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Women of Classical Mythology: A Biographical Dictionary
Everyone is familiar with some of the women of classical myth. Athena, goddess of wisdom, and Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty are particularly well-known, as are the snake-haired Gorgon Medusa, and the vicious harpies, half woman, half beast. Humans, too, have their place in the ancient
Medea, who killed her own children to gain revenge upon her husband Jason, and Helen of Troy, whose abduction by Paris incited the ten-year Trojan War. But these figures represent only a handful of the hundreds and hundreds of female characters who played essential roles in the poetry, drama,
and folklore that arose from Greek and Roman mythology. And despite the rich diversity of these figures, standard reference works on mythology and related subjects often give them short shrift.
This fascinating book is the first and only comprehensive biographical dictionary devoted to mythological women. It offers unprecedented access to information on hard-to-find women in Greek and Roman myth, as well as a fresh look at the better-known figures. From the famous to the obscure,
all of them are here--from Cardea, a Roman divinity who protected the hinges of doors, to Echidna, a half-woman, half-serpent who mated with her fire-breathing brother Typhon, to Ate, the goddess of error. In addition, readers will learn new facts about old how Zeus ordered the
proverbially garrulous Echo to distract Hera while he enjoyed sexual relations with Echo's sister nymphs; that Melpomene, muse of tragedy, was reputed to be mother of the sirens; that Diana--known as the Roman equivalent of Artemis, goddess of chastity and the hunt--had been worshiped as a Latin and
Sabine diety from a much earlier era.
The approximately 2,600 lively, engagingly written entries are arranged alphabetically and completely cross-referenced for easy access, and vary from one sentence to several pages. Each entry places its subject both in the overall context of classical myth, and in the frame of reference of
her better-known male counterparts. For each figure there is a description of her particular contribution to folklore, and a list of the various poems, tragedies, epics, and other types of stories in which she plays a central role. In addition, the handy special index "The Men in Their Lives"
makes it simple to locate a particular women known primarily through relations, for instance, Theseus's mother, or Achilles's wife.
Heroines, murderers, lovers, wives, animals, hermaphrodites, monsters, and transsexuals--the Women of Classical Mythology offers a unique and rich guide to an aspect of ancient literature often overlooked. It will provide readers not only with a valuable reference source, but with hours of
delightful browsing.
Medea, who killed her own children to gain revenge upon her husband Jason, and Helen of Troy, whose abduction by Paris incited the ten-year Trojan War. But these figures represent only a handful of the hundreds and hundreds of female characters who played essential roles in the poetry, drama,
and folklore that arose from Greek and Roman mythology. And despite the rich diversity of these figures, standard reference works on mythology and related subjects often give them short shrift.
This fascinating book is the first and only comprehensive biographical dictionary devoted to mythological women. It offers unprecedented access to information on hard-to-find women in Greek and Roman myth, as well as a fresh look at the better-known figures. From the famous to the obscure,
all of them are here--from Cardea, a Roman divinity who protected the hinges of doors, to Echidna, a half-woman, half-serpent who mated with her fire-breathing brother Typhon, to Ate, the goddess of error. In addition, readers will learn new facts about old how Zeus ordered the
proverbially garrulous Echo to distract Hera while he enjoyed sexual relations with Echo's sister nymphs; that Melpomene, muse of tragedy, was reputed to be mother of the sirens; that Diana--known as the Roman equivalent of Artemis, goddess of chastity and the hunt--had been worshiped as a Latin and
Sabine diety from a much earlier era.
The approximately 2,600 lively, engagingly written entries are arranged alphabetically and completely cross-referenced for easy access, and vary from one sentence to several pages. Each entry places its subject both in the overall context of classical myth, and in the frame of reference of
her better-known male counterparts. For each figure there is a description of her particular contribution to folklore, and a list of the various poems, tragedies, epics, and other types of stories in which she plays a central role. In addition, the handy special index "The Men in Their Lives"
makes it simple to locate a particular women known primarily through relations, for instance, Theseus's mother, or Achilles's wife.
Heroines, murderers, lovers, wives, animals, hermaphrodites, monsters, and transsexuals--the Women of Classical Mythology offers a unique and rich guide to an aspect of ancient literature often overlooked. It will provide readers not only with a valuable reference source, but with hours of
delightful browsing.
- GenresMythologyNonfiction
480 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 26, 2020
Five stars for a desperately needed reference book that, oddly, I find myself using all the time.
January 21, 2020
Women in Graeco-roman mythology written about brilliantly.
August 24, 2010
A wonderful reference work. Herein you will find information about the innumerable women of classical mythology that is only glossed in, or worse yet, altogether left out from, other works.
This is a serious work that draws from unassailable references. And not only is it learned, it's well-written too. You generally feel certain about the information you come across, both its accuracy and your understanding of it.
Very seldom am I unable to find at least something about the subject I'm researching. But entries often do leave me wanting a bit more; alas, primarily this is a starting point for research rather than a destination.
Regardless, "Women of Classical Mythology" fills nicely a gaping hole and thereby earns my five-star rating.
This is a serious work that draws from unassailable references. And not only is it learned, it's well-written too. You generally feel certain about the information you come across, both its accuracy and your understanding of it.
Very seldom am I unable to find at least something about the subject I'm researching. But entries often do leave me wanting a bit more; alas, primarily this is a starting point for research rather than a destination.
Regardless, "Women of Classical Mythology" fills nicely a gaping hole and thereby earns my five-star rating.
October 28, 2012
I love classical mythology and this is by far the best book out there. I am naturally attracted to stories where a female is the main character. This book gives information on nearly every female name from classical mythology. It is quite impressive. This book is very detailed and the is truly a wonderful source of information. I only wish I had not wasted my money on other mythology books. I also like how the author gave his reasons for researching the women. Often women are overshadowed by men, and the author makes it very easy to look up and find info on the women behind the well known males in mythology. This is a great book for anyone with interest in classic mythology.
January 30, 2013
Excellent source for obscure myths about the women of Greco-Roman mythology.
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June 9, 2017292.13 B435w 1991
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November 30, 2017Overwhelmingly stimulating!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews