Publisher's Synopsis
Unlock Your Roman Treasure Box!
Enter a world where gods and goddesses mingle with the humans that worship them in elaborate temples, where heroes fight epic battles and monsters are thwarted, where legendary tales are told with an eye toward eternal glory--the treasure that is Roman mythology is an undeniable pleasure to read. Explore another world of ancient values, virtues, and vices, which are never to be forgotten.
The motifs of Roman mythology are similar to that of many other mythologies: Supernatural power is a handy way to explain the extraordinary; heroes are larger-than-life, with superhuman strength and wisdom to spare; gods are tricky and should be approached with caution; harrowing journeys are undertaken; battles are fought and champions are forged. The Romans developed a highly-sophisticated government and military, and successfully conquered much of the known Western world; their influence is undeniable still yet today. We can see the Roman evolution from their legendary founding, to their epic expansion, to their continued presence in our popular imagination through the thread of their treasure trove of myths and tales.
This book can take you through that journey, beginning with an overview of the Roman peoples and cultures, and into an understanding of their pantheon of gods and goddesses, their amazing tales of adventure and restless search for meaning, and a glimpse into who they actually were via the stories they held dear. Some specific elements you will encounter:
- Some of the main gods of the Greco-Roman pantheon, with all their quirks and foibles
- The Roman Council of Twelve Gods and their all-too-human role in the peoples they oversee
- The epic tales of the founding of one of the greatest empires in history
- The multiple myths of the Metamorphoses, from tales of transformation to love stories, both tragic and magical
- The politics and history of Rome that informed the stories the ancient Romans told about themselves and their culture
- From the Minotaur to the Medusa--fascinating human-animal hybrids
- The vision of women in Roman culture, from temptress to protector
- Stories about one of the most legendary figures in mythological history: Hercules
- The first Roman emperor and his desire to create a new story of Rome
- Contemporary visions of Roman characters and how they inform our Western institutions, our literary and artistic history, and our contemporary culture
Roman mythology is diverse and fascinating, offering us an insight into how ancient people believed and lived, into what they valued and vilified, and into how they loved and thrived. Finally, if you have enjoyed these treasured tales of Roman mythology, don't forget to explore the other fantastic realms of mythological magic in this series of books: Treasures of Egyptian Mythology, Treasures of Celtic Mythology, Treasures of Norse Mythology, and Treasures of Greek Mythology. You will find yourself in awe of the sweeping scope of history and culture represented by these mythological traditions, as well as get a better understanding of how we continually make and re-make these myths for our own times. That's the fabulous thing about myths: They never truly die.
