A Brief Guide to The Greek Myths

The book leads the reader through these vibrant stories, from the origins of the gods through to the homecomings of the Trojan heroes. All the familiar narratives are here, along with some less familiar characters and motifs. In addition to the tales, the book explains key issues arising from the narratives, and discusses the myths and their wider relevance.

This long-overdue book crystallises three key areas of interest: the nature of the tales; the stories themselves; and how they have and might be interpreted. For the first time, it brings together aspects of Greek mythology only usually available in disparate forms namely children s books and academic works.

There will be much here that is interesting, surprising, and strange as well as familiar. Experts and non-experts, adults, students and schoolchildren alike will gain entertainment and insight from this fascinating and important volume.

As inhuman fire sweeps on in fury through the deep angles of a drywood mountain and sets ablaze the depth of the timber and the blustering wind lashes the flame along, so Achilles swept everywhere with his spear like something more than a mortal harrying them as they died, and the black earth ran blood.

About the Author

Dr Steven Kershaw wrote his Ph.D. under the supervision of Richard Buxton, arguably the leading scholar on Greek myth in the world. He has taught Classics in a number of establishments, including Oxford University Department for Continuing Education and Warwick University. He lectures for Swan Hellenic cruises and runs the European Studies Classical Tour for Rhodes College and the University of the South.