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Medusa: Solving the Mystery of the Gorgon 1st Edition

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Stephen R. Wilk (Author)
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Stephen R. Wilk (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars 7 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0195124316
ISBN-10: 0195124316
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (July 20, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0195124316
  • ISBN-13: 978-0195124316
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.1 x 9.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,826,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsMedusa: An Excellant Detective Story
By A Customer on October 21, 2001
Format: Hardcover
Stephen Wilk has written one of the great detective stories of our time. He has taken a mystery-where did the Medusa come from-and, through careful examination of history, astronomy, and mythology, he has solved a mystery that has been around for centuries.
And he is entertaining to boot. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from cover to cover.
What could have been a deadly, dull story, is instead an exciting ride through the centuries with stops along the way in various areas such as science fiction and modern feminism.
Medusa is well worth the read not only for scholars and historians but also for anyone interested in good mystery.
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4.0 out of 5 starsIngenious and enjoyable
By toner__low on January 30, 2001
Format: Hardcover
The description on the jacket of this book reads, "Wilk offers startling new interpretations of the myth and meaning of the Medusa." This sounds like typical marketing speak, but Wilk makes good on that claim. His book presents very original ideas on the origin of the Perseus/Medusa myth and its legacy, taking into account optics, physiology, classical literature and culture, astronomy, comic books, cinema, and parallels from myths around the world. Yet Wilk presents his ideas as a (frequently humorous) conversation, not as a dry dissertation. You don't have to be a classics scholar to read and enjoy this book, though you'll feel like one when you put it down. The only problem is that Wilk may be too much of a polymath-his digressions, for all their charm, really pile up. Still, very clever and well worth it. For additional reading, I'd recommend a beautiful book called The Perseus Series, on Burne-Jones' paintings of the Perseus myth, published by the Southampton City Art Gallery.
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5.0 out of 5 starsFINALLY, REALISTIC EXPLANATIONS FOR THE GORGONS
By Brad Schaefer on February 14, 2001
Format: Hardcover
I had great fun reading this book. Wilk explains many of the features of the Greek myths associated with the Gorgons and shows why they appear worldwide. I appreciate his very broad coverage of all aspects of the myth. Even more, I appreciate his simple and practical answers which ring true. Wilk does not present his explanations as having been "proven", but this is refreshing and realistic since there will now never be sufficient data from the ancient past to prove anything. Certainly, his answers are better supported than all of the previous claims, some of which used to make me chuckle even though I knew of nothing to replace them. Wilk avoids the seductive trap of trying to explain all the details with some grand "Theory of Everything", instead pulling his persuasive and original ideas from astronomy, ornithology, architecture, and forensic medicine. His work provides a detailed case study of how myths evolve and are reinvented to suit new purposes. I strongly recommend this new book to anyone interested in the topic of myths.
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4.0 out of 5 starsExcellent source for research
By K. Olsen on November 21, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Not for the casual reader, this is more suited for someone wanting serious research. The author explores the myth and history of the Gorgon from every conceivable angle and cites his works wonderfully. Just wish it were more entertaining.
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