The Mythology Shelf

The Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome
Philip Matyszak
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500024188, $39.95, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Goddesses-Greece-Rome/dp/0500024189

Synopsis: Who were the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome? What = did they mean to the people who worshipped them? Although their time of wid= espread worship is long gone, the Greek and Roman gods have fascinated and = inspired writers and artists for millennia. From Aphrodite to Apollo, Posei= don to Zeus, these are some of the most recognizable characters in Western = culture, yet there is rich, unknown lore behind these famous figures who re= gularly feature in art and writing.

The Greek and Roman gods are enthralling characters in the enduringly power= ful Iliad, Odyssey, and Metamorphoses, as well as in modern retellings like=
Circe and the Percy Jackson series. They are immortal and powerful, yet al=
so vain, vindictive, and vulnerable. Moreover, as manifestations of death, = fertility, love, and war, the gods are also our key to understanding how th=
e Greeks and Romans saw their world.

With the publication of "The Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome", Philip=
Matyszak presents this pantheon in all their complexity, guiding us from M= ount Olympus to the depths of Hades. Each chapter focuses on an individual = god or goddess, beginning with their "biography" as understood by the Greek=
s and Romans and exploring the origins of the legends.

Critique: Essential reading for students, academia, and non-specialist gene= ral readers with an interested in the mythology and classical civilization =
of Greece and Rome, "The Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome" deftly mixe=
s documented history and legend with vivid re- tellings of the Greco-Roman = myths about their gods and goddesses ranging from stories of cosmic creatio=
n and universal war, to disastrous weddings and freak discus accidents. A p= rofusely and beautifully illustrated guide to the gods of Greece and Rome, = "The Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome" is especially recommended for p= ersonal, professional, community, college, and university library Folklore/= Mythology collections and supplemental curriculum Greco-Roman History studi=
es lists.

Editorial Note: Philip Matyszak (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Matys= zak) is the author of a number of books on classical civilization, includin=
g The Greek and Roman Myths, Chronicle of the Roman Republic, The Sons of C= aesar, Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day, Ancient Athens on Five Drachmas =
a Day, Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World.

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