Books like The Greek and Roman myths by Philip Matyszak

Neil Gaiman retells the classic Norse myths, bringing the gods Odin, Thor, and Loki, as well as the nine worlds and the apocalyptic Ragnarok, to life with his characteristic wit and vivid prose.

The Complete World of Greek Mythology

This engaging book focuses on the perennially fascinating topic of plants in Greek and Roman myth. The author, an authority on the gardens, art, and literature of the classical world, introduces the book's main themes with a discussion of gods and heroes in ancient Greek and Roman gardens. The following chapters recount the everyday uses and broader cultural meaning of plants with particularly strong mythological associations. These include common garden plants such as narcissus and hyacinth; pomegranate and apple, which were potent symbols of fertility; and sources of precious incense including frankincense and myrrh. Following the sweeping botanical commentary are the myths themselves, told in the original voice of Ovid, classical antiquity's most colorful mythographer. The volume's interdisciplinary approach will appeal to a wide audience, ranging from readers interested in archaeology, classical literature, and ancient history to garden enthusiasts. With an original translation of selections from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses, ' an extensive bibliography, a useful glossary of names and places, and a rich selection of images including exquisite botanical illustrations, this book is unparalleled in scope and realization.

A lively collection of the best-known Greek myths retold for young readers, featuring gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters and the enduring legacy of these ancient stories.

A concise survey of Greek and Roman myths, tracing their origins and showing how these stories have evolved from antiquity to modern times.

A comprehensive anthology of nearly 400 ancient Greek and Roman folk tales, legends, myths, and jokes—translated into accessible prose and illustrated—offering a vivid window into everyday myths, humor, and human characters of classical antiquity.

"By the Roman age the traditional stories of Greek myth had long since ceased to reflect popular culture. Mythology had become instead a central element in elite culture. If one did not know the stories, one would not understand most of the allusions in the poets and orators, classics and contemporaries alike; nor would one be able to identify the scenes represented on the mosaic floors and wall paintings, or on the silverware at well-appointed homes." "A surprisingly large number of mythographic treatises survive from the early empire, and many papyrus fragments from lost works prove that they were in common use. In addition, author Alan Cameron identifies a hitherto unrecognized type of aid to the reading of Greek and Latin classical and classicizing texts - what might be called mythographic companions to learned poets such as Aratus, Callimachus, Vergil, and Ovid, complete with source references. Much of this book is devoted to an analysis of the importance evidently attached to citing classical sources for mythical stories, the clearest proof that they were now a part of learned culture."--BOOK JACKET.

Brief entries describe the main characters and events of Greek and Roman mythology.