Mythology for Dummies - Softcover

Christopher W. Blackwell; Amy Hackney Blackwell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0764554328 ISBN 13: 9780764554322

Publisher: For Dummies, 2002

Synopsis

Every culture and time has its myths. You might say that myths help us to understand people, since just like people they can be inspirational and beautiful, as well as cruel and violent. The main players in mythology are the original drama kings and queens — they hang themselves in shame, poke out their own eyes, rule cities, and marry their relatives — and the fun doesn’t stop there! If you want all the scoop on gods and goddesses, fates and furies, monsters and heroes from around the world, Mythology for Dummies is the Who’s Who of mythological figures that you can’t do without.

It’s no secret that mythology can be confusing for anyone. From cultural hero Johnny Appleseed, to manly Odysseus, to femme fatale Aphrodite, and those pesky Cyclops running amuck on that faraway island, Mythology for Dummies covers all the bases, including information on:

• Greek mythology
• Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey
• Roman mythology
• Virgil’s Aeneid
• Beowulf
• Non-European mythology

Also, this book will get you up to speed on the heavy stuff—like how mythology intersects with our lives, and explores the meaning of existence. Organized into chapters on specific topics, it breaks down the common types of myths and mythological figures, and offers plain-English explanations of how myths have appeared in cultures throughout the ages. You’ll find what you need to know on these topics and many more:

• What makes myths different from legends and fairy tales
• Greek creation myths and those really ancient Greek Gods
• The Olympian Gods (taller, younger, and better looking than you)
• The Greek goddesses (the fairest and the meanest of them all)
• Heroes — made, born, and re-born
• Mythological places from Elysium Fields, to Atlantis, and Xanadu
• Roman religion — how it was begged, borrowed, and stolen

You’ll also enjoy helpful features like charts comparing major figures, and a tear-out tip-sheet with a timeline of world civilizations. Whether you want to dabble in the wonders of mythology or get serious, Mythology for Dummies will demystify the subject, and show you how important myths can be to a culture. You’ll never say, “It’s only a myth” again!

About this title

From the Back Cover

Features charts comparing gods and goddesses for easy reference

Get to know musclebound mortals, mighty monsters, and divine deities in no time at all!

From the Iliad to the Aeneid, from Camelot to Valhalla, this highly readable book demystifies mythologies from all over the globe. Beginning with the ancient Greeks and Romans, this book explores the lesser-known stories of northern Europe, the Middle East, Egypt, India, China, Japan, and the Americas.

THE DUMMIES WAY®

Explanations in plain English
"Get in, get out" information
Icons and other navigational aids
Online cheat sheet
Top ten lists
A dash of humor and fun

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About the Author

Dr. Christopher W. Blackwell is Assistant Professor of Greek, Department of Classics, Furman University. Amy Hackney Blackwell is a freelance author who has an MA in history.

About this edition

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0764554328
• ISBN 13: 9780764554322
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 360