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Showing 220 entries for tag: Hercules

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Margaret Evans Price

A Child's Book of Myths and Enchantment Tales

This is a collection of Greek myths for children. It is a 1986 compilation of Price's 1924 A Child's Book of Myths and 1926 Enchantment Tales for Children. The text is illustrated throughout with Price's large, colourful drawings. The stories generally stick closely to Ovid's versions of myths. An Index of characters at the end provides further context on the characters in the stories.Featured Stories:Prometheus and the Fire of the Gods,Pandora's Box,Hercules,Apollo and Diana(...)

literary

YEAR: 1924

COUNTRY: United States of America


Halina Rudnicka

A Hero Bound [Heros w okowach] (Spartan Trilogy [Trylogia spartańska/Trylogia antyczna], 3)

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., section by Joanna Grzeszczuk, p. 322.A Hero Bound is the last book of Halina Rudnicka’s trilogy about ancient Sparta. The Spartan king Cleomenes, after being defeated by the Achaean League, flees to the court of Ptolemy E(...)

literary

YEAR: 1969

COUNTRY: Poland


Henry Lion Oldie

A Hero Must Be Alone [Герой должен быть один (Geroi dolzhen byt' odin)]

This is a heroic fantasy fiction based on the myth of Hercules, aimed at young adults, in novel format. The plot of the original myth is thoroughly transformed in order to emphasize topics and motives relevant to contemporary youth culture. At the beginning of the book, we learn that Zeus has a special plan for his newly-conceived child from Alcmene and that this plan is a matter of serious disagreement in the family of gods (or “the Family”, as it is called throughout whole Ach(...)

literary

YEAR: 1996

COUNTRY: Russia


Wojciech Mohort-Kopaczyński

A Long Time Ago in Hellas. Selection of Greek Myths for Children [Dawno temu w Helladzie. Mity greckie w wyborze dla dzieci]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., section by Maria Kruhlak, p. 215.A collection of the best known Greek myths developed and adapted for children. It introduces the world of myths for children who are encountering mythological stories for the first time. In this(...)

literary

YEAR: 2000

COUNTRY: Poland


Nathaniel Hawthorne

A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys

First published in 1851, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys holds a significant place in the reception of classical myth as one of the first retellings written in English specifically for children (Charles Lamb’s Adventures of Ulysses, published in 1808, is an important predecessor, and Charles Kinglsey’s The Heroes, or, Greek Fairy Tales for My Children, was published five years later in 1856).  Prior to this, mythic stories predominantly featured in t(...)

literary

YEAR: 1852

COUNTRY: United States of America


Nikos Kazantzakis

Alexander the Great / In the Time of Alexander the Great [Μέγας Αλέξανδρος / Στα χρόνια του Μεγαλέξανδρου (Mégas Aléxandros / Sta chrónia tou Megaléxandrou)]

The novel covers Alexander the Great’s life, beginning with his famous taming of the wild horse Bucephalas at fifteen and ending with his death in Babylon in 323 BCE. The novel focuses primarily on Alexander’s twin ambitions, to unite Greece and to conquer Asia and how he made them a reality. He shared these aspirations with his father Philip II of Macedon, who is an important character in the early part of the book. This covers Alexander’s early life at his father’s cour(...)

literary

YEAR: 1940

COUNTRY: Greece


Jamila Gavin, David Parkins

Alexander the Great. Man, Myth, or Monster?

Alexander the Great. Man, Myth, or Monster? introduces young readers to ancient history via biography. The birth to death format follows the traditions of biography, while the narrative also moves forward and backwards in parts, with the narrator recalling previous events or anticipating events that will occur later. The story is punctuated by mythic tales which are introduced as if being told to soldiers in the story. These embedded myths are well chosen to reflect what is happening in the main(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Michael Townsend

Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunders: Welcome to the Wonderful World of Greek Mythology

This book contains nine mythological tales written in comic form. First there is a brief introduction of various creatures of Greek mythology, such as the Cyclops, centaurs, Satyrs, Nymphs, Pegasus but also made-for-laugh ones such as a fairy goat or Mer-Donkey. There is an emphasis on the natural world of ancient Greece, where there was no technology, and on monsters, heroes and gods. The Olympian gods are mentioned, with the exclusion of Hephaestus and Ares, although Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo(...)

literary

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Amphitrite the Bubbly (Goddess Girls, 17)

In this installment, we meet a new character, Amphitrite, a mermaid who is not a regular student at MOA academy. Amphitrite is a mermaid who dreams about living on land. In this combination of mythology and “the little mermaid”, Amphitrite does not forsake her marine home for life on land, but learns to combine both. The story alternates between her narrative and Poseidon’s, and the connecting theme is identity – who you really are. Amphitrite’s sister, Thetis,(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United States of America


Cath Senker

Ancient Greeks

Ancient Greeks is an educational, introduction to ancient Greek culture aimed at children aged 7+. This title is one of several titles in the Ladybird Histories series, including Kings and Queens, Tudor and Stuarts, Ancient Egyptians, The Vikings, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons. Each is written in a similarly serious tone. Through the combination of titles, the series presents the Ancient Greeks as an important non-British historical society. Ancient Greeks focuses on the Classical period, w(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Aphrodite the Fair (Goddess Girls, 15)

