CONTENTS
Introduction
The Ancient Greek Landscape
1 HOPE FOR HUMANKIND
The Population of the Earth
2 THE ASCENT OF THE OLYMPIAN GODS
In the Beginning
War against the Titans
War against the Giants
Zeus and His Brothers
3 THE GODS OF OLYMPUS
Zeus the King
Hera
Hestia
Demeter
Aphrodite
Ares
Hephaestus
Athena
Apollo
Artemis
Hermes
Dionysus
4 THE AGE OF HEROES
The Flood
The Line of Deucalion
The Argonauts and the Golden Fleece
The Calydonian Boar Hunt
Io and the Danaids
Perseus and the Gorgon
Bellerophon
5 THEBES IN THE AGE OF HEROES
Cadmus, Europa, and the Foundation of Thebes
Oedipus
The Seven against Thebes
6 MYCENAE IN THE AGE OF HEROES
The Curse of the House of Atreus
Atreus and Thyestes
The End of the Atreid Curse
7 ATHENS IN THE AGE OF HEROES
The First Athenian Kings
The Labors of Theseus
Theseus and the Minotaur
King Theseus
8 HERACLES
The Birth of Heracles
The Twelve Labors of Heracles
Heracles the King-Maker
Heracles Becomes a God
9 THE TROJAN WAR
The Marriage of Peleus and Thetis
The Judgment of Paris
The Abduction of Helen
The Greeks Prepare for War
The Greek Landing
Achilles Withdraws
Agamemnon’s Dream
Menelaus and Paris
Diomedes’ Day of Glory
Hector Triumphant
Envoys and Spies
The Assault on the Ships
The Deception of Zeus
The Death of Patroclus
The Return of Achilles
The Death of Hector
Two Funerals
The Death of Achilles
The Wooden Horse
The Fall of Troy
10 ODYSSEUS’ RETURN
Trouble on Ithaca
Telemachus’ Journey
Odysseus on Scheria
The Cyclops Polyphemus
Aeolus, the Laestrygonians, and Circe
The Underworld
Dangers at Sea
The Cattle of the Sun
Odysseus Reaches Ithaca
At the Swineherd’s Hut
In the Palace
Penelope Meets the Beggar
Vengeance
Reunion
11 THE END OF HOPE
Pandora
Select Bibliography
Picture References