Greek Mythology: A Traveler's Guide from Mount Olympus to Troy

by David Stuttard

The Greek myths have a universal appeal, beyond the time and physical place in which they were created. But many are firmly rooted in specific landscapes: the city of Thebes and mountain range Cithaeron dominate the tale of Oedipus; the city of Mycenae broods over the fates of Agamemnon and Electra; while Knossos boasts the scene of Theseus’ slaying of the Minotaur. Drawing on a wide range of classical sources, newly translated by the author, and illustrated with specially commissioned drawings, this book is both a useful read for those visiting the sites and a fascinating imaginative journey for the armchair traveler. The itinerary includes twenty-two locations, from Mount Olympus to Homer’s Hades, recounting the myths and history associated with each site and highlighting features that visitors can still see today.



Scholarly text, supported by quotes from primary sources and contemporary research, as well as the enticing stories of gods and goddesses, heroes and villains, enrich the reader’s literal or simply literary experience of these sites, whose significance still resonates today.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, History, Greek Mythology, Travel, Classics, Archaeology

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2016

About the author

David Stuttard is a British theatre director, classical scholar, translator, lecturer on classical literature and history, and author, primarily of historical works on the ancient world.

Reviews

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars according to my holiday "review" (which eloquently only consisted of "3.5 - review to come (I'm on holiday)). I don't remember much of this. My holiday in Crete featured, as it should, its fair share of Greek novels (only 2, but it's still 40% of all the books I've read there) and I just really REALLY wanted to get this book over with before I even started it. Why? Because it sounded dull. Also, it has a really small font-size, which was just an awful contrast compared to the Large Print book I read before this one. Which is not the book's fault in any way - but still didn't hinder me from disliking it from the start. Although, disliking it...may be expressing it a bit strongly. Let's just say I was fairly sceptic. I got this book for my birthday because when I was in Greece last year (as you can see I'm a regular traveler there) I accidentally took a photo of this book before realising I didn't want to have it after all (that's why you first skim the book and only THEN take pictures of the ones you like). Unfortunately, I forgot to delete it from my camera roll, leading to it ending up in the "Crete 2018" photo folder which I shared with my parents...and adorable as they are, they thought "Hey, Kathi took a picture of this book, she obviously wants to have this one!" My mum almost literally moved heaven and hell to acquire it for me. Which is so DUMB AND SWEET!!! (dumb on my part only. I take full responsibility for the dumb). So yeah, I decided I finally had to read this book for my parents' sake and it wasn't all that bad! Some parts were very interesting; and I liked the extremely subtle and dry humor of the author. So subtle that it took me 3/4 of the book to even notice it (it's not like it occured very regularly, anyway). I could've definitely done without the whole real place-links and (to me, but not in reality) endless-seeming descriptions of various towns and cities (you know, the ones where myths allegedly took place in). Some of them were so...long, and boring, way too convoluted, and flowery, and verbose to read for someone who's 1. not there and 2. not interested in going there. But since those real life-links were the author's whole point of even writing it...well...let's just say it was a major and not exactly to-be-ignorable part of the book. But I still found out things I didn't know or that I already forgot about (the last time I read Greek myths was when I was 12 or something), so it was a really worthwhile reading experience after all! Also quite a quick read if you've got your mind set to finishing it. Which I did. I just wanted to reach the end - and then surprisingly didn't dislike it as much as I pretended to (to myself, even).

So yeah, not a bad book AT ALL. The research was very thorough, the myths descriptions short and crisp, and it's probably a fantastic book for anyone traveling in Greece who's hellbent (or just, you know, interested on a normal level) on visiting important mythical and historical locations. But since I'm not that type of person, I could've done very well, one would say even better, without all the focus on geography that was the whole purpose of writing it. Would still recommend if you're into Greek myths!

Edit: 2 passages that made me chuckle:

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great intro to Greek Mythology if you're simply reading for that. The idea of mixing each myth with a real place is what drew me to this book and it is very well done. I appreciate the map, timelines, and actual onsite information should you wish to visit. If I visit Greece, I will definitely be revisiting this book.

