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Gods and Mortals: Ancient Greek Myths for Modern Readers
An entrancing new telling of ancient Greek myths
“This book is a triumph! . . . [A] magnificent retelling of the Greek myths.”—Alexander McCall Smith, author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series
“Move over, Edith Hamilton! Sarah Iles Johnston has hit the magical refresh button on Greek myths.”—Maria Tatar, author of The Heroine with 1001 Faces
Gripping tales that abound with fantastic characters and astonishing twists and turns, Greek myths confront what it means to be mortal in a world of powerful forces beyond human control. Little wonder that they continue to fascinate readers thousands of years after they were first told. Gods and Mortals is a major new telling of ancient Greek myths by one of the world’s preeminent experts. In a fresh, vibrant, and compelling style that draws readers into the lives of the characters, Sarah Iles Johnston offers new narrations of all the best-known tales as well as others that are seldom told, taking readers on an enthralling journey from the origin of the cosmos to the aftermath of the Trojan War.
Some of the mortals in these stories are cursed by the gods, while luckier ones are blessed with resourcefulness and resilience. Gods transform themselves into animals, humans, and shimmering gold to visit the earth in disguise—where they sometimes transform offending mortals into new forms, a wolf, a spider, a craggy rock. Other mortals—both women and men—use their wits and strength to conquer the monsters created by the gods—gorgons, dragons, harpies, fire-breathing bulls.
Featuring captivating original illustrations by Tristan Johnston, Gods and Mortals highlights the rich connections between the different characters and stories, draws attention to the often-overlooked perspectives of female characters, and stays true both to the tales and to the world in which ancient people lived. The result is an engaging and entertaining new take on the Greek myths.
“This book is a triumph! . . . [A] magnificent retelling of the Greek myths.”—Alexander McCall Smith, author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series
“Move over, Edith Hamilton! Sarah Iles Johnston has hit the magical refresh button on Greek myths.”—Maria Tatar, author of The Heroine with 1001 Faces
Gripping tales that abound with fantastic characters and astonishing twists and turns, Greek myths confront what it means to be mortal in a world of powerful forces beyond human control. Little wonder that they continue to fascinate readers thousands of years after they were first told. Gods and Mortals is a major new telling of ancient Greek myths by one of the world’s preeminent experts. In a fresh, vibrant, and compelling style that draws readers into the lives of the characters, Sarah Iles Johnston offers new narrations of all the best-known tales as well as others that are seldom told, taking readers on an enthralling journey from the origin of the cosmos to the aftermath of the Trojan War.
Some of the mortals in these stories are cursed by the gods, while luckier ones are blessed with resourcefulness and resilience. Gods transform themselves into animals, humans, and shimmering gold to visit the earth in disguise—where they sometimes transform offending mortals into new forms, a wolf, a spider, a craggy rock. Other mortals—both women and men—use their wits and strength to conquer the monsters created by the gods—gorgons, dragons, harpies, fire-breathing bulls.
Featuring captivating original illustrations by Tristan Johnston, Gods and Mortals highlights the rich connections between the different characters and stories, draws attention to the often-overlooked perspectives of female characters, and stays true both to the tales and to the world in which ancient people lived. The result is an engaging and entertaining new take on the Greek myths.
564 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2023
109 people are currently reading
987 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Iles Johnston
18 books34 followersSarah Iles Johnston is the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor of Religion and Professor of Classics and Comparative Studies at The Ohio State University.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 1, 2024
Given Professor Johnston’s credentials, I had much higher expectations for this book. I think she could have used more tact and sophistication, such as in the case of her description of Hermes farting in the face of Apollo. I wasn't a fan of how in one moment, the baby Hermes is portrayed as talking like a 1920s gangster (i.e., “Listen, pal, if you don’t want a bad harvest this year, forget that you ever saw me”), then in the next moment, he sounds like a sassy toddler from Rugrats (“I’m just a baby, what do I know?”). The book has many details that the author, admittedly, invented herself, and events are told from a decidedly biased perspective. These myths are retold with vulgar and demeaning name-calling to women (i.e., “b****) and crude descriptions of details that aren’t in the original myths. I would probably still give this book 2 1/2 stars if I could because it is quite comprehensive and the author does a good job of describing details of what she imagines things would have been like. Again, I just wish these myths would have been told with more sophistication and remained truer to their original versions.
