Gods, Heroes, and Monsters: A Sourcebook of Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern Myths in Translation

by Carolina López-Ruiz

Setting itself apart from typical anthologies in classical mythology, Gods, Heroes, and Monsters: A Sourcebook of Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern Myths in Translation presents essential Greek and Roman sources--including work from Homer, Hesiod, Virgil, and Ovid--alongside analogous narratives from the ancient Near East--Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Hittite kingdom, Ugarit, Phoenicia, and the Hebrew Bible. Some of the sources appear here in English translations for the first time.

This collection stresses cultural continuities and comparisons, showing how Greek and Roman myths did not emerge in a vacuum but rather evolved from and interacted with their counterparts in the ancient Near East. Reinforcing this more inclusive definition of "classical," it is organized thematically, which allows readers to examine each category of myth in a comparative and cross-cultural light. For example, "Part III: Epic Struggles: Gods, Heroes, and Monsters" provides sources that feature Greek heroes like Heracles, Apollo, Achilles, and Hector along with the Epic of Gilgamesh and other ancient Near Eastern selections that focus on the hero.

Offering a uniquely expansive view of the ancient Mediterranean world, Gods, Heroes, and Monsters shows how the literature, inhabitants, and intellectual traditions of Greece and Rome and the ancient Near East were inextricably intertwined. The book is enhanced by a vibrant, full-color, 16-pg. photo insert, and many new translations by editor Carolina Lopez-Ruiz and others. Ideal for undergraduate courses in Classical Mythology, it is also captivating reading for the general public.

Genres: School, Nonfiction, Mythology

656 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2013

Reviews

[Emil]

A useful guides for mythology. I acquired and read this text for a class, but I've kept it because it's useful for referencing.

[Émilie Maei]

This was our book for our course "Mythology of the Ancient Mediterranean". There are a variety of ancient texts not just concentrated on the Greeks and the Romans (as it is mentioned on the resume). A good solid book where one's knowledge of mythology will definitely broaden. There is an introduction to each myth in order to put the reader in context and the source is given from the extract of the myth. A great source for reference.