Best Greek Mythology Books

There are books that become bestsellers straight away and carry their popularity through generations. Mythology by Edith Hamilton is one of such books. First published in 1942, it has sold millions of copies worldwide since then and become a piece of mythology classics. Having been favored by readers for decades, today, this book is available in all most popular formats including CD, MP3, and Kindle edition as well as prestigious hardcover and mass-market paperback formats. So, whether you are an old-fashioned bookworm or a modern reading fan, it will get you covered.

Myths have long outlived their creators and are still a part of our lives. Edith Hamilton took it as a basis when making up her mythology compendium and brought to a modern reader a precious collection of Greek, Roman, and Norse myths that are considered the keystones of the whole Western culture. You’ll meet the Greek deity pantheon of Olympus and Norse gods in Valhalla, read the legendary stories of Odysseus and Jason, and immerse in the drama of the Trojan war.

While making her myth research, the author drew inspiration from the timeless pieces of poetry from Homer, Sophocles, and Aeschylus. However, in retelling traditional myths, Hamilton not only throws dry facts at the reader but also provides context and her own outlay, with a lot of focus on heroes. As you read, you'll discover the origins of many names and constellations and come across references to modern works of art and literature. In the meantime, the prose is lucid and clear while the overall tone is poetic and evocative. Although some general understanding of the topic is needed, there is no need for deep or specific knowledge, making this book great for beginner adult readers.

Created thousands of years ago by people living in a whole different era, myths will never lose their value. Despite huge technological progress, today, people don’t seem to change too much and face the same psychological and personal problems as their ancient predecessors. So, the moral these tales bring is still up-to-date. And if you are looking for a starting point to begin an exciting mythology journey, D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths will suit you to a tee.

The book is deemed to be a piece of timeless classic for adults and kids alike, and deservedly so. Built around the most famous legends and tales of ancient Greece, the selection of myths in this edition is greatly systematized. It starts with Gaia and Uranus followed by Cronos, proceeds to Zeus with the rest of the major Olympian gods, and then goes down to other minor mythic creatures and mortals. With all the inherent brutal weirdness of myths, D’Aulaires managed to retell them in a carefully worded and refined style with a slight touch of humor and present them in an enthralling and evocative manner. The language is not too simplified and relatively sophisticated, so it is still understandable for older kids above eight years old.

Yet, what makes this book really shine is skillful and incredibly detailed portraits of deities, heroes, and monsters, giving an impression they are still alive and making the stories even more engaging. Those descriptions are further enhanced and supported by numerous vivid illustrations that literally interpret the text. They range from character images to drawings of ancient Greece maps to pictures of constellations and mythical events. Bright and lavish, some of those illustrations are page-size and work great to visualize the mythic scenes and let the reader plunge into the ancient atmosphere.

Most kids like monsters, non-real beings, and fantastic creatures that dwell in a fascinating and wonderful fairytale world. And only a few of them know that many mythic characters of modern stories originate from Greek mythology characters that are larger than life. Hence, if you want to introduce your kids to Greek myths in an interesting and fun way, Treasury of Greek Mythology by Donna Jo Napoli is one of the best mythology books for children.

Part of the National Geographic Kid series, this book is the result of the fruitful and successful collaboration between award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli and award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, two people who did their best to make those timeless classic stories attractive and understandable for little readers. The language used is free from fancy and complicated words and is very poetic, making up the lucid and flowy narration. Meanwhile, a family tree and the characters’ profile help smaller readers trace the relationships between characters as well as their origins.

Kids are visual learners. Knowing this, the book abounds in bright, vivid, and catchy illustrations that will immediately draw the attention of young readers. Full-body images and detailed portraits of mythological figures, as well as pictures of associated symbols, are drawn in splendid Art Deco style mixing sharp lines with a rich and flashy color palette.

If you are real big on Greek mythology and want to dig deeper behind the stories themselves to learn what stands behind and look into the character origins, Classical Mythology A to Z by Annette Giesecke is an absolute must-have for you.

Based on Greek mythology, the book is neither a compendium of classical stories retold nor a storybook. In fact (and as the title suggests), it is a reference guide or an encyclopedia on Greek and Roman mythology that contains brilliant explanations of gods, characters, places, events, and locales you come across in myths. To add more, those are not the kind of generalized and often shallow explanations provided in many other popular mythology books but clear, full, and detailed descriptions that provide answers to many questions that throw us back to the ancient world. Besides, apart from well-known gods, deities, and heroes, the book provides references to less popular antique characters and mythic creatures only some most avid mythology fans are familiar with.

To continue, Classical Mythology A to Z is perfectly and smartly organized, just like any good reference guide should be. It is divided into four big sections including chapters on Gods, Goddesses, Spirits, and Nymphs; Heroes, Heroines, and People; Monsters, Prodigies, and Hybrid Creatures, Places and Landmarks. Meanwhile, a short appendix of gods and a thought-out index will become a great helping hand to find the needed reference or info quickly and without a hassle. Further on, there is a comprehensive glossary of sources where you can find some more details or trace how some stories have changed over time. And several family trees throughout the book will help you see how many characters relate to each other.

Whether you have a youngster with Greek mythology reading being his or her hobby or you are interested in the subject yourself and want to get an easy and quick kickstart on Greek myths, the Greek Mythology book by Lance Hightower has a lot to offer.

To start with the contents, on 242 pages, the book is a decent collection of stories that will provide a full overview of ancient mythology, covering all the core Greek myths and legends. You’ll get a fascinating sneak-peek into the genealogy of proverbial Greek goods tracing their lineage from the elemental beings at the creation of the universe to titans, Olympian deities, and down to mortal heroes. This way, you’ll be able to study the mythological hierarchy to better understand relations between characters and look into the roots of each story.

When it comes to the stories themselves, they are written in a light narrative manner, are not loaded with fancy terms and notions, and are free from intricate words and phrases specific for academic works. Some readers find the author’s style a bit amateurish, however, targetting younger audience and novice mythology readers, the book is both easy-going and decently informative.

For your maximum convenience, the book is available in different formats, including a compact paperback version, Kindle edition, and an audiobook. So, whether you are a traditional book fan who likes turning pages or a modern digital reader, you can easily take this book with you and enjoy captivating fantastic stories wherever you go and whenever you have a spare minute to read.