ebooks The Gods of the Greeks by Karl Kerenyi; Carl Kerenyi in History

Review

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A Library EssentialBy J. DehneClear; insightful; and written with a personable touch. This is a highly informative and interesting read. Kerenyi presents not only the most well known and accepted myths; but the lesser known ones as well and discusses why and how they became part of the culture of mythology.I highly recommend!5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. An Interesting Look At A Complicated SubjectBy Kindle CustomerIt's an older book; but with lots of information concerning the Greek religion. I loved his book on and titled Dionysus. He tells us about the Greeks as if he was simply telling you about his religious beliefs which makes it far more interesting. I recommend this book. The ancient Greek religion is far more complicated and interesting then it is given credit for.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A well sourced presentation of Greek mythsBy Jordan BellThis book is a collection of stories about the Greek gods taken from ancient writings. Reading Greek myths; especially to children; gives us the pleasant feeling of visiting a world where we aren't sure how things work. We also read Greek myths to get ideas of Greek cosmology and ideas about fate and for standard comparisons to use in writing. For example; when talking about avoiding two dangers it is common to refer to sailing between Scylla and Charybdis. One should at least know that when Odysseus faced these two dangers; he did not find a safe line between them but rather was advised by Circe to sail closer to Scylla; because Scylla would only kill a few of his sailors rather than Charybdis sinking his ship; Scylla snatched six sailors; one in each of her six heads (Odyssey 12.246). But this isn't Scylla's only appearance in extant Greek writings; and Kerenyi gives descriptions of her by Lycophron and from Euripides' "Medea". Elsewhere Kerenyi tells us from the "Orphicorum fragmenta" that a visitor to the Underworld should drink from the spring on his right hand; Mnemosyne (Memory) and not from the spring on his left hand; Lethe (Forgetfulness). Similarly; most educated people have some vague idea of Prometheus giving fire to mankind; and Kerenyi assembles material about Prometheus from several sources. From Plato's "Protagoras" we are told that Prometheus's brother Epimetheus distributed abilities to mortals and heedlessly did not give man any protection from beasts; and then Prometheus stole fire from a temple of Hephaestus and Pallas Athene. From Hesiod's "Works and Days" we learn that Zeus withheld fire from mankind because Prometheus once divided a bull and gave Zeus the worse part. In Hyginus's "Astronomica" we are told that Prometheus took fire from Zeus's hearth at Olympus and hidit in a hollowed out narthex stalk. Oedipus's blinding himself means more when we know that being blinded was a standard punishment for having sex with a forbidden woman; such as Orion's rape of Oinopion's wife Merope. Reading Kerenyi's book likewise gives substance to stories about Narcissus; Pandora; the Minotaur; the Four Winds; the Harpies; the Muses; the Sirens; the Sphinx; the Hydra; Medusa; Adonis; Nemesis; and others.Ancient Greek ideas about cosmology are presented to us by creation stories; which happen before the Olympian gods. Kerenyi tells us that originally Chaos means simply "yawns" (namely; a yawning void); and that (I.2) "Originally there was no word meaning turmoil or confusion: 'Chaos' acquired this second meaning only later; after the introduction of the doctrine of the Four Elements." Even what may be casual numbers mentioned in stories give us some idea about how the ancient Greeks imagined the world. We are told (II.3) by Hesiod that after the defeat of the Titans by the Olympian gods; "The vanquished were enchained and thrown into Tartaros; which is as deep below the earth as the earth is below the sky. An anvil dropped from the sky falls for nine nights; and on the tenth it reaches the earth; and likewise it falls nine nights and days from the earth; and on the tenth it reaches Tartaros." We also find particular lengths of time in myths. Kerenyi cites (VIII.4) from Plutarch's "Moralia" and Aelianus's "Varia Historia" the story of Apollo atoning for a "great year" for killing the dragon Delphyne; and Kerenyi states that the "great year" here means eight years; and before was called an "ennaeteris"; which meant nine years. Kerenyi also writes that Prometheus received the same punishment as Tityos (XIII.4): Prometheus is bound in chains and has a pillar through his middle; and an eagle devours his liver; which regrows daily. "At the end of Aeschylus's lost tragedy; Promethus the Bringer of Fire; it was stated that the Titan was bound for thirty thousand years. In those days this meant the world's longest period."To understand Greek ideas about fate and Nature before the philosophers we must read myths. The Moirai (Fates) are in one account (III.1) the daughters of Themis and Zeus. The Iliad 8.68 asserts that even Zeus cannot change what the Fates decide. Kerenyi tells us (VI.4) that "The word themis means in our language a law of nature; the norm of the living together of gods and of being generally; especially beings of both sexes." One god who enforces the order of nature is Nemesis (VI.6): "The name means righteous anger; which is directed against those who have violated order; especially the order of nature; and have disregarded nature's law and norm. Should Themis be disregarded; then Nemesis is there." The order of nature is also enforced by Zeus; who kills Asclepius for resurrecting Hippolytus (VIII.6).Before reading this book I was not aware of the "Homeric Hymns"; and I was introduced in the citations to other writers; like Aelianus; Apollonius of Rhodes; Pausanias; Diodorus Siculus; Apollodorus Mythographus; Aratus; and Solinus.A complaint about the book is that because it is written in the form of someone telling stories; the author is not able to step outside the stories to talk about the sources he uses. Kerenyi only uses ancient sources; and even if he doesn't want to rely on secondary sources; it would be useful to the reader to suggest further reading of books related to Greek religion.