Re: Greek Mythology
 

Iliad > Aeneid > oddyssey.


don't read any encyclopedic. you're not going to enjoy learning that X is the god of Y that was song of Z. maybe a quick browse to get things straight in your head, then just get into a classic. classicist's reccomendations are all spot on.

To this day, my favorite thing I've ever done in school was reading the Aeneid in latin. I really regret not keeping up with it now and wish i could get back to reading level latin.

Re: Greek Mythology
 

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alot of the greek gods were based on norse gods.

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really? can someone elaborate on this? i didn't think the ancient greeks were in contact with the norse.

Re: Greek Mythology
 

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alot of the greek gods were based on norse gods.

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really? can someone elaborate on this? i didn't think the ancient greeks were in contact with the norse.

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It's not true. There are connections between Greece and Norse mythology, but not of this sort.

Here's how it works:

Greek Mythology has some ties to much older cultures/mythologies.

Norse Mythology has some ties to much older cultures/mythologies.

If you were to make a list of said "older cultures/mythologies" for each, some would be on both lists.

Either way, Greek Mythology is much older than Norse. The first evidence of the Norse Pantheon comes no earlier than the 2nd Century BC. It likely existed well prior to that, but considering the Trojan War was fought ~1280 BC, it's hard to build a case that Norse Mythology is older than Greek.

Re: Greek Mythology
 

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I know very little about it. Like pretty much nothing beyond 4 or 5 obvious 'who was the God of xxxx?'. I'm interested in learning all about it, not only because it seems interesting, but also because I'm a big fan of quiz shows and it seems to pop up daily.

But where do I start?

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The Hamilton suggestion is an excellent one. Joseph Campbell was also mentioned and he is quality.

If you get past those two and want to dig deeper, go with Robert Graves. He's the best that I have not seen in this thread. His theories on mythology and how/why/where myths originate are very interesting.

Re: Greek Mythology
 

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why on earth is this interesting? everything in the world interests me except for this lame useless topic

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Boring maybe. Useless never. American culture is basically the great-great-great-great grandchild of Greek Culture. Every form of western culture owes it's origin in part to the Greeks.

Re: Greek Mythology
 

D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths

I had this book when I was a little kid. It's pretty sweet book and will give you the basics of everything in greek mythology.

I use to dominate all greek mythology trivia when I was little just from this book.

Re: Greek Mythology
 

Hesiod's "Theogony." Pretty dry, but explains the origins of everything, who is related to who and how they are related, etc.

It's also pretty short.

Re: Greek Mythology
 

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why on earth is this interesting? everything in the world interests me except for this lame useless topic

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Boring maybe. Useless never. American culture is basically the great-great-great-great grandchild of Greek Culture. Every form of western culture owes it's origin in part to the Greeks.

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Either you're Greek, or you spent thanksgiving at a Greek person's home and they didn't stop telling you this for the entire time. Crazy greeks.

Re: Greek Mythology
 

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It might look silly, but a good place to start is D'ulaires book of Greek Myths

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Oh man I read that over and over again when I was ten, and it ruled. I second this recommendation.

Re: Greek Mythology
 

During my school time Bullfinch's Mythology was the standard. Long and detailed but there are abridged editions.