A kid's guide to mythology

"Zeus is a figure in Greek mythology and the leader of the Olympians--the gods and goddesses who were worshiped by the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that Zeus and his followers defeated an earlier race of gods--the Titans--in a battle that burned the Earth's surface. Zeus established a home for himself and the other Olympian gods and goddesses above Mount Olympus, the tallest mountain in Greece. From that height, he kept a close eye on human affairs and when he felt it was necessary, he punished rule-breakers. Because he controlled thunder and lightning, punishment often took the form of his throwing a blazing thunderbolt at the offenders. In addition, Zeus pursued women--divine and human alike--and his wife (the goddess Hera) was often jealous. She used her powers to try to stop Zeus from fooling around. But he had many children with his mistresses, including the mighty hero Hercules."--.

"Many of the statues of Poseidon throughout the world are near the ocean, since Poseidon is the god of the sea. The Greek gods and goddesses bring to mind images of heroes and heroines, much admired by the Greek people. Poseidon fits this description to a certain degree, but like humans, he possesses many character flaws. Most of the stories about Poseidon depict an angry, vengeful being who makes decisions based on his emotions--he is a troublemaker for humans--and other gods and goddesses, and they in turn, are mischief makers for Poseidon. The myths are exciting, adventurous stories that the ancient Greeks used as guidance in their daily lives to explain nature and why things happened."--.

"Among the many colorful and absorbing stories from the fabulous mythology of ancient Greece, few are as fascinating, exciting, and downright entertaining as the tale of the hero Jason and his quest to find the Golden Fleece. That skin of a magic sheep was thought to bring good luck, riches, and prosperity to whoever possessed it. This fleece supposedly existed in a faraway land said to be filled with terrifying monsters and other dangers. Yet the young and fearless Jason did not flinch when a power-hungry king challenged him to search out and bring back the magical object. After building a fast and sturdy ship named the Argo, Jason gathered a crew of other heroes. One of them was the mighty Heracles, whom the Romans called Hercules. Jason and his Argonauts set off on what would prove to be one of humankind's most fateful voyages"--.

"When the ancient Greeks found themselves in a difficult situation, they would pray to this daughter of Zeus for guidance. Of course, like the other gods and goddesses, Athena was not without faults. Her fierce independence often led her to rebel against her father and to fight with her many brothers and sisters. But she also came to their aid over and over again, proving herself to be worthy of her title--and all the respect with which it came"--.

"Chances are good that you have heard the name Apollo at least once. After all, it is the name of one of the most famous theaters in New York City. It is even the name of one of the most important space exploration programs created by NASA. But who was Apollo, and why was he important? To the ancient Greeks, Apollo was the god of the sun, as well as the god of music and poetry. Both he and his twin sister Artemis played a significant role in the religion of the ancient Greeks, who believed that they and the other gods and goddesses ruled the world. To them he was as real as the beautiful gifts of light and music, which they believed he bestowed on them"--.

Offers an overview of stories about the mythical ancient Greek demigod hero, Hercules.

"Chances are good that you have seen the name Thor in a comic book. Or maybe you have seen one of the movies that also bear this famous name. Without a doubt the Norse god of thunder has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years. But he is actually much older than either the men who have played him or the people who have drawn him. Norse mythology came from a group of brutal warriors called the Vikings. As they moved from Scandinavia through Europe, the Vikings shared their stories--the basis for their religion--with others. And along with his father Odin and his rival Loki, Thor became known throughout the rest of the world as well"--.