Mythology for Dummies

Discover (or rediscover!) history's greatest myths and legends
 
From Grendel and Beowulf to Poseidon, Medusa, and Hercules, the gods, monsters, and heroes of mythology are endlessly weird and fascinating. And if you're looking for a helpful companion to this wild collection of creatures, humans, and deities, you've found it! Mythology For Dummies delivers the straight goods on history's most popular myths, helping you make sense of even the most complicated ancient stories.
 
You'll learn about the origins of your favorite myths, their cultural impact, and more. Discover:
* The coolest mythological characters, including intrepid Odysseus, the volatile gods of Mount Olympus, and Thor and Loki
* How ancient mythology intersects with our daily lives in pop culture, high culture, and everything in between
* Mythological destinations, like Atlantis, and famous sites from Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology
 
An engrossing guide to some of the most enduring and interesting tales from throughout history, Mythology For Dummies serves up the inside scoop on almost every myth or legend you'd care to learn more about.

List of contents

Introduction 1
 
Part 1: Mythology Basics and Why the Stories Endure 5
 
Chapter 1: The Truth About Myths 7
 
Chapter 2: Ancient Myths in Modern Culture: The Legacy 19
 
Part 2: Thunder and Lightning: Greek Mythology 29
 
Chapter 3: Greek Creation Myths and Really Ancient Greek Gods 31
 
Chapter 4: Taller, Younger, and Better Looking Than You: The Olympian Gods 45
 
Chapter 5: The Fairest and Meanest of Them All: The Greek Goddesses 61
 
Chapter 6: So Fine and Half Divine: Heroes 77
 
Chapter 7: The Trojan War, the Iliad, and the Odyssey 95
 
Chapter 8: Of Chorus They're so Dramatic: Greek Tragedy 115
 
Part 3: The Cultural Spoils of an Empire: Roman Mythology 131
 
Chapter 9: Will the Real Roman Mythology Please Stand Up? 133
 
Chapter 10: Virgil's Aeneid and the Founding of Rome 149
 
Chapter 11: Time to Change Things Up: Ovid's Metamorphoses 159
 
Part 4: One Big Family Feud: Norse and Northern European Mythology 169
 
Chapter 12: Snow, Ice, and Not Very Nice: Norse Deities 171
 
Chapter 13: Heroes and Monsters: The Big Northern European Sagas 189
 
Chapter 14: A Seat at the Round Table: King Arthur and His Court 201
 
Chapter 15: Myths from the Emerald Isle: Ireland and Celtic Mythology 217
 
Part 5: The Cradle(s) of Civilization: African and Near-Eastern Mythology 225
 
Chapter 16: Central and Southern Africa: The Bantu's Eternal Earth and Sly Animals 227
 
Chapter 17: Floods, Mud, and Gods: Mesopotamian and Hebrew Mythology 235
 
Chapter 18: Three Cheers for Egypt: Ra, Ra, Ra! 249
 
Chapter 19: North African Mythology: A Real Melting Pot 261
 
Chapter 20: One Thousand Tales: Persian Mythology 269
 
Part 6: Kashmir to Kyoto, and a Lot in Between: South- and East Asian Mythology 279
 
Chapter 21: Land of a Thousand Gods: India 281
 
Chapter 22: Get out the Fine China: Early Chinese Myth and the Three Teachings 293
 
Chapter 23: Japan: Myths from the Land of the Rising Sun 305
 
Part 7: "New World"? Says Who? Mythology of the Americas 317
 
Chapter 24: Central and South American Mythology: Civilizations, Cities, and Ball Games 319
 
Chapter 25: Sea to Sea, and Lots of Animals in Between: Indigenous Myths of North America 333
 
Part 8: The Part of Tens 349
 
Chapter 26: Ten Mythological Monsters 351
 
Chapter 27: Ten (Plus One) Mythological Places 357
 
Index 365

About the author

Amy Hackney Blackwell, PhD, has spent her career producing educational content on science, history, and the law. Christopher W. Blackwell, PhD, is the Louis G. Forgione University Professor of Classics at Furman University.

Summary

Discover (or rediscover!) history's greatest myths and legends

From Grendel and Beowulf to Poseidon, Medusa, and Hercules, the gods, monsters, and heroes of mythology are endlessly weird and fascinating. And if you're looking for a helpful companion to this wild collection of creatures, humans, and deities, you've found it! Mythology For Dummies delivers the straight goods on history's most popular myths, helping you make sense of even the most complicated ancient stories.

You'll learn about the origins of your favorite myths, their cultural impact, and more. Discover:
* The coolest mythological characters, including intrepid Odysseus, the volatile gods of Mount Olympus, and Thor and Loki
* How ancient mythology intersects with our daily lives in pop culture, high culture, and everything in between
* Mythological destinations, like Atlantis, and famous sites from Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology

An engrossing guide to some of the most enduring and interesting tales from throughout history, Mythology For Dummies serves up the inside scoop on almost every myth or legend you'd care to learn more about.

Product details

• Authors: Amy Hackney Blackwell, Amy Hackney Blackwell Blackwell, Christopher W Blackwell, Christopher W. Blackwell, Blackwell Amy Hackney, Blackwell Christopher W.
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.12.2023
• EAN: 9781394187935
• ISBN: 978-1-394-18793-5
• No. of pages: 400
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Antiquity; Mythologie, Classical Studies, Literature: history and criticism, Humanistische Studien, Classical Mythology, Klassische Mythologie