Download or read book Myth and History in Ancient Greece written by Claude Calame and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2003-07-22 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Surely the ancient Greeks would have been baffled to see what we consider their "mythology." Here, Claude Calame mounts a powerful critique of modern-day misconceptions on this front and the lax methodology that has allowed them to prevail. He argues that the Greeks viewed their abundance of narratives not as a single mythology but as an "archaeology." They speculated symbolically on key historical events so that a community of believing citizens could access them efficiently, through ritual means. Central to the book is Calame's rigorous and fruitful analysis of various accounts of the foundation of that most "mythical" of the Greek colonies--Cyrene, in eastern Libya. Calame opens with a magisterial historical survey demonstrating today's misapplication of the terms "myth" and "mythology." Next, he examines the Greeks' symbolic discourse to show that these modern concepts arose much later than commonly believed. Having established this interpretive framework, Calame undertakes a comparative analysis of six accounts of Cyrene's foundation: three by Pindar and one each by Herodotus (in two different versions), Callimachus, and Apollonius of Rhodes. We see how the underlying narrative was shaped in each into a poetically sophisticated, distinctive form by the respective medium, a particular poetical genre, and the specific socio-historical circumstances. Calame concludes by arguing in favor of the Greeks' symbolic approach to the past and by examining the relation of mythos to poetry and music.
Download or read book Myth Becomes History written by Carol G. Thomas and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book A Brief Guide to the Greek Myths written by Stephen P. Kershaw and published by Robinson. This book was released on 2013-02-07 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book leads the reader through these vibrant stories, from the origins of the gods through to the homecomings of the Trojan heroes. All the familiar narratives are here, along with some less familiar characters and motifs. In addition to the tales, the book explains key issues arising from the narratives, and discusses the myths and their wider relevance. This long-overdue book crystallises three key areas of interest: the nature of the tales; the stories themselves; and how they have and might be interpreted. For the first time, it brings together aspects of Greek mythology only usually available in disparate forms - namely children's books and academic works. There will be much here that is interesting, surprising, and strange as well as familiar. Experts and non-experts, adults, students and schoolchildren alike will gain entertainment and insight from this fascinating and important volume.
Download or read book Introducing the Ancient Greeks From Bronze Age Seafarers to Navigators of the Western Mind written by Edith Hall and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2014-06-16 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Wonderful…a thoughtful discussion of what made [the Greeks] so important, in their own time and in ours." —Natalie Haynes, Independent The ancient Greeks invented democracy, theater, rational science, and philosophy. They built the Parthenon and the Library of Alexandria. Yet this accomplished people never formed a single unified social or political identity. In Introducing the Ancient Greeks, acclaimed classics scholar Edith Hall offers a bold synthesis of the full 2,000 years of Hellenic history to show how the ancient Greeks were the right people, at the right time, to take up the baton of human progress. Hall portrays a uniquely rebellious, inquisitive, individualistic people whose ideas and creations continue to enthrall thinkers centuries after the Greek world was conquered by Rome. These are the Greeks as you’ve never seen them before.
Download or read book Kinship Myth in Ancient Greece written by Lee E. Patterson and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2010-12-15 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study enriches the dialogue on how societies often use myth to construct political, social, and cultural identity---hardly unique to the ancient Greeks, it is rather a human phenomenon for a culture to embrace an identity grounded in a putative ancestry that is expressed in the traditional stories of that culture. --Book Jacket.
Download or read book Greek Myths written by DK and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2020-07-14 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A beautifully-illustrated book filled with over 30 Ancient Greek Myths for children aged 7-9. Journey into a world of gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, extraordinary creatures and fantastic monsters with this beautifully illustrated introduction to Ancient Greek mythology. Perfect for children aged 7 to 9, this collection contains more than 30 enthralling new retellings of favourite Greek myths as well as some you might not have heard before. Including ‘Theseus and the Minotaur’, ‘The 12 Labours of Herakles’, and the escapades of ‘Jason and the Argonauts’, each myth is told in engaging modern language, which is easy for children to understand yet still retains the humour and intrigue of the original tales. Encourage your children to explore: - Over 30 fascinating Greek myths, covering famous classics and lesser known stories - Striking illustrations by multi-award winning artist Katie Ponder - Stunning gold foil on the cover - A handy pronunciation guide listing all difficult-to-pronounce names for the reader’s convenience - Key reference spreads combining the appeal of a story collection with key reference information A must-have volume for children aged 7-9 with an interest in Greek mythology and history, the additional feature pages delve deeper into the mythical world, providing profiles of the gods and a map detailing Odysseus’ long voyage home from the Trojan War. The reference section provides key background information, such as Ancient Greek storytelling and the incredible beasts of the myths, and a handy pronunciation guide. Greek Myths is the perfect gift, featuring stunning gold foil on the cover and beautiful illustrations throughout. Quench your child’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge, as they explore the enthralling tales, whether by themselves or to equally be enjoyed as bedtime stories alongside parents.
