Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook — From Aphrodite to Zeus, a Profile of Who’s Who in Greek Mythology
| Title: | Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook — From Aphrodite to Zeus, a Profile of Who’s Who in Greek Mythology |
| Author(s): | Liv Albert; illustrated by Sara Richard |
| Publisher: | Adams Media |
| Published: | March 16, 2021 |
| Format: | epub |
| Date Added: | May 20, 2022 |
| calibre ID: | e-85 |
| Read: | No |
| Date Finished: | n/a |
About the Book
Finally sort out who’s who in Greek mythology — from gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and everyone in between!
Greek mythology continues to appear in popular movies and books today but have you ever wondered about where these characters started out? Discover the origins of your favorite characters from Greek mythology with this collection of profiles to tell you who’s who in classical lore!
In Greek Mythology, you will discover the backstories of the heroes, villains, gods, and goddesses that enjoy popularity in today’s shows and films. With comprehensive entries that outline each character’s name, roles, related symbols, and foundational myths, you can get to know the roots of these personas and better understand the stories they inspire today. With this character-focused, handy reference, you will never be confused about Ancient Greece!
Source: Goodreads
Editorial Reviews
Albert gives a witty and unapologetic perspective on famous classical stories through a modern, feminist lens.”
—Rachel Smythe, creator of the Lore Olympus Webtoon
“This is not your grandma’s mythology primer. Liv Albert continues her work to bring Greek mythology into modern times with this refreshing, forward-thinking, and best of all, hilarious almanac. Paired with the stunning artwork by Sara Richard, the book feels like an heirloom created for our generation to pass down.”
—Emily Edwards, author and host of the Fuckbois of Literature podcast
“Beautifully illustrated and instantly absorbing, Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook tells the familiar stories in a fresh, entertaining way and also delves into more obscure myths, origin stories, and characters—leaving no corner of Greek mythology unexplored.”
—Jenny Williamson, cohost of the Ancient History Fangirl podcast
“Gripping, deftly executed, and beautifully told, Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook is at once a primer for those new to mythology and a compass for those looking to further explore the stories that still shape our world. Feminist and wise, this is a must-read for fans of Lore Olympus or Percy Jackson.”
—Genn McMenemy, cohost of the Ancient History Fangirl podcast
“I highly recommend reading this book if you want to know all the gossip straight from Mount Olympus. This will be a treasured book for any new or longtime Greek mythology obsessives.”
—Mari Phillips, owner of MYTHSNTiTS, illustrator
“Liv brings her trademark panache to this collection! This handbook is packed with connections between ancient myth and popular culture. It’s a wild ride accompanied by Sara Richard’s gorgeous illustrations, suitable for those who adore mythology and enthusiastic beginners. This book is a treat for anyone who likes their ancient past with a dose of humor. We know that we do!”
—Dr. Rad and Dr. G, cohosts of The Partial Historians podcast
“Brilliant, funny, and exciting….Greek mythology can be complex, and Liv has explained it in a way that is easy to digest, with some beautiful imagery alongside the stories.”
—Jeff Murray, artist
“A stylish new guide book for modern audiences.”
—Mental Floss
“A delightfully updated version of many of the most famous Greek myths.”
—Memphis Flyer
“There’s a lot of information packed in this impressive book.”
—SciFiChick.com
“A must-have guide to who’s who in Greek myth … the stunning illustrations are exquisite and breathtaking, making this book a beautiful piece of art as well as an excellent source of knowledge and entertainment.”
—Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne
“A beautifully illustrated and well-written introduction to the wide world of Greek mythology.”
—A Universe in Words
“Smart and witty.”
—Hazlitt
“A fun, engaging handbook with beautiful illustrations.”
—Rhea Classica Review
Source: Barnes & Noble
Review
Learn Who’s Who in Greek Mythology With a Stylish New Guide Book for Modern Audiences
By Elaine Selna | Apr 6, 2021
Greek mythology, while a fascinating subject, can also be pretty complicated. Since many of the stories were orally dictated thousands of years ago, it can be confusing to remember which god or goddess did what and which mortals’ lives were ruined in the process. Liv Albert, host of the podcast Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!, is looking to boil it all down in her debut book, Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook, which serves as an introductory guide to this ancient world for a modern audience.
Though it may seem like these stories about deities from long ago might not be relevant today, many modern versions of these myths have gained popularity over the past decade, including Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson book series and Madeline Miller’s New York Times bestselling books Song of Achilles and Circe. Even Rachel Smythe’s webtoon series Lore Olympus has generated a large cult following and will be made into a book soon.
But Albert isn’t putting a new, fantastical spin on the material—instead, she’s taking what we know about these myths and is concentrating on contextualizing them for today’s audiences. “People are coming at [these myths] in so many different ways and so many different places that I think it’s important to have a resource out there that isn’t fictionalized,” Albert tells Mental Floss.
