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Greek Myths

[Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 6,442
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in Books #1
Anyone know of any good compilation books that have all the Greek myths in them?

I remember reading them as a kid and always loved the stories and wondered if there was a decent one that compiles them all together.

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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 237
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    #2
    Providing you just want a good read you can’t go wrong with the Robert Graves collection. From a scholarly perspective it is a work of questionable value with a few clear errors on top, but even then it is worthy of a place on anyone’s bookshelf.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 3,270
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    #3
    Metamorphoses, by Ovid
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    tanstaafltanstaafl Posts: 22,325
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    #4
    Theogony by Hesiod.
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    Phoenix LazarusPhoenix Lazarus Posts: 17,306
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    #5
    The one I'm reading now is The Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome, by E Berens. It's an old nineteenth century book that gives a good summary of the myths in 325 pages. You will probably have to go on antique booksites Abebook.co.uk or Biblio.co.uk to locate a copy, because of its age. Don't be put off by the notion 'antique' = 'expensive.' Those sites have a lot of old books at often very reasonable prices, and give full notification of the condition of their books, stating any defects.
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    Miss C. DeVilleMiss C. DeVille Posts: 6,042
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    #6
    Phoenix Lazarus wrote: »
    The one I'm reading now is The Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome, by E Berens. It's an old nineteenth century book that gives a good summary of the myths in 325 pages. You will probably have to go on antique booksites Abebook.co.uk or Biblio.co.uk to locate a copy, because of its age. Don't be put off by the notion 'antique' = 'expensive.' Those sites have a lot of old books at often very reasonable prices, and give full notification of the condition of their books, stating any defects.

    This book is available on Amazon kindle for 71p at the moment so if you've got a kindle or app for PC etc. there you go...bargain. :)
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    spiney2spiney2 Posts: 27,058
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    #7
    A good way to approach this is via the family tree: Here's the wikipedia version, and there's quite a few other websites ......

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_tree_of_the_Greek_gods

    The Robert Graves book is very highly regarded, haven't read it myself .........

    There's also Bullfinch, in bookshops and online free.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulfinch%27s_Mythology

    http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/bulf/

    http://www.online-literature.com/bulfinch/mythology_fable/

    Hesiod is where the legends originally came from, but not an easy read!

    http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/hesiod/theogony.htm
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    spiney2spiney2 Posts: 27,058
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    #8
    If you want to dip into Ovid, try the Ted Hughes version!

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0571191037/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
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    spiney2spiney2 Posts: 27,058
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    #9
    Correction ...... obviously, the Greek myths existed in oral traditions and found their way into Homer ...... Hesiod was the 1st formalised version ............

    Ovid is more like a scandal sheet version, Greek Gods' amorous adventures reported News of the World style ........

    Just got Ted Hughes' Tales From Ovid out of library, will let y'all know .......
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    tinyangeltinyangel Posts: 1,694
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    #10
    Miss C. DeVille wrote: »
    This book is available on Amazon kindle for 71p at the moment so if you've got a kindle or app for PC etc. there you go...bargain. :)

    Thanks for that. I've just downloaded it. :) Not the sort of thing I normally go for, but I've been watching "my life in books", and someone picked a book on Greek mythology and made it sound quite interesting! I'll try anything once!
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    OvalteenieOvalteenie Posts: 24,169
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    #11
    I like the ones by Roger Lancelyn Green. 'The Tale of Troy', 'Tales of the Greek Heroes'. Very readable. :)
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    spiney2spiney2 Posts: 27,058
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    #12
    Turns out there's a recent very readable translation of Ovid online, free! I've looked, seems very good.

    http://etext.virginia.edu/latin/ovid/trans/Ovhome.htm
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    DotNetWillDotNetWill Posts: 4,564
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    #13
    Miss C. DeVille wrote: »
    This book is available on Amazon kindle for 71p at the moment so if you've got a kindle or app for PC etc. there you go...bargain. :)

    Or project Gutenburg for free :)

    http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22381
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    Miss C. DeVilleMiss C. DeVille Posts: 6,042
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    #14
    DotNetWill wrote: »
    Or project Gutenburg for free :)

    http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22381

    Well you can't go wrong with free and you can have it with or without illustrations...can't complain about that. :)
    There's so much available for little or no money at all !
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,607
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    #15
    DotNetWill wrote: »
    Or project Gutenburg for free :)

    http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22381

    brilliant opener.....

    "The want of an interesting work on Greek and Roman mythology, suitable for the requirements of both boys and girls, has long been recognized by the principals of our advanced schools. "

    :D:D:D
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