May 6, 2025
Ich hab’s getan: Ich bin kopfüber in die griechische Sagenwelt eingetaucht – und statt mir den Hals zu brechen, habe ich dabei eine goldene Schatzkiste gefunden. Sarah Iles Johnston hat mit diesem Buch den Staub von Jahrtausenden weggeblasen und den Mythen einen frischen Haarschnitt verpasst – inklusive Glitzer und Intelligenz. Keine trockenen Schulbuchsätze, kein Herumgestolper über altbackene Formulierungen, sondern ein flüssiger, moderner Stil, der mich direkt neben Odysseus auf sein wackliges Boot gestellt hat.
Die Geschichten sind so clever arrangiert, dass ich kaum gemerkt habe, wie ich von der Geburt der Welt bis zum Trojanischen Krieg durchgerauscht bin – völlig ohne Navi, aber mit einem fetten Grinsen. Dabei sind die Kapitel wie Pralinen: Man kann sie einzeln genießen, aber am Ende will man trotzdem die ganze Schachtel. Und dann ist da noch diese stille Meisterleistung, wie die weiblichen Figuren nicht nur Randnotizen bleiben, sondern mit Wucht und Würde auftreten. Medea? Komplex. Persephone? Vielschichtig. Athena? Einfach cool.
Dazu kommen die Illustrationen von Tristan Johnston – ein echter Augenschmaus, irgendwo zwischen antikem Flair und moderner Popkultur. Das Buch fühlt sich an, als hätte jemand Netflix, Ovid und ein bisschen Harry-Potter-Zauber in einen Topf geworfen und daraus ein Festessen gekocht. Und Heike Schlatterers Übersetzung? Butterweich. Ich hab kaum gemerkt, dass das Ganze ursprünglich Englisch war – es liest sich so locker wie ein Sommernachmittag mit einem guten Drink.
Kurz: Dieses Buch hat mir gezeigt, dass Götter gar nicht so fern sind. Sie sind chaotisch, dramatisch, witzig – also irgendwie wie wir. Und ich? Ich bin jetzt Mythensüchtig. Danke dafür!
Die Geschichten sind so clever arrangiert, dass ich kaum gemerkt habe, wie ich von der Geburt der Welt bis zum Trojanischen Krieg durchgerauscht bin – völlig ohne Navi, aber mit einem fetten Grinsen. Dabei sind die Kapitel wie Pralinen: Man kann sie einzeln genießen, aber am Ende will man trotzdem die ganze Schachtel. Und dann ist da noch diese stille Meisterleistung, wie die weiblichen Figuren nicht nur Randnotizen bleiben, sondern mit Wucht und Würde auftreten. Medea? Komplex. Persephone? Vielschichtig. Athena? Einfach cool.
Dazu kommen die Illustrationen von Tristan Johnston – ein echter Augenschmaus, irgendwo zwischen antikem Flair und moderner Popkultur. Das Buch fühlt sich an, als hätte jemand Netflix, Ovid und ein bisschen Harry-Potter-Zauber in einen Topf geworfen und daraus ein Festessen gekocht. Und Heike Schlatterers Übersetzung? Butterweich. Ich hab kaum gemerkt, dass das Ganze ursprünglich Englisch war – es liest sich so locker wie ein Sommernachmittag mit einem guten Drink.
Kurz: Dieses Buch hat mir gezeigt, dass Götter gar nicht so fern sind. Sie sind chaotisch, dramatisch, witzig – also irgendwie wie wir. Und ich? Ich bin jetzt Mythensüchtig. Danke dafür!
