This can be considered Greek Mythology 101. The Alphabet of Greek Gods and Goddesses. The book is very simple and informative. It is so enjoyable I finished it within a couple of hours. It tells different selected stories of Greek Legends and describes their believed effect on the physical world. For a beginner, this one is a good start. For an advanced reader, I have to say, don't bother, find something else. For me, this was my gate to a world of wonders.
I was really excited about reading a book which will satisfy my interest in Greek mythology. However, this book was a real disappointment. Although it had myths I've never heard of like Helius & Phaethon, Baucis & Philemon & so on, it lacked details & it was too short for my liking.
A very good little book on Greek mythology. Nine stories, each preceded by a short introduction and then followed by "Expert Commentaries," where it quotes the professionals' opinions on the stories. Interesting and entertaining not only for newbies of Greek mythology, but also those who think they've got it down pat.
Good for a quick read or for school but maybe not for advanced readers. Also this is more about 'other minor' gods except for the first titans. The major gods like Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Helios, Hera, Athena, Ares etc do not have their own page. They are mentioned indirectly into others' stories.
This is one of amazing books in Mythology. The language is pretty simple and it's a best book to start studying mythology. I really enjoyed studying it.
A long time ago in a place called Lydia lived a young weaver named Arachne. She was a well-skilled weaver that bunch of visitors came to watch her weave. Arachne was very proud of her work, but also very arrogant. She claimed that she could beat Athena, goddess of wisdom and craft, with her weaving skills. This news reached Athena. Though she was absolutely angry, she decided to give her a chance to recover what she had mentioned before. She switched her to a dotard and gently warned her to not challenge a god. Arachne gave her a feeling of obnoxious and pompous and told that she will welcome a contest with Athena. This made Athena reveal herself from a dotard then she accepted the battle, deciding that the loser must never weave again. Athena wove a cloth which shown the achievements of the gods. Arachne, however, had moved a cloth which made cajolement of god; drunk, punishing, etc. When Athena saw her tapestry, she was so mad of Arachne’s disrespect toward a god and goddess. She tore out her tapestry, then made her to never weave again. After 7 years, when Athena’s anger was softened, she finally turns Arachne into a spider, which allowed her to weave again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Collection of stories and myths from Greek mythology. Each story has an introduction, the story itself, Q & A and comments from expert. It's like a really interesting history lesson with very simple language and no dates/years to be memories. This book starts with history of Greek culture and people, explain why there are various versions of each myth and similarities with other cultures. It also explains what each myth ment to commons. It's like a research paper with reference and quotations from other books. I loved this book and realised that Norse mythology too is similar to the Greek mythology.
“Before there was land or sea, people or gods, nothing existed, except Chaos. Chaos was a space of neither order nor disorder. It was a period of vast emptiness. Even time did not exist.”
A great book to learn greek mythology. If a person wants to start reading about greek mythology, this is the book I would recommend from now on. Easy to read.