Classical Mythology

Classical Mythology : The Great Courses: Western Literature

  • von The Great Courses
  • Sprecher: Professor Elizabeth Vandiver
  • Serie: The Great Courses: Western Literature
  • 12 Std. 28 Min.
  • Vortrag
4.5 (4
Ratings.
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Beschreibung

These 24 lectures are a vibrant introduction to the primary characters and most important stories of classical Greek and Roman mythology. Among those you'll investigate are the accounts of the creation of the world in Hesiod's Theogony and Ovid's Metamorphoses; the gods Zeus, Apollo, Demeter, Persephone, Hermes, Dionysos, and Aphrodite; the Greek heroes, Theseus and Heracles (Hercules in the Roman version); and the most famous of all classical myths, the Trojan War.
Professor Vandiver anchors her presentation in some basics. What is a myth? Which societies use myths? What are some of the problems inherent in studying classical mythology? She also discusses the most influential 19th- and 20th-century thinking about myth's nature and function, including the psychological theories of Freud and Jung and the metaphysical approach of Joseph Campbell. You'll also consider the relationship between mythology and culture (such as the implications of the myth of Demeter, Persephone, and Hades for the Greek view of life, death, and marriage), the origins of classical mythology (including the similarities between the Theogony and Mesopotamian creation myths), and the dangers of probing for distant origins (for example, there's little evidence that a prehistoric "mother goddess" lies at the heart of mythology).
Taking you from the surprising "truths" about the Minotaur to Ovid's impact on the works of William Shakespeare, these lectures make classical mythology fresh, absorbing, and often surprising.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

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Hilfreichste

A lot of myth and a good amount of -ology

I consider myself quite well read in classical mythology, and I read through Ranke-Graves as well as most of the short version of The Golden Bough. So I was unsure if I could benefit from these lectures, but I did. Not only is Prof. Vandiver an entertaining, witty lecturer in the best British tradition, her insights in this subject matter and the connections she draws into Classical culture have taught me quite a lot.
Lesen Sie weiter...

- Christian Esch

Weitere Infos zum Hörbuch

  • Erscheinungsdatum: 08.07.2013
  • Verlag: The Great Courses