In this installment, Ares’ sister, Eris, goddess of discord, suddenly appears at his birthday party. The self-confident Ares, the envy of many other godboys, is in fact scared of his older sister who bullied him since childhood. When Eris crashes his surprise birthday party, Ares is terrified: “panic filled him. He had to get rid of his sister before she ruined everything for him here at MOA.” (p. 19). In a retelling of the judgement of Paris, Eris causes strife between the stu(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America


Nick Roberts, Stella Tarakson

Apollo's Mystic Message (Hopeless Heroes, 5)

This is book 5 in the Hopeless Heroes series. This is series of portal-fantasy adventures in which a timid boy travels to the world of ancient myth by means of a magic vase, and learns to be brave through adventures with classical heroes. At the end of the previous book, Tim Baker was told by his mother's boyfriend (and his school teacher), Larry Green, that there is a vase at the British Museum which depicts an image of a modern boy holding a vase. At first, Tim is reluctant to believe it i(...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Nick Roberts, Stella Tarakson

Arachne Golden Gloves (Hopeless Heroes, 3)

This is book 3 in the Hopeless Heroes series. This is a series of portal-fantasy adventures in which a timid boy travels to the world of ancient myth by means of a magic vase, and learns to be brave through adventures with classical heroes. Tim Baker, the school-child hero of the book is doing the housework since his mother is busy with her jobs. He catches a spider, and is very interested in it. Yet his mother is afraid of it. Tim decides not to kill the animal but rather set it free outside. H(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Artemis the Loyal (Goddess Girls, 7)

General summary for the series see under Athena the Brain.In this installment, fairness and accepting others are the main themes. Artemis is angered that she cannot participate in the Olympics, since girls are not allowed. She needs to overcome the prejudice against the participation of girls in sport, decided long ago by Zeus and thus break a very long tradition. She even needs to face her own brother who does not encourage her, as well as the rest of the godboys. We also get a different v(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United States of America


Emanuele Luzzati , Gianni Rodari

Atalanta. A Maiden in Greece of Gods and Heroes [Atalanta. Una fanciulla nella Grecia degli dei e degli eroi]

Atalanta. A Maiden in Greece of Gods and Heroes is an illustrated children’s novel in which Gianni Rodari recounts the myth of Atalanta by combining a respectful reading of the tradition with a rewriting imbued with his characteristic fervent imagination. The protagonist of this story is Atalanta, daughter of King Iasus of Arcadia, who is repudiated at birth and abandoned on a mountain by order of her father who desired a male heir to the throne. Little Atalanta is saved and suckled b(...)

literary

YEAR: 1982

COUNTRY: Italy


Steve Barlow, Steve Skidmore, Andrew Tunney

Athena (EDGE: I HERO: Legends, 5)

In this choose-your-own-path book, the reader is Athena. Athena is punished by the gods because she helped Odysseus evade Hera’s traps. Hera and Poseidon would like to avenge these acts by punishing Athena and stripping her of her divine powers. Athena now becomes a mortal and must face challenges before she can confront Zeus and plead for her innocence. On her way to Mt. Olympus, Athena encounters mysterious creatures and faces real danger. She is chased by the fierce hunter Orion and his(...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Athena the Proud (Goddess Girls, 13)

General summary for the series see under Athena the Brain.The students are traveling to King Minos’ new amusement park which includes a Labyrinth and a mechanical Minotaur. They also meet the King’s daughter Ariadne and the court’s inventor Daedalus. They are joined by Heracles’ cousin, Theseus. Athena, the heroine of this story, learns a valuable lesson about pride while Theseus learns how to be a hero.In the story we have two parallel stories; one about Athena and one a(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Athena the Wise (Goddess Girls, 5)

General summary for the series see underAthena the Brain.In this installment, Athena meets the new boy in school, especially admitted by the headmaster Zeus – the boy Heracles (the Greek pronunciation is kept). The wise Athena is confronted with the brawny Heracles and the two form a strong friendship in which Athena helps Heracles in his dangerous tasks while he encourages her with her own problems. Furthermore it appears that bullying is not a problem only on earth. In the book we have t(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United States of America


Johnny Capps , Julian Murphy, Howard Overman

Atlantis (Series)

Jason, a twenty-first-century young man in search of his lost father, travels in a submarine through an under-ocean portal and ends up on the shores of the ancient city of Atlantis ruled by King Minos. He befriends a yet unrecognized mathematical genius/geek Pythagoras and a prizefighter past his prime, Hercules. In this version of the Minotaur myth, victims for the monster are picked from among the inhabitants of the city in a lottery. Pythagoras draws a black stone, but his friends try to save(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Irrational Games

Bioshock: The Collection

First released in 2007, the Bioshock series is a collection of dystopian and utopian First-Person Shooter games set in the underwater city of Rapture and the sky city of Columbia. The first two games accompany “Jack”, a shipwrecked man who comes across the ruins of the city and explores its secrets left behind. Bioshock Infinite, on the other hand, is a prequel and explores the days before the city “Rapture” was created.Within the city of Rapture, each area is named after(...)

