The Greeks are one of humanity’s earliest civilizations. Woven into every aspect of their culture were a variety of myths that share what they believed was the origin and state of the world in which they lived. Their tales of warring heroes, deities, and creatures from another realm have enchanted mankind for centuries. We can even find the pillars of our own civilization, such as Democracy, built originally by these powerful people. In this article, we’ve compiled the best Greek Mythology books, movies and audio books just for you!
What Did These Greek Mythology Books Do To Qualify For This List
Any time you are ranking the best of something the results are usually somewhat subjective but we have did our best to come up with a list the readers of the Greek Mythology genre will truly like. To come up with this list we took into account:
- quantity and quality of user reviews
- sales data
- public perception
- opinions of readers of this genres
- commercial success
- and of course personal opinion
Take a look at the best Greek Mythology Books you can read right now:
• Best Greek Mythology Books
• Best Greek Mythology Movies
• Best Greek Mythology Books in Audio
Table of Contents
Best Greek Mythology Books
Here are the best Greek mythology books by the experts:
1) Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, 75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition, by Edith Hamilton
Book Summary: For 75 years readers have chosen this book above all others to discover the thrilling, enchanting, and fascinating world of Western mythology-from Odysseus’s adventure-filled journey to the Norse god Odin’s effort to postpone the final day of doom.- Book Reviews:
https://amzn.to/2DJ1hWK
2) Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters, by Donna Jo Napoli
Book Summary:National Geographic completes the book with embellishments of each story: sidebars for each god, goddess, hero, and monster link the myths to constellations, geography, history, and culture to help young readers connect the stories to real life events, people, and places.- Book Reviews:
3) D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, by Ingri d’Aulaire
Book Summary: In print for over fifty years, D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths has introduced generations to Greek mythology—and continues to enthrall young readers. Here are the greats of ancient Greece—gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters—as freshly described in words and pictures as if they were alive today.- Book Reviews:
4) The Complete World of Greek Mythology, by Richard Buxton
Book Summary: From the first millennium BC until today, the myths have been repeated in an inexhaustible series of variations and reinterpretations. They can be found in the latest movies and television shows and in software for interactive computer games.- Book Reviews:
5) Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths, by Bernard Evslin
Book Summary: From mortal warriors like Perseus and his impossible task of slaying the monstrous Medusa, to Zeus, the king of the Gods whose thunderbolts can shake the earth, to the minotaur, a gruesome beast, half-man and half-bull, who destroys young victims that are sacrificed to his terrifying power, this world is one of magic and adventure.- Book Reviews:
6) Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods, by Rick Riordan
Book Summary: So begins Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic–and sarcastic asides–to the classics. He explains how the world was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who’s who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. “If you like horror shows, blood baths, lying, stealing, backstabbing, and cannibalism, then read on, because it definitely was a Golden Age for all that.”
- Book Reviews:
7) The Greek Myths: The Complete and Definitive Edition [May 15, 2018] Graves, Robert, by Robert Graves
Book Summary: Including many of the greatest stories ever told – the labours of Hercules, the voyage of the Argonauts, Theseus and the minotaur, Midas and his golden touch, the Trojan War and Odysseus’s journey home – Robert Graves’s superb and comprehensive retelling of the Greek myths for a modern audience has been regarded for over fifty years as the definitive version.- Book Reviews:
8) Greek Mythology Explained: A Deeper Look at Classical Greek Lore and Myth, by Marios Christou
Book Summary: Greek Mythology Explained provides an in-depth analysis of each story told as it unravels the greater themes and valuable lessons hidden within each chapter. Readers will gain a deeper insight into the character’s motives and the varying depictions of the original Greek myths.- Book Reviews:
9) Oh My Gods!: A Look-It-Up Guide to the Gods of Mythology (Mythlopedia), by Megan E Bryant
Book Summary: A thoroughly new series where the superstars of Greek myth meet the modern age–complete with profiles, headshots, and family trees; fascinating sidebars; and irreverent surprises, this series is for readers who love action, deception, romance, power struggles, and more!- Book Reviews:
10) Mythology: Mega Collection: Classic Stories from the Greek, Celtic, Norse, Japanese, by Scott Lewis
Book Summary: From the beginning of the Cosmos to the Odyssey, be ready to venture into an exciting world of love, loyalty, infidelity, vengeance, deception, and intrigue! Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer?- Book Reviews:
Best Greek Mythology Movies
1)Great Greek Myths
Directed by: Francois Busnel
Movie Summary: This series sets out to recount these ancient stories using animations created especially for the occasion, and illustrations chosen from the entire history of art. This dynamic blend, a bridge between modernity and history, ancient narrative and contemporary dramatic art, is a new way to discover or re-discover this part of our universal heritage.
