What do you think?
Rate this book
Classical Mythology A to Z: An Encyclopedia of Gods & Goddesses, Heroes & Heroines, Nymphs, Spirits, Monsters, and Places
An encyclopedic A-to-Z guide, this beautifully illustrated volume offers hundreds of rich, fascinating definitions of 700 major and minor characters, creatures, and places of classical mythology.
Classical Mythology A-to-Z is a comprehensive and engrossing guide to Greek and Roman mythology. Written by Annette Giesecke, PhD, Professor of Classics and Chair of Ancient Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Delaware, this brilliant reference offers clear explanations of every character and locale, and captures the essence of these timeless tales.
From the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus and the heroes of the Trojan War to the nymphs, monsters, and other mythical creatures that populate these ancient stories, Giesecke recounts, with clarity and energy, the details of more than 700 characters and places. Each definition includes cross-references to related characters, locations, and myths, as well their equivalent in Roman mythology and cult.
In addition to being an important standalone work, Classical Mythology A-to-Z is also written, designed, and illustrated to serve as an essential companion to the bestselling illustrated 75th-anniversary edition of Mythology by Edith Hamilton, including 10 full-color plates and 2-color illustrations throughout by artist Jim Tierney.
Classical Mythology A-to-Z is a comprehensive and engrossing guide to Greek and Roman mythology. Written by Annette Giesecke, PhD, Professor of Classics and Chair of Ancient Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Delaware, this brilliant reference offers clear explanations of every character and locale, and captures the essence of these timeless tales.
From the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus and the heroes of the Trojan War to the nymphs, monsters, and other mythical creatures that populate these ancient stories, Giesecke recounts, with clarity and energy, the details of more than 700 characters and places. Each definition includes cross-references to related characters, locations, and myths, as well their equivalent in Roman mythology and cult.
In addition to being an important standalone work, Classical Mythology A-to-Z is also written, designed, and illustrated to serve as an essential companion to the bestselling illustrated 75th-anniversary edition of Mythology by Edith Hamilton, including 10 full-color plates and 2-color illustrations throughout by artist Jim Tierney.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2020
511 people are currently reading
7306 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 12, 2021
A very in depth look at pretty much everything mythological you could ever possibly want to know about. I kind of wish there were a few more illustrations, just because the ones that were in the book were gorgeous and interesting, so I think more creatures/beings could have inspired some awesome art.
Read
June 16, 2021 this counts as a book right
but yeah it was a very good encyclopedia with very interesting information on both popular and also less well known gods, heroes and monsters (and places)
now i need to read the actual book
but yeah it was a very good encyclopedia with very interesting information on both popular and also less well known gods, heroes and monsters (and places)
now i need to read the actual book
August 18, 2021
A to Z of classical mythology? Sign me up.
Fully recommend having this book on your shelves, it helps that it's super pretty too.
January 1, 2021
This is a fairly large book with entries for lots of mythological people, things, and places from stories. It is as described. Somehow, I was hoping for more. I browsed to my favorite characters to read the entries, and I read many of the other entries. I really enjoy myths and mythology, and I want to have a reason for this book, but I did not get additional value from it. I would have liked to see more mappings of "families/trees" (there is one) and more actual maps of places (real and imagined).
When we seek out a reference text, it is often because we want more. Perhaps if each entry included a bibliography of where to find more information (or acknowledgement that this is all we know) or if it included a short list of stories where the people/thing/place is in context.
When we seek out a reference text, it is often because we want more. Perhaps if each entry included a bibliography of where to find more information (or acknowledgement that this is all we know) or if it included a short list of stories where the people/thing/place is in context.
April 1, 2023
Desde la portada es una edición preciosa, con vivos en dorado y luego el interior, las páginas con detalles dorados, árboles genealógicos, diez ilustraciones a color, y por supuesto, la información que se me hizo bastante completa, salvo por algún detalle como en Aquiles y Patroclo, pero bueno, cuatro secciones que van de dioses, héroes, criaturas y lugares, de ahí se desglosa la información sobre múltiples personajes y los mitos más famosos, hay varios que deben ser resumidos pues dan para un libro entero jajaja.
