A.R. Hope Moncrieff's Classical Mythology. An inspiration to many centuries of writers, the characters that people the Ancient Greek myths are a spellbinding mixture of gods and heroes, monsters and magicians. Some, like Theseus and Agamemnon, are probably based on historical figures. Others have been invented to explain the wonders of nature, the passage of the sun across the sky or the beautiful song of the nightingale. This delightful collection brings together all the most familiar tales with some that are less well known. Based on classical sources, they have been retold in simple prose for the modern reader, with additional excerpts from the verse of the great English poets writing on similar themes. Fifty full-page illustrations of paintings and sculpture show how these classic stories have been interpreted by a wide range of Western artists. (Takakansiteksti)