April 18, 2023
I read this book in preparation for a trip to Greece, having very limited knowledge of Greek mythology. It was so easy to read and very well-written (it reads like a story, rather than an author telling facts). Definitely recommend to anyone who wants to gain a basic knowledge of Greek myths, both the most popular ones and lesser-known ones.
January 27, 2024
good, but kind of ick
July 20, 2023
This was a fantastic compendium of the Greek myths, broken down (mostly) chronologically, from the initial creation of Earth and her children, the titans, the gods, down to the first humans and demi-gods, and then goes all the way up to the Trojan war and finally, the return home of the heroes after the war. As with any large collection of Greek myths, at points it becomes a little hard to keep track of all the names and who is scheming against whom or which god is the father of whom (Game of Thrones has nothing on the pettiness and violence of the Greek gods). I took this out from the library but I'm seriously considering buying a copy just so I can keep it as a reference. Each story is no more than a few pages, though some larger plots encompass several stories, and they're written in a modern, clear, engaging language.
I don't know enough about Greek mythology to know if anything major is missing here, but it certainly doesn't seem like it, and the author is a classics professor and has written extensively on Greek mythology, so I'm guessing all the big ones are here, as well as some lesser-known stories.
I don't know enough about Greek mythology to know if anything major is missing here, but it certainly doesn't seem like it, and the author is a classics professor and has written extensively on Greek mythology, so I'm guessing all the big ones are here, as well as some lesser-known stories.
December 10, 2023
I wish I could give two ratings, one for the quality of the writing in this book and another for how I felt as I read it. I have been aware for a long time that much of our current literature takes things and names from Greek myths. I also realized that I knew very few of them, and I wanted to build my knowledge in the hope that it might help me become a better reader and writer.
The author has done a fine job of making myths approachable and understandable in our modern language. She deserves four stars for the quality of her work.
The amount of Sexual assault in these myths is mind-boggling. It is rarely ever punished or acknowledged, and the women end up suffering in many ways. Some are even punished for it. I feel discussed, contempt, and fury at many of these myths. If I had the book in physical form, I'd have thrown it at the wall several times. so I can't give this four stars.
The author has done a fine job of making myths approachable and understandable in our modern language. She deserves four stars for the quality of her work.
The amount of Sexual assault in these myths is mind-boggling. It is rarely ever punished or acknowledged, and the women end up suffering in many ways. Some are even punished for it. I feel discussed, contempt, and fury at many of these myths. If I had the book in physical form, I'd have thrown it at the wall several times. so I can't give this four stars.
June 16, 2025
Gods and Mortals – Ancient Greek Myths for Modern Readers by Sarah Iles Johnston -the under signed thinks we live in the new age of The Minotaur from Florida
9 out of 10
I think we live in the era of The Minotaur, the archetype is Orange Jesus, one that looks somewhat like a human – he keeps claiming he ‘has a big brain, he is a very stable genius’ but that is just pompous crap – but when you listen to what he says, you see that he is really a monster, ready to destroy anything that does not suit him
Then there are many others, from Putin, Xi, Maduro, Kim of North Korea, ayatollahs, Hamas terrorists (in fact, when you have that name, it is an oxymoron to add anything, unless of course, you are Erdogan, another crazy beast, who claims these are freedom fighters) and with lesser gravity, the likes of Modi, sheiks of the Middle East, the Egyptian dictator, the soldiers from parts of Africa that stole power, South African leaders, a huge list
Theseus is the one that fought with the Minotaur, and in November, we will have old Biden taking on one of the most loathsome of the lot, the braggadocio who suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, he is also a psychopath, a repulsive idiot, whose everyday activities are a source of amusement and horror
The latest was about the photo he posted, half Elvis and half Orange Jesus (this is the preposterous name that Republican Representatives have picked for the New Age Minotaur) the fool wrote that people say he looks like Elvis, and Seth Meyers https://realini.blogspot.com/2018/02/... reacted
the wonderful comedian said that ‘Trump looks as if he also died on the toilet’ and jesting aside, it is incredible for me to follow the news and see that more than seventy million Americans are hypnotized by this Confidence Man https://realini.blogspot.com/2023/09/...