Download or read book Creators Conquerors and Citizens written by Robin Waterfield and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 542 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fascinating, accessible, and up-to-date history of the Ancient Greeks. Covering the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods, and centred around the disunity of the Greeks, their underlying cultural unity, and their eventual political unification.
Download or read book Myths of the Ancient Greeks written by Richard P. Martin and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2003-04-01 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From one of today’s foremost scholars, a lively retelling of the timeless tales… Here are the myths that have influenced so much of our cultural heritage. Such age-old stories as the tragic love of Orpheus and Eurydice or Demeter’s loss of her daughter, Persephone, resonate strongly with readers even today. In this book the rousing adventures of the heroes Herakles, Theseus, and Perseus are intertwined with the tragedies of immortal Prometheus and mortal Oedipus, the amorous escapades of Zeus, the trickery of Hermes, and the ecstasy of Dionysus. In-depth introductions to each section deepen your understanding of the myths—and heighten your reading pleasure. Presented in simple yet elegant prose, these tales emerge in brilliant new life. From the creation battle of the gods and Titans to Odysseus’ return home from the Trojan War, this indispensable volume contains fifty-six legendary stories—handed down from generations past—that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
Download or read book Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece written by Ksenia Gandin and published by . This book was released on 2020-07-23 with total page 715 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on the bestselling book of N. A. Kun, this is an easy-to-read, comprehensive collection of Greek myths. The book consists of eight chapters, covering the majority of the Greek mythology universe: (1) Stories of the Gods - the stories of creation, the war with the Titans and the myths related to the main Olympian gods. (2) Stories of the Heroes - Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa, Theseus and the Minotaur, Prometheus, Bellerophon, Orpheus, Daedalus and Icarus, Europa, Cadmus, Niobe and many more. (3) Heracles - the Twelve Labors and other myths related to the greatest of the heroes. (4) Oedipus and the Theban Cycle - including Antigone, Seven against Thebes and the Epigoni. (5) The Argonauts and the Quest for the Golden Fleece - a detailed retelling of the famous journey, including the story of Jason and Medea. (6) Stories of Troy - mainly based on "The Iliad" by Homer, but also other myths related to the Trojan War, such as the Golden Apple, the Judgement of Paris, the Trojan Horse, the Fall of Troy, and additional stories about Achilles, Patroclus, Ajax the Great, Helen, Cassandra and more. (7) The House of Agamemnon - the stories of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Orestes and Iphigenia. (8) The Odyssey - the journey of Odysseus to his native Ithaca, retold from "The Odyssey" by Homer.The book is based on a translation of the bestseller "What The Ancient Greeks And Romans Told About Their Gods And Heroes" by Nikolay A. Kun, a famous historian and writer, written in 1914. Ever since, the book has been extremely popular in Eastern Europe, and since it came out, has received hundreds of publications in Russian, and was translated into multiple languages. This edition: * Is an easy-to-read, adapted retelling of the original book, based on its translation into simple, modern English. * Is organized in a story-like manner, combining myths from different sources into a unified tale. * Is adjusted in a manner appropriate for younger readers, while staying as loyal as possible to the original ancient texts. * Includes detailed retelling of the "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" by Homer, Ovid's "Metamorphoses", "The Argonautica" by Apollonius of Rhodes, the greatest Greek tragedies by Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus and many more. * Closely follows the ancient sources, completing and supplementing Kun's stories with new details and context. * Contains stories that have been adapted into the versions of the myths more commonly popular in the West.*Includes multiple stories not included in Kun's original book. * The order of the chapters is different from the original book to simplify chronological understanding. * Includes multiple, in-depth annotations referencing art, history, linguistics, geography and more.
Download or read book Art and Myth in Ancient Greece written by Thomas H Carpenter and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2021-04-20 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An essential visual handbook for anyone interested in Greek myth written by T. H. Carpenter, one of the world’s leading experts on myth in ancient art. The ancient Greeks recorded their mythology on vase paintings, engraved gems, and bronze and stone sculptures, offering depictions that often predate any references to the myths in literature or recount alternative, unfamiliar versions of these tales. In some cases, visual art provides our only evidence of these myths, as there are no surviving accounts in ancient Greek literature of stories such as the Fall of Troy or Theseus and the Minotaur. Art and Myth in Ancient Greece is a comprehensive survey of myth as it appears in Greek art. This classic volume has been updated with text and full-color images of more than three hundred scenes from Greek sculptures, vases, and gems. Aiding in the identification of mythological scenes and explaining chronological developments in style and subject matter, this book is an essential reference for anyone interested in the art, drama, poetry, or religion of ancient Greece.
