Books in Oxford Myths and Legends series

Egyptian mythology tells us that long ago the brother gods Osiris and Set ruled peacefully over the lands of Upper and Lower Egypt, each in his own kingdom. But over time Set came to covet his brother's lands and crown, and eventually the temptation overwhelmed him. Usurping Osiris' throne, Set began a blood feud that spread war, death and mutilation through both the heavens and the earth. Gods and men chose sides and took up arms on behalf of both Set and Horus, the heir of Osiris. This book retells the mythic struggle between Horus and Set, exploring the variations and background to the feud, and examining the earthly realities that inspired, or reflected, the actions and allegiances of the Gods, such as the political rivalries between the two kingdoms, and the invasion by Cambyses II. Egyptian weapons and strategies are also examined, showing how their gods and men did battle.

The Vikings told many stories of their gods: mighty Odin; Thor the god of thunder; gentle Freya; and Loki the mischief-maker and the tricks he played. In the stories, the gods are forced to always strive against the hated giants, who symbolize the pitiless northern snows and the grim mountains. These exciting and dramatic tales open with the beginning of all things, and follow the story through to the gods' final battle against the forces of winter.

Out of dark and violent centuries, legends of a great leader arose. King Arthur became one of the most famous figures in British literature. During the Dark Ages, Britain was without a king and the land was divided. Death and destruction reigned over the land as power-hungry overlords armed themselves and fought against their fellow countrymen. In MYTHOLOGY OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS, Evelyn Wolfson examines both legend and historical fact surrounding King Arthur and the Dark Ages in the British Isles. This book is developed from KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS IN MYTHOLOGY to allow republication of the original text into ebook, paperback, and trade editions.

Homer's Iliad, read by college underclassmen everywhere, tells the story of Helen, 'the face that launched a thousand ships', the Trojan horse, and Achilles' heel. The Iliad provides the basis for this modern exploration of one of the most famous legendary wars of all time, a story at least partly based in fact.When Paris, prince of Troy, ran off with Helen, wife of the king of Sparta, it launched the greatest war of the mythic age of Greece. Heroes and gods assembled on both sides, as the combined armies of Greece launched a siege that would last for ten years. During that time, famous heroes, such as Achilles, Ajax, and Hector, would find glory on the battlefield, before being cut down by their enemies. Others, such as Agamemnon, Odysseus, and Aeneas, would survive the war, only to face even greater challenges in the aftermath. Thanks to the Iliad of Homer, and numerous other ancient sources, the story of the siege of Troy has survived for over 3,000 years. In this new book in the Myths and Legends series, Professor Si Sheppard draws together all of these ancient texts to tell the complete story of the Trojan war, from the flight of the 'face that launched a thousand ships' to the great wooden horse that brought the city to bloody ruin. Accompanied by both classical and modern artwork, this book is the perfect primer for those interested in the greatest war of the ancient world, and the last great conflict between the gods of Ancient Greece.

The greatest hero of Ancient Greece, Hercules battled gods, men and monsters in a lifetime of violence and destruction. Today, Hercules is best known for his 'twelve labors', a series of near-impossible tasks assigned to him as punishment for the killing of his wife and children. During those tasks, he slew the multi-headed hydra, wrestled with Cerberus, hound of the underworld, and stole the girdle of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. Yet even when his labours were done, his adventures continued. Hercules led armies, sacked cities, fought against the gods, and then joined forces with the gods in the great war known as 'The Gigantomachy'. This book tells the complete story of this legendary warrior, including information on the classical sources, his deification and cult, and his continuing popularity as a character in film, television and comic books.

Many traditional stories--Dick Whittington and his Cat, Tom Thumb, Jack and the Beanstalk--join equally good but not so well know stories like the story of the tailor who slew two giants, or the maid who had to travel to the well at the World's End, and Tattercoats,the ragamuffin who became a princess. Reeves brings his qualities of humor to them all and enriches their age-old enjoyment.