Lance Hightower

Some of the best stories about Ancient Greece are mixed with actual historical events: equal parts truth and fantasy, and that's what makes them so intriguing. The Trojan War for example, in which we see the hero Achilles, the bulwark of the Greek Army who saved the kidnapped Helen, is told from the perspective of his goddess mother. But did you know that according to the ancient Greeks, Achilles had the choice to live a long and happy life or die by his ambition to be remembered as a hero? Even with all the intervention of his Immortal mother who called in favors from the gods, she could not change the fate of her son, which was allegedly set by the Fates when he was born. Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, Heroines, Monsters, and Classic Greek Myths of All Time is filled with interesting tidbits about the most popular heroes, gods and goddesses, as well as some little known facts and interpretations about their lives. You'll find timelines and the genealogy of the Immortals as well as the men and women who were subjected to their whims and used as pawns to further their intentions. It gives us deep insight into the philosophy of this "religion," into the minds of great thinkers of the time and how they viewed their world - the earth, the heavens, the stars, and the afterlife. But this book is as entertaining as it is informative. Discover how the great Olympian and King of the Gods, Zeus himself, was controlled by his wife, Hera, and how something as meaningless as a pomegranate seed fated poor Persephone to being the Goddess of the Underworld, at least part-time, that is. Find out about the four seasons, what or who inspires music and poetry, why life is limited to a certain span of time, how each person is allotted certain gifts and why, how the gods intervene, what came before Olympus, and how we got the names of many of our constellations and stars. It may seem like superstition today, but a mere 3000 years ago, these were strongly held beliefs that influenced everything in daily life including philosophy, religion and government in the same way today's dominant religions influence society. Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, Heroines, Monsters, and Classic Greek Myths of All Time is a fun read and a book you'll want to refer to again and again. It should find a place in your reference library and onto your reading list.

Lance Hightower

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