Mythology for Dummies

It’s no secret that mythology can be confusing for anyone. From cultural hero Johnny Appleseed, to manly Odysseus, to femme fatale Aphrodite, and those pesky Cyclops running amuck on that faraway island, Mythology for Dummies covers all the bases, including information on:

• Greek mythology
• Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey
• Roman mythology
• Virgil’s Aeneid
• Beowulf
• Non-European mythology

Also, this book will get you up to speed on the heavy stuff—like how mythology intersects with our lives, and explores the meaning of existence. Organized into chapters on specific topics, it breaks down the common types of myths and mythological figures, and offers plain-English explanations of how myths have appeared in cultures throughout the ages. You’ll find what you need to know on these topics and many more:

• What makes myths different from legends and fairy tales
• Greek creation myths and those really ancient Greek Gods
• The Olympian Gods (taller, younger, and better looking than you)
• The Greek goddesses (the fairest and the meanest of them all)
• Heroes — made, born, and re-born
• Mythological places from Elysium Fields, to Atlantis, and Xanadu
• Roman religion — how it was begged, borrowed, and stolen