There’s a bewildering array of books out there on Greek mythology, especially at the beginner level. Which ones are most deserving of your hard-earned money? This list (last updated in April of 2019) was written with the intention of helping you make that decision.
Different people find Greek mythology significant for different reasons. for some, wonderful tales and their larger-than-life characters make for great literature. for others, the value of the Greek myths and the religion of which they were a part lies in their importance in understanding the history of Western civilization and thought. still others might be interested in the topic for spiritual or academic reasons. but whatever draws you to Greek mythology, you’ll probably find at least one or two books on this list that fit what you’re looking for.
You are reading: Best greek mythology books
The order of the books in this list goes from most suitable for beginners to most advanced. lower numbered books are not necessarily better than higher numbered ones, but lower numbered ones are more affordable.
If you find this list helpful enough to decide to purchase one or more of the books listed here, the best way to say “thank you” is to purchase whatever you decide to purchase through the Amazon links provided at the bottom of the page. description of each book. When you do, I automatically earn a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost or hassle to you.
1. mythology: timeless tales of gods and heroes by edith hamilton
Since its original publication in 1942, Edith Hamilton’s Mythology has been widely regarded as the quintessential introduction to Greek Mythology for adults, even as countless other introductions to the subject have come and gone. yes, it has stood the test of time well.
Hamilton masterfully retells all the major myths of the Greeks and provides an overview of all their major deities and heroes. his prose is clear and lucid, yet poetic and evocative, a style ideal for both the head and the heart. The book assumes no prior knowledge of the subject, making it perfectly suited for the complete beginner.
As an added bonus, the mythology includes a brief treatment of Norse mythology at the end.
if you’re looking for a comprehensive introduction to greek mythology that sounds like good literature, edith hamilton’s mythology is the book i recommend. click here to view or buy mythology on amazon.
2. the complete world of greek mythology by richard buxton
Another deservedly popular and impeccably newbie-friendly introduction to the subject that you might want to consider is Richard Buxton’s Complete World of Greek Mythology. Buxton’s book covers much of the same ground as Hamilton’s, but is written in a less literary style and has more emphasis on the historical and geographical contexts within which the myths were told. For example, Buxton will teach you much more about the larger religion and society of which Greek mythology was a part, the roles that particular landscape features of the Greeks played in their ancient myths, and how later centuries have used and Greek reimagined. mythology.
But perhaps the biggest draw of the complete world of Greek mythology for most people is its 330 illustrations, including 139 in color, which adorn virtually every page of the book. these images range from ancient greek artifacts to greek landscape photography to classic paintings of scenes from greek mythology.
In a nutshell: You can’t go wrong with either Hamilton or Buxton, or both, if you find both approaches appealing. click here to view or purchase the complete world of greek mythology on amazon.
3. book of greek myths of d’aulaires by ingri and edgar parin d’aulaire
if you’re looking for a great book on greek mythology for kids, d’aulaires’ greek myths book is easily the best out there. it is written in such a simple and clear style that children should have no problem understanding it, but the language is also very colorful and evocative. entertains while informing.
The book is as comprehensive as could be desired in such a book, offering accounts of the personalities of the gods and most of the heroes, as well as accounts of most of the major myths. Along the way, countless lavish illustrations help bring the stories and characters to life. This book is sure to spark your child’s imagination and take them on a journey into an enchanting world filled with extraordinary beings who perform epic deeds, yet are surprisingly relatable to a child.
Like Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths was originally published decades ago, in 1962 in fact, but has yet to be superseded to this day. it’s so good click here to view or buy the d’aulaires greek myths book on amazon.
4. the iliad of homer, translated by robert fagles
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back to adult books.
Who could consider themselves knowledgeable about Greek mythology without being familiar with the masterpieces of Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey? Even if he has read the summaries of the introductory works on the subject, there is no substitute for reading the original epic poems (in English translation, of course, unless he can read Homeric Greek).
The experience of reading the works of Homer is as valuable as the knowledge of Greek mythology you will gain from them. Homer is considered one of the greatest poets of all time for good reason; His verse is poignantly beautiful without being flowery or effusive, his trademark brisk pace makes for an action-packed read, and the stories he tells feature many of the most iconic characters and scenes in all of world literature. p>
The Iliad tells the story of the conquest of the city of Troy by a Greek army led by characters such as Achilles, Agamemnon and Odysseus. The fight is ultimately over Helen, a daughter of Zeus and one of the most beautiful women to ever walk the earth, who is kidnapped by one of the Trojans. the plot is pulled back and forth by the complex psyche of the characters, twists of fate, and divine interventions. click here to view or buy the iliad on amazon.
