The Everything Classical Mythology Book: Greek and Roman Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters from Ares to Zeus

306 Pages·2002·5.63 MB·English

by  Lesley Bolton

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THE
Seines —
Dear Reader,
Having a deep-rooted love of literature, it is only natura lthat classical
mythology takes its place among my passions and interests .If you have
any interest in literature or art whatsoever, it is advisable to have a solid
foundation in classical mythology to fully appreciate and understand these
mediums of expression. Indisputably, the myths of ancient Greece and
Rome influence and inspire the literature and artists of the Western
world. But this knowledge and groundwork is merely an added bonus;
what matter most are the myths themselves.
While academia has its own numerous reasons for the study of clas
sical mythology, 1 advise you to look at it from a nonacademic stand
point. 1 think that first and foremost, you should derive enjoyment from
the myths. Once you are won over-and you undoubtedly will be-you
can then take your time to explore the myths as you see fit. Classical
mythology offers something for everyone-whether you are interested in
romance, drama, tragedy, war, monsters, or vengeance. The myths are so
very rich in excitement, intrigue, and imagination that it is hard to dispute
their appeal.
Read on. You won't be disappointed.
Sincerely,
LYi&t7
THE
CLASSICAL
MYTHOLOGY
BOOK
Greek and Roman gods, goddesses,
heroes, and monsters from Ares to Zeus
Lesley Bolton
A
Adams Media Corporation
Avon, Massachusetts
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION
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Paul Beatrice, Brooke Camfield,
Colleen Cunningham, Daria Perreault,
Frank Rivera
Copyright ©2002, Adams Media Corporation.
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
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Published by Adams Media Corporation
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ISBN: 1-58062-653-X
Printed in the United States of America.
J I H G F E D C B
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bolton, Lesley.
The everything classical mythology book : Greek and Roman gods,
godesses, heroes and villians from Ares to Zeus / by Lesley Bolton
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 277) and index.
ISBN 1-58062-653-X
1. Mythology, Classical. I. Title.
BL723 .B65 2002
292.1'3-dc21 2001055214
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject
matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal,
accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the serv
ices of a competent professional person should be sought.
—From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the
American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
Illustrations by Barry Littmann.
Additional illustrations reprinted with permission from Dover Publications, Inc.
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Contents
INTRODUCTION ix Welcoming the Woman 38
Pandora's Box 39
Other Deities Affecting
CHAPTER 1 The Myth and Its Function .. 1
the Universe 40
What Is a Myth? 2 Giving Definition to Life 42
The Sacred Myth 4
Mystery Solved 6 CHAPTER 4 The Children of
Establishing Order 8 Mother Earth 43
Emotion Overload 11
Children by Pontus 44
The Ideal 12
Need a Hand? 46
Entertaining the Masses 15
One-Eyed Wonders 47
The Imperials 48
CHAPTER 2 Sources of Classical
Uranus Loses a Limb 49
Mythology 17
Cronus Crowned as Ruler 50
Homer 18 Like Father, Like Son 51
Hesiod 20 Zeus's Childhood 52
Aeschylus 22 War with the Titans 52
Sophocles 23 First Acts as Supreme Ruler 54
Euripides 25
Virgil 27 CHAPTER 5 Introducing the Olympians . 55
Ovid 29
The Original Six 56
Last but Certainly Not Least 30
A Dozen Distinguished Deities 58
Mount Olympus 62
CHAPTER 3 Creation: A Chaotic
Law and Order Under
Theory 33
the Olympians 63
In the Beginning There Was Chaos . . 34 Mutiny on Mount Olympus 64
Giving Personality to Nature 35 War with the Giants 66
And Then There Was Man 37 The Scariest Monster of All 67
The Gift of Fire 37 This Is Just the Beginning 70
THE EVERYTHING CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY BOOK
CHAPTER 6 A Marriage Made in Wandering the Countryside 113
the Heavens 71 Eleusinian Mysteries 115
Hestia Honored 116
The Seventh Lover 72
The Vestal Virgins 117
A Grand Wedding 74
Hestia's Unsuitable Suitors 120
The Children of Zeus and Hera . . .. 76
Zeus's Love Affairs 78
CHAPTER 10 The Art of War 121
The Wrath of Hera 83
A Lover's Spat 84 A Detestable Deity 122
God of War in Love 123
CHAPTER 7 Sovereign of the Sea 85 Amazon Warriors 127
Battles with Athena 129
The Power of Poseidon 86
Tried for Murder 130
The Fight for City Patronage 87
Ares Imprisoned 131
In Need of a Queen 89
The Paternal Poseidon 91
CHAPTER 11 The Peaceful Warrior 133
Poseidon and the Trojans 95
On the Rare Flip Side 96 The Birth of Athena 134
The Almighty Athena 135
CHAPTER 8 The Darh Prince 97 Athenian Cult 136
Athena the Inventor 137
A Private God 98
An Adventurer's Best Friend 138
The Abduction of Persephone 98
Highlights of Athena in Myth 142
The Houese of Hades 99
The Cell Blocks 102
CHAPTER 12 The Thrill of the Hunt ... 143
The Judges and the Judged 103
Escaping Death 105 Lady of the Wild 144
The Underworld Spawns An Overprotective Daughter 145
Religious Rites 108 Artemis Takes Offense 146
Protecting Her Virginity 149
CHAPTER 9 Home Is Where the The Many Deaths of Orion 150
Heart Is 109 Wild But Loyal 151
Demeter's Sphere of Influence . . .. 110
The Love Affairs of Demeter 112
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 13 The Master Marksman ... 153 CHAPTER 17 The Lesser Gods 195
Tall, Dark, and Handsome 154 The Muses 196
God of Music 155 The Charités 197
The Playboy 156 The Satyrs 198
Unlucky in Love 157 The Nymphs 199
Free Love 160 Pan 200
A Mortal's Slave 161 Hecate 201
Delphi 163 Triton 203
Lesser, But Not Least 204
CHAPTER 14 Swift as the Wind 165
CHAPTER 18 Monster Madness 207
A Child's First Prank 166
The Messenger Boy 168 Chimaera 208
Reconciling with Hera 170 Scylla 209
More Than a Mere Messenger . . .. 170 Minotaur 211
Bad Boy Attraction 172 Sphinx 213
Hermes Wins the Prize 174 Cacus 214
Centaurs 215
CHAPTER 15 Adultery Abounds 175 More Mythological Monsters 216
The Queen of Hearts 176
CHAPTER 19 A Hero's Tale 219
A Master Craftsman 177
Beauty and the Beast 178 Heracles 220
A Woman in Love 180 Theseus 223
Love's Helping Hand 182 Perseus 226
Jason 229
CHAPTER 16 The Lord of Libation 185 Odysseus 231
The Twice-Born God 186
CHAPTER 20 The Trojan War 235
Dionysus Driven Mad 187
The Rites of Dionysus 188 Causes of the War 236
Dionysus Takes a Wife 189 The Olympians Enter the War . . .. 238
Madness Unleashed 190 Heroes of the War 239
Not-So-Random Acts of Kindness . . 192 The Tenth Year 240
Joining the Olympians 194 The Fall of Troy 242
The Deities Are Disgusted 243
THE EVERYTHING CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY BOOK
CHAPTER 21 When in Rome 245 APPENDIX A Cast of Characters 267
Greek Versus Roman 246
The Journey to Italy 246 APPENDIX B Resources 277
Founding of the Roman Race 249
Classic Sources . 277
Peace Disrupted 250
Books on Mythology . 278
Founding Rome 251
Web Sites on Classical Mythology . 278
The Age of Kings 253
INDEX 279
CHAPTER 22 Thanh the Gods
and Goddesses! . 257
The Myth in Everyday Language . . . 258
The Myth in Literature 259
The Myth in Art 261
The Myth in Movies 263
The Myth in Cartoons 264
The Myth in Television 265