Download or read book Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual written by Walter Burkert and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 1982-11-08 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Tantalizingly rich . . . this is a splendid book."--Greece and Rome "Burken relegates his learned documentation to the notes and writes in a lively and fluent style. The book is recommended as a major contribution to the interpretation of ancient Greek myth and ritual. The breadth alone of Burkert's learning renders his book indispensable."--Classical Outlook "Impressive. . . founded on a striking knowledge of the complex evidence (literary, epigraphical, archaeological, comparative) for this extensive subject. Burkert offers a rare combination of exact scholarship with imagination and even humor. A brilliant book, in which . . .the reader can see at every point what is going on in the author's mind--and that is never uninteresting, and rarely unimportant."--Times Literary Supplement "Burkert's work is of such magnitude and depth that it may even contribute to that most difficult of tasks, defining myth, ritual, and religion. . [He] locates his work in the context of culture and the historv of ideas, and he is not hesitant to draw on sociology and biology. Consequently his work is of significance for philosophers, historians, and even theologians, as well as for classicists and historians of Greek culture. His hypotheses are courageous and his conclusions are bold; both establish standards for methodology as well as results. "--Religious Studies Review
Download or read book Mythology GREEK GODS written by Roy Jackson and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-06-09 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explore the Rich Mythology of Ancient Greece! Have you always wondered why so many people are fascinated with the Greek Gods? Would you like to know more about these remarkable stories? Do you want to be able to share these tales with your friends - and understand others' references to them? If so, then Greek Gods is the book for you! You will learn about the primordial deities that created the universe, and the famous Titans of old. You will also discover the Olympian gods, and learn some of their many legends! These stories will help you understand how the Ancient Greeks looked at the world. These tales of life, death, and epic struggle can inspire you, as they have so many throughout history. You'll learn how modern morality has been shaped by these stories of love, hate, passion, betrayal, and power. Develop a deep understanding and knowledge of Ancient Greek mythology. What are you waiting for? Get started today! INCLUDES BONUS CHAPTER: HORUS - WHY THE EGYPTIAN GOD MATTERS
Download or read book Greek Mythology written by Patrick Auerbach and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-06-07 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greek Mythology is the body of myths and teachings that belong to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. It was a part of the religion in ancient Greece. The Greeks were polytheistic in their religious beliefs. Polytheistic means they believed in and worshiped many different gods. Modern scholars refer to and study the myths in an attempt to shed light on the religious and political institutions of Ancient Greece and its civilization, and to gain understanding of the nature of myth-making itself. In Greek Mythology, the gods often represented different forms of nature. Their religion/mythology had no formal structure with the exception of various festivals held in honor of the gods. There was no sacred book or code of conduct to live by. The most powerful Greek gods were known as the Olympians. The Greeks believed the Olympians lived on the highest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus. The Olympian gods included: Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Aphrodite, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Hades, Hermes, Hephaestus, Poseidon and Hestia or later she was replaced in some lists by Dionysus. Greek Mythology is explicitly embodied in a large collection of narratives, and implicitly in Greek representational arts, such as vase-paintings and votive gifts. Greek myth attempts to explain the origins of the world, and details the lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines and mythological creatures. These accounts initially were disseminated in an oral-poetic tradition; today the Greek myths are known primarily from Greek literature. The oldest known Greek literary sources, Homer's epic poems Iliad and Odyssey, focus on the Trojan War and its aftermath. Scroll to the top of the page and click Add To Cart to read more about this extraordinary chapter of history.
Download or read book Mythos written by Stephen Fry and published by Michael Joseph. This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Greek myths are amongst the best stories ever told, passed down through millennia and inspiring writers and artists as varied as Shakespeare, Michelangelo, James Joyce and Walt Disney. They are embedded deeply in the traditions, tales and cultural DNA of the West. You'll fall in love with Zeus, marvel at the birth of Athena, wince at Cronus and Gaia's revenge on Ouranos, weep with King Midas and hunt with the beautiful and ferocious Artemis. Spellbinding, informative and moving, Stephen Fry's Mythos perfectly captures these stories for the modern age - in all their rich and deeply human relevance.
Download or read book Embattled written by Emily Katz Anhalt and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 2021-09-14 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An incisive exploration of the way Greek myths empower us to defeat tyranny. As tyrannical passions increasingly plague twenty-first-century politics, tales told in ancient Greek epics and tragedies provide a vital antidote. Democracy as a concept did not exist until the Greeks coined the term and tried the experiment, but the idea can be traced to stories that the ancient Greeks told and retold. From the eighth through the fifth centuries BCE, Homeric epics and Athenian tragedies exposed the tyrannical potential of individuals and groups large and small. These stories identified abuses of power as self-defeating. They initiated and fostered a movement away from despotism and toward broader forms of political participation. Following her highly praised book Enraged: Why Violent Times Need Ancient Greek Myths, the classicist Emily Katz Anhalt retells tales from key ancient Greek texts and proceeds to interpret the important message they hold for us today. As she reveals, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Aeschylus's Oresteia, and Sophocles's Antigone encourage us—as they encouraged the ancient Greeks—to take responsibility for our own choices and their consequences. These stories emphasize the responsibilities that come with power (any power, whether derived from birth, wealth, personal talents, or numerical advantage), reminding us that the powerful and the powerless alike have obligations to each other. They assist us in restraining destructive passions and balancing tribal allegiances with civic responsibilities. They empower us to resist the tyrannical impulses not only of others but also in ourselves. In an era of political polarization, Embattled demonstrates that if we seek to eradicate tyranny in all its toxic forms, ancient Greek epics and tragedies can point the way.
Download or read book Eros written by Bruce S Thornton and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-02-12 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eros: The Myth of Ancient Greek Sexuality is a controversial book that lays bare the meanings Greeks gave to sex. Contrary to the romantic idealization of sex dominating our culture, the Greeks saw eros as a powerful force of nature, potentially dangerous and in need of control by society: Eros the Destroyer, not Cupid the Insipid, is what fired the Greek imagination. The destructiveness of eros can be seen in Greek imagery and metaphor, and in their attitudes toward women and homosexuals. Images of love as fire, disease, storms, insanity, and violence—top 40 song clichés for us—locate eros among the unpredictable and deadly forces of nature. The beautiful Aphrodite embodies the alluring danger of sex, and femmes fatales like Pandora and Helen represent the risky charms of female sexuality. And homosexuality typifies for the Greeks the frightening power of an indiscriminate appetite that threatens the stability of culture itself. In Eros: The Myth of Ancient Greek Seualily, Bruce Thornton offers a uniquely sweeping and comprehensive account of ancient sexuality free of currently fashionable theoretical jargon and pretensions. In its conclusions the book challenges the distortions of much recent scholarship on Greek sexuality. And throughout it links the wary attitudes of the Greeks to our present-day concerns about love, sex, and family. What we see, finally, are the origins of some of our own views as well as a vision of sexuality that is perhaps more honest and mature than our own dangerous illusions.
Download or read book The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece written by Josiah Ober and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2016-10-04 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A major new history of classical Greece—how it rose, how it fell, and what we can learn from it Lord Byron described Greece as great, fallen, and immortal, a characterization more apt than he knew. Through most of its long history, Greece was poor. But in the classical era, Greece was densely populated and highly urbanized. Many surprisingly healthy Greeks lived in remarkably big houses and worked for high wages at specialized occupations. Middle-class spending drove sustained economic growth and classical wealth produced a stunning cultural efflorescence lasting hundreds of years. Why did Greece reach such heights in the classical period—and why only then? And how, after "the Greek miracle" had endured for centuries, did the Macedonians defeat the Greeks, seemingly bringing an end to their glory? Drawing on a massive body of newly available data and employing novel approaches to evidence, Josiah Ober offers a major new history of classical Greece and an unprecedented account of its rise and fall. Ober argues that Greece's rise was no miracle but rather the result of political breakthroughs and economic development. The extraordinary emergence of citizen-centered city-states transformed Greece into a society that defeated the mighty Persian Empire. Yet Philip and Alexander of Macedon were able to beat the Greeks in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE, a victory made possible by the Macedonians' appropriation of Greek innovations. After Alexander's death, battle-hardened warlords fought ruthlessly over the remnants of his empire. But Greek cities remained populous and wealthy, their economy and culture surviving to be passed on to the Romans—and to us. A compelling narrative filled with uncanny modern parallels, this is a book for anyone interested in how great civilizations are born and die. This book is based on evidence available on a new interactive website. To learn more, please visit: http://polis.stanford.edu/.
