Classical Myth

by Barry B. Powell

Comprehensive and scholarly, this well-designed and class-tested text presents Greek and Roman myths in a lively and easy-to-read manner. It features fresh translations, numerous illustrations (ancient and modern) of classical myths and legends, and commentary that emphasizes the anthropological, historical, religious, sociological, and economic contexts in which the myths were told. This book covers myths of creation, myths of fertility, myths of the Olympians, Heracles, Oedipus, Trojan War, Roman Myth, Odysseus, and more. It also introduces students to classic literary works by Homer, Hesiod, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Ovid. For anyone interested in learning more about the creation and modern interpretation of classical myths.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, History, Classics, Reference, School, Textbooks

732 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1995

Reviews

[Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book in my undergraduate Classical Mythology class. It's one of the few textbooks that I didn't sell back; because I wanted to keep for further reference. Even more amazing, I actually have used it for reference and perusal many times.

I recommend it actually exactly for that purpose. If you like Mythology at all, it's really handy to have in your collection because you just check the table of contents, find the myth and BOOM; short and sweet, easy to understand.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Barry Powell is the kind of guy who calls women females. I mean that literally. He titles the section on women in myth “females”.

One day, I will catalog some of his worst moments. But just know that there is a reason all of his books are going out of print (sometimes after less than 10 years. lol). And the reason is that he sucks. As a scholar and a writer.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that it is very hard to strike the right balance with a book that is summarizing the classic myths of Greece--this book has some great excerpts from the original sources (which were written long after the myths were created, but the earliest versions that exist today--I saw a scroll that was salvaged from Hercaleneum, and was amazed that they were able to figure out anything at all from it...). The downside is that the telling of the stories is more pedantic than entertaining, and I think that despite it being a textbook, these stories ahve a dramatic quality that lends them to that approach. It was not dreadful as a text (and the on-line learning modules and quizzes are outstanding) but one could hope for better.

[Emily Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is highly informative and I would recommend this to anyone who is longing for a book on mythos. It is however, quite confronting and grim in its details. Completing this brought me so much satisfaction and I haven’t looked at it since because it gave me anxiety. Still, I remain highly interested in the subject of myth and am very glad I read this.

[Danielle Stoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read most of this textbook for my Classical Mythology class in the fall of 2008. I started re-reading it a few days ago :-)

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stories are interesting but the way they are presented along with the author's opinions make this a annoying read

[Lpbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

First picked up this book for my studies at university, and it has since travelled with me (bulky as it is) across state borders multiple times. I love it. And I can't bear to part with it.

What started as a required textbook quickly turned into one of those books I refuse to get rid of, even though it could absolutely double as a weapon (or, conveniently, a doorstop or place to press flowers).

One of the best things about this book is how readable it is. Powell explains myths in a way that makes you care, about the gods, the heroes, and all their extremely questionable life choices, while also giving you the historical and cultural context behind them. It’s smart without being smug, which is a rare and beautiful thing in a textbook.

The book is also structured in a way that actually makes sense. You can read it straight through, or jump around depending on which myth you’re obsessed with at the moment. It works both as a study guide and as a “just one more chapter” kind of read, which is not something I ever thought I’d say about an academic text.

Is it dense? Yes. Is it heavy? Absolutely. Has it survived multiple moves in my bag anyway? Also yes. Classical Myth is the kind of book that sticks with you because it genuinely deepens your appreciation for mythology. Highly recommend for students, myth lovers, or anyone who wants to understand why the Greek gods were so messy, how myths develop over time, and why we’re still talking about them thousands of years later.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't read mythology ever the same again. This book single handily solved the biggest mystery to me: Why is Greek mythology so weird? Well its because they were trying to understand human behavior. From that lens it make sense why some concepts are so weird. Yes we know incest is wrong but if we mythologize it becomes a cultural memory. If we synthesize different cultures how old testament basically fused concepts like the "Epic of Gilgamesh" into the Noah's flood myth it becomes an interesting testament to how universal concepts are applied differently and yet are similar across the world. If you can't tell I have written way too many essays so my writing style has become too academic.

Anyways I loved this book because it challenged my own premise. I loved that it challenged me. It made my brain grow and I literally felt it. So easily a 5/5 favorite college reading of the year.

[Tim R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book mostly as part of a Classical Myth class. However, it pairs really well with Greek Tragedies, another book that I recently finished, and offers the read great insight into classical myths by discussing the context around them. The book focuses on classical myths, but also touches on the history, archaeology, and geography of the ancient Greco-Roman world, and provides a great vehicle for learning and understanding these stories.

[Stephen Bedard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of introductions to classical myths and this is definitely one of the better ones. It has a nice balance of primary sources and summaries with helpful introductions to each collection.

[Mitchell Staude]

Great detail

Lots of connections with literature and art.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting! I read this for a Mythology college course and really enjoyed reading it!

[kris ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

the only textbook i have ever read through, enjoyed, and read on my own free time presently

[Prisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but could have been like 1/3 of the length

pictures hella cool tho!

[Syd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read every chapter of this but I did read a good amount. It's good and easy to read but the chapters are pretty long.

[Molly Tessnear · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Greek gods had personalities like those of humans and struggled with one another for position and power. They did not love humans (although some had favorites) and did not ask to be loved by them. They did not impose codes of behavior. They expected respect and honor but could act contrary to human needs and desires.”

Read (most of) this book for my mythology class in my senior year of college. Very comprehensive, very good layout. It introduces those who may not know much about myth, but goes in depth as well. I loved how it went further back than the Olympians, all the way to the very beginning of Greek and Roman myth.
Another great feature was the tie-ins to today. It had multiple sections that connected classical myth to current myth interpretations. (The Percy Jackson series was one.) All in all, a great choice for a myth class or for someone who wants to learn more about mythology.

[Jerry Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the textbook for my Classical Mythology course my senior year of college. For a textbook, it was very enjoyable to read. It has a lot of the same downfalls of most textbooks in terms of reading for interest (dense, small text and written for academia), but what else would you expect from something written for academia??? The book was informative, well structured, and offered numerous excerpts from the actual myths to highlight the points of the book. I actually finished this book after my course was over, which certainly says something about the book's quality.

I would recommend this textbook to anyone looking to get a start in Greek mythology; the textbook was set up so that the later chapters build off the foundations of the previous ones.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the best textbooks on classical (Greek and Roman) Mythology out there. It's well organized, and the organization really helps pull together the larger themes of many more well-known myths. The passages of texts chosen are appropriate and not too long but many are from less common sources. This book is excellent for an overarching survey text; outside reading assignments of the classics should be added in where relevant. There are also a lot of extras related to this book on the publisher's website.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took this course because it was an elective. Little did I know how much I'd love Mythology and its importance to understanding who we are. Myth is rife throughout our language, labels, and in our meaning. If you want to understand yourself and your roots better then this is the place to go. Oh, by the way, Barry Powell is the master of myth and will not disappoint or lead you astray.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, the glossary in The Voyage of Argo is too abbreviated so I'm having to bust out my old mythology book as a reference. First read this one for undergrad coursework back in 2001. It's a succinct and well-organized survey text.

[Ashley May · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't really know anything about Greek/roman mythology this is a great book. Besides focusing on Greek and roman myths it also ties in other cultural myths too. Even though I had to read it for class it was a great read!

[Sam - Spines in a Line · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book for a class, and while it gave all the information, I needed I didn't find it all that compelling to read. The author seems to know abundant information on both Greek civilization and the myths but it may be hard to read straight through.

[Sophia Melinda]

Read for a Greek Mythology college course; and throughly enjoyed it! Powell writes well and I honestly learned so much as a previously self-taught Greek mythos buff. I will keep this around for years to come for reference!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read the 2nd ed. and am ordering the 6th ed. for my mythology class. I like the many translations from many classical sources.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best overview of Greek mythology I have ever read. This book does not read like a text book.

[Sarah]

Textbook for my Classical Mythology class, obviously. LoL!