electronic

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: Worldwide


Amanda Brack, Monica Sweeney, Becky Thomas

Brick Greek Myths: The Stories of Heracles, Athena, Pandora, Poseidon and Other Ancient Heroes of Mount Olympus

This is a retelling of many mythological stories using the creative imagination of the authors, with Lego© bricks. The myths are specially adapted for children. The myths presented in this book are:Creation and the Birth of Zeus; Prometheus’s Fire and Pandora’s Box; Phaethon and the Chariot of the Sun; Hades, Persephone, and the Story of the Seasons; Eurydice and Orpheus; Athena and Poseidon’s Contest for Athens; Arachne’s Web; Perseus’s Quest; Perseus a(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America


Ewa Nowacka

Bull Apis Greets Cat Pusia [Byk Apis pozdrawia kotkę Pusię] (The Wings of Time [Skrzydła czasu], 1)

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.This is the first book in the series Skrzydła czasu [The Wings of Time]. Paweł, through an accident with a television game brought by his father, is transported with his cat Pusia to ancient Egypt. Confused and terrified, th(...)

literary

YEAR: 1998

COUNTRY: Poland


Geoffrey McSkimming

Cairo Jim and the Alabastron of Forgotten Gods (Cairo Jim, 4)

Cairo Jim is a young archaeologist who is already an established member of the fictional Old Relics Society at the commencement of the series. He is always seen wearing a pith helmet and his desert sun-spectacles. Cairo Jim and the Alabastron of Forgotten Gods is located in mid-to-late 20th-century Greece, moving from Athens to Delphi to Samothrace (Samothraki). It is a whimsical adventure in which the hero and his companions (a talking macaw named Doris and a telepathic wonder-camel named Brend(...)

literary

YEAR: 1996

COUNTRY: Australia


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Cassandra the Lucky (Goddess Girls, 12)

General summary for the series see under Athena the Brain.Cassandra is the daughter of Trojan royalty Priam and Hecuba. Along with her twin brother Helenus, she has the gift of foreseeing the future, and sells the fortunes as fortune cookies. Yet there is a problem with Cassandra’s prophecies: “Prophecies no one ever believed, unfortunately, despite their truth. Instead she was widely considered to be a liar [...]” (pp. 49–50). This was the result of a curse Apollo p(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United States of America


Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, 2)

Catching Fire begins six months after the events of The Hunger Games. Having survived the Games, Katniss, now seventeen, is living in luxury in the Victor’s Village with her mother and younger sister, Prim. The novel begins on the morning of the Victory Tour, with Katniss and Peeta about to visit the other eleven districts and the Capitol of their nation Panem to celebrate their win in the Games. Before they leave, President Snow visits Katniss at home and warns her that her actions in the(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United States of America


Nick Roberts, Stella Tarakson

Circe's Beastly Feast (Hopeless Heroes, 7)

This is book 7 in the "Hopeless Heroes" series. This is a series of portal-fantasy adventures in which a timid boy travels to the world of ancient myth by means of a magic vase, and learns to be brave through adventures with classical heroes. At the end of the previous book, Tim Baker went to ancient Greece perhaps for the final time (since his mother plans to sell the ancient vase) and to his horror, discovered that Hercules' family has no recollection of him at all. Furthermore, (...)

literary

YEAR: 2020

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Gerald Vinestock, G. William

Crib and the Labours of Hercules

Crib (short for Christabel) is a 10-year-old clever and tomboyish girl, who has gone with her parents to visit relatives in Greece. While she stays with her uncle and aunt and looks after their horses, she hears on the news that strange phenomena are occurring: all the fierce monsters whom the legendary Hercules had vanquished eons ago, have suddenly returned to life and are hurting the local people. The government is desperate for a new Hercules to save the day. Crib’s uncle, Jonathan, a (...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Andrei Valentinovich Shmal'ko

Diomedes, the Son of Tydeus. Book 1: I Won’t Return [Диомед, сын Тидея. Книга I: Я не вернусь (Diomed, syn Tideia. Kniga I: Ia ne vernus’)]

This is a heroic fantasy fiction based on the myth of Diomedes, aimed at young adults, in novel format. The plot of the novel is reframing and reinterpretation of the myths of Seven against Thebes and Epigones, as well as other events from the life of Diomedes before the Trojan War. Diomedes, the son of Tydeus the Unforgiven, was born in exile. His father owes his unfortunate nickname and his status of exile to kindred killing performed by him in the state of madness. Diomedes himself exper(...)

literary

YEAR: 2000

COUNTRY: Russia


Andrei Valentinovich Shmal'ko

Diomedes, the Son of Tydeus. Book 2: Someone Else Will Return [Диомед, сын Тидея. Книга II: Вернусь не я (Diomed, syn Tideia. Kniga II: Vernus’ ne ia)]

