Customer Reviews

Greeks and Their Gods (Ariadne Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was fascinating. Most books about the Greek Pantheon start with the fully evolved and articulated gods such as Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus and their kin, as if the appeared on the scene ex nihilo. The fact is that all of these gods were gods of diverse tribes in the originally fragmented Aegean region. The gods of warring and seafaring tribes were of a much different character than those of the agricultural, sedentary tribes. Each god was originally the chief diety of some group, or an adoption from other cultures. As the culture became more homogenous through conquest and commerce, the once individual gods merged into a community of gods that eventually became the famous twelve. The status of each tribe's god reflected the relative position of that group in the social hierarchy. Thus, Zeus, being originally the god of the conquering tribes became the king of the gods, and Hephaestus, lame and hunchbacked, was at the bottom of the hierarchy, reflecting the lowly status of tradesmen.

Guthrie examines each god individually, starting with the earliest examples of that god's appearance and how it encapsulated the identity, values and world view of the society that worshipped it. He then shows how the god developed as the society grew and changed, eventually evolving into the god with whom we are commonly familiar. He tells how the god became a member of the pantheon. His analysis is broad in historical, psychological, symbolic and sociological approaches, and leaves the reader with an intensely deep appreciation and reverence for the Greek pantheon. You will never look at the Greek gods as characters in a series of charming myths again. You will see them as reflections of the development of a dynamic, fascinating society. Their development mirrors the growth of the society that worshiped them. The book is dense, but very readable, and extremely rewarding.

I read this book for a report it was very informational and helped me with my report I looked up Artemis. I would recommend this book for anyone who is researching the Gods.

I read this book to help me with a report about the Greek Gods and Godesses. It was very informational and it helped me alot with my report If you were looking for pleasure reading about the Gods than you may or may not want this book. It was very good.

I read this book for a report it was very informational and helped me with my report I looked up Artemis. I would recommend this book for anyone who is researching the Gods.

I read this book to help me with a report about the Greek Gods and Godesses. It was very informational and it helped me alot with my report If you were looking for pleasure reading about the Gods than you may or may not want this book. It was very good.

i really liked this book I had to write this report about the Greek Gods and Goddesses and this saved me from having to find alot of other books about the subject. It has all these stories about the differant gods and goddesses. One of them about Artemis about Medusa and Zues and the Boy's all time favorite Hades. I persinoly like Artemis or as the romans called her Diana. I also dressed up as her for the feast of the gods. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the gods and goddesses,or has a really important report coming up

i had to do a report about the Gods to, so i read this real informational book. it was so good that it's interesting. i recamend it too anybody whose into mytholugy and all that kind of stuff.