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More info The perfect introduction to the mythology of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, full of intriguing facts and exciting stories. Who was Pandora and what was hidden in her famous box? Why is a famous brand named after the goddess Nike? How is «Avatar» related to the myth of Pandora and why does mythology unite Dürer and Dali? Myths are still a part of modern life and language. We all know something about ancient mythology, but this book will help to collect from fragmentary information a single majestic picture. You will get acquainted with the main stories and characters, from the creation of the world and the exploits of Hercules to the Trojan War and the wanderings of Odysseus. Dr. Philip Matyshak, who teaches at Cambridge, brings to life an exotic set of heroes and monsters, resentful women and powerful gods. It demonstrates how the subjects of ancient mythology have lived through the centuries, influencing art and culture, from Renaissance painting to modern opera, literature and cinema. From the Author If Greek and Roman myths were just a set of stories about magical transformations and quarrels of the gods, then reading about them would not make much sense. To begin with, there are a huge number of these myths, and they are all full of confusing names and genealogies. Why do we need to know about them and why are we not indifferent to them? We are not indifferent to them because myths describe the point of view of ancient people on the world. In addition, the archetypes of heroes — women who were treated unfairly and powerful but frighteningly headstrong gods — influenced the way the Greeks and Romans saw themselves and their relationship with the universe. In fact, many of these archetypes are so powerful that we still use them. For example, psychologists (called the profession on behalf of the mythical princess Psyche) turn to them when they talk about the Oedipus complex or daffodils. It’s just that the myths, where Oedipus and Narcissus operate, describe certain aspects of human life so expressively that no better name has been invented for them. This brings us to another reason to read myths. They have lived for almost three thousand years, not because they represent cultural paradigms, but because in fact they are strong and very interesting stories. Moreover, the world of mythology is by no means as chaotic as it seems at first glance. Many stories have common themes. The heroes suffer, but receive gifts and strength as compensation, the virgins suffer from love, but in the end love is rewarded. Darker stories tell how a person’s life is determined by the threads that spin, measure and cut the ruthless goddesses of fate, and the hero is only required to accept his fate, retaining courage and nobility. There is another common theme in myths as well. Despite conflicts, disagreements and misunderstandings, gods, demigods and humans all confront the monsters and giants that symbolize the forces of disorder and senseless destruction. If modern stories often tell about the victory of good over evil, then the ancients represented the struggle of civilization and reason against barbarism and chaos. Ultimately, the essence of myths is to bring human values to a capricious and unfriendly universe. And that is why now, when it sometimes seems that blind hatred, senseless destruction and lack of reason are winning, classical myths have not lost their relevance at all. This book is a guide or guide to help you better understand the common heritage of stories and beliefs that united the worlds of the Greeks and Romans. Who is this book for For connoisseurs of history and mythology who are interested in their place in modern times. For those who want to immerse themselves in the life of the peoples of the past. For those who want to know more about the myths on which Western civilization is built. Quotes from the book Chaos At first everything was Chaos. Time, the universe, earth, heaven and water — everything existed in a mixture, and in this mixture there was no meaning and order. The chaos was boundless and dark — a gaping gap where tangled elements always fell, from which the world would then arise. Eros The protobog Eros (Love) was the first to emerge from Chaos. The original Eros was a powerful force, probably even the greatest of all, for without Eros, other beings that emerged from Chaos would remain motionless and unchanging, eternal, but sterile. the whole universe of myth was created by Love. The grandmother of the gods, Kronos, led a new generation of gods, marrying his sister Rhea. In Greek myths, Rhea is not a very important character, but in Roman myths, she brightly came to the fore as Magna Mater — the Great Mother — since she was the mother or grandmother of the Olympian gods. Trojan War Reading about the Trojan War is not insanely interesting. There is an icon of beauty — Helena Troyanskaya, who is seduced and kidnapped; there is a battle between Greeks and Trojans, courage and cruelty, many heroes and villains. For centuries, Troy has been considered a legendary city, even less real than King Arthur’s Camelot. Odysseus No one contributed more to the fall of Troy than Odysseus, and therefore the resourceful hero should not wait for an easy way home. Hera and Apollo wanted revenge. Under such circumstances, for sailors to travel on the ships of Odysseus was akin to suicide. Nemesis No one could escape this goddess. She was considered something like a balancing principle aimed at opposing the goddess Tyche, or luck. Tyche gave her gifts to those who did not deserve it, and Nemesis followed her and «rewarded» the lucky one with the appropriate misfortune. …
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