Book description
The Greek Myths contains some of the most thrilling, romantic, and
unforgettable stories in all human history. From Achilles rampant on the
fields of Troy, to the gods at sport on Mount Olympus; from Icarus
flying too close to the sun, to the superhuman feats of Heracles,
Theseus, and the wily Odysseus, these timeless tales exert an eternal
fascination and inspiration that have endured for millennia and
influenced cultures from ancient to modern. Beginning at the dawn of
human civilization, when the Titan Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and
offered mankind hope, the reader is immediately immersed in the
majestic, magical, and mythical world of the Greek gods and heroes. As
the tales unfold, renowned classicist Robin Waterfield creates a
sweeping panorama of the romance, intrigues, heroism, humour,
sensuality, and brutality of the Greek myths and legends. The terrible
curse that plagued the royal houses of Mycenae and Thebes, Jason and the
golden fleece, Perseus and the dread Gorgon, the wooden horse and the
sack of Troy - these amazing stories have influenced art and literature
from the Iron Age to the present day. And far from being just a treasure
trove of timeless tales, The Greek Myths is a catalogue of Greek myth in
art through the ages, and a notable work of literature in its own right.
'a good introduction to the stories, showing how they can transcend
origins and cultural contexts within which they arose and remained open
to an array of interpretations' TLS. Robin Waterfield is an
internationally acclaimed scholar and author, whose publications range
from abstruse academic articles to children's fiction. He has worked as
a lecturer, editor and publisher before taking up writing full time. He
has about forty books to his credit, including Xenophon's Retreat:
Greece, Persia and the End of the Golden Age and Why Socrates Died.
