The Gods of Greece and Rome

by Talfourd Ely

The deities of the ancient world — from the famous denizens of Olympus to anonymous river nymphs and sea monsters — come to life in the pages of this classic guide. Richly readable, informative, and colorful, it is drawn mostly from the great epics of Homer and the works of Apollodoros, an Athenian scholar of the second century B.C. Not only does it define the myths in terms of their influence on Western literature, it also depicts the role of the deities in everyday life, from the earliest tribal rites to the grand festivals at the height of Graeco-Roman civilization.
Each of the primary and minor gods receives an individual chapter that recounts both the Greek origins and the later Roman adaptation. Profiles of less-familiar figures from the ancient pantheon include the Dioscuri, better known as Castor and Pollux, the patrons of athletes and sailors; Aesculapius, the god of health and healing; Rhea, the mother of the gods; and Pan, the frolicsome woodlands god. No finer survey of classical mythology exists than this instructive and entertaining guide to the gods.

Genres: Mythology

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2003

Reviews

[Rob]

The book was fine. It's basically what it sounds like. So if you think you'd like a book about the gods of Greece and Rome, it's not a bad one. If not, skip this one. There is a separate chapter on each of the major gods and goddesses. The early ones assume some pre-knowledge that I didn't necessarily have. However, as I read through later chapters I would often understand some reference I didn't get earlier on. In all, a decent read.

[Howard]

Fantastic Book - ILLUSTRATED

This book is well worth the price. The book is fully illustrated and presents information that other sources may have left out. I read material that I have never seen before. Don't miss out on reading this book.

[Adeel]

it's awesome