Exploring Greek Myth

“There is no better guide to virtually all one needs to know to begin to appreciate what myth was and meant to the ancient Greeks. Exploring Greek Myth is the first book a student should read after the myths themselves.” – Eric Csapo, University of Sydney

“Exploring Greek Myth is an ingenious and learned approach to a topic that is all too often treated superficially and even condescendingly. Matthew Clark shows the depth of thought that myth requires of its interpreters, and his book truly speaks for itself in its eloquence and insight.”  - Gregory Nagy, Francis Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature and Professor of Comparative Literature, Harvard University

Matthew Clark (Author)

9781405194556, Wiley

Paperback / softback, published 23 March 2012

224 pages
24.5 x 18.8 x 1.1 cm, 0.376 kg

“This volume admirably achieves Clark’s goal of bridging “the gap between the introductory books and the scholarly studies.  Summing Up:  Recommended.  Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.”  (Choice, 1 October 2012)

Exploring Greek Myth offers an extensive discussion of variant forms of myths and lesser-known stories, including important local myths and local versions of PanHellenic myths. Clark also discusses approaches to understanding myths, allowing students to gain an appreciation of the variety in one volume.

• Guides students from an introductory understanding of myths to a wide-ranging exploration of current scholarly approaches on mythology as a social practice and as an expression of thought
• Written in an informal conversational style appealing to students by an experienced lecturer in the field
• Offers extensive discussion of variant forms of myths and many lesser known, but deserving, stories
• Investigates a variety of approaches to the study of myth including: the sources of our knowledge of Greek myth, myth and ritual in ancient Greek society, comparative myth, myth and gender, hero cult, psychological interpretation of myth, and myth and philosophy
• Includes suggestions in each chapter for essays and research projects, as well as extensive lists of books and articles for further reading
• The author draws on the work of many leading scholars in the field  in his exploration of topics throughout the text

List of Illustrations vii

Subject Areas: History [HB]