speaking of Con Men, Theseus was conceived after a trick, Pytheus gets his own daughter in bed with Aegeus – the one who will give the name to the Aegean Sea, but I am getting ahead of myself…there is the possibility that the father was actually Poseidon, the god of the sea – the King of Athens wants his son to succeed him
Theseus will be hidden, until the age of ascending on the throne is near, he will travel on a dangerous road, with brigands and monsters…the bed of Procust is part of the adventure, this is abed that symbolizes the elimination of what does not fit in the norms, we have a celebrated novel with that title, The Bed of Procust
The Minotaur is a monster that requires sacrifice, to me, this is a symbol of dictators, and tyrants, creatures like Putin, Trump, who cannot stand opposition, they revile anyone who criticizes them and in the case of Orange Jesus, if he gets praise, the he becomes friendly with the flatterer, even if he is a mass killer
The example is evident, the meeting in Oslo, when Orange Jesus says that he ‘ believes Putin’, over the National Security Agency and the other institutions from his own land (this is the definition of traitor, there is no better one, when the man at the top switches sides, and jumps into the camp of the foe, who can say ‘ look, eliminate your army, you do not need it, we are buddies, and you are such a genius, you can handle it’
Obviously, this is a hyperbole, but other than that, look at the evidence and what is happening now, we have had this discussion, a few hours ago, at the Downtown sauna, where I was talking to this statistician from the Republic of Moldova, we do not need to speculate over what Orange Jesus would do, were he to be elected
See what is going one now, in the present, and over these past few months, when Republicans in the Senate have negotiated a deal to fund Ukraine, Israel and the border security, only to abandon the understanding, because their leader aka Trump is so God damn selfish, self-absorbed that he does not want a solution
He does not care if Ukraine loses the war against Russia (again, he only cares about himself, the psycho) and ergo he wants the deal (anything that could help his adversary) to be signed once he is in office, and to hell with any tragic consequences, people dead, women, children, losses of territory, that is of no consequence
The GOP, Republican Party, used to be strong on security, in elections stating that the democrats would be weak against Russia and others, now, the reverse is true, the news of yesterday was that Tucker Carlson – the fool that embraced Orange Jesus, only to say in private that he hates the guy – will take an interview with Putin, which shows how Fox News, the right is mad, they kiss and love dictators, The Kremlin Butcher in particular
Yes, Carlson was fired by Fox News, but only after that stupid propaganda machine had had to pay over seven hundred million dollars, in part because of the messages that showed that the anchors there knew that the election lies were flagrant, there was no fraud, no satellites meddling, Maduro did not win for Biden
The lamentable lies that The Kremlin Mass Killer will spill will thus be eaten with big spoons by the members of the Trump cult, they will hear, and morons that they are will believe, that Ukraine is Russian land, they are peace loving innocents, the Minotaur from the Red Square is an angel, out to bring gifts to the world
After all, with the invasion in progress, Orange Jesus aka the Florida Minotaur said that Putin is grand, he had taken so much land, with such little trouble, an admiring fan this cretin, who also claimed he will end this conflict in 24 hours, which you bet he will, because he will call and ask friend Vladimir to take whatever he wants…
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Heritage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
‚Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’
“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”
9 out of 10
I think we live in the era of The Minotaur, the archetype is Orange Jesus, one that looks somewhat like a human – he keeps claiming he ‘has a big brain, he is a very stable genius’ but that is just pompous crap – but when you listen to what he says, you see that he is really a monster, ready to destroy anything that does not suit him
Then there are many others, from Putin, Xi, Maduro, Kim of North Korea, ayatollahs, Hamas terrorists (in fact, when you have that name, it is an oxymoron to add anything, unless of course, you are Erdogan, another crazy beast, who claims these are freedom fighters) and with lesser gravity, the likes of Modi, sheiks of the Middle East, the Egyptian dictator, the soldiers from parts of Africa that stole power, South African leaders, a huge list
Theseus is the one that fought with the Minotaur, and in November, we will have old Biden taking on one of the most loathsome of the lot, the braggadocio who suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, he is also a psychopath, a repulsive idiot, whose everyday activities are a source of amusement and horror
The latest was about the photo he posted, half Elvis and half Orange Jesus (this is the preposterous name that Republican Representatives have picked for the New Age Minotaur) the fool wrote that people say he looks like Elvis, and Seth Meyers https://realini.blogspot.com/2018/02/... reacted
the wonderful comedian said that ‘Trump looks as if he also died on the toilet’ and jesting aside, it is incredible for me to follow the news and see that more than seventy million Americans are hypnotized by this Confidence Man https://realini.blogspot.com/2023/09/...
