DescriptionBellerophon and the winged horse Pegasus launch into the blue sky in search of the dreaded three-headed Chimera, but will success go to the hero's head? Orpheus, devastated by the death of his wife, Eurydice, dares the dangers of the kingdom of the dead in an attempt to bring her back to life. Echo loves Narcissus but he only loves himself: a story that can only end in sadness. These and other colourful legends from Ancient Greece are retold in lively form by Benjamin Soames, with classical music providing further excitement.
DescriptionIt is both amazing and wonderful that so much of the richness of our language and our moral education still owes a huge debt to a Greek slave who was executed over 2, 000 years ago. Yet "sour grapes", "crying wolf", "a dog in a manger", "actions speak loud…
DescriptionIt is in my mind, said Zeus, "to cause the great and glorious war of Troy, that shall be famous to the end of time." The Tale of Troy tells of the last great adventure of the Heroic Age. It is the story of Helen and the judgment of Paris; of the gathering of the heroes and the siege of Troy; of Achilles, reared by the centaur on wild honey and the marrow of lions; of Odysseus, his great strategy of the Wooden Horse, and of his many adventures on his long journey home to Greece. These legends have been told again and again, passed down for over three thousand years. This masterly retelling makes them as vivid and exciting as they were all those years ago.
DescriptionBehold! Human beings living in an underground den. Like ourselves, they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave. With that statement, Plato - one of the greatest thinkers in the history of mankind - introduces one of his of most important philosophical constructs: the relationship between truth and the image of truth. Translated by Benjamin Jowett.
DescriptionHomer's Odyssey is the thrilling and moving tale of the wanderings of the hero Odysseus after the end of the Trojan war. For ten years he experiences storms, shipwrecks, and seductions as he tries to find a way home to Ithaca, contending with the wrath of Poseidon but protected by Pallas Athena. Meanwhile, his wife Penelope is beset by suitors who believe him dead. To supplement the full text version, check out the SparkNotes Guide for The Odyssey.
DescriptionPerhaps the greatest poem of the Western world, The Iliad tells the story of 50 critical days toward the end of the Trojan war. Achilles has quarrelled with Agamemnon and sulks in his tent, while Hector brings his Trojans to the brink of victory; but fate will have the last word...(Translated by William Cowper)…
DescriptionMy fame is written in the heavens, and my fate too... So speaks Odysseus as he starts to recount his struggles to sail home to Ithaca, in one of the greatest pieces of storytelling in Western literature. The Odyssey is his incredible traveller's ta…
DescriptionThe Aeneid is one of the greatest works in all of world literature. It is filled with mythology, history, and archaeology; it is infused with patriotism, religious feeling, and pathos; it is rich in adventure and romance. As the story begins, a storm shipwrecks Aeneas and his Trojan followers near Carthage in North Africa. There, Aeneas falls in love with Dido, queen of Carthage. But the gods order him to leave for Italy. In despair, Dido commits suicide. Upon finally reaching Italy, Aeneas goes down into the lower world and learns about his future descendants, the Romans.
DescriptionIf Homer's Odyssey is, as many have maintained, "the world's greatest adventure story, " then The Iliad can justly be called "the world's greatest war novel." The terrible and long-drawn-out siege of Troy remains among one of the classic campaigns, and the heroism and treachery of the combatants have been unmatched in song and story. (Translated by W.H.D. Rouse)…
DescriptionWhen this groundbreaking serialized dramatization premiered on 320 U.S. radio stations, critics were unanimous in their praise, calling it "a feast for the ears" and "a magnificent blend of scholarship and showmanship." It won numerous honors including th…
