Ancient Greek Literature

The story of a young man who befriends the winged horse Pegasus, must take on the ferocious Chimera, defeat armies and try to return victorious. But can he succeed? Learn about the glorious battles and dangers which face Bellerophon as he tries to prove to men and the gods that he is a true hero.

Born from a magical egg, Helen has a most unusual start to life. She is no ordinary princess as she draws the attention of leaders and kings throughout Greece. Her journey to the city of Troy and her escape back to Greece is a tale of magic, adventure and family. Helen joins the other multi-award winning books in Early Myths collection: the perfect way to introduce young kids to the world of Greek myth.

Orpheus is young musician who holds magical powers over nature and people, and must travel deep into the Underworld to try to persuade Hades to allow him to bring his wife home again. Follow the tale as Orpheus joins the Argonauts on their quest, captivates gods and goddesses with his music and song, and completes one of the most challenging journeys in all of Greek mythology.

The most powerful hero in all of Greek mythology, Herakles is challenged to control his strength. Commanded by the gods, he must take on twelve great Labours: battling with monsters, controlling rivers, wrestling with lions, visiting the Underworld and fighting an army. Can he succeed and what will be his final reward?

When 12-year-old Rhianna and her younger sister, Eleri, are thrown out of their home by their cruel stepmother, they must find food and shelter. Appealing to King Prasutagus in the name of the goddess Morrigan, they are rejected - but then Queen Boudica takes them into her household. As Rhianna settles into this new life, she learns that there's not only kindness in Boudica - there's a darkness waiting to be unleashed, and the Romans will suffer for their crimes against her. A great battle is looming....

The Phaedrus by Plato, is a dialogue between Plato's protagonist, Socrates, and Phaedrus, an interlocutor in several dialogues. It was probably written around 370 BC, at about the same time as Plato's Republic and Symposium. Ostensibly about love, the discussion in the dialogue focuses on the art of rhetoric and how it ought to be practiced. The dialogue appears in the direct words of Socrates and Phaedrus, without an introduction.

The Adventures of Odysseus is the story of what happened after the Trojan War when Odysseus, the most cunning of all the Greek heroes, left Troy and made his way back home to his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. It was first told by a poet named Homer nearly 3,000 years ago and is retold in this new version especially for younger listeners.

Several of the best-loved Roman myths are gathered in this one beautiful abridged collection, from “Romulus and Remus” (which tells how Rome came to be) to “Cupid and Psyche”, “Oedipus and the Sphinx”, and more.

"The Twelve Labours of Hercules" are a series of feats ordered by the gods carried out by Heracles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, whose name was later romanised as Hercules. The legend was first written whole, as a fixed cycle of twelve labours, in an epic Greek poem now lost, in about 600BC; as they survive in the original source, the labours are not all recounted in a single place, but must be reassembled from many sources. This short story is a retelling of Hercules' legend with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

Griechische Sagen für Kinder vom Kinderbuchautor Ares Papadopoulos ist das Standardwerk, um Kindern zwischen 6 und 12 Jahren die Klassiker der griechischen Antike näherzubringen. Er hat es geschafft, einen einzigartigen Erzählstil zu entwickeln, der einerseits die komplexen Mythen kindgerecht darstellt und gleichzeitig die Spannung und die Moral voll erhält. Denn jede dieser Geschichten ist für Kinder pädagogisch wertvoll und äußerst lehrreich - und das seit Jahrtausenden.

Die antiken Griechen haben viele der gesellschaftlichen Strukturen erfunden, die wir heute noch nutzen: dazu gehören beispielsweise die Geschichten der griechischen Mythologie, die wir in Schulen und Hochschulen studieren, die Olympischen Spiele, und vieles mehr.

From a smelly watering hole deep in the heart of the Serengeti to the ferocious clamor of the Colosseum, join Julius Zebra and his motley menagerie of friends as they gear up to be...GLADIATORS! Only if they win the love of the Roman crowds will they win back their freedom. But do Julius and his pals have what it takes to succeed in a world where only the meanest and toughest survive?

The myth of King Midas is a cautionary tale about the dangers of believing that gold should be coveted above all things, and the foolishness of wishing without thinking. It appeared in Ovid's "Metamorphosis", and has inspired many works of art and literature through the centuries. This is a retelling of the complete tale of "The King with the Golden Touch", from the Gordian knot to the ears of an ass, in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

Phaeton is the son of Apollo and a mortal woman, and his heart's desire is to be seen but once driving his father's chariot, the one used by the god to make the sun travel in the sky. This myth is an ageless story of failure at the hands of pride, similar to that of Icarus. It is a fundamental part of Greek mythology and of modern culture. This short story is a retelling of the myth in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

The myth of Echo and Narcissus appears in Ovid's "Metamorphosis", a Latin mythological epic from the Augustan Age. It is one of the most touching stories ever written and has inspired countless works of art through the centuries. The nymph Echo angers Hera, queen of the gods, who curses her: henceforth, Echo will only be able to repeat the last words that struck her ears. One day, the beautiful Narcissus, son of a nymph and a river god, passes through the forest.

The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is the ultimate tragic love story. It is perhaps one of the most famous Greek myths, and the greatest artists have composed masterpieces to honour these two great lovers who lost their chance at reunion. The earliest account comes from Ibycus (circa 530 BC), a Greek lyric poet. This short story is a mixture of the various existing versions, presenting the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in all its details, all the way to Orpheus' death at the hands of the Bacchantes.

The myth of Icarus is an ageless story of failure at the hands of pride, similar to that of Phaeton. It is a fundamental part of Greek mythology and of modern culture. This short story is a retelling of the myth from 1914, a year in which it was easy to fear for a son who would soar in the sky with metal wings; the story of Icarus and Daedalus is told in great detail and with an elegant style that will edify children and adults alike.

"The Death of Adonis" is a fundamental part of Greek mythology and one of its most touching stories. Accidentally wounded by one of Eros' arrows, the goddess Aphrodite falls desperately in love with the handsome Adonis, son of a king and a beauty among mortals. Yet his only passion is hunting and he refuses to take her warnings seriously when he hears about a great boar he would love to slay. There is something of the idea of coming of age in this tale, when the moment of realisation brings forth the understanding of what could have been and where the real beauty lays.

Before the stars and moons were named after him, in a time of heroes and legends, when mortals and immortals walked the earth together, Ganymede lived. Once, he was a Prince of Troy, King among men, warrior of warriors, revered by the gods. Chosen by the greek gods, gifted with immortality. Ganymede is a man of rare beauty and charm; taken from mortal life before his time, he returns to earth in present day California, He must make a choice between finding true love and remaining immortal.

Get ready to hop on a mythical time machine and zoom back to ancient Rome – and trust us, it's going to be a wild ride! Prepare to explore a world where emperors reign, gladiators clash, and gods and goddesses weave tales of power and intrigue. Oh and you can wave goodbye to those boring history books that feel like time machines stuck in slow motion!