speaking of Con Men, Theseus was conceived after a trick, Pytheus gets his own daughter in bed with Aegeus – the one who will give the name to the Aegean Sea, but I am getting ahead of myself…there is the possibility that the father was actually Poseidon, the god of the sea – the King of Athens wants his son to succeed him
Theseus will be hidden, until the age of ascending on the throne is near, he will travel on a dangerous road, with brigands and monsters…the bed of Procust is part of the adventure, this is abed that symbolizes the elimination of what does not fit in the norms, we have a celebrated novel with that title, The Bed of Procust
The Minotaur is a monster that requires sacrifice, to me, this is a symbol of dictators, and tyrants, creatures like Putin, Trump, who cannot stand opposition, they revile anyone who criticizes them and in the case of Orange Jesus, if he gets praise, the he becomes friendly with the flatterer, even if he is a mass killer
The example is evident, the meeting in Oslo, when Orange Jesus says that he ‘ believes Putin’, over the National Security Agency and the other institutions from his own land (this is the definition of traitor, there is no better one, when the man at the top switches sides, and jumps into the camp of the foe, who can say ‘ look, eliminate your army, you do not need it, we are buddies, and you are such a genius, you can handle it’
Obviously, this is a hyperbole, but other than that, look at the evidence and what is happening now, we have had this discussion, a few hours ago, at the Downtown sauna, where I was talking to this statistician from the Republic of Moldova, we do not need to speculate over what Orange Jesus would do, were he to be elected
See what is going one now, in the present, and over these past few months, when Republicans in the Senate have negotiated a deal to fund Ukraine, Israel and the border security, only to abandon the understanding, because their leader aka Trump is so God damn selfish, self-absorbed that he does not want a solution
He does not care if Ukraine loses the war against Russia (again, he only cares about himself, the psycho) and ergo he wants the deal (anything that could help his adversary) to be signed once he is in office, and to hell with any tragic consequences, people dead, women, children, losses of territory, that is of no consequence
The GOP, Republican Party, used to be strong on security, in elections stating that the democrats would be weak against Russia and others, now, the reverse is true, the news of yesterday was that Tucker Carlson – the fool that embraced Orange Jesus, only to say in private that he hates the guy – will take an interview with Putin, which shows how Fox News, the right is mad, they kiss and love dictators, The Kremlin Butcher in particular
Yes, Carlson was fired by Fox News, but only after that stupid propaganda machine had had to pay over seven hundred million dollars, in part because of the messages that showed that the anchors there knew that the election lies were flagrant, there was no fraud, no satellites meddling, Maduro did not win for Biden
The lamentable lies that The Kremlin Mass Killer will spill will thus be eaten with big spoons by the members of the Trump cult, they will hear, and morons that they are will believe, that Ukraine is Russian land, they are peace loving innocents, the Minotaur from the Red Square is an angel, out to bring gifts to the world
After all, with the invasion in progress, Orange Jesus aka the Florida Minotaur said that Putin is grand, he had taken so much land, with such little trouble, an admiring fan this cretin, who also claimed he will end this conflict in 24 hours, which you bet he will, because he will call and ask friend Vladimir to take whatever he wants…
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Heritage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
‚Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’
“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”
September 25, 2025
good soup. good soup to quell my hunger for my special interest (jokes on you i will aways read more of the same hihi)
April 11, 2023
This is the most comprehensive and readable collection of Greek myths available today. Professor Johnston has a vivid writing style, and the myths and their heroes and heroines come alive. Although the names are overwhelming, the familiar stories (Oedipus, Medusa, Prometheus, the Trojan War, Odysseus) are quite enjoyable. For those who remember Edith Hamilton from grade school, Professor Johnston's book is worth reading and reminding one how truly spectacular the Greek myths are.
