Reddit Reddit reviews Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes

We found 22 Reddit comments about Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
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22 Reddit comments about Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes:

u/yazid87 · 212 pointsr/AskHistorians

Using this thread and other sources the summary is that it is impossible to know for sure but it seems unlikely for two main reasons:

Firstly the story of Prometheus pre-dates the developments in anatomy and medicine you might associate with Ancient Greece. The first written record dates back to at least Hesiod in around 700 b.c., centuries before Herophilos and other pioneers of anatomy. At the time of Hesiod dissecting a corpse would have been very taboo and a form of religious defilement so most knowledge of human anatomy was from the battlefield. Simply put the liver was known to be important because wounds to the liver were known to be fatal. In "The Iliad" there are a number of fatal wounds to the liver, e.g. "He hurled his shining spear /
and hit Apisaon, son of Phausius, /a shepherd to his people, below his diaphragm, /in the liver. His legs gave way" (chapter 11), but proper medical study of human livers had not been conducted at the time of the origin of the story.

Secondly although the story of the liver is well known, regeneration is seen in other stories from Greek mythology and not limited to any one organ. Dionysus was ripped apart at birth but regrown from his still intact heart. The Hydra killed by Heracles regenerated limbs (its heads) when one was removed. So there was no special significance place on the liver's capacity to regenerate compared to other organs.

Sources: http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/news/pubs/radiuscontents/2009/September/22_3_prometheus.pdf

The Illiad

I like Edith Hamilton's book for a readable breakdown of Greek mythology and the interpretations of different ancient authors, but any you'll find those stories in any reasonable compilation.

u/UnDyrk · 8 pointsr/Fantasy

Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes was one of the first books that got me hooked, and it went from there. It's a great place to start as it covers Greek, Roman and Norse.

u/cory_stereo · 6 pointsr/IncelsWithoutHate

I'm a gimpcel (Is that even a word? It is now!), and I loved the Greek myths as a child. A shameless plug for the two books on the subject that I read dozens of times as a boy:

  • Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin
  • Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton

    When I first learned about Hepheastus, I remember giggling and clapping my hands like I had just won a prize. Here was a character I could totally relate to--and he was a Greek God! Imagine my disappointment when he was presented as a living joke.

    Even though I didn't understand the nuances of relationships and sex at the time (I was about 8 and hadn't hit puberty), reading about Aphrodite swooning over Ares and "desiring him" really made me angry. I'm not sure if that was the intent the ancients were going for--what we find offensive, or funny, mostly applies to our era--but it still felt like a tremendous injustice. It might've even been the first time I felt romantic jealousy. Not a pleasant memory, but an important life lesson.
u/CrazedWarVet · 4 pointsr/assassinscreed

Not OP but I highly recommend "Sailing the Wine Dark Sea" by Tom Cahill, and really all of his books in "The Hinges of History" series.
Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter (The Hinges of History) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385495544/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ywLPBbZ1K4HJW

Edith Hamilton's "Mythology". Many consider it dry by today's standards but I appreciate her depth I
Of analysis.
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes https://www.amazon.com/dp/0446574759/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_QvLPBb447ENFT

On the lighter, young reader side, D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths." Beautiful artwork in there. I grew up reading it with my dad so it's special to me.
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths https://www.amazon.com/dp/0440406943/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_TuLPBbK30N3K0

For when you want to listen with your earballs, check out Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast, specifically the entire series Kings of Kings. It's not specifically about Greece, but about Persia and Greece interacting. He covers a lot of ground, including the Battle of Thermopylae (of 300 fame).
https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-56-kings-of-kings/

u/PM_Me_Your_Clones · 4 pointsr/booksuggestions
u/beckse · 4 pointsr/books

Edith Hamilton's Mythology is a good overview. I think she might have a few pictures, but not many.

u/Hating_Spurrier · 3 pointsr/todayilearned
u/nwalker85 · 3 pointsr/GetMotivated

I think everyone should absolutely read Edith Hamilton's "Mythology". It is what I read in my high school literature classes and covers everything better than any other source I've read.

http://www.amazon.com/Mythology-Timeless-Tales-Gods-Heroes/dp/0446574759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414437464&sr=1-1&keywords=mythology

u/Paiev · 3 pointsr/Jeopardy

This book is comprehensive and a classic: https://www.amazon.com/Mythology-Timeless-Tales-Gods-Heroes/dp/0446574759/

Virtually every single Greek/Roman/Norse mythology clue can be answered from this book.

u/napjerks · 2 pointsr/GreekMythology

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton

u/bodycounters · 2 pointsr/tipofmytongue

I'm not sure about the purple cover but the format sounds like Edith Hamilton's Mythology

u/Wickett6029 · 2 pointsr/GreekMythology
u/kaptainclaudia · 1 pointr/books

Mythology by Edith Hamilton It was the most informative book on mythology I have ever read. Definitely one to reference and use over the years if you are interested in mythology.

u/Mange-Tout · 1 pointr/funny

If you read The Iliad and The Odyssey you would remember it. They are big, dense classics. If what you say is true then what you learned in High School English is almost laughably inadequate. Greek history and literature are very dense subjects. There are hundreds of different heros, gods, and monsters, all with their own story. Here is a good book to get you started.

u/SmashingKuro · 1 pointr/mythology

http://www.amazon.com/Mythology-Timeless-Tales-Gods-Heroes/dp/0446574759

This book provides a decent introduction to all the major Greek myths. I'd recommend it as a starting point. Then, once you're fairly familiar with the major characters of the mythology, you can have a better appreciation of things like The Iliad and The Odyssey. It does include an abridged version of both of those, though, so you may or may not want to skip those parts until you read the full versions.

u/effinmike12 · 1 pointr/conspiracy

Good deal. It looks like file conversions have improved a bit, so you may have some options. I looked around, and I do have an extra copy of Mythology: Timeless Tales of God's and Heroes by Edith Hamilton. It's paperback and in almost like new condition. Shoot me a msg if you are interested. Totally free on your end. It's no biggie either way.

u/Pisceswriter123 · 1 pointr/fantasywriters
u/bezoing · 0 pointsr/books

It's basically the mythology of Middle Earth. If you ever had to read Edith Wharton's Mythology for school, you'll find the Silmarillion similar.

There is plot, but it works on both a much larger and smaller scale. In the pages of the Silmarillion, you have the entire history of Middle Earth, told through much smaller stories. You don't have a central character, but instead focus on the various Valar, Maiar, and Elves that tell the story of Middle Earth.

Is it dry? Yes. But it's worth it if you want to know answers to questions like:

  • Who is Sauron? How did he gain his power?
  • What is a Balrog? Shelob?
  • Who/what is Gandalf?
  • Why are the Elves leaving Middle Earth for "the West"?

    It's great if you want more out of Tolkien, but it's definitely not like LOTR.

    EDIT: Formatting