3 Review(s)

From Zeus and Europa, to Diana, Pan, and Prometheus, the myths of ancient Greece and Rome seem to exert a timeless power over us. But what do those myths represent, and why are they so enduringly fascinating? Why do they seem to be such a potent way of talking about our selves, our origins, and our desires? This imaginative and stimulating Very Short Introduction goes beyond a simple retelling of the stories to explore the rich history and diverse interpretations of classical mythology. It is a wide-ranging account, examining how classical myths are used and understood in both high art and popular culture, taking the reader from the temples of Crete to skyscrapers in New York, and finding classical myths in a variety of unexpected places: from Arabic poetry and Hollywood films, to psychoanalysis, the Bible, and New Age spiritualism. Salient Features Classical myths are a subject of enduring fascination, widely evoked and re-told in both high art and popular culture. A lively and wide-ranging exploration, placing the emphasis on understanding the myths rather than simply retelling them. Examines topics ranging from classical literature to contemporary art, Hollywood film, politics, psychoanalysis, and the Bible. Asks why sex is such a preoccupation in classical myths, looking at examples from 'Xena, warrior princess', to Mozart's 'Apollo and Hyacinthus'. Examines how classical myths have been used throughout history and around the world, to debate and dramatize questions of conflict, politics, sexuality, and our sense of our own origins.