[Alastair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains 22 chapters dealing with a different part of The Ancient Greek world (Mycanae, Troy, Sumnium etc) and details some of the myths that are related to that place. For an area like Troy the links are fairly obvious; other areas such as Thebes have a web of mythological links that only keen mythological fans will know.

Such a structure runs the risk of each chapter being totally separate to all the others and there being no reward to reading the book as a book, and rendering it a mere encyclopaedic guide. Thankfully, The authors have intricately woven together many myths across chapters: Heracles turns up several times and stories are related forwards and backwards to places described elsewhere in the book. As such, there is a genuine reason for reading this book all in one go, something definitely not true of many guidebooks on mythology.

The descriptions themselves are clear and engaging. Some sections could be longer perhaps but overall, from a modest knowledge of these stories, I felt I gained a real sense of the fascinating web of stories attached to many parts of Greece. It has really made me want to visit Greece (and other countries) with this book to follow the step by step instructions around some of the sites, which are put at the back of each chapter and are a great practical addition.

[Rebeka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jēdzīgs grieķu mītu apkopojums nezinātājiem. Sadalīts pa Grieķijas pilsētām, svarīgākajiem dieviem, mītiem, leģendām un zināmo vēsturi, kā arī, kā šīs vietas izskatās mūsdienās.

Reāli iebāza man sejā, cik svarīga grieķu kultūra ir un kā tā ir veidojusi un vēl aizvien ietekmē mūsdienu pasauli. Savilku paralēles ar grieķu pēcnāves dzīves mītiem pēdējā nodaļā ar kristiešu pēcnāves uzskatiem, un kā tas ir ietekmējis Miltona Zudušo paradīzi, ko paralēli moku uz priekšu.

Tagad gribās vairāk iedziļināties šai visā. Neiedomājami interesanti.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the way this book linked Greek myths with actual places in Greece. A must read if you are going to visit Greece and love mythology.

[Tim Pendry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a book as much as this one. The author is a master of clear prose. This is by far the most relaxed and informative one volume popular account of the Greek myths that I have come across - enjoyable in part because he declines to give us a canon.

The conceit (much like his sister book on Roman mythology which I have reviewed elsewhere) is to convey the Hellenic mythic heritage (which became our own heritage in the West) through place - the Greek World is both a fantasy and a reality insofar as myths can mostly be tied to locations.

Hellenic mythology is not abstract. It is the fantastic located in a particular region and its landscape and in the struggles for power, status and sex amongst human beings not unlike ourselves. It is particular rather than universal which has always been a bit of a problem for the 'West'.

Each of the 22 chapters is handled in precisely the same way with delicate unobtrusive illustrations breaking up the prose on the page - there is an apposite quotation from a Greek author, a rather poetic evocation of the location and then Stuttard tells the mythological tale.

Stuttard positions gods and heroes in relation to each other and is not afraid to tell us when the sources give different interpretations of a myth. He then tells us the actual history of the place in question and what it has become, closing with a critical advisory section for visitors.

I cannot think of a better popular introduction to the myths themselves with all their beauty and cruelty from Mount Olympus to the ancient site of the entrance to Hades by way of Eleusis, Delphi, Thebes and Troy, Heracles, Jason, Theseus and the House of Atreus.

[Artur Coelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma dupla viagem, pelas geografias e mitologias da herança clássica grega. O autor leva-nos num périplo pelos locais onde os mitos e a história se cruzam, entre a inevitável Atenas, a previsível Tróia, zonas mais esquecidas mas influentes como Olímpia, Delfos, Knossos, Ítaca ou os vestígios gregos na moderna Turquia. O livro termina com uma deslocação a Ephyra, um dos locais onde os gregos antigos imaginavam situar-se uma entrada para o Hades, e onde hoje se situa um mosteiro que preserva no seu subsolo uma cave que mergulha nas profundezas da terra.