January 1, 2024
This book was so fun! I learned new details of myths I love and read stories I hadn't heard before! I'm glad I got to read about Greek Mythology twice this year!
June 26, 2024
DNF. I know some people think it's poor form to rate a book you haven't finished, but I really do not feel this book deserves its four star average. Or a long review.
I wanted to love this book. Restless Dead impressed me so much that I had high, high hopes for this one, and when I finished her retelling of Persephone's abduction and Demeter's wanderings, I thought my hopes might be fulfilled.
Unfortunately, SIJ seems to have fallen into the trap of reimagining old stories for "modern audiences:" that is to say, assuming that because female characters and perspectives were so often underserved in Ye Olden Dayes, it's necessary to treat established male characters with open condescension and scorn. It's not enough to retell Demeter's assault at Poseidon's hands with sensitivity and compassion; no, we need to portray Poseidon, Zeus, Apollo, and every other male deity as a sociopathic man-child with mommy issues. It doesn't matter that people worshipped these gods, or that—as in Christianity—worshippers often regarded those deities as being far kinder and more benevolent than their mythological portrayals let on. It's not enough to tell little-known myths centering on women, like the story of Erigone; no, we need to make every single male character an unrepentant rapist, a complete buffoon, or both. Yes, I know that consent was often dubious in Greek myths, because the ancients didn't draw the line between seduction and rape; but making every single instance of dubious consent into a case of rape was over the top, unnecessary, and borderline vindictive.
If you want a woman's take on Greek myths, just read Edith Hamilton's work. Don't waste your money or your time on this one.
I wanted to love this book. Restless Dead impressed me so much that I had high, high hopes for this one, and when I finished her retelling of Persephone's abduction and Demeter's wanderings, I thought my hopes might be fulfilled.
Unfortunately, SIJ seems to have fallen into the trap of reimagining old stories for "modern audiences:" that is to say, assuming that because female characters and perspectives were so often underserved in Ye Olden Dayes, it's necessary to treat established male characters with open condescension and scorn. It's not enough to retell Demeter's assault at Poseidon's hands with sensitivity and compassion; no, we need to portray Poseidon, Zeus, Apollo, and every other male deity as a sociopathic man-child with mommy issues. It doesn't matter that people worshipped these gods, or that—as in Christianity—worshippers often regarded those deities as being far kinder and more benevolent than their mythological portrayals let on. It's not enough to tell little-known myths centering on women, like the story of Erigone; no, we need to make every single male character an unrepentant rapist, a complete buffoon, or both. Yes, I know that consent was often dubious in Greek myths, because the ancients didn't draw the line between seduction and rape; but making every single instance of dubious consent into a case of rape was over the top, unnecessary, and borderline vindictive.
If you want a woman's take on Greek myths, just read Edith Hamilton's work. Don't waste your money or your time on this one.
