10 Best Books on Greek Mythology that Breathe New Life into Old Legends(2021).

Since ancient times, gods have been a tangible presence in cultures by way of oral stories and tales, long before the era of Shakespeare’s parchment, Charles Dickens, or Harry Potter. The existence of myths in different cultures and times shapes the way people observe such works today. And, mythological gods were a part of many such cultures. While Greek mythology is the most popular one, Romans also co-opted various gods from them, often depicting vengeance, jealousy, and other behaviours.

In many traditions, Gods have been known to spy and trick humans for their amusement. Greek mythologies capture fascinating stories that have been created over thousands of years of work. Does the cast of gods and goddesses in the soap opera fascinate you? Books on Greek mythology have also been favourite among the readers for their ability to walk you through the magical world.

You can find a lot of works based on the concept including Homer’s epic poems and modern fiction. Below, you will be exploring the list of top 10 books on Greek mythology that will take you on a magical journey of ancient times when Gods existed.

Back in time, primitive people didn’t have proper scientific explanations for the likes of sun, moon, floods, fire, and earthquakes. Then, Greek myths appeared as an explanation stating that the gods did it. That isn’t something alluring. Right? The fascination lies in the fact that gods were terribly humans that lived in Olympus and people recognized them. Having numerous foibles and quirks, they could lie, cheat, and do a lot of what humans could do.

However, Greek mythology doesn’t have a single origin unlike the Hindu Vedas or the Christian Bible. The beginnings are traced back to the Bronze age when the oral tradition started with a gradual unfolding of themes and plots through the classical and archaic periods. Moreover, Greece’s highest mountain, Olympus, is the home of a pantheon of deities who control all human life’s aspects. And these books on Greek mythology tell different myths (tales) in fascinating ways.

Now, let’s explore the best works based on the epics of Greek mythology for the best experience of the fascinating world.

A perfect book for beginners, Mythology by Edith Hamilton takes readers through the sea of knowledge. Moreover, the book has earned the position of a quintessential introduction to the topic for adults despite many more options available. In the book, Hamilton has beautifully narrated all the major myths while providing a clear overview of all the heroes and gods.

Hamilton’s Mythology has retained its popularity since its first publication in 1942 for its ideal style to captivate both heart and head. The write-up is evocative and poetic with a lucid and clear writing style. Introduction to Norse mythology comes as a bonus. Read this book on Kindle for Rs. 691.41 or buy the Hardcover version for Rs. 1,212 from Amazon.

The next on the list comes from Richard Buxton. It’s another popular title that deserves to be known among the best books on Greek mythology for beginners. It covers a similar range of topics and myths as that in Hamilton’s Mythology. However, the difference lies in the way of narration as Buxton emphasizes geographical and historical contexts with lesser literary styling.

The book features 300 illustrations, out of which 139 are coloured, covering almost every page. The pictures include ancient Greek artifacts, landscape photos, and mythology scenes. For Rs. 2,230 the book is available on Amazon in the hardcover format.

The first two were for adults. This book here by Ingri and Edgar Parin is a wonderful guide to Greek mythology for kids. It’s popular for two specific reasons. The first one is its clear and simple language, enabling easy understanding for kids. The second one is the evocative and colourful language that keeps the readers entertained.

In addition, the comprehensive context of the book introduces all the major gods and heroes while retelling the myths. Plus, the lavish illustrations add life to the characters and stories. Let your kid imagine the enchanting world of Greek mythology while reading. Buy it from Amazon in the hardcover format for Rs. 1,198 or get access to the Kindle version for Rs. 425.28.

When reading about Greek mythology, you will find numerous words (places, characters, and more nouns) difficult to pronounce. In such a case, a book with a proper guide to all such terms makes the reading easy and enjoyable. And Pierre Grimal has ensured you get what you need without getting bewildered. That’s what makes it a part of the best guide to Greek mythology.

In addition to describing the key terms alphabetically, it also ensures readers don’t lose grip over the main points. Add this book to your library of Greek mythology collection from Amazon for Rs. 623 for the paperback variant. The hardcover version is also available for Rs. 11,900.98.

This book by Lawrence J. Hatab combines Ancient Greek’s philosophies and mythologies fascinatingly. For any society, folklore is often considered as the strongest support to its moral backbone. And Hatab takes a deeper dive beyond the basic case studies explored by others. This approach allows the author to maintain a balance between the myths and objective, rational worldview.

Taking inspiration from Heidegger and Neitzsche’s works, Hatab has signified the use of mythology as a useful and intelligent tool. If you are interested in exploring the world of Greek mythology through the same lens, you can buy this book from Amazon. The paperback version is available for Rs. 2,569 and the hardcover version is priced at Rs. 11,612.

If you are not yet willing to go through everything in Greek mythology, you can only pick a book that tells a few tales. Marios Christou’s Greek Mythology includes only six classic tales while making sure that all the popular and unpopular characters are introduced in fresh ways.

In the book, the author makes readers follow characters including Artemis, Icarus, Lamia, Medusa, Odysseus, and Bellerophon. Go through the stories to walk through the sinister plots, shattered hearts, bloody trials, and devastating betrayals. The book expands your vision towards desires, motives, feelings, and thoughts. It’s available on Kindle with a price tag of Rs. 448.35. You can also buy the hardcover version from Amazon for Rs. 1,480.

Mythologies can be complex with a long history and numerous characters, and various twists and turns. Robert Graves carefully uses his poetic voice to retell all the included Greek myths beautifully. Besides, the thoughtful organization of the context simplifies the complexities and lets readers enjoy exploring the details.

Some of the greatest stories covered by the author include the Trojan War, Theseus and the minotaur, Odysseus’ journey home, and more. Add this book to your Greek library from Amazon by paying Rs. 746 for the paperback version. Or get access to the kindle version for Rs. 450.76.

This book is one of the works from the popular playwright and author, Bernard Evslin. The title gets the most credit for Evslin’s popularity with over 10 million copies sold. Bernard captivates readers through his art of exciting storytelling in the book, introducing Greek gods and their stories.

The book covers the adventures and magical stories of various Greek characters. Examples include Zeus and his earth-shaking thunderbolts, Monstrous Medusa killed by Perseus, and the destruction of young victims by the gruesome beast minotaur. Read more such stories in the book by buying its paperback version for Rs. 9,726 from Amazon.

How would you like the idea of looking at the ancient tales from a refreshing perspective? Natalie Haynes retells the Trojan War story in this book “A Thousand Ships” while focusing on women. Read the viewpoint of the goddess of eloquence, Calliope combined with some epic poetry in the book.

It tells the tale of when Aeneas left Creusa behind with her city on fire and conquering Greek warriors choosing women of the slaughtered men. Explore the brutality, humour, and tragedy in the book available as a hardcover for Rs. 3172.99 and as a paperback for Rs. 416 on Amazon. You can also get a Kindle version for Rs. 295.

The author Madeline Miller created this spellbinding novel covering an immortal, ancient witch’s life. Born to Helios, the cruel sun god, Circe is popular for her casual relationship with Odysseus. All the aspects of her life are presented through lyrical prose. It follows Circe from her childhood home’s obsidian halls to a deserted island for an exile, Knossos’ golden palace, and a lot more.

The misunderstood and maligned woman gets a fresh portrayal. Also, explore the period when Circe has to choose between the mortals and the gods amidst a terrifying danger. Get the book from Amazon in hardcover format for Rs. 1,730 and the paperback format for Rs. 329. The kindle version is priced at Rs. 100.17