文档介绍：Dear Reader,
Relax! We promise we won't be testing you on the contents of this book.
Nope, though classical mythology could be the subject of a college course,
this book will not pummel you with academic jargon or a dry approach to
the classical Greek and Roman myths. Instead, we offer you the richness of
the stories themselves, tales that still have a powerful place in our culture
today.
In plete Idiots Guide to Classical Mythology, Second Edition, we would
like to acquaint you with some of the most poignant, exciting, and influen•
tial characters in the history of Western literature. You will learn the story,
for instance, of a proud young man who doesn't really know who he is. As
he discovers more about himself, he finds out—to his horror—that he has
unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. This is the story of
Oedipus.
You will pany Heracles as he battles monstrous foes in heaven and
hell. You will follow Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece. You will
see how Perseus slays the snake-haired Medusa and Theseus defeats the
bull-headed Minotaur. You will encounter fantastic beasts and fearsome
foes on the long journeys of Odysseus and Aeneas.
In this book, you will also meet lovers of all kinds: unrequited Echo,
ever-faithful Penelope, abandoned Dido, and self-absorbed Narcissus.
This book will also introduce you to the gods and goddesses of Mount
Olympus: Zeus and Hera, Poseidon and Hades, Athena and Aphrodite,
to name a few. Though powerful and immortal, these gods were not above
the lust, jealousy, and fits of temper that we normally associate not with
the divine, but with our own baser instincts.
The entertaining characters of classical mythology are sure to thrill and
delight you. So don't bother taking notes or cramming for an exam that
will e. Simply enjoy the stories and have fun reading.
Dana Burgess Kevin Osborn
About the Authors
Dana Burgess, ., lives in Walla Walla, Washing