October 1, 2021
Muy completo. Precioso por dentro y por fuera. Una joya que todo aficionado de la mitología griega debería tener en su biblioteca.
Read
October 22, 2025Ovo nije klasicna recenzija jer se ovakva knjiga ne cita samo jednom, vec se godinama moze citati (Enciklopedija). Ja sam je samo "procesljao" i vec vidim da je knjiga vrhunska! Vec duze vrijeme sam trazio ovako nesto..
Pisem ovo jer vam zelim skrenuti pozornost na ovu knjigu. Ja sam je nasao u Sarajevo Publishing knjizari su Sarajevu u ulici Hamze Hume (na uglu); kostala je nesto vise od 50 KM, smatram da je to odlicna cijena za ovakvu knjigu - bogovi, junaci, mjesta, cudovista - sve na jednom "mjestu". Izdanje je Skolska knjiga (hrvatski jezik) pa odmah znate da je kvaliteta odlicna, od (tvrdih) korica pa do papira.
Velika preporuka za sve ljubitelje anticke mitologije, ali i one koji to nisu. Odlican dodatak vasoj kolekciji i nesto sto stvarno vrijedi imati u kuci.
Pisem ovo jer vam zelim skrenuti pozornost na ovu knjigu. Ja sam je nasao u Sarajevo Publishing knjizari su Sarajevu u ulici Hamze Hume (na uglu); kostala je nesto vise od 50 KM, smatram da je to odlicna cijena za ovakvu knjigu - bogovi, junaci, mjesta, cudovista - sve na jednom "mjestu". Izdanje je Skolska knjiga (hrvatski jezik) pa odmah znate da je kvaliteta odlicna, od (tvrdih) korica pa do papira.
Velika preporuka za sve ljubitelje anticke mitologije, ali i one koji to nisu. Odlican dodatak vasoj kolekciji i nesto sto stvarno vrijedi imati u kuci.
November 19, 2022
Highly informative. Summarizes the myths of each ancient greek figure while also keeping the key legends intact.
February 10, 2021
An informative encyclopedia and an excellent companion to the 75th-anniversary edition of Edith Hamilton's Mythology. Much of my praise and criticism for this book is shared with my review of Hamilton's work. I will briefly give a summary for those only wishing to read this book, however. I would consider this encyclopedia completely separate from Hamilton's Mythology apart from in style and the occasional mention in the introduction.
Much like Hamilton's Mythology, this book serves as a great introduction to Greek myth and history without much detail. Unlike the retelling of folklore, however, this encyclopedia approaches them sometimes with a more factual discussion, which I appreciated. As well as telling the mythological history of Troy, for instance, with all the interference from Gods and Goddesses, it also gives brief accounts on the archaeological record of the city and the reality of the war. The encyclopedia also contains more illustrations by Jim Tierney, which adds a unique character to the book, although they are not frequent.
As it is only an introduction and companion, the encyclopedia is not as comprehensive as other collections of Greek myths you could read. I would have liked to see a bit more information on some of the stories, which is why I have removed a star. Most people do not choose to read encyclopedias anyway. Although it is occasionally dry, I am nonetheless happy I have it my collection for future reference.
Overall I would recommend this to anyone wanting to know more or start learning about Greek mythology. It makes a great companion to Hamilton's book and also works on its own.
Much like Hamilton's Mythology, this book serves as a great introduction to Greek myth and history without much detail. Unlike the retelling of folklore, however, this encyclopedia approaches them sometimes with a more factual discussion, which I appreciated. As well as telling the mythological history of Troy, for instance, with all the interference from Gods and Goddesses, it also gives brief accounts on the archaeological record of the city and the reality of the war. The encyclopedia also contains more illustrations by Jim Tierney, which adds a unique character to the book, although they are not frequent.
As it is only an introduction and companion, the encyclopedia is not as comprehensive as other collections of Greek myths you could read. I would have liked to see a bit more information on some of the stories, which is why I have removed a star. Most people do not choose to read encyclopedias anyway. Although it is occasionally dry, I am nonetheless happy I have it my collection for future reference.
Overall I would recommend this to anyone wanting to know more or start learning about Greek mythology. It makes a great companion to Hamilton's book and also works on its own.
October 9, 2020
I won this book through a goodreads giveaway.
I’m certainly no scholar of classical mythology but I do enjoy reading the stories and about the various characters and places in them. This isn’t a book full of the stories, you can find others with those (the book recommends Mythology by Edith Hamilton), but instead an encyclopedia of the subjects and locations you’ll find in the stories. It’s a great resource when looking for a little more info on some specific character, creature or place mentioned elsewhere. It’s not an exhaustive resource, but does give you enough to understand that subject’s place within the mythos, and it provides a list of other entries related to this one. I also enjoyed how many entries provided source references (such as Ovid, Virgil, Strabo, Herodotus, Plutarch, etc). In fact, in many cases the stories have changed over time so multiple sources are mentioned with descriptions of how the stories differ between sources. If you read the entire book straight through, not necessarily something I’d recommend though I did, you will encounter a lot of duplicate material as many characters are part of the same story, so each character entry will detail their part in that story. This is a good thing and something I’d expect in an encyclopedia like this.
The edition of the book I have is impressive, a solid hardcover with a very classy-looking book cover. I like the design and it’s printed on nice thick paper. The illustrations are very different from those I’m used to in other books and that’s not a bad thing. They are more artistic in many ways, showing the artist’s interpretation of the character. I wish there were more of them. The book is organized into four main sections: Gods, Goddesses, Spirits, and Nymphs; Heroes, Heroines, and Peoples; Monsters, Prodigies, and Hybrid Creatures; and Places and Landmarks. After these are a short appendix of gods, a glossary of sources, and an index. Throughout the book are several family trees showing how the various characters relate to one another, which can be rather interesting considering how promiscuous some of them were.
I’m very pleased to have this book. I expect to make good use of it as I continue reading other books on classical mythology.
I’m certainly no scholar of classical mythology but I do enjoy reading the stories and about the various characters and places in them. This isn’t a book full of the stories, you can find others with those (the book recommends Mythology by Edith Hamilton), but instead an encyclopedia of the subjects and locations you’ll find in the stories. It’s a great resource when looking for a little more info on some specific character, creature or place mentioned elsewhere. It’s not an exhaustive resource, but does give you enough to understand that subject’s place within the mythos, and it provides a list of other entries related to this one. I also enjoyed how many entries provided source references (such as Ovid, Virgil, Strabo, Herodotus, Plutarch, etc). In fact, in many cases the stories have changed over time so multiple sources are mentioned with descriptions of how the stories differ between sources. If you read the entire book straight through, not necessarily something I’d recommend though I did, you will encounter a lot of duplicate material as many characters are part of the same story, so each character entry will detail their part in that story. This is a good thing and something I’d expect in an encyclopedia like this.
The edition of the book I have is impressive, a solid hardcover with a very classy-looking book cover. I like the design and it’s printed on nice thick paper. The illustrations are very different from those I’m used to in other books and that’s not a bad thing. They are more artistic in many ways, showing the artist’s interpretation of the character. I wish there were more of them. The book is organized into four main sections: Gods, Goddesses, Spirits, and Nymphs; Heroes, Heroines, and Peoples; Monsters, Prodigies, and Hybrid Creatures; and Places and Landmarks. After these are a short appendix of gods, a glossary of sources, and an index. Throughout the book are several family trees showing how the various characters relate to one another, which can be rather interesting considering how promiscuous some of them were.