This is a heroic fantasy fiction based on the myth of Diomedes, aimed at young adults, in novel format. The plot of the novel is reframing and reinterpretation of Iliad and Odyssey. The second part of Valentinov’s novel on Diomedes is dedicated to the exploits of the hero during the Trojan War and subsequent events.Diomedes has enough knowledge and experience to understand that the beginning of war between the West and the East on Troad plain would be suicidal: if Trojans call for help fro(...)

literary

YEAR: 2001

COUNTRY: Russia


Imogen Greenberg , Isabel Greenberg

Discover… The Ancient Greeks

Discover...  began in 2016. It is part of a series offering a light-hearted introduction to a range of ancient cultures, including The Roman Empire, The Ancient Aztecs, and The Ancient Egyptians.Discover... The Ancient Greeks opens with the stated intention of exploring who the ancient Greeks really were. The book is divided into 2-page sub-sections, each discussing a different aspect of ancient Greek culture.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United States of America


​Bob Baker, ​Dave Martin , ​Anthony Read , Norman Stewart

Doctor Who (Series, Season 15): Underworld

‘Underworld’ was typical of mid-1970s Doctor Who (1963–1989; 2005–present), in what is still regarded as its most successful period. Scripts in the era of the Fourth Doctor (played by Tom Baker) – with his enormous, multi-coloured scarf, and the ability to switch between high comedy and serious drama – delved regularly into mythological, historical, and literary themes that were already well-known to the family audiences. These were often transposed from their(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1978

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Douglas Adams, ​Bob Baker, Nick Hurran , Peter Ling, David Maloney, ​Dave Martin , Kenny McBain, Steven Moffat, ​Anthony Read , Derrick Sherwin, Norman Stewart , ​Toby Whithouse

Doctor Who's Labyrinth Themed Episodes (Series, Seasons 6,15,17): The Mind Robber / Underworld / The Horns of Nimon / The God Complex

The myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur has been a fixture of the children’s TV sci-fi/drama series Doctor Who since the 1960s. The familiarity of school-aged children with this myth was doubly-ensured by the persistent emphasis on the Classics in British education (particularly in the middle-class context) well into the last decades of the 20th century. As well as featuring in ‘The Time Monster’ (1972) – starring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor – the theme (...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1968

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Joan Holub, Leslie Patricelli

Don't Get Lost, Odysseus!

In Don’t Get Lost, Odysseus, Odysseus is a pre-school-aged child living in the modern world. The first page introduces the character with a single word – his name, while the facing page introduces his main fascination, 'Adventure', which is illustrated by the entrance to a children's play area.Odysseus and his mother are approaching a mall; she wants to go to a shop, he wants to go home. Once they are in a shop, Odysseus' attention switches to wishing to go to an enti(...)

literary

COUNTRY: United States of America


Ingri and Edggar, Per Ola and Nils M. P. D’Aulaires

D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths

This is a revised edition of a 1962 book. The writing and illustrations appear to be the same as in the original. The book covers mainly the genealogy and myths related to the Olympian gods, adapted for children (Gaia “falls in love with Uranus”, Zeus “marries” mortals etc.). It is a very detailed book that covers a large and varied range of stories, relating to the gods and mortals. It gives a description of the different traits of the gods as well as individual myths ab(...)

literary

YEAR: 1962

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Echo the Copycat (Goddess Girls, 19)

In this installment, we meet Echo, the forest nymph (Oreiad nymph). We get a chance to be introduced to a different character from the usual goddesses from MOA. Echo loses her tree in a lightning-bolt accident, and blames Zeus by mistake. Her trip to MOA will teach her about friendship, copying and being true to one’s self. Echo finally finds out where she belongs and where she wants to be. Home is truly where your heart is.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United States of America


Jane Abbott

Elegy

Set in Kincasey, a small regional town in Victoria (Australia), this unusual novel, which starts with a prologue written as a newspaper article about a road tragedy, tackles the theme of reincarnation through the stories of a group of young people who all know each other. Some of them have known each other more than once. Using Ancient Greek myth as the base, but subverting it as well, the story is told from different points of view, swirling around the figures of Caitlin and Michael, who are th(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: Australia


Lilian Stoughton Hyde

Favorite Greek Myths

This is a collection of Greek myths for children, told in short and simple form without extensive embellishment for context or characterisation. The stories are based fairly closely on ancient literary sources. Black and white images depicting characters surrounded by artistic lines begin the chapters, but there are no illustrations in the main body of the text. The anthology ends with pronouncing and explanatory guides with further context on elements of the stories.Featured Stories:Prometheus,(...)

literary

YEAR: 1904

COUNTRY: United States of America


Robert (Bob) Blaisdell, John Green

Favorite Greek Myths: In Easy-to-Read Type

This short anthology of Greek myth is divided into six chapters, with mini sub-chapters within these. 1. Gods and Titans – The stories of Kronos and Ouranos and of Zeus’ war with the Titans.The Story of Prometheus: How Prometheus stole fire and Pandora opened the box. The Story of Persephone: The abduction of Persephone. 2. Hercules – How Hercules carried out labours to become immortal. 3. Heroes and Monsters – Divided into multiple hero stor(...)