5. homer’s odyssey, translated by robert fagles
Homer’s second great epic poem, The Odyssey, picks up where the plot of the Iliad leaves off. troy has been conquered, but for odysseus, one of the heroes of the victorious army, many battles still await him before he can return home to the arms of his wife, penelope, and his son, telemachus . Over the course of twenty years, Odysseus must go through captivity at the hands of a nymph, the curse of the god Poseidon, a fight with a Cyclops, malevolent drugs and spells, the now proverbial Scylla and Charybdis, and many other trials and tribulations. before he can finally set foot back in his hometown of Ithaca.
Meanwhile, Penelope and Telemachus must defend themselves against dozens of suitors, who want to seize Penelope’s hand and, with it, gain access to Odysseus’ great wealth.
As with the Iliad, the best translation of The Odyssey for most people will be that of Robert Fagles, who makes these two Greek masterpieces read like masterpieces in English. click here to view or buy the odyssey on amazon.
6. hesiod’s theogony, translated by m.l. west
Another primary source every Greek mythology enthusiast should read is Hesiod’s Theogony.
theogony is a prose work from the late 8th century BC. c. which provides a remarkably systematic account of the origins of the early gods. (“theogony” means the genesis of the gods). It is one of the main sources we have for ancient Greek creation narratives, and its clear, point-by-point structure has made it a favorite source for modern narratives.
ml west’s translation is probably the best there is: easy to understand, but full of poetic richness and nuance. This edition also includes the Works and Days of Hesiod, a collection of advice for farmers on how to live the good life. click here to view or purchase theogony on amazon.
7. the library of apollodorus greek mythology, translated by robin hard
The Library of Greek Mythology (also known as the bibliotheca) is the only surviving work from classical antiquity that attempts to provide a complete description of all, or at least a large part, of Greek mythology. As such, it has long been one of the main ancient sources that scholars have used to reconstruct Greek mythology.
Greek mythology library material covers the birth of the gods and the creation of the world, the later deeds of the gods, and the mighty deeds of heroes such as hercules, jason, perseus, theseus, and the men and women of the trojan war.
robin hard’s translation is modern and accessible, and makes reading a pleasure. click here to view or purchase the greek mythology library on amazon.
8. greek religion by walter burkert
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If you’re interested in going beyond mythology and learning more about the ancient religion to which Greek mythology belonged, Walter Burkert’s Greek Religion is probably the best book out there on the subject.
While some of the other books on this list contain some basic commentary on Greek gods and other aspects of Greek religion that pertain squarely to myth, Burkert goes much further. Greek Religion offers a comprehensive description of shrines, rituals, deities, theology (both explicit and implicit), the ideal of heroism, ancient Greek views on death and the afterlife, and more. the last two sections focus on later developments in Greek religion, such as “mystery” cults and the beginnings of the philosophical tradition.
Throughout the book, Burkert provides an ideal synthesis of factual detail and abstract conceptual interpretation. click here to view or buy greek religion on amazon.
9. the penguin dictionary of classical mythology by pierre grimal
I imagine most of you reading this have read the works of j.r.r. Tolkien, do you remember that his works usually come with glossaries so that you are not too confused by the great profusion of proper names: the names of characters, places, etc.?
well, Greek mythology contains a similar abundance of these “key terms”. therefore, when reading any book on the subject, it is extremely helpful to have a guide to these “key terms” at hand.
Pierre Grimal’s Dictionary of Classical Mythology (reprinted by Penguin Books as The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology) is the best guide available today. covers pretty much every proper noun you’ll come across when reading about Greek mythology. each alphabetical entry contains a description of the character, place, concept, or other “key term” that is complete but ensures that the main points are not lost in the details. Click here to view or purchase the Classical Mythology Penguin Dictionary on Amazon.
10. myth and philosophy: a contest of truths by lawrence j. hatah
Those of you who have particularly intellectual interests will probably find the myth and philosophy of Lawrence Hatab fascinating and illuminating, as will I.
hatab first provides an overview of early Greek myths and religion from a philosophical point of view, including what myth is, what its latent or implicit theory of knowledge is, its relationship to the political system, and the world view. i who prevailed in early greece. , and other similar topics. the philosophies of nietzsche and heidegger often help frame these discussions.
The book then considers the historical transformation from myth to philosophy in ancient Greece, and the role that the above themes and others played in that transformation. Along the way, hatab points to ways in which earlier Greek myth and religion provided raw concepts that later philosophy would pick up and transform, and ways in which elements of myth remained in Greek philosophy (such as the view of Plato that an internal and intuitive “spark” was the root of all reason).
myth and philosophy is probably one of my favorite books, and is essential reading for anyone interested in both philosophy and myth. click here to view or purchase myth and philosophy on amazon.
If you found this list helpful, you might also be interested in these other guides of mine:
• The 10 best Norse mythology books
• The 10 best books about the Vikings
• The 10 best Celtic mythology books
• The 10 best Egyptian mythology books
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