The Oxford Dictionary of Classical Myth & Religion edited by Simon Price &
Emily Kearns © 2004 Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-280289-5 599
pages Paperback $17.95 (U.S.)
Most youngsters, in ages past, grew up with a knowledge of classical myths,
especially (primarily) of ancient Greece and Roman. For them, this book
would be a nice addition to their library. Unfortunately, in today's
society (especially in the U.S.), the majority of youngsters get their only
exposure to myths through cartoons, movies, and TV programs. There they are
presented out of context and with no attempt to tie things together. For
these youngsters, this book is a vital addition to their library.
Obviously, as a dictionary, it is not intended to be "read" but to be
"referred to." Therefore, I made no attempt to do other than to sample a
large number of its offerings. There are plenty of cross-references, which
allow for easy expansion of the original inquiry.
The authors have made every effort to make this book "user friendly" by
removing untransliterated Greek and various obscure language; by providing a
thematic index in order to facilitate understanding a particular subject or
theme; and by providing a SHORT annotated bibliography, consisting primarily
of current (even if difficult to find) sources as well as some on-line
resources.
Having bounced around through the book, checking entries on things I was
thoroughly familiar with as well as some I only marginal knowledge of, I was
impressed by the clarity of the information provided. The extensive
cross-referencing makes the inter-relationships clear and easy to visualize.
While this isn't a book everyone needs to own, if you are interested in the
religions of the Mediterranean world (Greece, Rome, the Middle East, and
Egypt), you will find it a valuable work to have handy.
While the price may seem a bit high for a relatively small paperback, this
book is well worth the price. Although illustrations would have been nice
(there are only 3 maps at the end) their inclusion would have increased both
the size and cost adversely.
There are half a dozen genealogical tables included to help illustrate the
familial inter-relationships of the various mythologies. Although these
tables are relatively they help to give a sense of familiarity which helps
to make things more comprehensible.
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