Heroes, Gods & Trojan Horses: Classic Mythology Revisited

The list author says:
	"IMHO the best secondary source on classic mythology; by Roman emperor Claudius the Stutterer's (fictional) biographer ("I, Claudius;" "Claudius the God"): Well-written, informative and comprehensive."

The list author says:
	"One of the oldest primary sources on the Olympian gods, their ancestors and progeny and the creation of the world according to Greek mythology (partly differing from Homer, though)."

The list author says:
	"In fact the work of several poets, these in addition to the Iliad and the Odyssey constitute the core of (originally orally transmitted) Greek mythology."

The list author says:
	"The 2 best-known works associated with Homer in an acclaimed new translation: the 10-year Trojan War & the Trojan horse creator's 20-year-journey home. (Both originally transmitted only orally, too.)"

The list author says:
	"Ancient Rome's companion piece to the above; the wanderings of the forefather of Romulus and Remus, Rome's mythical founders. Composed by Virgil and commissioned by emperor Augustus himself."

The list author says:
	"Rome's mythical foundation, lore and early history, artfully told in the classic text authored by Virgil's contemporary, Augustan historian Titus Livy."

The list author says:
	"The foremost Roman collection of classic mythology; both Greek and Roman. The one must-read besides the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Aeneid, even if you're not looking at any other primary sources."

The list author says:
	"The most comprehensive primary version of the tale of Jason and the Golden Fleece (Jason's ill-fated wife Medea in particular later also became the subject of several plays, though; see below)."

The list author says:
	"A few centuries later, Apollonius's humanly flawed hero becomes the stuff of one of literary history's first great (albeit sadly uncompleted) tales of adventure and bravery."

The list author says:
	"By the father of the Greek tragedy: Sacrifice, murder and revenge at the beginning and the end of the Trojan War in king Agamemnon's house, but new civilization arises under Athena's guidance at last."

The list author says:
	"Aeschylus on Prometheus (fire for humanity, torture ever after); Danaus's 50 daughters in Argos ("The Suppliants"); patricide & incest ("7 Against Thebes"); and the battle of Salamis ("The Persians")."

The list author says:
	"Sophocles's famous cycle about Oedipus, king of Thebes, who (unknowingly) kills his father and marries his own mother; and Antigone, who defends her divine right even if she has to die for it."

The list author says:
	"Sophocles's non-Thebes plays (Troy in 3 of 4): Embittered warrior Ajax; woeful Electra (Orestes's sister/Agamemnon's daughter); wounded & betrayed Philoctetes; plus Heracles's tragic wife Deianeira."

The list author says:
	"Euripides's take on Alcestis's self-sacrifice for her husband's life; Medea's fate after marrying Jason; Heracles's children in Athens (Heracleidae); and Hippolytus, Theseus, Phaedra and Aphrodite."

The list author says:
	"Euripides on Odysseys and Polyphemos the Cyclops; Heracles and divine malice; Iphigenia after being sacrificed by Agamemnon; and an alternative history of Helen (Egypt instead of Troy!)."

The list author says:
	"The Trojan War seen from a female perspective: Hecuba, Andromache, other Trojan Women and life's unpredictability; plus Ion, Apollo's unjustly unacknowledged son."

The list author says:
	"Rhesus, Troy's failed savior (is this truly by Euripides?); war and the rule of law (Suppliant Women); Agamemnon's sacrifice before going to Troy (Iphigenia) and Orestes's post-matricide lot."

The list author says:
	"Euripides on Electra (different from Sophocles & Aeschylus!); the battle for Thebes between Oedipus's sons (The Phoenician Women); and king Pentheus' refusal to worship Dionysos (The Bacchae)."

The list author says:
	"No mythology, but a popular favorite practically ever since the time of their first collection in writing 2 millenia ago and probably as influential as any play by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides etc."

The list author says:
	"Background information on the mythological deities' cultural, spiritual and psychological importance in the context of ancient Greek society and of the humanistic tradition as a whole."

The list author says:
	"Kerenyi's companion volume to "Gods of the Greeks" ..."

The list author says:
	"...and his look at Zeus's daughter/advisor, the patroness of wisdom, warfare & the city of Athens (also part 2 of my screen name; part 1 is a Titan, Greek mythology's equivalent of Iustitia: justice)."

The list author says:
	"A modern examination of Roman mythology, as seen particularly in the context of the city's foundation."

The list author says:
	"The standard before Graves's book (see above #1); more detailed - originally published in 3 parts & a true brick when compiled in 1 volume - but primarily for those seriously interested in this area."

The list author says:
	"If all you want is a brief introduction, though, Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" (or her even shorter "Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes") will probably do just fine - it even covers Norse myths as well."