The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology

by Pierre Grimal

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, Classics, Nonfiction, Adult

466 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1991

About the author

Admitted to the École Normale Supérieure in 1933, and receiving a third in the "Agrégation des lettres" in 1935, he was member of the French School at Rome (1935-1937) then taught Latin at a Rennes lycée. Then he was active as a professor of Roman civilization at the faculties of Caen and Bordeaux, and finally at the Sorbonne for thirty years.
He published studies on the Roman civilization, of which many volumes to the "Que sais-je?" series, and translations of Latin classical authors (Cicero, Seneca the Younger, Tacitus, Plautus, Terence). On his retirement, he also published biographies and fictionalized histories (Mémoires d’Agrippine, le procès Néron), more intended for the general public.
At the end of his life, he campaigned for the safeguarding of literary teaching.

Source

Reviews

[max · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the definitive treatment of Greek and Roman mythology. First published in French in 1951, it is a fully comprehensive and authoritative treatise on classical mythology. Apart from its numerous separate entries, it includes a table of sources (including ancient writers), genealogical tables, and an index. The names of Greek characters are given in Greek spellings after their English names. This is especially useful information to have today since many writers now insist on transliterating Greek names rather than relying upon their Latinized spellings. Hence, citation to the Greek name dispenses altogether with issues of how one chooses to spell the name in English.

For the fullness of its many entries, the book basically trumps all of the many handbooks that are available today, such as Zimmerman's The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Cassell's Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Tripp's Classical Mythology, The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology, Hansen's Handbook of Classical Mythology, and others. While these other works are certainly useful, they do not contain the thoroughly detailed entries that are found here.

One drawback: separate entries offer no guidance as to pronunciation of the name in question. When you are dealing with these kinds of names, that is helpful information indeed. See Zimmerman's edition, above, which does offer this.

I gave my copy away several years ago to a former student when he won a Gold Medal on the Medusa Mythology Examination. I missed it much and have since acquired a new one.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference book!!