literary

YEAR: 1995

COUNTRY: United States of America


Krystyna Kreyser

Following the Myths of Ancient Greece and Rome [Śladami mitów starożytnej Grecji i Rzymu]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue (accessed: June 16, 2021), Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., section by Barbara Krcha, pp. 150–152. The stories explain how Greek and Roman myths are reflected in the order of the world, natural phenomena, and in the calendar. The author discusses anc(...)

literary

YEAR: 1992

COUNTRY: Poland


Kate McMullan , Denis Zilber

Get to Work, Hercules! (Myth-O-Mania, 7)

This is the seventh book in the Myth-O-Mania series, which offer alternative versions of the Greek myths, narrated by Hades. Hades, who is a self-professed shy and serious god, promises to tell the whole truth about the Greek myth; he claims that his brother Zeus, is a myth-o-maniac (that is, a liar) and that he fabricated the myths and wrote his version so that he and his children will appear noble and praiseworthy. Hades’ versions offer the “true” story of the myths.In this b(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: United Kingdom United States of America


Kate McMullan , Denis Zilber

Go for the Gold, Atalanta! (Myth-O-Mania, 8)

This is the eights book in the Myth-O-Mania series, which offer alternative versions of the Greek myths, narrated by Hades. Hades, who is a self-professed shy and serious god, promises to tell the whole truth about the Greek myth; he claims that his brother Zeus, is a myth-o-maniac (that is, a liar) and that he fabricated the myths and wrote his version so that he and his children will appear noble and praiseworthy. Hades’ versions offer the “true” story of the myths.In this bo(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: United Kingdom United States of America


SIE Santa Monica Studio

God of War III

The story revolves around Kratos, a Spartan warrior, who sets on his quest to defeat the Olympian gods – in revenge for their actions against him in the previous installments. (see the God of War and God of War II entries for more info)The game opens with Kratos’s famous words that ended God of War II: “Zeus! Your son has returned. I bring the destruction of Olympus!” The warrior marches to Olympus atop Gaia, along with her fellow Titans saved with the power of the Fates,(...)

electronic

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United States of America


Charles Bataille, Sylvie Baussier

Greek Gods & Heroes: 40 Inspiring Icons [Dieux: 40 dieux et héros grecs]

This is a collection of profiles of Greek gods, heroes, antiheroes and monsters aimed at children. Each character occupies a double spread featuring the character’s picture labelled with some of their main attributes, as well as a short intro, family tree box and other boxes with further stories. These boxes have regular themed headings; for example, "Descendants", "Lovers" and "Conflict" are recurring ones. At the bottom of the profile is a summary line for t(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: France


Avner Katz, Rakefet Zohar

Greek Mythology for Kids [(Mitologya Yevanit l’yeladim) מיתולוגיה יוונית לילדים]

This book is an illustrated collected edition of former individual four books previously published separately: Great Stories from the Olympus (1999); Pandora’s Box (1996); Hercules and Other Heroes (1997) and Famous Lovers (1998). The book offers various stories from the Greek mythology about gods and heroes in an accessible language for children. The stories included in this volume are:Great Stories from the OlympusWhen the World Was CreatedThe Love Goddesses' ShellThe Revenge of the (...)

literary

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: Israel


Brandon Terrell

Greek Mythology's Twelve Labors of Hercules: A Choose Your Path Book

This is a “choose your own path” book, in which the reader takes on the role of the hero and makes decisions and choices of action and plot development at each stage to create an interactive adventure, following instructions within the book in order to proceed. Within the framework of the story, the reader/hero of the book – referred to in the second person as “you” – while attempting to avoid a bully in the school library, hears strange noises coming from a b(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United States of America


Nikola Kucharska

Greek Myths for Children in Pictures [Mity greckie dla dzieci w obrazkach]

The book presents seven most popular Greek myths in a comic book style, using illustrations with almost no words. Every myth has its own two pages and can be viewed on vertically or horizontally displayed page. The myths in the book are presented chronologically, after a short summary of all seven myths at the beginning, the reader enters the world of unknown or misunderstood mythology. The first myth shows the creation of the world. The comic book style presentation leads the viewer from illust(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: Poland


Heather Amery, Linda Edwards

Greek Myths for Young Children

This is a highly illustrated volume of myths retold for children. Contents:About the Greek MythsThe Gift of FirePandora's BoxPersephone and the SeasonsThe Story of ArachneThe Many Tasks of Heracles (Intro, plus 12 Labours)Echo and NarcissusDaedalus and IcarusBellerophon and the Flying HorseJason and the Golden Fleece (Intro, Argo Sets Sail, The Harpies, The Clashing Rocks, Fire-Breathing Bulls and Dragon's Teeth, The Golden Fleece).King MidasThe Adventures of Perseus (Intro, Medusa,(...)

literary

YEAR: 2000

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Frank C. Papé, Francis Storr

Half a Hundred Hero Tales of Ulysses and the Men of Old

This is a collection of fifty Greek myths for children written by a number of different authors and including ten retellings from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Wonder Book and Tanglewood Tales. Seventeen stories deal with the Trojan War and its aftermath. Most retellings stay fairly close to ancient literary versions, although a few are more innovative. Black and white illustrations depict key scenes.Featured Stories:Pluto and Proserpine (by H.P. Maskell),Pan and Syrinx (by Mrs Guy E. Ll(...)

