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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Amazingly well done collection of mythology. The authors insights are very helpful, and I was interested the whole way through. It was a bit strange to me to add about 10 pages of Norse mythology at the end, though I enjoyed it, it could have been left out or expanded properly
informative
slow-paced
I normally don't like nonfiction texts, but I love mythology. This book analyzes that mythology and it just makes it even more interesting than it already is.
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this book. Learned something new about Hercules that I read out loud to my husband. This should be in a High School recommended reading list.
The Greeks did not believe that the gods created the universe. It was the other way about; the universe created the gods. Before there were gods heaven and earth had been formed. They were the first parents. The Titans were their children, the gods were their grandchildren.
Magic so powerful in the world before and after Greece is almost nonexistent. There are no men and only two women with dreadful, supernatural powers, Circe and Medea. Astrology is completely absent from classical Greece. There are many stories about stars but not a trace of the idea that they influence men's lives.
The God of wine could be kind and beneficent. He could also be cruel and drive men on to frightful deeds, often he made them mad. The reason why Dionysus was so different at one time from another was because of this double nature of wine and of so the God of Wine. He was man's benefactor and he was man's destroyer.
Zeus made a great evil for men of a shy maiden, and all the gods gave her gifts. Her name was Pandora, which means "the gift of all." From her the race of women, who are evil to men, with a nature to do evil.
Chiron was one of the Centaurs but unlike the others for he was known for his goodness and wisdom. He was a teacher that the Heros would send their young sons to learn from. Achilles was one of his pupils. Hercules was the reason why he died. When Hercules stopped to visit his friend, another centaur Pholus, he persuaded him to open the jar of wine which was common property of all the centaurs. The scent of the wine let the other centaurs know it was open, they arrived to fight Hercules, who was more than a match for all of them. He accidentally mortally wounded Chiron who took no part in the fight. Zeus permitted Chiron to die rather than live forever in pain in the forest.
All of the Norse tales are tragic, about men and women who steadfastly forward to meet death. The only light in darkness is heroism.
Freya was the Goddess of Love and Beauty. Freya herself was a warrior in battle and claimed her share of death. Friday is generally held to believe that it was named after her.
"The fierceness of men rules the fate of women"
Sadly still true today
The Greeks did not believe that the gods created the universe. It was the other way about; the universe created the gods. Before there were gods heaven and earth had been formed. They were the first parents. The Titans were their children, the gods were their grandchildren.
Magic so powerful in the world before and after Greece is almost nonexistent. There are no men and only two women with dreadful, supernatural powers, Circe and Medea. Astrology is completely absent from classical Greece. There are many stories about stars but not a trace of the idea that they influence men's lives.
The God of wine could be kind and beneficent. He could also be cruel and drive men on to frightful deeds, often he made them mad. The reason why Dionysus was so different at one time from another was because of this double nature of wine and of so the God of Wine. He was man's benefactor and he was man's destroyer.
Zeus made a great evil for men of a shy maiden, and all the gods gave her gifts. Her name was Pandora, which means "the gift of all." From her the race of women, who are evil to men, with a nature to do evil.
Chiron was one of the Centaurs but unlike the others for he was known for his goodness and wisdom. He was a teacher that the Heros would send their young sons to learn from. Achilles was one of his pupils. Hercules was the reason why he died. When Hercules stopped to visit his friend, another centaur Pholus, he persuaded him to open the jar of wine which was common property of all the centaurs. The scent of the wine let the other centaurs know it was open, they arrived to fight Hercules, who was more than a match for all of them. He accidentally mortally wounded Chiron who took no part in the fight. Zeus permitted Chiron to die rather than live forever in pain in the forest.
All of the Norse tales are tragic, about men and women who steadfastly forward to meet death. The only light in darkness is heroism.
Freya was the Goddess of Love and Beauty. Freya herself was a warrior in battle and claimed her share of death. Friday is generally held to believe that it was named after her.
"The fierceness of men rules the fate of women"
Sadly still true today
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
I think Edith does a good job summarizing and compiling myths plus there various different endings and versions. It is very biased, Edith clearly has favorite gods and authors, her disdain for others is evident as well. No myths related to any non straightness are references and the ones at are feel very Apollo's very good friend, he was so sad they were friends. Its especially noticeable in the Achilles Patroclus section.
Either way if your interested in greek myth and want a easy to read summary a giant swath of myths would recommend.
Either way if your interested in greek myth and want a easy to read summary a giant swath of myths would recommend.
Hamilton makes these myths easily digestible, and cites her sources which was great.
It was clear which authors and characters where her favorite and who she despised.
Also, there was no mention of queerness within her book, perhaps a reflection of the time it was written, but being that it’s considered a classic, this erasure of history is harmful and a shame. (The myth of Apollo and Hyacinth, as one example)
It was clear which authors and characters where her favorite and who she despised.
Also, there was no mention of queerness within her book, perhaps a reflection of the time it was written, but being that it’s considered a classic, this erasure of history is harmful and a shame. (The myth of Apollo and Hyacinth, as one example)
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Wasn’t sure how I wanted to rate this at first. We currently live in an era that is much more sympathetic to the (usually) women who are seen as playthings or child bearers by the gods of myth. Hamilton affords these women much less sympathy than a contemporary author might. That said, her research and attributions for the myths she relates are superb. I found the organization of the myths/stories only slightly confusing at times, but only so far as for me to ask “I wonder what her reasoning was,” rather than because my understanding was impeded.