I’m very pleased to have this book. I expect to make good use of it as I continue reading other books on classical mythology.
September 29, 2025
Tool and Object of Discovery
Annette Giesecke offers us here a superb dictionary illustrated by the talented Jim Tierney. But don’t be mistaken—it’s not just a beautiful collector’s item.
This is a dictionary that, from A to Z, covers absolutely all the major figures of Greek mythology (while also providing their Roman equivalents).
Divided into four main categories, this comprehensive overview offers a gentle introduction for those new to the subject, and an excellent reference tool for those already familiar with it. The categories are: gods and deities, heroes and major human figures, monsters and creatures, and finally, geographical locations.
Many of the entries overlap, as stories naturally do, but I particularly appreciated that each name includes cross-references to other relevant entries in the definition.
An excellent resource for discovering or deepening one’s knowledge of classical mythology.
Annette Giesecke offers us here a superb dictionary illustrated by the talented Jim Tierney. But don’t be mistaken—it’s not just a beautiful collector’s item.
This is a dictionary that, from A to Z, covers absolutely all the major figures of Greek mythology (while also providing their Roman equivalents).
Divided into four main categories, this comprehensive overview offers a gentle introduction for those new to the subject, and an excellent reference tool for those already familiar with it. The categories are: gods and deities, heroes and major human figures, monsters and creatures, and finally, geographical locations.
Many of the entries overlap, as stories naturally do, but I particularly appreciated that each name includes cross-references to other relevant entries in the definition.
An excellent resource for discovering or deepening one’s knowledge of classical mythology.
November 1, 2025
This is a comprehensive and accessible reference guide to Greek and Roman mythology. The book offers clear explanations of over 700 characters, locations, and mythological figures, from gods and heroes to nymphs and monsters. Each entry is cross-referenced with related myths and Roman equivalents, providing a rich, interconnected view of ancient mythological traditions. Accompanied by ten full-color plates and illustrations by Jim Tierney, Classical Mythology A-to-Z is designed to serve as both a standalone reference and a companion to Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. It includes an appendix of gods, a glossary of ancient sources, and a detailed index, enhancing its usability for students, scholars, and anyone interested in exploring classical mythology. Written with clarity and energy, this book offers a thorough and engaging approach to the myths that have shaped Western culture.
February 16, 2023
Classical Mythology A to Z does exactly what it says on the cover, it's a comprehensive reference guide for people, places, and creatures of Roman and Greek mythology. This book is exhaustive in it's detail, for each entry into the book it also lists other people or places that are significant for that entry, and lists alternative names that entries might be known as. In addition to the text itself the rest of the book is beautifully designed and printed on high quality pages. There are also illustrations and art prints throughout the book that are stunning to look at and they help conceptualize the text. Overall if you have an interest in the mythology that has gone on to influence Western Civilization ever since it's creation this book is a great place to start.
July 23, 2023
Even though I read the entire thing, I don’t recall much of it. I didn’t really take in any of the information that was in the book. Not because I hated it it, though. Because I didn’t hate it at all. I mean, it’s an encyclopedia… who reads those for fun? Kidding, kidding.
However the reason I didn’t take anything in was probably because of all the information. To me this isn’t something I would read for funsies, unless I was deliberately looking for something specific, similarly to a regular encyclopedia. But I’ve always been interested in the Greek mythology and such, and I got this book because of the fact that I wanted to know more. Of course the parts I found the most fascinating, were the ones I recall better.
The art is gorgeous ofc, and I’m glad I bought this 😘
However the reason I didn’t take anything in was probably because of all the information. To me this isn’t something I would read for funsies, unless I was deliberately looking for something specific, similarly to a regular encyclopedia. But I’ve always been interested in the Greek mythology and such, and I got this book because of the fact that I wanted to know more. Of course the parts I found the most fascinating, were the ones I recall better.
