The World of Classical Myth: Gods and Goddesses, Heroines and HeroesThe in-depth and well researched material in The World of Classical Myth is presented against a background of history, archaeology, social custom, religion, topography, and monuments. Part One, "Orientation," defines mythology and portrays it as an evolving pattern, constantly undergoing revision to keep pace with the evolution of the culture. Hence, mythology offers an archaeology of a people's changing sense of identity. Part Two, "Transmutations," portrays symbolic forms as eternal and archetypal, never annihilated but merely changing appearance to meet the demands of changing times. Hence, the analysis of the iconography and worship of the twelve Olympian deities paints a picture of their evolution into their Classical identities. Part Three, "The Liminal Hero," describes the two ways of telling a hero's story: either the hero steps forward to found a new world and defeat the past, or he steps back to become the fundament of his present world. Part Four, "Liminal Heroines," delineates the three versions of the heroine's identity -- maiden, mother, and witch -- and explores the portrayal of women in classical mythology. Staples and Ruck follow these themes through the course of Classical Myth, incorporating over 100 illustrations and maps integral to the presentation of the material. The book also offers new perspectives on the goddesses and heroines of classical mythology and on the role of women in antiquity. "It is indeed a cause for some alarm that so important a subject as Greek Mythology has hitherto lacked an adequate primary textbook... Ruck's book may well be the long-awaited remedy. I am impressed not only by his knowledge and organization, but also by his patent concern for student needs." -- Professor C. Robert Phillips, III, Lehigh University |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 84
... Mother was , in fact , a goddess of death , but not just of death . Death as birth , and birth as rebirth . Death as the source of life . Another of her names was Deo , the Mother , which was assimilated into Greek as Demeter , whom the ...
... mother . In any case , the birthing was long and painful , but finally the twins came in- to being . Their mother held onto a palm tree on the island in her labor : the tree is sacred to the Mother Goddess . And perhaps Artemis , who ...
... mother's one tie back to Sparta ; and the girl couldn't get married until after the mother returned - which was the whole point of the venture at Troy . And be- sides , Agamemnon and Klytaimnestra had the perfect offering for Artemis ...
Contents
Transmutations | 17 |
A Goddess for the Age of Zeus | 49 |
Dancing the Labyrinth | 95 |
Copyright | |
9 other sections not shown