Há apontamentos sobre os locais na atualidade, bem como curtos guias de acesso, mas o cerne do livro é uma viagem pelos mitos clássicos, estruturada pela geografia.

[Caitlin O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a clever concept in tracing Greek mythology through real historical sites. When I one day go to Greece, I’ll definitely be taking this book as a guide, as each chapter deals with a specific place and even provides a list of sites to visit as a tourist.

The mythology itself was pretty brief, and a bit matter of fact, which I find a shame when Greek mythology is so exciting! If you are unfamiliar with Greek mythology, this provides a clear and concise overview, but is unlike to inspire the passion you might get from Stephen Fry’s retellings.

[E L K Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you wish to have more in-depth journey into the Greek Mythology and get more understanding of not just the timeline of things and all Gods but also where it puts you on the map of Todays versus Ancient Greece I would really recommend this book.

I loved the concept and the novelised re-telling while staying right on the side of non-fiction. I would not downright say it's an easy read because you will devour a lot of information but it's deffinitely very pleasant way to learn about this particular mythology.

[Hal Lowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic book for really getting a sense of where the myths are set, deeply interesting and the chapters are manageably sized and relatively self contained so it's easy to pick up at leisure. The only "downside" is now my bucket list of travel is a few destinations longer - thoroughly recommend!

[Janos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book after visiting the Acropolis and thought I’d be learning something more about the Greek. This book definitely served this purpose. Actually, it requires quite a lot of foreknowledge. I googled a lot while reading. But it was worth it. Perhaps now I can visit Greece again and know a little bit of this and that and smile complacently.

[Matthew Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone looking to travel Greece and Turkey with an interest in mythology this is the book for you. A great collection of myths covered in great detail and relating well to the locations discussed in the myths.

[Jessi ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got it to learn a little bit more about the Greek mythology but honestly, I thought the chapters were a little bit too long for me and I only read the ones that I really wanted to but overall it’s a good book.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful overview of Greek Mythology to the places linked to them. If you're visiting Greece and are interested in the cultural background of places you visit, this is a good book

[Elena Lange · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was honestly bored the entire time. And it’s Greek Mythology! Coming from me, that says something. Every story was beating a dead horse.

[Amanda Larkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gorgeous book. We’re planning on following this journey over the summer for my husband’s special journey. I just need to make some money. Highly recommend a real food for dreams book.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is more rehashing of myth and less analysis of the historical sites themselves, which is what I had hoped for. Still, a lot of context for foundational myths.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book if you throughly enjoy Greek mythology. I very much enjoyed the small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter that describe the environment around the archaeological settlements, furthermore at the end of each chapter there are: timelines in history, how to get there and what to do at each archaeological site.

If you love the land of Greece and wish to make the journey back in time by reading or actually making the trip to these ancient historical and mythological sites, this book truly is your travellers guide. I hope someday to make these trips myself with this book in hand.

[Brendan Coster · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book got interrupted midway through when I randomly needed to read some Thompson.... so it goes. I'd rate the book 3.5 if I could, but from my own point of view I decided to round down. The best parts were Stuttard taking up the locations and giving us a brief (sometimes VERY brief) history of what happened there after the supposed myths. Personally I didn't need to rehash myths I've read many many times before, I kind of liked the terse review so I did read it all, but I didn't need it.

The writing was good, he did the dry English thing well, and he handled the material in a clear and straightforward way. He gives some tips for the traveler at the end of the timelines, and thing has they were when he visited the sites.

I don't really have much that is overly positive or negative about it. I do think if you were going on a trip to Greece, didn't know the myths too well, and were going sightseeing in those location (or looking for such places to go and see), then this is the one book you should buy, read, and bring with you!

So to repeat, since there aren't many reviews on this as of the time of me writing this. If you are in the "don't know much about..." group and want a primer on Greek Myth -- this is Great! If you plan on vacationing and sightseeing in Greece -- this is Great! if you're a jaded reader of classical literature and history... maybe not so much here for you.