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2)Clash of the Titans (1981)
Starring: Laurence Olivier , Claire Bloom , Maggie Smith , et al.
Directed by: Desmond Davis
Movie Summary: Harry Hamlin portrays the Greek hero Perseus who battles the deadly Medusa in order to save a beautiful princess from the monstrous Calibos.
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3)Ancient Gods of Egypt
Starring: Ron Preston , Daniel Fleck and Michael Raimondo
Directed by: Charles Thompsen
Movie Summary: Powerful and deadly, all-knowing, all-seeing, they were the original Masters of the Universe,prepare for the original Game of Thrones!
Movie Reviews:
4)Clash of the Titans (2010)
Starring: Sam Worthington , Liam Neeson , Ralph Fiennes , et al.
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Movie Summary: Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus volunteers to lead a daring band of warriors to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus and unleash hell on earth.
Movie Reviews:
5)Medusa
Starring: Jeff Allen , Tom Struckhoff , Britt Rose and Jorge Ameer
Directed by: Jorge Ameer
Movie Summary: A mythology professor acquires a cursed antique mirror from an evil witch doctor. As evil now haunts him, he must overcome the paranormal to avoid his soul from being summoned as a vessel of resurrection for the spirit of Medusa.
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Best Greek Mythology Books in Audio
Now that you’ve seen our list of the best Greek mythology books and movies, I’m sure you’ll be interested in trying out more of the best Greek mythology books in audio!
1)Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths: One of the Best-selling Mythology Books of All Time by Bernard Evslin, Todd Haberkorn, et al.
Book Summary: Having sold millions of copies in print, Bernard Evslin’s classic retelling of the Greek myths captures the excitement and enchantment of these stories that have influenced many of today’s popular films and novels. Easy to understand and fun to read for both adults and children, it is no wonder this book has been taught in schools all over the world. Evslin introduces listeners to the wondrous and terrifying world of superhuman beings, such as Medusa and the Minotaur, and the glory of gods like Zeus, Athena, and Poseidon – brought magically to life through heroes such as Perseus, Daedalus, Prometheus, and others.
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2)Mythology by Edith Hamilton, Suzanne Toren, et al.
Book Summary: Since its original publication by Little, Brown and Company, in 1942, Edith Hamilton’s Mythology has sold millions of copies throughout the world and established itself as a perennial best-seller in its various available formats. Mythology succeeds like no other audiobook in bringing to life for the modern listener the Greek, Roman, and Norse myths and legends that are the keystone of Western culture – the stories of gods and heroes that have inspired human creativity from antiquity to the present.
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3)A Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, Monsters by Donna Jo Napoli, Christina Moore, et al.
Book Summary: The new “National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology” offers timeless stories of Greek myths in a beautiful new volume. Brought to life with lyrical text by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli, the tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage children’s imaginations. Sure to dazzle all those intrigued with the fantastic tales of Greek mythology and enchant new listeners, this vibrant audiobook will soon become a family favorite.
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4)Greek Mythology: Tales of Greek Myth, Gods, Goddesses, Mythical Beasts & the Beliefs of Ancient Greece by Adrian Myron, Matt Buzonas, et al.
Book Summary: Out of their curiosity about the world around them, their pursuits of science and knowledge, conquest, and avarice, the rich tradition of their gods and goddesses reach out to us from across the creative divide and tell a tall tale of what the Greeks cherished, revered, feared, and believed.
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5)Circe by Madeline Miller, Perdita Weeks, et al.
Book Summary: In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child – not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring, like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power – the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.
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Conclusion
What do you think about our list of best Greek mythology books? If you have another genre that you prefer to read we have probably compiled a list of our favorites for that genre too. So if you are looking for something other than the best Greek mythology books you can find other genres here.
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