literary

YEAR: 1911

COUNTRY: United States of America


Tony Ross , Francesca Simon

Helping Hercules

Helping Hercules tells the story of a young girl named Susan who does not want to help or do chores at home. She finds a magic coin that takes her back to Ancient Greece where she becomes entangled in scenarios from Greek mythology – she has to help Hercules clean out Augean stables, help Orpheus get Eurydice back from Hades, help Paris choose between the goddesses, help Bellerophon capture Pegasus to find the chimera, fight Medusa, deal with Midas, and help Hercules get the apples from th(...)

literary

YEAR: 1999

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


George O'Connor

Hera. The Goddess and her Glory (Olympians, 3)

Hera begins with a recap of the triumph of Zeus and the other Olympians over Kronos (from Zeus. King of the Gods). New aspects of the battle are shown, including Hera's participation in the fighting and her ability to command Zeus haughtily to assist her when she does not wish to put her full effort in ("Honestly, I almost broke a nail", she complains). Aspects of Zeus' seduction of Hera, seen in Athena. Grey-Eyed Goddess, are shown with Hera's perspective now supplementing(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United States of America


Nick Roberts, Stella Tarakson

Hera’s Terrible Trap! (Hopeless Heroes, 2)

This is book 2 in the Hopeless Heroes series. This is series of portal-fantasy adventures in which a timid boy travels to the world of ancient myth by means of a magic vase, and learns to be brave through adventures with classical heroes. In the first book of the series, Tim Baker, our hero, discovered the mythological Hercules was trapped in an old vase Tim had at home. He also discovered that it was Hera, who locked Hercules there since she was jealous of his beautiful mother. In this book, Ti(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Ron (Ronald) Clements, Alan Menken, John Musker, David Zippel

Hercules

Hercules tells the story of a young, incredibly strong man who learns that Zeus is his father. To get back to Olympus, he has to prove himself by finding out what it means to be a true hero, eventually by defeating Hades, the main villain of the story, who is bent on taking over the world. Although it is based on the Greek myth, it promotes mainly typically American, rather than ancient, values.(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America


Bernard Evslin

Hercules

This is a retelling of the myth of Hercules, aimed at young adults in novel format. The book starts with a list of characters of humans/ non humans and a short explanation of each.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1984

COUNTRY: United States of America


Geraldine McCaughrean

Hercules

The book narrates the life of Hercules, from his early youth to his tragic death and following deification (or rather becoming a constellation). Due to the subject matter and the mentions of murder and tragic deaths the book is more suitable for older children. (...)

literary

YEAR: 2003

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Robert Burleigh , Raul Colón

Hercules

This is a picture book retelling of the myth of Hercules’ descent into Hades and capture of Cerberus, aimed at children. The book starts with a list of characters, both humans and non-humans, and a short explanation of each. The book concentrates on the last and most dangerous labor of Hercules, namely his descent into Hades and abduction of Cerberus, but the author uses the opportunity to retell the rest of Hercules’ labours for his young readers as well. The overall framework (...)

literary

YEAR: 1999

COUNTRY: United States of America


Shannon Eric Denton

Hercules

This is a retelling of the myth of Hercules’ 12 labours, aimed at children learning to read. The book is one of six books that form Short Tales Greek Myths series, which is aimed for children reading. The series is described in the editor’s website as “easy-to-read books to children in the hopes that they will acquire a love of reading that will last a lifetime”. So, the main purpose of the book is the educational one: to help small children in learning to read. This(...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United States of America


John Bankston

Hercules

This book is part of a series of eight on different Greek deities. It tells the story of Hercules, half-man, half-god who with his god-given strength was able to overcome great obstacles. However, he was not able to overcome the greatest internal obstacle of his own anger. Starting with the episode of Hercules’ cattle being stolen, Bankston launches into a discussion of myth and the place of the myth of Hercules in the ancient world. Each chapter contains selections of the myths with other(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United States of America


Diana Noonan , Margaret Power

Hercules

Nine-year old Sam lives with his parents in a small seaside community. His mother is expecting a baby boy, and there is much talk in the house about what to name him. Sam suggests Hercules as a name, explaining “He’s a character from Greek mythology.Our teacher’s reading us a book about him. He was clever and strong and he could take care of himself in all sorts of situations.” His parents are not interested, but Sam thinks “I thought Hercules was a good name for so(...)

literary

YEAR: 1996

COUNTRY: New Zealand


Steve Barlow, Steve Skidmore, Andrew Tunney

Hercules (EDGE: I HERO: Legends, 3)

In this choose-your-own-path book, the reader is Hercules. Hercules joins the voyage of the Argo and needs to help Jason to make decision and later find his lost friend, Hylas, while facing various adventures and overcoming obstacles.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Anika Fajardo, Nadine Takvorian

Hercules and His 12 Labors: An Interactive Mythological Adventure

This book is a "choose your own adventure" book, inviting the reader to relive the twelve labors of Hercules from a first person perspective, written in the second person, of the persona of the demi-god Hercules. There are three story paths, including a total of thirty junctions at which choices can be made for the reader’s preference. The eighteen optional endings give the reader the possibility to take ownership of the Hercules story and really feel the action themselves. For e(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United States of America


Craig Phillips, Tracey West

Hercules and the Nine-Headed Hydra (Heroes in Training, 16)

This is the sixteenth book in the Heroes in Training series. In this installment, after vanquishing Cronus and his army of Titans and Cronies, Zeus and his fellow Olympians begin to rule Greece.Zeus discovers that being the ruler is not as glamorous as he thought. He mostly sits in his palace (together with Hera, Athena and Hermes), listening to the villagers’ complaints and judging local disputes. He misses the adventures he used to have in the past and complains that he has the most bori(...)

literary

YEAR: 2019

COUNTRY: United States of America


Josef Hill, Elena Paige

Hercules Finds His Courage (Taki and Toula Time Travelers, 1)

In the first installment of this time-traveling series, two modern day Greek children from Crete, Toula (8 years old girl) and Taki (6 years old boy) find strange traditional Greek shoes called tsarouhia in their mother’s chest. They find out that wearing these shoes enable them to time-travel to ancient Greece. In this book, they arrive to find a frightened man hiding from a large bull. The children help him by calming the bull with some food. The man reveals to them that he is Hercules a(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: Australia


Connie Collins Morgan, Herb Leonhard

Hercules on the Bayou

This book takes the Hercules mythos and places it in Louisiana, merging Cajun and Greek myth. Hercules becomes a Louisiana native, engaging in activities close to the heart of the stereotypical Louisianan lifestyle. The book forms an aetiology for many well-known Louisianan customs. Four short adventures structure the narrative. Each labor gives a basis for Cajun practices today. Instead of focusing on the twelve labours of Hercules that make up the myth in the Classical tradition, Collins (...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United States of America


Gary Margrove

Hercules Son of God (Deceit of the Gods, 5)

This book is written as the fourth in a series of five as an exposition of the deadly threats facing our planet in the face of the Anunnaki (“relatives of Anu, ruler of the planet Nibiru”) and their attempts to take over the Earth. The author asserts that he has written this book as a service to the public, educating all as to the apocalyptic dangers that lie ahead. The writing, using second person narrative addressed to the reader, is peppered with URLs to extra reading material, bo(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Worldwide


Tony Bradman , Steve May

Hercules the Hero

In five illustrated chapters, Bradman tells the story of Hercules the Hero. In Chapter One, Trouble with a goddess, we learn of Hercules’ unusual powers and Hera’s enmity towards him. In Chapter Two, Some interesting little jobs, Hercules tackles the Nemean Lion and the Hydra. In Chapter Three, A few busy weeks, Hercules captures the Deer with the Golden Horns and the Brutal Board and cleanses the Augean stables. He shoots down the Bronze Birds of Stymphalos, wrestles with the Great (...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Laura Geringer Bass, Peter Bollinger

Hercules the Strong Man (Myth Men: Guardians of the Legend, 1)

This is a picture book (mostly one big picture per page) with selected episodes from Hercules' labours. There is no background for Hercules' life; the story simply starts with the labours.The pictures are very colourful, and there are also a few black and white illustrations. The main story told is the search for the golden apples. However, Hercules needs to capture a strange entity first, referred to as "the Old One". Then Hercules encounters Atlas. Atlas is drawn as a (...)

literary

YEAR: 1996

COUNTRY: United States of America


Michael Souza, Jeremy Tugeau

Hercules: A Greek Myth

The book is an ELT (English language teaching) resource from a Korean company. On the company website, it is stated that: “e-future Classic Readers is a collection of classic stories carefully retold for English language learners. Each story has been specially written to preserve the voice of the original author while still keeping the stories accessible through controlled grammar and vocabulary leveling.” (see here, accessed: August 14, 2019). The book is accompanied by a downloadab(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: Republic of Korea


Bob Dewar, Matthew Fitt

Hercules: Bampots and Heroes

Hercules: Bambots and Heroes is a comedic account of the twelve labours of Hercules by Matthew Fitt written in Scots, one of the two indigenous languages to Scotland recognised by the UN. While Scottish Gaelic developed in the highlands, Scots originated in the lowlands of Scotland. Although Scots is still commonly used throughout the lowlands it is often blended with English by native speakers. The book itself is a product of Itchy Coo, an imprint of Black & White publishing founded in 2002(...)

literary

YEAR: 2005

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Józef Ciembroniewicz

Hercules: Fights Between the Olympian Gods. A Story for Young People [Herkules: walki olimpijskich bogów. Opowieść dla młodzieży]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.This is an adaptation of Hercules’ myth covering the most important related stories. Among them are Hera’s dislike of Hercules and the story explaining why the Twelve Labours were imposed on the hero. In the first sto(...)

literary

YEAR: 1919

COUNTRY: Poland


Bob Layton

Hercules: Full Circle

Hercules is still roaming the universe in the 24th century alone and quite distressed, looking for galactic adventures. He now has a son, Arimathes, who is the king of the Andromeda galaxy. In this story, Hercules is confronted and united with the son he never knew he had. His former love, Lyana, whom he met in the "Prince of Power" series, is now back, bent on vengeance for his abandonment of her. She is a cunning and manipulative woman who wishes to turn the son against the fa(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: United States of America


