List of Illustrations vii
Author's Note ix
Editor's Preface xi

1. WHAT IS MYTHOLOGY? 1

2. THE BEGINNINGS: COSMOGONY 9

3. THE OLYMPIAN GODS 18
Zeus, Poseidon, Hades 21
Apollo 27
Hermes 29
Ares 31
Hephaestus 35

4. THE OLYMPIAN GODDESSES 38
Hera 38
Hestia 40
Demeter 41
Artemis 42
Aphrodite 44
Athena 48

5. THE HEROES 52
Heracles 52
Jason and Medea 64
Theseus and Ariadne 71
Perseus 80

6. THE TROJAN WAR 89

7. ODYSSEUS 102

8. THE TRAGIC DRAMA: OEDIPUS 123

9. SHRINES AND ORACLES 134

10. DIONYSUS 142

11. ORPHISM 156

12. THE ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES 174

Notes 185
Glossary 193
Bibliography 199
Credits 203
Index 205