 294
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Book Reviews of Greek and Egyptian Mythologies
Book Review: Incredible...insightful...inspiring...
Summary: 5 Stars
I could attempt to write a review of this work, butit is so rich, satisfying, informative, and inspiring
a volume that I would rather quote from the back
cover, which seems to me to sum up the perfections of
this compilation.
"GREEK AND EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGIES features seventy-two
articles, reproduced in full [in English translation]
with illustrations, from the acclaimed two-volume
MYTHOLOGIES. Written by distinguished scholars, the
articles explore a fascinating variety of themes and
topics. The section on Greek myth surveys mythologies
of creation, power, war, death, and sexuality; articles
on gods, goddesses and their cults bring fresh perspectives
to our understanding of religion in Greek societies. The
discussions of myth in Egypt are equally wide ranging --
from cosmology, anthropology, ritual, and religion to the
cults of Isis and the fate of the Egyptian gods from the
Middle Ages to the eighteenth century.
"The articles offer illuminating examples of the working
of myth in cultures past and present -- how we create, use,
and are guided by systems of myth to answer fundamental
questions about ourselves and our world: Where do we come
from? Who are we? How shall we live? What happens when we
die?
"Building on perspectives developed by such scholars as
Claude Levi-Strauss and Georges Dumezil, and drawing on
such diverse sources as the history of religions,
anthropology, archaeology, literature, and linguistics,
the contributors define a new approach to the study of
myth in society. Rather than simply cataloging gods
and symbols, the articles in MYTHOLOGIES explore the
complex working of myth in past societies and in our lives
today."
-- Back Cover.
---------
The "Introduction: The Interpretation of Mythology"
is incredibly rich and informative. It includes the
essays (never dry or dull! -- always extremely interesting
and inspiring) on: Toward a Definition of Myth. The
Interpretation of Mythos: Nineteenth and Twentieth-
Century Theories. Myth and Writing: The Mythographers.
Prehistoric Religion. "Nomadic Thought" and Religious
Action.
The essays in the rich Part 2 section on Greek mythology
contain such topics (which really interested me) as:
Myth in the Greek City: The Athenian Politics of Myth.
Philosophy and Mythology, from Hesiod to Proclus. Plato's
Mythology and Philosophy. The Neoplatonists and Greek
Myths. Greek Cosmogonic Myths. And these are only some
of the many.
The Part 3 section on Egypt contains such topics as:
Egyptian Cosmogony. Egyptian Anthropology. The Divine
and the Gods in Ancient Egypt. Egyptian Rituals. Death
in Egyptian Religion. Meroitic Religion. The Cults of
Isis among the Greeks and in the Roman Empire. Isis
the Magician, in Greek and Coptic Papyruses. The Fate
of the Egyptian Gods from the Middle Ages to the
Eighteenth Century. And that is the full list of
titles in that section.
All in all, this work is even more stimlating and
insightful than Robert Graves, and I would even put
it far ahead of THE LAROUSSE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MYTHOLOGY,
which I also own and use.
Summary of Greek and Egyptian Mythologies
The seventy-two entries in this volume explore, among other topics, the history, geography, and religion of Greece, Plato's mythology and philosophy, the powers of marriage in Greece, heroes and gods of war in the Greek epic, and origins of mankind in Greek myths. Ancient Egyptian cosmology, anthropology, rituals, and religion?closely linked to Greek mythology?are also discussed.
"In a world that remains governed by powerful myths, we must deepen our understanding of ourselves and others by considering more carefully the ways in which the mythological systems to which we cling and social institutions and movements to which we are committed nourish each other. Yves Bonnefoy's Mythologies not only summarizes the progress that has already been made toward this end, but also lays the foundation for the difficult work that lies ahead."?Mark C. Taylor, New York Times Book Review
"The almost 100 contributors combine, with characteristic precision and élan, the arts of science and poetry, of analysis and translation. The result is a treasury of information, brilliant guesswork, witty asides, and revealing digressions. This is a work of genuine and enduring excitement."?Thomas D'Evelyn, Christian cience Monitor
"In a world that remains governed by powerful myths, we must deepen our understanding of ourselves and others by considering more carefully the ways in which the mythological systems to which we cling and social institutions and movements to which we are committed nourish each other. Yves Bonnefoy's Mythologies not only summarizes the progress that has already been made toward this end, but also lays the foundation for the difficult work that lies ahead."?Mark C. Taylor, New York Times Book Review
"The almost 100 contributors combine, with characteristic precision and élan, the arts of science and poetry, of analysis and translation. The result is a treasury of information, brilliant guesswork, witty asides, and revealing digressions. This is a work of genuine and enduring excitement."?Thomas D'Evelyn, Christian cience Monitor
Ancient Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Ancient Books
Caesarby CHRISTIAN MEIER
HARPERCOLLINS; Published: 1995; Hardcover; Book
Sailing from Byzantium: How a Lost Empire Shaped the Worldby Colin Wells
Delacorte Press; Published: 2006-07-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.95
Price in other shops:
Mythologyby Edith Hamilton, Aphrodite Trust, Apollo Trust
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 1942-01-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
Forbidden Knowledge: From Prometheus To Pornographyby Roger Shattuck
St. Martin's Press; Published: 1996-08-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.49
Price in other shops:
The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western Worldby Iain McGilchrist
Yale University Press; Published: 2009-12-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $178.75
The Taming of the Shrew (Oxford World's Classics)by William Shakespeare
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1999-05-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: And a Selection from the Letters of Marcus and Fronto (Oxford World's Classics)by Marcus Aurelius Antonius
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1998-09-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $36.55
Collapseby Jared Diamond
Penguin Audio; Published: 2004-12-29; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $18.71
Price in other shops:
The Annals of Imperial Rome (Penguin Classics)by Tacitus
Penguin Classics; Published: 1956-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.67
Price in other shops:
Romanby Roman Polanski
HarperEntertainment; Published: 2003; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $136.85
Similar Books and other products
American, African, and Old European MythologiesUniversity Of Chicago Press; Published: 1993-05-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.37
Price in other shops:
Greek Religion: Archaic and Classical (Ancient World)by Walter Burkert
Wiley-Blackwell; Published: 1991-01-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.50
Price in other shops:
Asian MythologiesUniversity Of Chicago Press; Published: 1993-05-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.88
Price in other shops:
Roman and European MythologiesUniversity Of Chicago Press; Published: 1992-11-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.00
Price in other shops: