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The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology
The ultimate single-volume reference guide to Greek and Roman mythology
An ideal resource for students, teachers, librarians, writers, and readers of great literature, the Meridian Handbook has set the standard for over three decades as the classic guide to the myths of Greece and Rome. From Athena to Zeus, Abantes to Zninthe, the epic heroes and gods who inhabit the pantheon of great literature are covered in fascinating detail. Complete stories and short identifications of characters, events, place names, and constellations are included. For a fuller perspective of the mythological realm, there are maps of the classical world and genealogical charts of the great royal lines. Comprehensive and accessible, the Meridian Handbook is an indispensable aid to understanding and enjoying mythology.
An ideal resource for students, teachers, librarians, writers, and readers of great literature, the Meridian Handbook has set the standard for over three decades as the classic guide to the myths of Greece and Rome. From Athena to Zeus, Abantes to Zninthe, the epic heroes and gods who inhabit the pantheon of great literature are covered in fascinating detail. Complete stories and short identifications of characters, events, place names, and constellations are included. For a fuller perspective of the mythological realm, there are maps of the classical world and genealogical charts of the great royal lines. Comprehensive and accessible, the Meridian Handbook is an indispensable aid to understanding and enjoying mythology.
656 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 4, 2015
Truly indispensible for humanities students. Better than the competing mythology dictionaries by many orders of magnitude.
August 2, 2021
I will never select a Date Read for this excellent resource book because I dip into it often while reading any of my Ancient Greek myths, plays, and histories, even novelized retellings of Ancient Greek literature, and I expect to turn to it for years to come.
Anyone interested in Ancient Greece or mythology should try to track down a copy. It’s no longer in print so check used bookshops or ebay.
Anyone interested in Ancient Greece or mythology should try to track down a copy. It’s no longer in print so check used bookshops or ebay.
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August 20, 2019By far the most comprehensive collection of Greek myths that I know of. Even now, with Wikipedia at my fingertips, it remains my go-to guide for information about this inexhaustibly interesting subject.
September 21, 2012
Saved the day again! You wouldn't believe how many times this thing has come in handy...I even use it to look up stuff I come across in a few of the newly published novels I read. This book is not just for classics or poetry.
References I don't understand drive me crazy!!! Reading great literature means constant reference back to greek and roman mythology. Google can be so dense. "Google it" isn't always the answer. This handbook references characters as well as places, events, constellations. Very comprehensive! Invaluable!
References I don't understand drive me crazy!!! Reading great literature means constant reference back to greek and roman mythology. Google can be so dense. "Google it" isn't always the answer. This handbook references characters as well as places, events, constellations. Very comprehensive! Invaluable!
August 10, 2019
An invaluable resource for readers of classical mythology. However, some things were missing. No mention of Hero and Leander, and some other lesser stories were missing as well. However, it is really long and comprehensive. Use for preparation for the NJCL mythology test.
October 1, 2014
Read the original hardcover version ("Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology"). It is the best reference work you can have on Greek Mythology, hands down.
June 11, 2009
I obviously haven't sat down and read this book cover to cover the way I would a novel or even most non-fiction. However, as an English teacher and a writer, I've found this to be an absolutely invaluable resource. The articles are written in clear, easily-readable prose and contain a wealth of information. I keep my copy handy whenever I'm working.
September 17, 2016
My mom is a teacher at a middle school here in SoCal and her school's library discarded their copy of Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology, which is a party foul most heinous as far as I'm concerned. I gave this a good home and a great read. Excellent reference material for any writer delving into mythos.
June 18, 2009
I always have this book close at hand. It's a great resource for writers, but also a terrific and fairly comprehensive look at all of the gods and demigods. Lots of fun to just page through and explore.
March 26, 2009
This book is awesome! It can tell you anything you ever wanted to know about names and places in myths.
May 17, 2011
Good resource. Not necessarily read all of the way through worthy, but still very good.
January 26, 2012
A great resource. I love the way it's laid out. It makes it really easy to find what you're looking for.
August 6, 2016
4 1/2 stars
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews