Mythology Paperback – April 30, 2013

Great book to introduce Greek mythology.

I have loved this book since I first read it as a teenager. Well done and a great way to learn about mythology from a fantastic author and teacher...

The essence of myths is threefold: it is a branch of natural science, trying to explain what humans saw around them. It is also a genre of pure classical literature. Besides, mythology is religion, the deepening realization of what human beings needed in their gods and goddesses. In this light, Edith Hamilton’s Mythology breathes life into the Greek, Roman, and even Norse myths, which are the bedrock of the western civilization – the stories of gods, goddesses, and heroes that have imbued the humankind with multifarious creativity from time immemorial to present.The aim of this book is to produce knowledge of the myths that had been recorded by ancient writers and poets. In fact, the myths as we know now are the creation of great poets, one of which is the Iliad by Homer. Unlike the Egyptian, the Greeks made their gods in their own image and breathed them with their emotions and feelings. It is uncertain how the genesis of the Greek mythology came into being; however the earliest Greek poets arrived at a new point of view which had never been dreamed of in the world before them. It was at this point that mankind regarded itself as the center of the universe, intent upon producing the beauty of human, which was the very consummation of reality.According to Hamilton, what distinguishes Greek mythology from others is it’s foundation on the factual reality. The nonsensical took place in a world, which was essentially rational and matter-of-fact. For example, Hercules always had his abode in the city of Thebes, save when he took of a journey to accomplish his twelve labors; Aphrodite’s birthplace was just offshore from the island of Cynthera; Pegasus’s comfy stable was in Corinth. There was a sense of reality in the mythological world but no place for magic.Mythology is not a tome that requires of modern readers perquisites for scholarly knowledge of academic languages, intellectual superiority, or historical knowledge of the ancient time. It is an anthology of entertaining and inspiring tales of gods, goddesses, nymphs, and mortals who fell out of favor with the divine, written in plain English; it’s like listening to a very well-read story-teller. In Mythology, we meet all from the mercurial gods and goddesses on the Mount Olympus even to Norse gods in Valhalla. We are fascinated with tales of Cupid and Psyche, Odyssey’s Golden Fleece, and forlorn Clytie whose love for Apollo pined away. We will discover that Paris of Troy used to live with a nymph called Oenone before deserting her for Helen of Sparta. Besides, we listen to the legends of constellations of the stars as well as many other references for literature, paintings, and music that have been deeply inspired by Greek mythology.Mythology is the most comprehensive and lucidly accounted tales of mythology based upon Hamilton’s extensive collection of the sources from great ancient poets and writers. Of all other books on mythology of the western civilization I have encountered, this book is by far the most excellent in providing readers with both entertainment and knowledge without academically esoteric approach or literary pompousness. Mythology succeeds in offering education and appreciation of art that has been passed down to our present time for thousands of years. For this reason, Mythology by Edith Hamilton is a touchstone for books on mythology.

Edith Hamilton observes the difficulty of writing Shakespeare's "King Lear" on the level of "Cinderella," as well as reversing that same endeavor. Her goal was to leave distinctions intact among ancient authors such as Hesiod, Homer, Pindar, Ovid and others; so that the classic myths retain immortality without seeking to flavor the recounting by her own style or attempt to entertain the less initiated reader.In this book are the gods of myth, the Titans, the Olympians, gods of water, underworld, and the earth; with heroes, gods of flora and fauna, lovers, gods of adventure, tales such as the Trojan War, families of the gods, gods of royalty and others less fortunate, as well as including Norse mythology. Interspersed are illustrations, with Greek and Roman emphasis, which add to the author's effort to familiarize any reader with the way men and women felt, believed, and lived according to what influence the ancient stories gave to conduct, architecture, ambitions, and how those stories fueled the competitive spirit.Mythology of this time period affected how ancient civilizations interacted with nature and each other, based upon the trend away from how past beliefs held little distinction between myth and reality. Ignorance became less common than education, instead of the other way around. Ancient Greeks and Romans of this time period enjoyed the imagination of the mythology prevalent in this new era of thought, allowing themselves to revel in the possibilities for personification and animation that began to occur anywhere, anytime, about anything. In this freedom, what today we consider strange, to those being introduced to Roman and Greek mythology as is found in this book, their world was full of beauty and awe. Reason took the place of terror, mystery, and magic; and although at times life still had brutality and savagery, the ancient people heard and read the traditions passed down as mythology shared conquest and intellect, artistic ability, and political order. No longer was this exclusively the privilege of royalty, priests, and wizards or sorceresses.The literature of these ancient poets and story tellers helped to position mankind's importance in the universe, as astronomy, science, medicine, and interaction took place on frontiers previously left to the gods.Unlike Egyptian gods with features of animals, Roman and Greek gods took human form entirely and except for size and power were easily identifiable as beings similar to our own in appearance and form instead of resemblance to cats, birds, or mixtures of varieties of animal form in combination. Fantasy shifted into rational thought even for gods and goddesses, which gave levity to reverence; and deities were thought of as companions so fear would yield to adoration with the arena of respect; bringing harmony and balance in how those Greeks and Romans worshipped.The incomprehensiveness of unknown omnipotence was softened and fantastic or irrational fear began to ease into a sense of understanding. Mythology as shared in this book told of youth, beauty, and delight as mankind let go of superstition, magic, and dread. Priests and necromancers began being replaced by heroes and less immortal men and women; which in turn began to fade away the former attitudes of the need for human sacrifice to appease the gods.Religion would never be the same. Justice and philosophy shifted in ways that would change mankind's existence and pave the way for how much finally changed when Jesus Christ ushered in the modern concepts we hold today that would change life on this planet in ways the Greeks and Romans only began to imagine possible.

Its a summary of the most major myths in greek roman and nordic mythology.Major topics include creation myths, Troy, major and minor gods.If an independent learner is interested in getting acquainted with the cannon of theses myths, this is a great reference manual. The prose to be dry but informative, not boring at all. It doesn't really have a mystical feel to it though.That being said, the summaries are ok, and the most moving section is the last 20 pages or so where the author showcases Maxims from the Norse mythology cannon.

Everything ok

I bought Stephen's Fry's recent attempt at the same sort of thing and it was crap. I discovered this thru Fry's reference to it. It's brilliant. Don't hesitate to get it. It's all you need.

I wanted a primer on the Greek and Roman mythologies. This, by recommendation, seemed to be the best at a reasonable price.What a disappointment though. I feel now just as ignorant of the stories of the Gods as I did at the start.To put this in context I have recently read the Odyssey and feel I have a reasonable grasp of the story. Just flicking back through 'Mythology' I found that I had read the story here. Obviously none of the story had filtered into my brain. This is that same with any other story in this book.I find Hamilton's style a little disturbing. Sometimes sentences are long and rambling and not well punctuated requiring them to be read several times before getting any sense of their meaning. It is not necessarily that the language is archaic because it isn't but it sometimes does not flow well.My copy of Odyssey (translated by Samuel Butler) does use archaic language and I can live with that. The downside to Butler's translation is that it using Roman texts for the story.This leads to another problem with 'Mythologies' in that Hamilton refers to both Greek and Latin origins, all clearly marked in the introductions to each story, and then retells the stories in her own words. This rendition, in the case of Odysseus, does not follow the flow of the story as written in the original.It does not critique the stories from the different sources but ends up to my mind leading to rather difficult reading in which the stories themselves are not registering in my brain at least.If this is your first expedition into the Mythologies I would give this book a miss.

Could not have been more pleased with this book. Lots of info on different Greek and Roman mythology, how they crossover and lots of information on each of the Gods themselves.

A worthy classic, however look out the 40th anniversary edition first.

The stories are well told, but seem to be more for the adult reader as the writing style is not really suitable for children.