The Complete World of Greek Mythology

The Complete World of Greek Mythology
by Richard Buxton

The Complete World of Greek Mythology
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Book Summary Information

Author: Richard Buxton
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-06-28
ISBN: 0500251215
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Book Reviews of The Complete World of Greek Mythology

Book Review: Are the gods still with us?
Summary: 5 Stars

Seeing the recent movie "Troy" (twice) sparked my reading Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" (Lombardo's translation). But Homer left gaps, assuming his audience was familiar with the mythology. Buxton's book very nicely, comprehensively and entertainingly fills in those gaps. It's fun to read or just peruse by itself, or as a reference.

Even so I'm struck by the early Greeks' absolute belief in the gods, in the gods' presence, and in their power over men and events. Given those Greeks' knowledge of their world back then, I suppose such beliefs were to be expected. But we've come a long way in the intervening three millennia - still many today profess belief in God, the angels and saints. Based on what's known today about our world, in my book, "Concepts: A ProtoTheist Quest for Science-Minded Skeptics", I propose an alternative to such beliefs.

Summary of The Complete World of Greek Mythology

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.

250 illustrations, 120 in color

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