Greek mythology has left an extraordinary mark on the modern world. Names such as Athena, Apollo, Narcissus, Pandora, Atlas, Achilles, and Medusa still appear in literature, science, brands, psychology, and everyday language. Yet many people know the names without knowing the stories that gave them meaning.
Greek Myths Retold: The Stories Behind the Names We Still Use brings the ancient tales of Greece to life while explaining the origins of the names, characters, and expressions that remain familiar thousands of years later.
From the gods of Mount Olympus and the adventures of legendary heroes to stories of betrayal, love, vengeance, ambition, and transformation, this book explores some of the most enduring myths of the ancient Greek world.
Readers will encounter Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hermes, Poseidon, Hades, and Dionysus, as well as legendary figures such as Perseus, Theseus, Heracles, Odysseus, Achilles, and Orpheus. Along the way, the book explains the stories behind names such as Atlas, Narcissus, Echo, Pandora, Midas, and Oedipus and shows how these myths continue to influence modern culture.
The book also places the stories within the broader context of ancient Greek society and religion, exploring how myths were transmitted through poetry, drama, art, and oral tradition.
Rather than simply retelling familiar tales, Greek Myths Retold explains why these stories survived and how their language and characters became part of the modern world.
For readers interested in mythology, ancient Greece, classical history, and the origins of familiar names and expressions, this book offers an accessible and entertaining journey into the myths that never truly disappeared.