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982 reviews for:
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, 75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition
Edith Hamilton
3.97 AVERAGE
982 reviews for:
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, 75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition
Edith Hamilton
3.97 AVERAGE
informative
fast-paced
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced
An interesting read. A retelling of Greek, Roman and Norse myths. Something I wish I had read decades ago (not that I would have had the patience, I think to finish it back then), if only so I would recognize other, less obvious retellings of these stories in our culture. One thing that I find fascinating is Ms. Hamilton's comments. The book was written in 1942 and yet her comments on the stories she made, could have been made today. Clearly, she was way ahead of her time.
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
As a kid I read "Mythology" several times and bought several different editions over the years. Reading it again as an adult, I'm surprised that a book categorized as "reference" had such a hold on me from a young age. While I know some if it had to do with the pictures that can still turn my blood cold, the stories were a perfect mixture of drama, humor, and horror - probably why they are still the template of our stories today.
While the beginning is pretty dense sorting through the various gods, goddesses, lesser gods and goddesses, and half gods and goddesses, once you get your brush-up, the real fun begins. Finally all of the winks film and literature have been making since these stories were first recorded make a whole lot more sense.
Beyond these classics, their different iterations across the centuries woven together beautifully by Hamilton, I find another thread throughout that heavily influenced how I view religion. From the get-go, one can sense Hamilton's implications that like ALL religions, these were the creation myths of the time, as real to the Greeks then as Christianity or Judaism or Islam or Buddhism are today. The implication becomes more pronounced near the end of the Greek myth stories when she recalls a moment thousands of years after the myths were written between Socrates and a student discussing whether the myth of Orithyia and Boreas was real: "The wise are doubtful, and I should not be singular if I too doubted." This is followed up with the story of Creusa's rape by Apollo which reads like many testimonies of women today and ends with a bittersweet reunion with her previously abandoned son. While she is pleased with the reparation offered by Apollo, Hamilton can't help but wonder if Creusa embraced this as an equal trade after so much unnecessary turmoil.
Finally, Hamilton raps up with Norse mythology, which seems to be a bit of a last minute add-on, but makes more sense when she shows yet another creation myth as old or older than Greek, Roman, and Latin myths, but equally influential in our modern culture and philosophies. She also makes sure to mention that what we know of Norse mythology is not even the oldest compilation of stories and rituals, it's just what survived after Christians invaded and destroyed everything that went against the beliefs they were trying to indoctrinate and control the Norse people with. Ms. Hamilton does not end this tome politely.
This is a magnificent and ballsy book written by an intelligent mind that not only streamlines the stories for modern audiences, but makes political, cultural, and philosophical statements that question what we have come to accept as fact, an endeavor that is important no matter where you come from or what you believe. And this was all published in the 1940s. By a woman. Wow.
While the beginning is pretty dense sorting through the various gods, goddesses, lesser gods and goddesses, and half gods and goddesses, once you get your brush-up, the real fun begins. Finally all of the winks film and literature have been making since these stories were first recorded make a whole lot more sense.
Beyond these classics, their different iterations across the centuries woven together beautifully by Hamilton, I find another thread throughout that heavily influenced how I view religion. From the get-go, one can sense Hamilton's implications that like ALL religions, these were the creation myths of the time, as real to the Greeks then as Christianity or Judaism or Islam or Buddhism are today. The implication becomes more pronounced near the end of the Greek myth stories when she recalls a moment thousands of years after the myths were written between Socrates and a student discussing whether the myth of Orithyia and Boreas was real: "The wise are doubtful, and I should not be singular if I too doubted." This is followed up with the story of Creusa's rape by Apollo which reads like many testimonies of women today and ends with a bittersweet reunion with her previously abandoned son. While she is pleased with the reparation offered by Apollo, Hamilton can't help but wonder if Creusa embraced this as an equal trade after so much unnecessary turmoil.
Finally, Hamilton raps up with Norse mythology, which seems to be a bit of a last minute add-on, but makes more sense when she shows yet another creation myth as old or older than Greek, Roman, and Latin myths, but equally influential in our modern culture and philosophies. She also makes sure to mention that what we know of Norse mythology is not even the oldest compilation of stories and rituals, it's just what survived after Christians invaded and destroyed everything that went against the beliefs they were trying to indoctrinate and control the Norse people with. Ms. Hamilton does not end this tome politely.
This is a magnificent and ballsy book written by an intelligent mind that not only streamlines the stories for modern audiences, but makes political, cultural, and philosophical statements that question what we have come to accept as fact, an endeavor that is important no matter where you come from or what you believe. And this was all published in the 1940s. By a woman. Wow.
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced