Greek Gods Goddesses

Includes bibliographic references and index.

Long, long ago in ancient Greece, people began telling wonderful stories to explain the mysteries of life. These myths featured gods and goddesses, mighty beings who look human but have amazing powers and live forever. Now you can meet these extraordinary characters and hear their legends, brought to life again by Aliki in this splendid, panoramic look at the amazing stories and characters of Greek legend. "[Will meet the] demand for basic information on the gods and goddesses at the primary level."—BL. "Aliki's fans will welcome her introduction to these famous Greeks."—SLJ. 1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)

A collection of 15 stories about the Greek gods and goddesses--Zeus, the most powerful, his wife Hera, and their large extended family.

Giving Western literature and art many of its most enduring themes and archetypes, Greek mythology and the gods and goddesses at its core are a fundamental part of the popular imagination. At the heart of Greek mythology are exciting stories of drama, action, and adventure featuring gods and goddesses, who, while physically superior to humans, share many of their weaknesses. Readers will be introduced to the many figures once believed to populate Mount Olympus as well as related concepts and facts about the Greek mythological tradition.

Discusses various Greek myths, including creation stories and tales of principal gods and goddesses.

Describes the origins of the most important Greek myths along with the personalities and special powers of the major Greek gods and goddesses.

"Read about the war between the Titans and the Olympians, Pandora's box, Demeter and Persephone, and six other myths"--Provided by publisher.

The ancient Greeks worshipped a host of gods and goddesses. Preserved today in poetry, art, and mythology, these divine beings were part of a religious pantheon from which worshippers sought health, good crops, and deliverance from enemies. This collection of mythical figures introduces youngsters to Greek mythology in an appealing way to fans of all ages.

School Library Journal Best Books of 2011 Eureka! Silver Honor Books—California Reading Association Capitol Choices 2012 list of Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens 2012 Notable Children's Books—ALSC 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 and stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, 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. 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. A family tree and a “cast of characters” profile page help make relationships between the characters clear, and a mapping feature adds to the fun and fascination. Resource notes and ample back matter directing readers to more information round out this luminous book. Sure to dazzle all those intrigued with the fantastic tales of Greek mythology and enchant new readers, this vibrant book will soon become a family keepsake. National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

The text was originally published with other illustrations in 1983 by Harry N. Abrams Inc. Here it is repackaged with reproductions of over 65 paintings by Francoise Gilot (the paintings were created independently--not expressly for the book). Neither the text nor the artwork are conventional explications of how the gods were understood by the Greeks, but rather, both writer and artist offer personal interpretations of each god's character, power, and meaning. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR