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The Heroes of the Greeks
In this companion to C. Kerenyi's classic The Gods of the Greeks , he presents the heroes of Greek mythology who preoccupied the minds of the ancient Greeks no less than the gods themselves. The compelling narrative is based throughout on original sources and complemented by illustrations from vase paintings and genealogical tables of celebrated and less celebrated mythical figures.
440 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
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About the author
Karl Kerényi
102 books123 followersKároly (Carl, Karl) Kerényi, Ph.D., (University of Budapest, 1919), was one of the founders of modern studies in Greek Mythology, and professor of classical studies and history of religion at the Universities of Szeged and Pécs, Hungary.
Karl Kerenyi is also published under the names Carl Kerenyi and Károly Kerényi, in French as Charles Kerényi and in Italian as Carlo Kerényi.
Karl Kerenyi is also published under the names Carl Kerenyi and Károly Kerényi, in French as Charles Kerényi and in Italian as Carlo Kerényi.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 2, 2008
This book (and its companion about heroes) is an interesting compromise between the simpler retellings, like D'Aulaire's and denser and more complicated renderings like Graves or Calasso. It is scholarly and comprehensive, but also straightforward and readable. The use of non-standard (non-latinate) transliterations of names from the Greek(Oidipous for the more familiar Oedipus, for instance) can be unnecessarily confusing.
October 3, 2020
Full disclosure: this author, Karl Kerenyi, has been mentioned numerous times in many places by depth psychologists, such as Carl Jung and James Hillman. This pattern began with Freud, of course. The book was most recently mentioned in "Lament of the Dead," a dialog work between James Hillman and Sonu Shamdasni, the editor and compiler of Jung's Red Book.
On the positive side, there are interesting stories here, stories about characters, okay heroes, whose names may be familiar in our culture, but the details are told. In addition, though I knew of the art of vase painting, I was not aware how extensive the form is. There are many plates of photos of painted vases and there could have been more I am sure.
On the negative side, the stories jump around by telling the different versions of the same story as told by different narrators. It is a style I found difficult to get used to. I guess it is advantageous if, in reading a story about a hero and you didn't remember it unfolding in that way -- keep reading because the way you remembered it will likely be mentioned.
The importance of this work is as a survey of Greek mythology through the stories of "heroes" who share some divine attributes. It is a glimpse at a world that was foundational to Western civilization and still relevant in our time. However, there have to be better compilations than this one.
On the positive side, there are interesting stories here, stories about characters, okay heroes, whose names may be familiar in our culture, but the details are told. In addition, though I knew of the art of vase painting, I was not aware how extensive the form is. There are many plates of photos of painted vases and there could have been more I am sure.
On the negative side, the stories jump around by telling the different versions of the same story as told by different narrators. It is a style I found difficult to get used to. I guess it is advantageous if, in reading a story about a hero and you didn't remember it unfolding in that way -- keep reading because the way you remembered it will likely be mentioned.
The importance of this work is as a survey of Greek mythology through the stories of "heroes" who share some divine attributes. It is a glimpse at a world that was foundational to Western civilization and still relevant in our time. However, there have to be better compilations than this one.
June 11, 2021
Un extenso estudio que realiza el autor húngaro, desmenuzando la historia de los héroes griegos, desde Cadmo hasta Odiseo. Eso sí, hay que armarse de paciencia, los nombres que aparecen son incontables...
December 30, 2012
Retelling of many of the Greekl heroic myths in accessible and easy language.
January 9, 2022
Repaso monumental a los principales héroes griegos muy documentada.
https://liblit.com/karl-kerenyi-los-h...
https://liblit.com/karl-kerenyi-los-h...
February 8, 2023
Es un estudio maravilloso, profundo y dedicado. Redactado en tono académico, no literario.
April 14, 2024
A wonderful companion to its partner book 'The Gods of the Greeks', which together provide virtually all of what we might need to learn about the Greek Myths.
November 12, 2020
Maybe it was something that got lost in the translation of Greek History written in German then translated into English, but I found it to be too careful and too timid about the Greek heroes and their partially divine and partially human ways.
Prior to reading this book, I thought it would be interesting to read about Greek heroes because they are imbued with a celestial element. In addition, unlike other heroes, Greek heroes suffer like humans and have no ability to escape destiny. :
Instead of finding true interest in the stories, I started compiling phrases that I thought were cool. Here is a short list:
1) RW Emerson said, "The hero is always he (she) who is immovably centered." Hmmm
2) Boring disclaimer: Specialists will see that my handling of the material includes criticism of the philological literature on the passages in question; the general reader will not be disturbed.
3) In the 9th (out of 11) Labor of Herakles (don't spell it "Hercules") is my favorite and called "The Girdle of the Queen of the Amazons. Herakles was sent to get the girdle of the queen of the Amazons because somebody wanted it. The Amazons were mostly war-like women who lived in Asia Minor, on the Black Sea by the river Thermodon. Of their children, they only raised the girls, and they cut off their right breasts, so that they should not be encumbered when shooting with a bow and hurling the spear; they suckled their daughters from the left breast.