For Greek Mythology, Albert hand-selected standout stories for each of the characters to give more insight into who they were. Even though there were always only 12 Olympians, this book covers over 60 top personas from ancient Greek mythology. Of course, the Olympians have their own section, but the largest section covers all the heroes and mortals the gods, goddesses, and deities interacted with. Characters like Heracles, better known by his Roman name Hercules, and Perseus are featured alongside lesser-known figures like Atalanta and Phaethon, so they all get their time in the sun to reveal stories many might’ve forgotten over the centuries.
Since there are so many versions of these stories, Albert compares and contrasts these different interpretations to show how characters can be seen in multiple lights, while never ignoring the problematic aspects of the past. Chief among these parts are the issues of misogyny and sexual assault, which were usually glossed over in many earlier interpretations of Greek myth. This is especially true when it comes to Zeus, king of the gods, who was potentially the worst offender.
“The [myths] that have survived the test of time were written down by men who existed in a patriarchy where women were property. And so they are told like that. The women are property [and they] were ‘carried off,’ and that was it. Meanwhile, it’s like, ‘No, she was fully abducted,'” Albert says.
But Albert notes that viewing myths through a contemporary lens can actually empower characters beyond the problematic parts of their story. She cites the story of Hades abducting Persephone as a prime example. “Ultimately how [Persephone] got [to the Underworld] is tragic, but she really took on her role and was like, ‘No, if I’ve got to be this goddess is in the underworld, I’m going to be the dread goddess Persephone, and I’m going to be more powerful than my husband,'” Albert says.
To punctuate the grandeur of these Greek myths, the book features illustrations by award-winning artist Sara Richard, who brilliantly reimagined the characters. “Not only is [Richard] so talented, but I do love that [the illustrations are] so stylized and creepy and weird, and they’re not at all traditional. They’re very unique, and I couldn’t love them more,” Albert says.
For her podcast fans, Albert is most excited for them to see the illustrations, especially of characters that have become well-known in the podcast, like Medea, Circe, and Medusa. “[These characters] are really sort of misunderstood in terms of reception of them,” Albert says, “I told the story of Medusa very specifically because there’s this really bizarre showing of people who refuse to believe certain versions of her and stand by it in a really, almost the vitriolic way on the internet.” In the book, Albert describes a side of Medusa that is sympathetic, not monstrous. And in a way, it’s a microcosm of what the entire book aims to do with these centuries-old tales.
Liv Albert’s book Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes is now available to purchase on Amazon.
Source: Mental Floss
About the Author
Liv Albert
Born: in Canada – July 19, 1988
Website: https://www.mythsbaby.com
Twitter: mythsbaby
Liv Albert is the host, creator, writer, editor, and producer of Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby! Liv is a giant nerd for a great many things, though most notably, Greek & Roman mythology.
Liv has a degree in English Literature & Classics (Classical Civilizations) from Concordia University in Montreal where she studied ancient Greece and Rome broadly. She is constantly researching new details and versions of Greek mythological stories to tell in the podcast, and especially loves speaking with experts on various ancient world subjects (always for the podcast!). Liv is devoted to the world of Greek and Roman mythology, even if it is full of bloodshed and horrible men.
She has a single mythological hill on which she will die: Medusa was a survivor who didn’t harm anyone.
Liv is the author of the #1 New Release and Bestselling book Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook. Signed copies available through Munro’s Books (worldwide shipping is available). Click here for regional lists of retailers, or check your local independent shop!
Finally sort out who’s who in Greek mythology—from gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and everyone in between!
In Greek Mythology, you will discover the backstories of the heroes, villains, gods, and goddesses that enjoy popularity in today’s shows and films. With comprehensive entries that outline each character’s name, roles, related symbols, and foundational myths, you can get to know the roots of these personas and better understand the stories they inspire today. With this character-focused, handy reference, you will never be confused about Ancient Greece!
Liv’s newest book is Nectar of the Gods, a book of 75 Greek Mythology themed cocktails created with Thea Engst and illustrated by Sara Richard. It’s an incredible nerdy and fun book of creative (and educational!) cocktails that will leaving you longing for mythical Greece.
Signed copies are available through Munro’s Books or order the book from your local bookstore (worldwide!).
Sip sweet libations worthy of the Gods with these Greek myth–inspired concoctions based on all your favorite Gods and Goddesses.
Care for Hestia’s Old Fashioned? Want to fall in love with Eros on the Beach? How about the Bacchic Muddled Maenad sangria, topped with a blood orange; or maybe a Labooze of Heracles—made with plenty of strong whiskey?
Source: Let’s Talk About Myths, baby!
Mark Joseph Jochim 