For adults with more advanced knowledge for those already familiar with bulfinch, the next book to pick up is timothy gantz early greek myths, although this is a 2volume reference work, rather than a book to read. Crete 8,000 years of history 6000 bc 200x ad venetian period. Deucalion was the father of idomeneus and a daughter, named crete. Linear b was found initially at knossos in crete island and it was deciphered by michael g. The greek myths can be deeply weird and confusing check out the robert. The greek islands and their mythological stories there are many ancient myths surrounding the islands of greece. Indeed the names of many mythical cretan heroes bear witness to this, for example asterionas, the king of crete, who took as his wife europa she with the big face. Talos is a name which, according to ancient descriptions, is related directly to zeus jupiter. Zeus, the king of gods and men, was born in a cave in greece and was raised by a goat, amalthea. The book later became a hit television show in greece, clearing decades of fallacy surrounding the island. Nov 17, 2009 when you live in mythology, it comes as no surprise that the logos of honda are a wing and an h, which can also stand for hermes, the herald of the gods whose symbol is a winged sandal. If you are really serious about mythology, check out the golden bough by sir james george frazer. To be truly familiar with greek mythology, you really should know a good portion of the allusions ovid makes. If he would not attack athens for 9 years, athens would send 7 boys and 7 girls to the island of crete to be eaten by the awful monster that king minos kept as a pet, the dreaded minotaur.
Today, spinalonga, the once grave of the living, is the second most visited archaeological site of crete after knossos, with people from all over the world arriving in crete only to explore its grounds. List of books and articles about greek mythology online. Jun 02, 2015 we asked you to share your favorite modern books inspired by mythology and you answered. I first went there more than 30 years ago, and it was books that inspired me. Not only does the island have locations and characters connected with the rick riordan books, but there is also the opportunity to visit the cave. The greek myth of talos the first robotlike creature in human mythology is certainly a fascinating one.
The top five must have greek mythology books for kids. It is a region with a rich history, famous not only for its amazing landscapes, the local food, and the authentic hospitality and culture, but also for the greek mythology that is connected to it and has influenced the art and literature worldwide. Greek mythology is a body of famous stories of gods, heroes and mythical beasts. The story of spinalonga, the island of the lepers in crete. My 10 best books about greece family experiences blog. Ages 912 odysseus undertakes a dangerous journey back to his home encountering the land of the lotus eaters and the island of the cyclops while dodging the wrath of poseidon, god of the sea. Greek mythology does not just tell the stories of gods and goddesses, however. Book recommendations, author interviews, editors picks, and more.
Cretans are the genuine descendants of the cretanborn zeus, the god of gods, humans and hospitality. Crete, particularly its mountains and southern coast, was one of my first. Does anyone know of someone in greek mythology named daedra, pronounced deedruh. Although there is a considerable element of fiction, the myths they have inspired have continued to influence the art and literature we recognise today. Zorba the greek is perhaps the most famous greek book by talented greek author nikos kazantzakis. Crete was the site of the earliest high civilization in europe. Also would love to visit an island or two although may be chilly in march. For those with an interest in greek mythology or simply a love of historical sites a visit. The results include the original 12 cabins, except the hera cabin. A collection of greek stories and greek gods for children clark, anthony, harper, robert on.
Various myths represented python as being either male or female a drakaina. Pyramid scheme, by dave freer and eric flint multiple formats at filed under. Jan 04, 2006 the ancient texts we call greek myths are our window into the distant past, a view of a world that existed not only in the mind of the poets, but also in the hearts of the humble natives of ancient greece. In addition to weaving colorful stories throughout the text, every volume reveals how those stories both reflected and provided order to greek society, culture, customs, and values. The myths of crete still spark the imagination greece is.
Crete is the largest island in greece and has been the backdrop for a number of stories of ancient greek mythology. Read this retelling of the classic, the odyssey by homer to find out. For those looking for a book specific to ancient crete look elsewhere. The book tells the story of a young greek intellectual, the narrator, who spends a year in a rural village in the greek island of crete with zorba, a simple worker whose character is an antithesis of his own. Crete, minoans fiction fiction books about ancient crete and the minoans.
The greek word for hospitality, philoxenia, derives from the words filos friend and xenos stranger and means to become friend with the stranger. Greek mythology a hero and king of athens who was noted for his many great deeds. A fascinating journey through cretan history, from its mythological past to its touristcrowded present. Human heroessuch as heracles, the adventurer who performed 12 impossible labors for king eurystheus. They also stock various greek editions of books and maps which might be difficult to find in other countries. The stories of the gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and other mythical creatures. If i wanted to learn about greek mythology, what would be the. In greek mythology python was the earthdragon of delphi, always represented in the vasepaintings and by sculptors as a serpent. In the month before the ancient olympics, no wars were permitted so that spectators could travel from across greece unharmed. The ionian islands zakynthos, ithaca, corfu, kefallonia, lefkada, paxi, and kythira which is situated opposite the southern peloponnese laconia. In myth crete was ruled by king minos, who periodically demanded a tribute of young men and maidens of athens to be sacrificed to the minotaur, the monster of the labyrinth. Listen to the wonderful journeys and adventures of these ancient greek gods and heroes. Python was the chthonic enemy of apollo, who slew it and remade its former home his own oracle, the most famous in greece. Indeed, cretans are famous for their hospitality, induced solely by respect for their fellow men.
