Vivid, classic retellings of the myths of Greece and Rome, along with stories of the Norse gods and heroes. Zeus and Hera, Apollo, Jason and the golden fleece, the wanderings of Ulysses and Aeneas, the deeds of Thor, many more seminal stories underlying Western culture.

First published in 1855, Bulfinch's Mythology has introduced generations of readers to the great myths of Greece and Rome, as well as time-honored legends of Norse mythology, medieval and chivalric tales, Oriental fables, and more. Readers have long admired Bulfinch's versions for the skill with which he wove various versions of a tale into a coherent whole,-the vigor of his storytelling, and his abundant cross-references to poetry and painting, demonstrating the relationship of literature and art.

Now The Age of Fable, the first section of the Mythology, is available in this inexpensive, highly readable edition. Drawing on the works of Homer, Ovid, Virgil, and other classical authors, as well as an immense trove of stories about the Norse gods and heroes, The Age of Fable offers lively retellings of the myths of the Greek and Roman gods: Venus and Adonis, Jupiter and Juno, Daphne and Apollo, and many others.

The myths and legends so vividly retold in this volume underlie much of the art, literature, and culture of Western civilization. As Bulfinch put it, "Without a knowledge of mythology, much of the elegant literature of our own language cannot be understood and appreciated "With this inexpensive edition of The Age of Fable, readers can immerse themselves in these seminal myths, increasing their appreciation and understanding of Western culture, while enjoying the myths purely as the great stories they are.

The Age of Fable

I.Introduction

II.Prometheus and Pandora

III.Apollo and Daphne--Pyramus and ThisbeCephalus and Procris

IV.Juno and Her Rivals, Io and Callisto--Diana and Actaeon'Latona and the Rustics

V.Phaeton

VI.Midas--Baucis and Philemon

VII.Proserpine--Glaucus and Scylla

VIII.Pygmalion--Dryope--Venus and AdonisApollo and Hyacinthus

IX.Ceyx and Halcyone

X.Vertumnus and Pomona

XI.Cupid and Psyche

XII.Cadmus--The Myrmidons

XIII.Nisus and ScyllaEcho and Narcissus--Clytie--Hero and Leander

XIV.Minerva--Niobe

XV.The Grae and GorgonsPerseus and MedusaAtlas--Andromeda

XVI.Monsters: Giants--SphinxPegasus and Chimaera--Centaurs-- Pygmies-Griffin

XVII.The Golden Fleece--Medea and/Eson

XVIII.Meleager and Atalanta

XIX.Hercules--Hebe and Ganymede

XX Theseus--Daedalus--Castor and Pollux

XXI.Bacchus--Ariadne

XXII, The Rural Deities--Erisichthon--Rhaeus--The Water Deities--The Camenae--The Winds

XXIII.Achelous and Hercules--Admetus and Alcestis--Antigone--Penelope

XXIV.Orpheus and Eurydice--Aristaeus--Amphion--Linus--Thamyris--Marsyas--Melampus--Musaeus

XXV.Arion-- Ibycus-- Simonides-- Sappho

XXVI.Endymion--Orion--Aurora and Tithonus--Acis and Galatea

XXVII.The Trojan War

XXVIII.The Fall of Troy--Return of the Greeks--Agamemnon,Orestes and Electra

XXIX.Adventures of Ulysses--The Lotus-Eaters--Cyclopses--Circe-- Sirens-- Scylla and Charybdis-- Calypso

XXX.The Phaeacians--Fate of the Suitors

XXXI.Adventures of/Eneas-- The Harpies -- Dido -- Palinurus

XXXII.The Infernal Regions--The Sibyl

XXXIII.AEneas in Italy: Camilla--Evander--Nisus and Euryalus--Mezentius--Turnus

XXXIV.Pythagoras--Egyptian Deities--Oracles

XXXV.Origin of Mythology--Statues of Gods and Goddesses--Poets of Mythology

XXXVI.Modern Monsters--The Phoenix--Basilisk--Unicorn--Salamander

XXXVII.Eastern Mythology--Zoroaster--Hindu Mythology--Castes--Buddha--Grand Lama--Prester John

XXXVIII.Northern Mythology--Valhalla--The Valkyrior

XXXIX.Thor's Visit to ]otunheim

XL.The Death of Baldur--The Elves--Runic Letters--Skalds-- Iceland

XLI.The Druids--Iona

XLII.Beowulf

Proverbial Expressions

Index