The art is gorgeous ofc, and I’m glad I bought this 😘
May 25, 2022
One of the best resources for mythology fans that I have come across in a long while. I think if I was going to teach the field I might want to buy the paperback or hardback version to have as a resource I could refer back to from time to time.
This book has 4 sections Gods, men, monsters, and places. While I am sure that there are things left out, it does not feel like anything important was missed. The two narrators both did a good job with their sections and Giesecke put in a lot of interesting tidbits as well. I learned some new things, was reminded of a few things, and was able to revisit many things in the book. All in all, a very good listening and learning experience.
This book has 4 sections Gods, men, monsters, and places. While I am sure that there are things left out, it does not feel like anything important was missed. The two narrators both did a good job with their sections and Giesecke put in a lot of interesting tidbits as well. I learned some new things, was reminded of a few things, and was able to revisit many things in the book. All in all, a very good listening and learning experience.
April 20, 2025
I'm still upset that the author dared to say that Hades was a god people were terrified of, that his name wasn't spoken, and that he didn't have any worshippers or cults when he did. We have statues of him. We have evidence of cults. He even has several temples with the most famous one in Elis. It's only the modern era that has interpreted him as evil and scary. Hades was never that way in the original myths. I don't even want to know much other information is blatantly incorrect after reading that entry.
I really wish I would've checked it more before buying it.
I really wish I would've checked it more before buying it.
July 10, 2021
Greatly appreciated this book for how it helps you connect stories together at the end of each character/creature.
It was really fun to search for different tellings of the same story, and to see how it shaped the modern look on it.
Would recommend this to someone with more experience in mythology, because it's not beginner friendly.
It was really fun to search for different tellings of the same story, and to see how it shaped the modern look on it.
Would recommend this to someone with more experience in mythology, because it's not beginner friendly.
June 20, 2022
Designed as a companion to Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, it’s an exhaustive compendium of Greco-Roman characters from mythology. Divided into four parts covering Gods/Goddesses & spirits, Heroes & people, monsters & creatures and places. A must have for the serious researcher of myths as well as those with a more than casual interest in the subject.
October 13, 2022
I got this book for my The Myths of Greece and Rome class at uni. But I also found it very useful for Art and Its Context class. I found this book to be really useful for my Tutorial Paper. It goes into so much detail and references other people and characters and how they connect. I loved the illustrations too. I'm so thankful this was recommended.
April 10, 2021
4.5 out of 5.
I’d recommend this book for beginners who want to dig more into myths. The amount of informative points are all helpful for you to know more and expand your knowledge about it. Well-written and it’s actually easy to swallow.
I’d recommend this book for beginners who want to dig more into myths. The amount of informative points are all helpful for you to know more and expand your knowledge about it. Well-written and it’s actually easy to swallow.
January 2, 2023
this is the incarnation of alice in wonderlands rabbit hole.
u search a person or place or species and it links so many pages and things. u see them pop up in others stories. i just chase they prompt flicking around the boob.
but it’s safe to say many of the gods are evil fuckers
u search a person or place or species and it links so many pages and things. u see them pop up in others stories. i just chase they prompt flicking around the boob.
but it’s safe to say many of the gods are evil fuckers
January 1, 2025
A good amount of knowledge in here. Been skimming it for a few years and finally got through to the end. Would pick this up if I was looking for specific knowledge of the who, what, when, and where of Greek mythology.
October 18, 2020
A must have for any fan of Greek Mythology ❤️✨
March 1, 2021
Always a fan of Greek Mythology. I learned so many characters I’m not familiar at all. Very nice book
March 14, 2021
Okay for a reference book
May 6, 2021
I seriously want this for my bookshelf at home. O_O
July 2, 2022
Very educational
October 16, 2022
Very useful. Gives the perfect amount of info needed when you need the background to a mythical figure
Read
March 7, 2023patroclus and achilles ARE LOVERS (in my op <3)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews