Greetings, and questions regarding miss edith hamilton, and a poll.

What is your religious affiliation?

  • Roman Catholic/Eastern Orthodox

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Anglican/Lutheran

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Evangelical

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Hindu

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Buddhist

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Muslim

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Bahai

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Atheist/agnostic

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    2
  • Poll closed .
Hello! I am a new member of this forum. I thought I would write today re: the author Edith Hamilton, who wrote the book Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes in the year 1942. She also wrote several other books (The Roman Way, The Greek Way, and and a few others among them), but is well known for this one.I just bought it a few days ago as a refresher book on mythology, primarily on the Greeks and the Romans, and a little on the Norse.

The book is still in print after all these years, and is STILL the most widely used (at least in the USA) textbook in high school and college in introductory courses on Greco-Roman civilisation, or in Classics, or often in Literature, or in several other courses of that nature.

So, the question is, what do people here think of the book, and her? Any opinions, good, bad, or ugly?

Another question I'd like to throw out there is a poll. What is the religious affiliation or lack thereof of people on this site? I am immensely curious. I myself am a religious Jew, fairly traditional.
 

Last Spartan

New Member
Never heard of this book, but I might look around and see if I can find a copy.

As for the poll, I have no religious affiliation and consider myself the founder of the "I don't give a crap either way" group when it comes to whether or not God is real.
 
I should have probably included a spot for people who actually worship the old Gods and Goddesses as well (Neo-Pagans and the like). Are there any books that any of you can recommend aside from Hamilton? I am, of course, aware of Bullfinch, and of course, of the original text of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid. At one time, I had read them, but I'm 40, and its probably been 25 years since I read this stuff last.

I'm just now learning to appreciate all of this as an adult. Any ideas?
 

Myrddin

Well-Known Member
As for the poll, I have no religious affiliation and consider myself the founder of the "I don't give a crap either way" group when it comes to whether or not God is real.
Really? Can I join this group? It sounds about right for me. ;)

E. M.
 

Myrddin

Well-Known Member
I should have probably included a spot for people who actually worship the old Gods and Goddesses as well (Neo-Pagans and the like). Are there any books that any of you can recommend aside from Hamilton? I am, of course, aware of Bullfinch, and of course, of the original text of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid. At one time, I had read them, but I'm 40, and its probably been 25 years since I read this stuff last.

I'm just now learning to appreciate all of this as an adult. Any ideas?
You might like Ovid's Metamorphosis. I only just started it, so not very far in, but am enjoying it. I also have, and use, The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland. However, I highly recommend, if you can, to get your hands on a World Mythology dictionary; I have one, and it it is very useful for quick cross-referencing of names and creatures from various mythologies. It won't necessarily have a whole lot about each, but certainly provides good tidbits of information (and includes every conceivable mythology world-wide, at least the one I have).

E. M.
 

The Misfit

New Member
I read some of Hamilton's book in high school. At the time I didn't like it at all. I found it very dry. I remember thinking that it was one of the dullest books on one of the most interesting subjects. As I am now 40, my opinion might be different if I gave it a try today.
My religion is Asatru. Although I know I am Asatru because I have heard the call of the gods, I must admit that I'm still in the learning and discovering phase. Why was the poll closed?
 
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