BookStation

 Revised new edition of hugely popular book with a long history

Renowned author, expert on Greek myth

Very accessible, will appeals to students and non-scholarly readers

Now in its 8th edition, this magisterial work offers a comprehensive survey of the stories of Greek myth, from the Olympian gods, through the lesser gods and deities, to the heroes, adventures, and foundation myths of the ancient Greek world.

The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology sets out to provide a comprehensive history of the divine order and mythical prehistory of Greece, as systematized on a genealogical basis by Hesiod and the ancient mythographers, while also considering the ways in which individual myths have changed and evolved over time in different genres of literature. This new edition has been extensively rewritten and reorganized to make it more accessible to readers who may have no knowledge of the ancient world and Greek mythology, and to ensure that information on each myth or mythical figure is easy to find within the book.

This new edition of the handbook continues to offer an essential reference resource for all students of Greek mythology, and it provides an accessible and comprehensive overview of these stories for anyone with an interest in the classical world.

'The new Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology retains all the acclaimed virtues of the 2004 edition, a completely rewritten and meticulously updated version of H.J. Rose?s time-tested compendium. But this latest version provides an even more useful tool: Robin Hard has totally reorganized the earlier presentation of the often-complex stories about gods and heroes, more lucidly streamlining and sequencing the material, highlighting interconnections, and drawing attention to such matters as ancient cosmology and cult. The result is a fresh, clear narrative, featuring a strong story line while also attuned to curious lesser-known variants. An ideally accessible reference work, it can also be read straight through, with pleasure'. - Richard Martin, Stanford University, USA

Contents:

List of figures; Preface; Abbreviations; 1. Sources for Greek Myth; 2. First Beginnings and the Age of the Titans; 3. The Three Great Divine Families; 4. The Rise of Zeus and Revolts against his Rule; 5. Hades, Demeter and the Mythology of the Underworld; 6. Hera, Hestia and Poseidon; 7. Apollo, Artemis and Athena; 8. Dionysos, Hermes, Hephaistos and Aphrodite; 9. Lesser Deities and Nature-spirits; 10. The Early Mythical History of Argos; 11. The Life of Heracles; 12. The Return of the Heraclids; 13. Minos, Theseus and the Myths of Crete; 14. The Kings of Athens; 15. Theban Mythology from Cadmos to Oedipus; 16. The Theban Wars; 17. The Family of Deucalion and Hunt for the Calydonian Boar; 18. Jason and the Argonauts; 19. The Early Pelopids and the Family of Achilles and Ajax; 20. The Royal Families of Troy and Sparta; 21. The Trojan War; 22. The Return Journeys of the Greek Heroes; 23. Aeneas, Romulus and the Origins of Rome; 24. Legends of Arcadia and Final Miscellany; Bibliographical note; Genealogical tables; Main Index; The Great Olympian Gods; Selective Geographical Index