Myths of the Ancient Greeks

by Richard P. Martin (Editor)

Overview

From one of today’s foremost scholars, a lively retelling of the timeless tales…

Here are the myths that have influenced so much of our cultural heritage. Such age-old stories as the tragic love of Orpheus and Eurydice or Demeter’s loss of her daughter, Persephone, resonate strongly with readers even today. In this book the rousing adventures of the hero's Herakles, Theseus, and Perseus are intertwined with the tragedies of immortal Prometheus and mortal Oedipus, the amorous escapades of Zeus, the trickery of Hermes, and the ecstasy of Dionysus. In-depth introductions to each section deepen your understanding of the myths—and heighten your reading pleasure.

Presented in simple yet elegant prose, these tales emerge in brilliant new life. From the creation battle of the gods and Titans to Odysseus’ return home from the Trojan War, this indispensable volume contains fifty-six legendary stories—handed down from generations past—that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780451206855
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/01/2003
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	921,625
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.87(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Professor Richard P. Martin teaches Greek and Latin literature at Stanford University. Martin's research focuses primarily on Homeric poetry and how it functioned as a performance art in ancient Greece. His research has involved fieldwork in modern Crete, interviewing those who still perform traditional oral epics. In addition, he has studied resemblances between ancient oral poetry and modern rap. He has worked on presenting Homer digitally, in a full-scale multimedia version of the Odyssey on CD, in connection with distance learning projects. Martin is also interested in the performance of Greek lyric as represented in myth and art, and the analysis of Greek myth. Born and raised in Boston, he studied Classics as well as medieval and modern Irish language and literature at Harvard University, where he received his BA in Classics and Celtic literature and his MA and PhD in classical philology. Prior to his position at Stanford, Professor Martin taught Classics for 18 years at Princeton University. He was the chair of the Department of Classics at Stanford from 2002 through 2008.

Table of Contents

Myths of the Ancient Greeks - Richard P. Martin The Beginnings: Gods and Creatures
Offspring of Iapetos the Titan
Descendants of Atlas, Greek and Trojan
Warriors, Kings, and Heroines from Zeus
The Ancient Greek World
Mainland Greece
Introduction
Book 1. The Beginnings
1. The World Begins
2. Night and Sea
3. The Coming of Zeus
4. Battles of the Gods
5. The Final Struggles of Zeus
6. The Marriages of Zeus
7. The Birth of Apollo and Artemis
8. Prometheus and the Human World
9. Prometheus Punished
10. The Great Flood
Book 2. Singers, Players, and Rivals
11. The Muses and Their Offspring
12. The Song of Orpheus
13. The Muses Victorious
14. Apollo's Rival
15. Hermes Tricks Apollo
16. Pan the Goat-God
Book 3. Lovers Mortal and Divine
17. The Loves of Apollo
18. Fiery Births: Asklepios and Dionysus
19. The God of Ecstasy
20. Demeter and Persephone
21. Dangerous Huntress
22. Hephaestus the Smith
23. Aphrodite's Loves
24. Cosmic Couples
Book 4. The Tales of Athens
25. Athens Arises
26. Crimes in Regal Blood
27. Tales from the Virgin's City
Book 5. Theseus, Lord of Athens
28. The Sword Under the Stone
29. The Cretan Adventure
30. Life After the Labyrinth
31. Final Falls
Book 6. Herakles, Greatest of Heroes
32. The Glory of Hera
33. The Hero Grows Up
34. The Labors of Herakles
35. The Last Years of Herakles
36. A Wedding and a Funeral
Book 7. Once and Future Heroes
37. Perseus the Boaster
38. Perseus Finds a Wife
39. Jason and the Voyage East
40. A Prize and a Princess
41. Jason and Medea
Book 8. The Saga of Thebes
42. Two Foundations
43. Family Misfortunes
44. Savior and Destroyer: Oedipus the King
45. Fraternal War
46. The Final Sacrifice
Book 9. The War at Troy
47. The Cosmic Struggle
48. Judgment and Reward
49. On Pelops' Island
50. Prelude to War
51. The Wrath of Achilles
52. The End of Troy
53. The Returns of the Heroes
54. Odysseus, Last Hero Home
55. A Return to Ithaca
56. End of an Era
Further Reading
Index

Editorial Reviews

In this collection of 56 classic Greek myths, Martin (Greek & Latin literature, Stanford), an authority on the subject, retells such legendary stories as those of Herakles, Perseus, Prometheus, and Oedipus for a 21st-century audience. The book is divided into nine sections, each preceded by a brief but sufficient headnote that in lay readers' terms discusses some of the scholarship surrounding the stories to follow. By using a modern fiction format, Martin attempts to make these stories accessible to those who don't already know them while keeping them "at one remove" for those who do. What results is a group of somewhat chatty tales that would be too challenging for young adult readers but could work for those new to Greek mythology or for well-versed readers looking for a new perspective. Two maps of the Ancient Greek world, 18 useful illustrations (e.g., family trees), an index (not seen), and a list of further readings round out the work. Recommended only where librarians think the fiction format might appeal.-Katherine K. Koenig, Ellis Sch., Pittsburgh Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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