The Penguin Book of Classical MythsWhat were the twelve labours of Herakles? Why did Zeus turn himself into a shower of gold? What was the name of the guard-dog of the Underworld? Which two-faced Roman god gave his name to the month January? What is the answer to the riddle of the Sphinx? The myths of ancient Greece and Rome are the most dramatic and unforgettable tales of love, war, heroism and betrayal ever told. Whether it's Ikaros flying too close to the sun, Prometheus stealing fire from the gods or the tragedy of Oedipus, their characters have inspired art, literature, plays and films, and constellations named after them fill the night sky. But how much do you really know about them? From the clash of the Titans to the fall of Troy, here are the greatest legends of all time, brilliantly retold by classical scholar Jenny March. All the heroes, monsters, villains, gods and goddesses of classical civilization are included; the epic journeys of Odysseus and Aeneas; the founding of Athens and Rome; the quests of Jason seeking the Golden Fleece and Theseus slaying the minotaur. Giving the origins, development and interpretation of each myth, this is the essential guide to the stories that have shaped our world. |
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Achilles Aeneas Agamemnon Aigisthos Ajax ancient Aphrodite Apollo Apollodorus Argonauts Argos Artemis Athene battle beautiful became boar born brother bull carried century BC chariot Crete daughter dead death Demeter Dionysos divine earth Elektra Eteokles Euripides Eurystheus famous fate father fell fight gave girl goddess gods golden Greece Greek grief Hades hands head Hektor Helen Hephaistos Hera Herakles Hermes hero Hesiod Homer honour horses husband Iliad immortal Iolkos island Jason Kadmos killed king Klytaimnestra Kreon land later lived married Medea Menelaos Metamorphoses Minos mortal mother Mount murder Mycenae myths night nymphs Odysseus Oedipus Olympos once oracle Orestes palace Paris Patroklos Peleus Pelias Pelops Perseus play Polyneikes Poseidon Priam revenge river Roman sail says ships sister snake sons spear story Suitors sword tells Thebes Theseus took tragedy tree Trojan Trojan War Troy Underworld wife winds women Zeus Zeus's