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Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome Heroes and Heroines of Greece and Rome

. 978-0-76147-951-2. Reference
COPY ISBN
Gods provides articles on 76 of the "most well-known deities," and Heroes offers articles on 94 similarly famous figures. The clear, informative articles, which average three to five pages in length, include illustrations, a biography of the subject, its place in Greek and/or Roman culture, a bibliography, and cross-references; pieces in Gods also detail associated worship. Sidebars and boxes contain further detail and make connections to related topics, such as ancient superstitions and art from today that features ancient Greek and Roman themes. Both volumes conclude with a pronunciation guide and further-reading suggestions. BOTTOM LINE The generous color illustrations are these volumes' standout feature. The books are perfect for junior high, high school, and public libraries and have potential for community college and undergraduate institutions; they will also possibly find use in circulating collections where there are young classical enthusiasts.—Lura Sanborn, St. Paul's Sch., Hopkinton, NH
Gr 9 Up—The 76 articles in Gods and 94 in Heroes are each prefaced by a concise summary of the relevant character. The body of each article describes the figure in more detail, covering variations in other cultures, depictions in literature and art, theme interpretations, and influence in modernity. While some of the Roman deities in Gods are similar to Greek ones, there are enough differences for each version to warrant its own article. In Heroes, however, Roman characters who are similar to Greek counterparts share an article. Both books feature a consistently straightforward, articulate style of writing and profuse color illustrations selected from centuries of sculptures and paintings. Back matter is well organized and useful, particularly the pronunciation guide and family trees. These first-rate research tools are aesthetically pleasing and substantive.—Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Library, NC
Reviewed by Jennifer Prince , Jan 01, 2012
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