A complete and enjoyable text which ive read since i was 8 and never stopped. This quiz is based on the percy jackson books, and the heroes of olympus books. The best books about greece updated for 2020 santorini dave. Greek mythology this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a printed book. Best books for kids and adults interested in greek mythology. It was also in the nearby islets of paximadia that the twins artemis and apollo were born. Books about greece will allow travel through mind and time. Ancient greece test crete and trojan war flashcards. Study and learn greek mythology with our free online lessons and ecourses. The religious nucleus of cretan mythology is the worship of the sun, the moon and the stars, which was brought from the east by the first colonisers of crete.
Discover, download and read free and lowpriced ebooks on the subject of greek mythology. Greek myths of ancient crete hardcover december 1, 2003 by sheldon oberman author. Greek myths of ancient crete by sheldon oberman, illus. The minoan civilization was an aegean bronze age civilization that arose on the island of crete and other aegean islands such as santorini and flourished from approximately 2600 to 1400 bce. A fascinating journey through cretan history, from its mythological past to its tourist crowded present. The shape of the island is roughly triangular, but it is deeply intruded by the gulfs of kalloni, with an entry on the southern coast, and of gera, in the southeast the island is forested and mountainous with two. Island of the minotaur is a fun and informative reinterpretation of these ancient myths for a new generation of readers. The ultimate mythology collection is a good place to start. Apollodorus library has been used as a source book by classicists from the time of its compilation in the 1st2nd century bc to the present, influencing writers from antiquity to robert graves. However, even these two visions are somewhat conflicting, so, sometimes, we have to resort to assumptions to reconstruct the greek underworld in its entirety. Hades and persephone, greek mythology, ya mythology series, best of the ya greek mythology books, ya books with greek mythology, books with. Dinner with persephone patricia storace truly excellent. Monsters, heroes, and natural phenomena are among the topics covered in this thematic exploration of the mythology of ancient greece.
Like all greek myths, these fictionalized retellings contain love and sex, poetry and passion, and often buckets of blood. The only work of its kind to survive from classical antiquity, the library of apollodorus is a unique guide to greek mythology, from the origins of the universe to the trojan war. Here are the mythological stories about five beautiful cyclades islands. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Students of anthropology, folklore, and religion study myths in different ways, distinguishing them from various other forms of popular, often orally transmitted, literature. The 10 best greek mythology books norse mythology for smart. On the greek island of crete, zeus was also called talios, and in the ancient greek dialect talos was the name of the sun. Index to fairy tales, myths, and legends second edition, 1926, with supplements from 1937 and 1952, by mary huse eastman page images at hathitrust filed under. The geography of the underworld much of what we know about how the ancient greeks and romans imagined the underworld we know from homers odyssey and virgils aeneid. Illustrations by blair drawson are colorful, exaggerated and humorous. That is my mothers name, and my grandfather swears that it is a name out of greek mythology. I have never stood on the deck of a greek ferry, watching the islands slip by. Hidden deep within the bowels of the earth and ruled by the god hades and his wife persephone, the underworld was the kingdom of the dead in greek mythology, the sunless place where the souls of those who died went after death. Greek mythology offers educational information on all greek gods, greek goddesses and myths of ancient greece.
Lesbos lies in the far east of the aegean sea, facing the turkish coast gulf of edremit from the north and east. The mythology not only describes the characteristics of the islands, but also represents human traits and behaviors without filters, judgements or inhibition. More than 2,000 years ago, cretes colorful mythology had already spread far. A rough overview of the basics of minoan civilization on the aegean greek islands.
Heading to greece in midmarch with 15 year old daughter who adores greek mythology. Among these, youll find close historical retellings as well as texts that read like spiritual descendants of the original myths in a completely new setting. With all the robotlike characters described in ancient greek literature, one. Likely wont satisfy real history buffs, but makes a good primer before a trip to crete. Watered by the streams of five rivers styx, acheron, cocytus, phlegethon, and lethe, the underworld was divided into at least four regions. Dec 01, 2003 the stories are written clearly and plainly, suitable for young readers without being dumbed down so much to insult them. The minotaur lived in the heart of a maze on the island of crete. Mythology crete greece crete tourism the island of crete. If you cannot get hold of the books below before your journey, dont worry, there are a few newsagents in chania and rethymnon that have a good selection of books and maps about crete. I cruise around the island, checking out the beaches before i turn my bike towards the mountain where zeus was raised. Any of patrick leigh fermors books night of rain and stars maeve binchy easy to read, but not her best zorba the greek set in crete. My grandfather always swears its from a greek mythology story of two sisters who killed a man who got between them. Crete, daughter of hesperus 1 and one of the hesperides and another possible eponym of crete.
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