Classical Mythology A to Z: An Encyclopedia of Gods & Goddesses, Heroes & Heroines, Nymphs, Spirits, Monsters, and Places

(Hardback)

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Description

An encyclopedic A-to-Z guide, this beautifully illustrated volume offers hundreds of rich, fascinating definitions of 700 major and minor characters, creatures, and places of classical mythology.

Classical Mythology A-to-Z is a comprehensive and engrossing guide to Greek and Roman mythology. Written by Annette Giesecke, PhD, Professor of Classics and Chair of Ancient Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Delaware, this brilliant reference offers clear explanations of every character and locale, and captures the essence of these timeless tales.

From the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus and the heroes of the Trojan War to the nymphs, monsters, and other mythical creatures that populate these ancient stories, Giesecke recounts, with clarity and energy, the details of more than 700 characters and places. Each definition includes cross-references to related characters, locations, and myths, as well their equivalent in Roman mythology and cult.

In addition to being an important standalone work, Classical Mythology A-to-Z is also written, designed, and illustrated to serve as an essential companion to the bestselling illustrated 75th-anniversary edition of Mythology by Edith Hamilton, including 10 full-color plates and 2-color illustrations throughout by artist Jim Tierney.

Reviews

"Annette Giesecke has recently added a wonderful and indispensable book to the corpus of mythology.... Each generation needs a mythology reference book like this, since mythology is immortal and always relevant to successive cultures but nonetheless helpful when language is both contemporary and universal as here."--Patrick Hunt, Electrum Magazine
"Inviting and highly readable...a beautiful book: the layout is pleasing, with pages bordered in a sepia-toned Greek key design and frequent woodblock-style illustrations. Occasional full-page color plates in the same woodblock style add to the appeal. Charts showing, for example, the genealogy of the ruling house of Troy, are double-page spreads, clearly laid out and beautifully ornamented. Finishing with an appendix of gods, a glossary of ancient sources, and a detailed index, this is an ideal work for collections in need of a solid (and attractive) introduction to classical mythology."--Ann Welton, Booklist

Author Bio

Annette Giesecke, PhD, is Professor of Classics and Chair of Ancient Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Delaware. She has written on a variety of subjects ranging from Epicurean philosophy and the poetry of Homer and Virgil to ancient attitudes towards the natural environment. She is the author of The Mythology of Plants: Botanical Lore from Ancient Greece and Rome. She lives in Pennsylvania.

Jim Tierney is an illustrator and graphic designer living in southeastern Pennsylvania. He illustrated the bestselling 75th-Anniversary Edition of Mythology by Edith Hamilton.