The
Greek myths are timeless classics
, whose scenes and figures have captivated us since ancient times. The gods and heroes of these legends hold up a
mirror to the human condition
, embodying universal characteristics and emotions, like love, hatred, fortune, jealousy, revenge, hubris, greed, or bravery. These traits are the basis for immortal dramas and rich narratives, as profound as they are entertaining, which
form the bedrock of our culture and literature today
and remain relevant and fascinating for all readers, young and old alike.
This edition contains 21 of the
most famed episodes from the Trojan War
, the
subsequent wanderings of Odysseus
, and his
long—awaited return to Ithaca
. The texts are carefully compiled from the seminal work
Sagen des klassischen Altertums
(
Gods and Heroes: Myths and Epics of Ancient Greece
) by
Gustav Schwab
, and strikingly illustrated by 15 artists, among them outstanding representatives of the
Golden Age of Book Illustration
and the
Arts and Crafts Movement
, including Walter Crane, William Russell Flint, Newell Convers Wyeth, and Virginia Frances Sterrett.
These illustrations are complemented by
scene—setting vignettes for each story
and a
genealogical tree
of Greek gods and goddesses by
Clifford Harper
. Placing the tales in a historical context, the book contains an introduction by
Dr. Michael Siebler
and is rounded off with an
extensive glossary
of the most important protagonists in the Greek myths. The heroism, tragedy, and theater of Greek mythology glimmer through each tale in this lavishly illustrated edition,
awakening the gods and heroes to new life
.