Classical Mythology: The Romans

by Peter Meineck

Contents:
Mythological Rome -- The making of myth: how the Romans recorded their mythology -- Greek myths and the Romans: Cacus, Hercules, and the Greeks in Italy -- Arcadian fantasies: the fathers of the founders -- Trojan ancestors: the myth of Aeneas -- Romulus and Remus -- The seven kings of Rome -- Etruscan kings in Rome: myth or history? -- Myths of the Republic -- Myths of Roman expansion -- Virgil and The Aeneid (part one) -- The Aeneid (part two) -- Ovid -- The survival of classical myth.
Summary:
In this course, New York University professor Peter Meineck examines, in detail, the way in which military power, colonial organization, superior technology, a well-organized infrastructure, and a cohesive economic system helped to make Rome such a sucessful empire. These elements of Roman genius are well known, but it was the very idea of Rome that proved persuasive and this Roman ideal was born from mythology.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Mythology, Audiobook, Religion

Audiobook

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Peter Meineck (b. 1967) is Professor of Classics in the Modern World at New York University. He is also the founder and humanities program director of Aquila Theatre and has held appointments at Princeton University and University of South Carolina.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audio book is available for download from the public library and is an amazing 14 lecture series that explains the development and impact of Roman myth with its geographic, political, religious and artistic aspects.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Peter Meineck's lectures, and since I've grown to love the Romans more than the Greeks, this added to my reasons.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative

[Andrew “The Weirdling” Glos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly a great intro to Roman mythology, but certainly a competent one.

I have only one main criticism. I think the lecturer has a tendency to assume too much knowledge on the part of his listeners. Greek myth is barely taught anymore. Roman myth is almost never taught. Classical history is also nearly non-existent nowadays as well. He has a tendency to speak about Roman history as if listeners would know who he meant when he referred to Augustus or Julius Caesar. I’m not sure that can be assumed anymore. If you are a neophyte to classical history and myth, this should be your second read. Your first should be a plainer introduction.

[Don Heiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2009 Modern Scholar released New York University Professor Peter Meineck’s 8 hour Recorded Books audio course “Classical Mythology: The Romans,”. This 14 lecture audio course comes with a 90 page pdf course guide. The course begins with overview lectures about how Greek myths were used to craft Roman mythologies; and how Arcadian fantasies and the myths of Aeneas portray the founding of Rome. The next set of lectures are about how myths influenced the seven Kings of the Roman Republic; how these myths fueled the expansion of the Roman Empire through military conquests; and how the Greek-Roman based myths guided Roman dictatorships . The course ends with a fascinating discussion of Virgil’s “Aeneid” and Ovid’s “Metamorphoses.” After finishing the course I spent time reviewing my course notes about how Roman myths influenced the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, early 20th century values, American beliefs about calendar mythical gods, horoscopes, Shakespearean plays, architecture, and musical forms. The lectures and Meineck’s guidebook are exceptional. (P)

[Aaron Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lecture 1 Mythological Rome

Lecture 2 The Making of Myth: How the Romans Recorded Their Mythology

Lecture 3 Greek Myths and the Romans: Cacus, Hercules, and the Greeks in Italy

Lecture 4 Arcadian Fantasies: The Fathers of the Founders

Lecture 5 Trojan Ancestors: The Myth of Aeneas

Lecture 6 Romulus and Remus

Lecture 7 The Seven Kings of Rome

Lecture 8 Etruscan Kings in Rome: Myth or History?

Lecture 9 Myths of the Republic

Lecture 10 Myths of Roman Expansion

Lecture 11 Virgil and The Aeneid (Part One)

Lecture 12 The Aeneid (Part Two)

Lecture 13 Ovid

Lecture 14 The Survival of Classical Myth

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the exception of Ovid and Virgil, on the whole I loss more interest in Roman Mythology than I gained by reading this audiobook. Professor Meineck narrates a little too fast as well.

For the most part, and from what I understand, Romans seem to have simply "hacked" or hijacked everything around them including the architecture, sculpture, mythology etc. of the Greeks and Etruscans. Furthermore, they apparently did it for the sole purpose of creating an imperious image so as to gain political power over the people.

The Greeks on the other hand, seem to have been more the exploring type, searching through the human heart and mind in hopes of finding virtue and truth.

The only reason I gained interest in Ovid and Virgil was that I did think that they brought together the myths of the past with an intriguing and unique voice.

Three stars.

[Reading Through the Lists · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introductory course to Roman mythology that covers most of the major myths and authors of Rome's early myth-making period. Of course listening to the lectures while on the bus going to class meant that if I zoned out for two seconds, I would miss ten important names and then proceed to be completely lost as to what was going on. There were entire portions where I wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but I know that if I had sat down with a pencil and a pad of paper, I would have gotten more out of it.

But if nothing else, the course alerted me to works that I need to read, primarily the Aenied by Vergil, and Ovid's Metamorphoses.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit that my low rating is mostly on my irritation with what I had hoped it contained and by the time I relaxed and went with the material it did contain it was too late; I was terminally bored. It contains a look at how the Roman culture integrated myths and/or adjusted their cultural mythos with lies and manipulation, which reminded me too much of f*x. The saving grace was the last chapter which shows how the Roman myths have carried over into our own culture and history.

[Deana]

Good lord the material is dense. Lots of info, lots of names that I won’t remember due to lack of frame of reference, and super dry. I was hoping for some good juicy stories about God’s and goddesses but these were only a tiny part of the book. I stuck to it for the same reason I eat fiber and drink lots of water. I’m withholding a rating for this because certainly the info is top-notch and well-researched, and the problem is clearly my lack of interest in Roman history.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Meineck supported his lectures with the premise that mythology may not be distinguishable from history or faith. That opens up a new universe. His references to the influence that made for Roman mythology, and that came from Roman mythology inspire. Well told, with emphasis on Fantastic.