August 16, 2023
I haven't actually finished reading this, but have decided it's not a cover-to-cover book for me. I'm keeping it with pleasure and will use it as a reference book when I need a quick overview of a myth. It's extremely comprehensive, and this author is so well grounded in the source material that I'm confident of getting a reasonably accurate picture from her.
But I'm not enjoying it.
SIJ has a great rep in the polytheist community, but she's not a polytheist. So, she doesn't owe the Theoi anything, I guess, and doesn't deliver Them any love. There's a snarkiness to the presentation that brings it down to the level of all the memes that make fun of the endless, very human foibles that people like to drape over the Shining Ones.
Theres's zero unpacking of anything. That's okay. The author is going for a comprehensive compendium of the most influential (and fun) myths, and that doesn't leave room for deep dives. I didn't expect Burkert.
I did hope for respect.
Oh well, it's still a really lovely compilation of Greek myths, with gorgeous illustrations. I'll be revisiting it frequently. Just not loving on it.
But I'm not enjoying it.
SIJ has a great rep in the polytheist community, but she's not a polytheist. So, she doesn't owe the Theoi anything, I guess, and doesn't deliver Them any love. There's a snarkiness to the presentation that brings it down to the level of all the memes that make fun of the endless, very human foibles that people like to drape over the Shining Ones.
Theres's zero unpacking of anything. That's okay. The author is going for a comprehensive compendium of the most influential (and fun) myths, and that doesn't leave room for deep dives. I didn't expect Burkert.
I did hope for respect.
Oh well, it's still a really lovely compilation of Greek myths, with gorgeous illustrations. I'll be revisiting it frequently. Just not loving on it.
May 29, 2023
A few months out of publication and read this fantastic tome that refreshes and rewires the connections and interrelationships between Ancient Greek gods and mortals. Many of us know some of these individual tales, yet most don’t really know their origin or full story. Johnston captures all of this in dramatic prose, with some accompanying illustrations and evokes readers’ imaginations. Most Gods, like their mortal companions, suffer from all kinds of human character failures and frailties and we get to read how those Gods attempt to either befriend/reward mortals, or try to defeat them in gruesome ways. Gods have the ability to change forms and cast mortals into forms, too, either animate or inanimate. Thoroughly enjoyable read and escape from other forms of Greek mythology!
February 12, 2025
I recommend it for anyone with a general interest in Greek mythology and legends. This is not intended for an academic audience and a few people here seem to think. I have a fair background on the subject, but I felt OD'd on all of the gods, goddesses, nymphs, sprite, and monsters and the plain meanness of the deities and humans they interacted with. Not to mention their horniness. And let's not forget an obsession with revenge, rape and war. Mt. Olympus and environs consisted of a huge dysfunctional family. Finally, it is easy to read the connection between deities and heroes and OT stories. The root of soap opera is religion and the literature that follows.
August 15, 2023
I love "Gods and Mortals: Ancient Greek Myths for Modern Readers" by Sarah Iles Johnston. It's almost Biblical, organised chronologically. Her academic background shines through, and I appreciate that she adds context, doesn't just casually gloss over rape, and brings the myths to life. It's the most accessible collection I've ever read, and I highly recommend it.
June 17, 2023
Easy way to read Greek mythology.
Want to read
July 8, 2023h/t FiveBooks twitter thread 7/8/23
https://twitter.com/tdjohan/status/16...
sounds like a great way to get more organized around mythology.
https://twitter.com/tdjohan/status/16...
sounds like a great way to get more organized around mythology.
August 1, 2023
Loved it! I appreciated the way the stories were organized, and it definitely helped feed my growing obsession with Greek mythology.
February 3, 2024
Great stories, though the writing is sometimes clunky. Best to dip in and out of rather than an A to Z reading.
June 6, 2024
Engaging portrayal of ancient myths, with an eye toward modernizing for today's reader. Pairs well with The Silmarillion, or similar enterprises that engage adventure, myth, and humanity.
October 28, 2024
Good information just hard to follow with how many different names and stories there are.
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