4) The end of the Amazon girdle story requires Herakles to disguise himself in women's clothes in party-colored female attire.
5) "The ancestry on the distaff side" means "ancestry on the female side."
6)Un-aphrodisiac stench
7) Odysseus wanted to marry Penelope--who was to become the emblem of fidelity for all time. Her name meant "duck" (penelops)--a bird whose image on old vases found in graves so often means a protecting, kindly goddess.
8) Odysseus was named by his grandfather and is Greek for "hated." Go figure!
Prior to reading this book, I thought it would be interesting to read about Greek heroes because they are imbued with a celestial element. In addition, unlike other heroes, Greek heroes suffer like humans and have no ability to escape destiny. :
Instead of finding true interest in the stories, I started compiling phrases that I thought were cool. Here is a short list:
1) RW Emerson said, "The hero is always he (she) who is immovably centered." Hmmm
2) Boring disclaimer: Specialists will see that my handling of the material includes criticism of the philological literature on the passages in question; the general reader will not be disturbed.
3) In the 9th (out of 11) Labor of Herakles (don't spell it "Hercules") is my favorite and called "The Girdle of the Queen of the Amazons. Herakles was sent to get the girdle of the queen of the Amazons because somebody wanted it. The Amazons were mostly war-like women who lived in Asia Minor, on the Black Sea by the river Thermodon. Of their children, they only raised the girls, and they cut off their right breasts, so that they should not be encumbered when shooting with a bow and hurling the spear; they suckled their daughters from the left breast.
4) The end of the Amazon girdle story requires Herakles to disguise himself in women's clothes in party-colored female attire.
5) "The ancestry on the distaff side" means "ancestry on the female side."
6)Un-aphrodisiac stench
7) Odysseus wanted to marry Penelope--who was to become the emblem of fidelity for all time. Her name meant "duck" (penelops)--a bird whose image on old vases found in graves so often means a protecting, kindly goddess.
8) Odysseus was named by his grandfather and is Greek for "hated." Go figure!
November 15, 2009
The Heroes of the Greeks was written by Károly Kerényi. His preface opens up the broad scope of the book, illuminating the Greek world which lies between the Caucasus Mountains and the mouth of the Guadalquivir River of Spain beginning about 1500 B.C. and lasting over two millennia. The introduction helps to clarify the subject of the book on legends of heroes by distinguishing them from history on the one hand and mythology on the other.
Károly Kerényi begins by explaining the role of heroes in Greek mythology, legend, and culture. His first stories are of Kadmos and Harmonia, The Theban Dioskuroi, Danaos and his Daughters, Perseus, Tantalos, Pelops and Hippodameia, Salmoneus, Melanippe and Tyro, Sisyphos and Bellerophontes, Phrixos and Helle, Oidipus, The Spartan Dioskuroi and their Cousins, and Meleagros and Atalante. He then tells the stories of Herakles, including the Theban Tales, the Twelve Labours, and his Deeds and Sufferings after the Twelve Labours. He continues by telling the stories of Kekrops, Erechtheus and Theseus, Jason and Medeia, Orpheus and Eurydike, Tereus, Eumolpos and Kephalos, Amphiaraos and the Heroes of the Theban War, Atreus and his Dynasty, and the Prelude to the Trojan War. He concludes by telling the stories of the Heroes of the Trojan War, including Iphigenia and her Brothers and Sisters, Telephos, Protesilaos and Laodameia, Achilles and the Aftermath of the Trojan War. At the end of the book, he provides some useful reference material including Genealogies and Sources. The book is illustrated by images of ancient and classical painted pottery.
Károly Kerényi begins by explaining the role of heroes in Greek mythology, legend, and culture. His first stories are of Kadmos and Harmonia, The Theban Dioskuroi, Danaos and his Daughters, Perseus, Tantalos, Pelops and Hippodameia, Salmoneus, Melanippe and Tyro, Sisyphos and Bellerophontes, Phrixos and Helle, Oidipus, The Spartan Dioskuroi and their Cousins, and Meleagros and Atalante. He then tells the stories of Herakles, including the Theban Tales, the Twelve Labours, and his Deeds and Sufferings after the Twelve Labours. He continues by telling the stories of Kekrops, Erechtheus and Theseus, Jason and Medeia, Orpheus and Eurydike, Tereus, Eumolpos and Kephalos, Amphiaraos and the Heroes of the Theban War, Atreus and his Dynasty, and the Prelude to the Trojan War. He concludes by telling the stories of the Heroes of the Trojan War, including Iphigenia and her Brothers and Sisters, Telephos, Protesilaos and Laodameia, Achilles and the Aftermath of the Trojan War. At the end of the book, he provides some useful reference material including Genealogies and Sources. The book is illustrated by images of ancient and classical painted pottery.
April 14, 2009
Pereus, Herakles, Theseus and many more are presented in this 400+ pages reference work. Like his Gods of the Greeks, it is the definitive work for scholars and lay-people alike. A must for any student of myth and its relationship to philosophy and spirituality.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews