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Myths and Legends From Ancient Greece and Around the World
This collection is a key to another world--a world of superhuman deeds, heroism, love, jealousy, war, tragedy, and triumph. The tales within are metaphors for us, sharing wisdom we can use. They tell us how earlier people explained the phenomena of nature, and they offer us a glimpse into other cultures. Mostly, we look to them to help us answer the questions that have mystified people forever, ancient and modern alike. How did our world come to be? What is our place in the world--are we heroes or heroines, or are we aimless wanderers, unsure of our purpose? Answers found in this collection suggest that human beings have great purpose.
153 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 25, 2024
It took me months to finish this book even though it is not very long. Each story is only a couple of pages which is nice, but that also means that none of the stories are very flushed out.
As the title states, most of these stories are Greek mythology, but there are stories from different regions around the world, which was nice to see.
I think this would be a really good refresher for mythology stories, but I would love to have read these in greater detail.
As the title states, most of these stories are Greek mythology, but there are stories from different regions around the world, which was nice to see.
I think this would be a really good refresher for mythology stories, but I would love to have read these in greater detail.
October 14, 2010
This book is probably not the best source that presents the various myths and legends, from Greece and from around the world. However, this book is interesting enough to read, especially for those who simply wants to know the story. Written by 28 authors with such backgrounds as authors, researchers, and even poet.
This book is indeed dominated by the myths of Ancient Greece. Out of 35 articles, 14 of them are myths of Ancient Greece. The mythology that preceded the creation of the world appointed by Gaea, who emerged from Chaos. Gaea is also known as Mother Earth. She gave birth to a son, Uranus, who called Father Heaven.
There’s something interesting here. Note that the myth about the beginning of the creation is filled with a kind of ”incestous marriages”. From Gaea and Chaos, came three sons, the giants, each with 50 heads and 100 hands. Then she also gave birth to three Cyclops, a giant who only has one eye on his forehead. Then, Mother Earth gave birth to the first gods: six gods, six goddesses. They are called the Titans, also a gigantic, yet somewhat more like human. They are equally strong with their older brothers, but the twelve gods sometimes use their power wisely.
Although written as a short article, the writers managed to summarize each of mythology and legend well. By reading "Mother Earth and Her Children", we can immediately say that the movie The Clash of the Titans is not entitled correctly. These films do not show the battle of the Titans (which actually happened when Chronos lead his brothers and sisters conquering their father), but the war made by the gods after the Titans, which include Perseus, a demi-god.
This book is categorized into three major sections. After the classical mythology of Ancient Greek, Norse mythology and medieval legends presented. The final section presents the mythology from around the world, of which came from Babylon, Mexico, India, Hawaii, Japan, Russia, and Australia.
You’ll find another value added to this book. By reading this book, we will see the similarity of mythology in one region to another. For example, the story of Apsu and Tiamat, the Creator was similar to the story of Gaea. In addition, we also can see how creative the ancestors of the period tells the various myths and legends in order to explain various natural phenomena.
Finally, these myths and legends, which is rewritten by each of its author is considered as a precious heritage. As stated in Introduction,
This book is indeed dominated by the myths of Ancient Greece. Out of 35 articles, 14 of them are myths of Ancient Greece. The mythology that preceded the creation of the world appointed by Gaea, who emerged from Chaos. Gaea is also known as Mother Earth. She gave birth to a son, Uranus, who called Father Heaven.
There’s something interesting here. Note that the myth about the beginning of the creation is filled with a kind of ”incestous marriages”. From Gaea and Chaos, came three sons, the giants, each with 50 heads and 100 hands. Then she also gave birth to three Cyclops, a giant who only has one eye on his forehead. Then, Mother Earth gave birth to the first gods: six gods, six goddesses. They are called the Titans, also a gigantic, yet somewhat more like human. They are equally strong with their older brothers, but the twelve gods sometimes use their power wisely.
Although written as a short article, the writers managed to summarize each of mythology and legend well. By reading "Mother Earth and Her Children", we can immediately say that the movie The Clash of the Titans is not entitled correctly. These films do not show the battle of the Titans (which actually happened when Chronos lead his brothers and sisters conquering their father), but the war made by the gods after the Titans, which include Perseus, a demi-god.
This book is categorized into three major sections. After the classical mythology of Ancient Greek, Norse mythology and medieval legends presented. The final section presents the mythology from around the world, of which came from Babylon, Mexico, India, Hawaii, Japan, Russia, and Australia.
You’ll find another value added to this book. By reading this book, we will see the similarity of mythology in one region to another. For example, the story of Apsu and Tiamat, the Creator was similar to the story of Gaea. In addition, we also can see how creative the ancestors of the period tells the various myths and legends in order to explain various natural phenomena.
Finally, these myths and legends, which is rewritten by each of its author is considered as a precious heritage. As stated in Introduction,
Perhaps, it is because we posess a need to communicate with one another about our passages through life, whether they are fortunate, humorous, or treacherous.
April 6, 2012
i think diz book iz very educational because it telling me bout greek information which i dont no anything about
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews