A few weeks ago, I read and reviewed ARCADIAN DAYS: GODS, WOMEN, AND MEN FROM GREEK MYTHS by John Spurling (you can read my post here). I always enjoyed Greek myths as a kid, so revisiting many of these classic stories delighted me. After I finished with ARCADIAN DAYS I decided to give GODS AND MORTALS: ANCIENT GREEK MYTHS FOR MODERN READERS By Sarah Iles Johnston a try.
GODS AND MORTALS: ANCIENT GREEK MYTHS FOR MODERN READERS by Sarah Iles Johnston covers some of the same ground as ARCADIAN DAYS but with a slightly different approach. Sarah Iles Johnston first introduces the Greek Gods, then explores the stories of the Gods interacting with humans (frequently in sexual ways), and then dealing with heroes, both human and god-like.
Sarah Iles Johnston then presents a detailed history of the Trojan War and its aftermath. In addition, she provides the sources for the Greek Myths and useful Index of Characters .
If you enjoy Greek Mythology as much as I do, dive into the stories in GODS AND MORTALS: ANCIENT GREEK MYTHS FOR MODERN READERS by Sarah Iles Johnston for hours of fun and enlightenment. GRADE: A
Table of Contents:
- Gods, Mortals and the Myths They Inhabit — 1
- THE GODS — 15
- GODS AND MORTALS — 57
- HEROES — 159
- THE TROJAN WAR — 315
- THE RETURNS — 361
- Ancient Sources for the Myths — 419
- Table of Sources — 433
- Notes on Sources for the Myths — 439
- The Characters of Greek Myths — 453
- Index of Characters — 459
- Acknowledgements — 477
It’s been a few decades since I seriously sat down with various retellings of the Greco-Roman pantheon. Of course, no lack of even Yahweh et al. choosing to impregnate the chatty apes, or at least a special one or another depending on the tradition, among the currently widely followed panoply.
My entry today touches on another tradition, as one of the stories considered is George Woodcock on the Raven myths of the North American northwestern nations…
Todd, like you I enjoy folk tales and mythology. Great stories!
The Greek myths were some of the first stories I read in elementary school. I’ve always meant to pick up the Bulfinch or Hamilton editions and dig into them as an adult and this looks like a worthwhile companion. If you or any of your readers have another recommendation I’m all ears.
On a sidenote, mythology and particularly the Greek tales have been hot on TikTok for the last three years, particularly with the YA crowd. I don’t use social media but it’s not entirely a cultural wasteland.
While Hamilton isn’t as dire as W. H. D. Rouse’s botched translations of Homer (yet kept in print and boring readers for decades), go to the likes Robert Graves first.
Todd, I need to read some of the Robert Graves books on my shelves. I have the Penguin edition of Graves’s GREEK MYTHS waiting for me.
Byron, I highly recommend ARCADIAN DAYS: GODS, WOMEN, AND MEN FROM GREEK MYTHS by John Spurling and GODS AND MORTALS: ANCIENT GREEK MYTHS FOR MODERN READERS By Sarah Iles Johnston. You would enjoy both of them!
Thanks. I’ll pick up both later this summer. I’ve also had my eyes on the Fry books and have heard some very favorable things about them. I’m really interested in something with a strong historical context. I might have to bump these to the fall but will definitely get to them.
Bryon, I have Fry’s TROY in the “on-deck” circle. That post will go up in a week or two.
Stephen Fry’s recent retellings are quite entertaining. Three volumes: MYTHOS, HEROES, and TROY.
Jeff, I have Stephen Fry’s TROY ready to post in a few weeks. Brilliant!
Yeah, Zeus never minded changing shape to seduce women. And he wasn’t the only God who messed around with humans.
Jeff, many of the “heroes” were products of sex between the Gods–both male and female–and humans.
A three-named woman author with her glasses on the end of her nose is enough to send me packing! I’ll stick with Bullfinch!
Bob, you forget that Ellen Nehr loved three-named women writers! I’m with you on the glasses.
How could I forget? Ellen and her three-named women authors were an embedded legend in DAPA-EM!
George,
I have never been into mythology; my husband and son lean that way more than I do. This does look like a lovely book.
I took several courses on Greek and Roman history and culture in college and read a lot of this sort of thing then. And I occasionally see one of the plays but I should reread some of these tales.
Patti, both ARCADIAN DAYS: GODS, WOMEN, AND MEN FROM GREEK MYTHS by John Spurling and GODS AND MORTALS: ANCIENT GREEK MYTHS FOR MODERN READERS By Sarah Iles Johnston are great fun to read!