The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology

by A.R. Maxwell-Hyslop, Pierre Grimal, Stephen Kershaw (Editor)

This concise, abridged edition of Pierre Grimal's celebrated "Dictionary of Classical Mythology" brilliantly distils and captures the essence of Greek and Roman mythology. It is the ideal reference tool for anyone with an interest in the Classics or those seeking to explore the many allusions to its mythology that abound in later literature.

Genres: Mythology, Reference, Nonfiction, Classics, History, Greek Mythology, Dictionaries

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

Reviews

[Çağdaş T · Rating 5 out of 5]

İlyada ve Odysseia 'yı okurken daha çok Azra Erhat'ın sözlüğünden yararlanmıştım. Açıkçası tüm ihtiyacı karşılamıştı bu sözlük. Sonraki hedefim Vergilius'un Aenas'ı ve akabinde Dante'nin İlahi Komedya'sı olduğu için Roma Mitolojisi sözlüğüne de ihtiyaç duyacağımı tahmin edip edinmiştim. Oldukça detaylı ve yararlı bir sözlük. Olumsuz eleştirebileceğim tek ve bence önemli bir nokta, kavramların Fransızcadaki kullanım şekliyle yer alması. Örneğin Dedalus'u arıyorsunuz ancak sözlükte bu isimde değil de Daidalos ismiyle karşınıza çıkıyor, burda çok farklılık yok elbet ama başka maddelerde daha ciddi farklar olabiliyor. Yine de mitolojiye ilgi duyanların elinin altında bulunması gerekir diye düşünüyorum.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reference Dictionary
Alphabetical listing
A
Feuding siblings. illegitimate children. lawless nomads. banishment. abandoned children. suckled by she-wolves. muses singing contests. species transformation. deception. colonialism. hereditary rule. revenge. murder. rape. virgin rape. dismemberment. inherited estates.
That's just the first four pages.

Mythology has been with us for a long time.

Myth is inherent in every culture and people on Earth. Mythology is a form of truth that has lasted from antiquity. It has endured because it has been an oral tradition. Cultures from all parts of the Earth that had no contact, had similar mythological stories because stories were introduced and discarded, retaining core truths.
A book I read years ago explained this well. 'He Who Hunted Birds in His Father's Village: The Dimensions of the Haida Myth', by Gary Snyder.

The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology is a comprehensive handy reference book.

[Martyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

bardziej niż słownik jest to alfabetyczny zbiór mitów antycznych i ich alternatywnych wersji napisanych w elegancki, prosty sposób. nie wiem czy to typowe czytać słowniki od deski do deski, ale ten był na tyle fascynujący, że tak go przeczytałam (i znalazłam mnóstwo imion dla swoich przyszłych kotów, bo moim zdaniem wszystkie kotki powinny nazywać się, jak piękne, niezależne i feministyczne boginie) 😂

[aries · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this, such a great way to tell stories about Greek mythology by using dictionary definitions, I worked my way through slowly and learnt some new words and more information on some myths !

[Edgar Lorenzo Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una de las mejores obras de referencia sobre mitología griega y romana. Seguramente de las mejores que se pueden encontrar en español. De una forma exhaustiva y sistemática toca todo tipo de personajes mitológicos clásicos, desde los grandes dioses hasta oscuras figuras apenas mencionadas en algunos libros. Es de apreciar para los interesados en Filología e Historia que incluya en cada personaje varias de las referencias que se hacen sobre ellos en obras clásicas. Muy útil para estudiantes y expertos en el tema.

[S©aP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uno strumento completo e indispensabile per orientarsi nella mitologia classica.
Ma anche la chiave per rientrare in quel mondo delle Idee, che studiammo al liceo. E che la realtà ci nasconde ogni giorno.

[Zulayka.reidn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although most of the myths are Greek and Roman, I enjoyed it, it was practical to have a copy if you love ancient myths like I do. Thanks to my aunt for giving me a copy of it.

[Tere Díaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uff, muy buen libro, es una obra indispensable para aquellos interesados en la tradición mitológica de la antigua Grecia y Roma. Este libro es muy extenso y exhaustivo que explora y explica de manera detallada los dioses, héroes, criaturas y leyendas que componen estos fascinantes panteones. Con una sólida base académica y un estilo muy digerible.

[Contemplart · Rating 4 out of 5]

El Diccionario de mitología griega y romana de Pierre Grimal y Francisco Payarols constituye ya un clásico para cualquier amante de la mitología. Una guía para adentrarse en este imbricado mundo sin perderse por el camino.

[Giulietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome dictionary, but it lacked some things that I’ve been wondering myself and had to go to the web to find it.

[Jorge E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al great book explaining all about Olympian Deities and both Ancient Greek and Roman Divinities, Heroes and diverse Beens.

[Javier Gil Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Infinito en toda su extensión.

[natt :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't spend last summer reading all of it for it to not be here

[Pilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo amo. Indispensable en la biblioteca de un literato, en especial para quienes tenemos predilección por la filología clásica.

[Niko Voidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a dictionary but it still has really accurate information on mythology.

[Lux357 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo es todo

[The Hellene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένα πολύ χρήσιμο και βαθυστόχαστο λεξικό για την ελληνική και ρωμαϊκή μυθολογία και θρησκεία.

[Vasilis Stefanou · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent reference book of all the heroes, gods & goddesses and monsters from ancient Greece.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay book. I mean, it's basically a dictionary/encyclopedia, so it's not the most engaging read when you're reading it straight through. It's informative, so that's good.

One thing that got me, though, was that there were lots of confusing sentences, either because of the wording or punctuation, like commas in strange places or no commas where I was expecting them.

I also didn't love some of the cross-referencing, or lack of it. There might be entries that referred to a person with an alternative name, but if you looked up that alternative name, in some cases there was nothing to refer you back to the first version of the name. For example, if there were a person Bob, also known as John, as named by Mythographer X: in some cases, you could look up both Bob and John and get *some* sort of information (either the full story, or a cross reference to the other name); in other cases, though, you could look up Bob and see the story there, but there'd be nothing under John to tell you to go look up Bob.

[✨Jinglemarco✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personalmente trovo l'edizione non particolarmente piacevole da leggere, una brossura fragile dalle pagine in carta troppo lucida. Però è quasi inevitabile, considerando la mole di informazioni che contiene. Per ogni personaggio, anche sentito nominare solo una volta o proprio mai nelle lezioni di letteratura greca, corrisponde una descrizione più o meno vasta.

[Ricardo Triviño Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

No soy un experto en la materia, pero creo que este diccionario es una de las obras más completas sobre mitología grecolatina. No sólo explica los mitos con claridad sino que añade todas las fuentes clásicas conocidas donde aparecen mencionados. Es muy cómodo y fácil de consultar y sirve tanto para gente especializada en la materia como para aficionados.

[Ellen Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for adding this to my dictionary collection, m'baby.

[Megan]

The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology (Dictionary, Penguin) by Pierre Grimal (1992)

[Nelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good entry level reference for those interested in Classics. Handy to keep nearby when reading a text.

[Mark Parris]

A great reference book.

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, one to dip into, Full of all the Greek Myths,

[J.L. Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiel compañero en mis días de Mitos y Leyendas de Salo.

[Elier Mancilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro para adentrarse en el conocimiento de la mitologia grecolatina. Me gustó mucho el formato en el que está escrito (literalmente un diccionario)

[Ssarii98 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contiene mucha información basada en distintas fuentes.

[Goo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A useful reference.