Creation Stories in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-958-9 / eBook: 978-1-60152-959-6
Heroes in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-968-8 / eBook: 978-1-60152-969-5
Monsters in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-970-1 / eBook: 978-1-60152-971-8
Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-972-5 / eBook: 978-1-60152-973-2
Booklist, February 1, 2017
It's all Greek—mythology, that is—in this scholarly Library of Greek Mythology series. In each volume, Nardo sets the scene for the topic with an overview of the rise of classical Greece. He then presents detailed examples of many kinds of myths. Creation Stories tells how the ancient Greeks believed that the world began with Chaos and from this disorder came the Titans, the Olympians, and, finally, the human race. After identifying champions of the Trojan War, Heroes describes the quests and journeys associated with heroes as well as tales involving heroic lovers and monster slayers. Monsters examines why a society that values order would believe in monsters and the history behind some of them, including Cyclops, reptilians, and creatures with women’s faces. Natural Phenomena relates how the ancient Greeks, without modern science, used stories to explain plants, animals, weather, seasons, natural disasters, and other forces in nature. The interconnected books conclude with how Greek myths have been depicted in Western civilization and popular culture. They feature colorful scenes from myths, sidebars on great storytellers (e.g., Homer and Euripides), and “word origins” that give the ancient Greek and modern definitions of such words as cosmos and zoo. This series fits research needs across curricula in history, literature, and the arts.
—Angela Leeper
Creation Stories in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-958-9 / eBook: 978-1-60152-959-6
Gods and Goddesses in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-964-0 / eBook: 978-1-60152-965-7
Heroes in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-968-8 / eBook: 978-1-60152-969-5
Monsters in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-970-1 / eBook: 978-1-60152-971-8
Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-972-5 / eBook: 978-1-60152-973-2
School Library Journal, November 1, 2016
Gr 7 Up– With numbered source notes for each chapter and a nicely annotated set of suggestions for further reading and websites, these are scholarly discussions useful for homework purposes or deeper study by serious readers of mythology. Each book opens with a map of ancient Greece (circa 500 BCE) and a substantial introduction to some of the human interactions with the gods and the meaning and development of the myths in Greek sociology, intellectual life, and art. The five chapters that make up each volume cover many aspects of the mythical subjects and stories, as well as material on Greek history. The themes within the titles interconnect many of the characters and stories, and there’s a fair amount of overlap among the books. All include a few handsome annotated images and many small insets noting Greek words and their modern counterparts.
VERDICT Deeply informative yet interesting selections for students of mythology.
Recommended.
Creation Stories in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-958-9 / eBook: 978-1-60152-959-6
Gods and Goddesses in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-964-0 / eBook: 978-1-60152-965-7
Heroes in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-968-8 / eBook: 978-1-60152-969-5
Monsters in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-970-1 / eBook: 978-1-60152-971-8
Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology: ISBN 978-1-60152-972-5 / eBook: 978-1-60152-973-2
School Library Connection, November 1, 2016
This fascinating, informative series introduces hundreds of the mythological gods, heroes, and creatures who once were thought to control all aspects of natural phenomenon as well as many human behaviors. Stories are told dramatically, usually in abbreviated form, which relates them to the life of the early Greeks who created, embellished, and believed them. Later recognized by Greeks as just exciting stories, they continued to function as a guide to leading a good, honorable life. Examples are provided of how these myths continue to enrich Western sports, art, literature, and language. Comments by scholars and photos, often of famous paintings of these gods, enrich the basic text. These books may appeal to fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians and serve as an entry point into the world of the myths. The series can enrich classes in Western history and creative writing. Bibliography. Index.
—Anitra Gordon, Educational Reviewer, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Recommended.