A Pocket Dictionary of Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses

The gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome have long been popular subjects in Western art, and references to them continue to appear today in art, literature, and films.
This handy, portable reference book includes individual entries on more than forty of the most frequently represented gods and goddesses, as well as related mythical creatures, such as Fates and Furies, and lesser-known gods from outlying areas of the Greco-Roman world. Woff concisely presents the defining exploits and attributes of these colorful characters and illustrates their stories with a variety of art works--including ancient vases, paintings, sculpture, terra-cottas, and coins--that dramatically depict their lives. Because the ancient Romans adopted many of the Greek gods under different names--for instance, the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, became the Roman goddess Venus--the author helpfully gives the Roman names and attributes of the gods along with their Greek equivalents.
An alphabetical table of contents is included to help readers easily locate a particular god or goddess in the book. For ages 12 and up. Read more Continue reading Read less FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
Grade 4-8--This slim handbook introduces 40 Greek and Roman deities, as well as 5 "foreign" gods and goddesses. Each of the one-page entries introduces the mythological figure, provides a brief story, and offers historical tidbits. Clear reproductions of ancient artifacts from the British Museum depict each deity or a related scene. Representing many ages and geographical regions, the variety of artwork is impressive, and includes bronze statues, Greek vases, marble sculptures, silver bowls, mosaics, and coins. Although not alphabetical, the arrangement of the entries is logical, and an A-Z index is included. While this volume has limited use for reports or research, it is a visually appealing additional purchase.--Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, OR
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