Featuring fresh new translations, this second edition of Classical Myth differs from other texts by putting
the divine myths and principal legends of the Greeks and Romans in the contexts - anthropological, historical,
religious, sociological, and economic - from which they emerged, including their debt to the ancient Near East.
Barry B. Powell presents the classical myths as told by authors from Homer to Vergil, then analyzes and interprets
them. Interspersed are short essays on the later history of the myths and their importance to writers, artists,
film - makers, and philosophers down to our own times. The many photographs of ancient works of art show how the
myths were visualized. The book concludes with a history of later theories about classical myth, demonstrating
their continued importance for us today.
Table of Contents
I. DEFINITIONS AND BACKGROUND.
1. The Nature of Myth.
2. The Cultural Context of Classical Myth.
3. The Development of Classical Myth.
II. DIVINE MYTHS.
4. Myths of Creation: The Rise of Zeus.
5. Myths of Creation: The Origins of Mortals.
6. Myths of the Olympian Gods: The First Generation.
7. Myths of the Olympian Gods: The Second Generation, Part I.
8. Myths of the Olympian Gods: The Second Generation, Part II.
9. Myths of Fertility: Demeter and the Great Goddess.
10. Myths of Fertility: Dionysus.
11. Myths of Death: Encounters with the Underworld.
III. LEGENDS.
12. The Myths of Athens.
13. The Myths of Crete.
14. The Myths of Mycenae and Tiryns: Perseus and His Descendants.
15. Heracles.
16. The Myths of Thebes.
17. The Myths of Iolcus and Calydon.
18. The Trojan War I: The House of Atreus; The Anger of Achilles.
19. The Trojan War Part II: The Fall of Rome; The Return of Agamemnon.
20. The Return of Odysseus.
21. Roman Myth.