Lee Smyth

Hercules: Gods Versus Titans (Warriors, 3)

This is a reimagined tale of Greek mythology. The story follows the Greek Tydeus (Ty) and his grandfather, the blind poet Homer of Athens, as they accompany Hercules on his adventures. The story is narrated through their respective points of view, as a series of first person narrations. The trio meets when Hercules helps Homer during an earthquake in an unknown city. Then suddenly the (imaginary) king Naxos arrives. He blames Hercules for the devastation caused by the earthquake and proclaims th(...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United States of America


Bob Layton

Hercules: Prince of Power

Hercules is the hero in a galactic setting; he has a family now which he needs to protect against all kinds of evils. Regarding the backstory, Hercules returns to Olympus and starts acting rowdily, as a result of which Zeus exiles him to the vast universe to learn some humility. He knew that he would be considered a god on earth and therefore sent him to roam the vast outer space. Hercules then begins his galactic adventures, even racing against a spaceship with his chariot. He changes his attir(...)

literary

YEAR: 1982

COUNTRY: United States of America


Georges Moroz

Hercules: The Complete Myths of a Legendary Hero

The book narrates the life of Hercules from his birth, his madness, the twelve labours, his war campaigns (the war against Troy, for example) and finally his death and apotheosis. The book is in novel form.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America


Jeff Albrecht, Gary Kwapisz, John Whitman

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Hera continually finds way to combat Hercules, and he is forced to confront different challenges and enemies thrown his way. The book has three “scrolls” (chapters) that tell of different encounters. Each story is the novelization of a made-for-TV movie or movie-length episodes from the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The first scroll is Hercules and the Amazon Women in which Hercules saves the men of a village from “creatures” that are actually women from the(...)

literary

YEAR: 1998

COUNTRY: United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S00 – Season Zero)

Title of the Works: Hercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules and the Amazon WomenHercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules and the Lost KingdomHercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules and the Circle of FireHercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules in the UnderworldHercules: the Legendary Journeys – Hercules in the Maze of the MinotaurThe Hercules: The Legendary Journeys franchise, starring Kevin Sorbo in the titular role, is b(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1994

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S00E01): Hercules and the Amazon Women

The narrative of Hercules and the Amazon Women is loosely based on Hercules’ labour to get the belt of the Amazon Queen Hippolyta. The film opens with Hercules and his companion Iolaus walking through the woods where they encounter a young girl who then transforms into the Hydra. In adherence with general mythological tradition, the pair defeat the beast by using fire to burn the stumps of the monster’s head(s), preventing new ones from sprouting. Once the Hydra is slain, a peac(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1994

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S00E02): Hercules and the Lost Kingdom

This film’s narrative finds little direct precedent within ancient mythology but draws upon several identifiable themes/tropes for inspiration. After successfully saving a village from a giant, Hercules is approached by a messenger who asks for the hero’s help: his people have been forced out of their home-town, the “lost kingdom” of Troy. Zeus reveals that Hera caused the disappearance of Troy and, in order to find it, Hercules requires the “true compass”. &n(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1994

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S00E03): Hercules and the Circle of Fire

This film takes inspiration from several mythological themes, such as Prometheus providing fire for mankind and the wounding of Chiron (with Hydra blood) by Hercules, and combines these into a largely unique narrative. The film opens with Hercules, plagued with premonitions that the world will be covered in ice, on a quest to defeat a witch who has (apparently) been sapping the life force of the local men. Hercules follows a young man into the witch’s cave but becomes suspicious that (...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1994

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S00E04): Hercules in the Underworld

This narrative is based loosely on a combination of several known mythological tales: the rape of Deianeira by Nessus, the labour of Hercules capturing Cerberus in the underworld, the death of Hercules and Orpheus’ catabasis. The film begins in an undisclosed village where the ground opens up to create an eerie fissure from out of which a strange green light and mist emerge, destroying all who come into contact with it. Meanwhile, in Hercules’ own village, the hero is forced out of &(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1994

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S00E05): Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur

This final pilot-movie is essentially a collection of clips from the previous four films loosely grouped together by an overarching narrative which appropriates the figure of the Minotaur into the adventures of Hercules. Hercules has now retired from “heroism” and is focused on settling down with his family for an ordinary life. Upon witnessing his sons fighting, Hercules explains that fighting should only be done to help other people, telling them the story of Eryx the boxer (from H(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1994

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S02E01–24)

The second season of Hercules: the Legendary Journeys utilizes the same basic structure as the first season (see relevant entry) but builds upon the momentum of the franchises’ popularity to expand the number of episodes to almost double that of the first season (13 and 22, respectively). Each episode is self-contained and depicts Hercules and his companion, Iolaus, embarking upon a quest to defeat a villain/bad-guy and/or to resolve an issue of injustice that plagues a town/village. (...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1995

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S03E01–22)

Season three of HTLJ, consisting of twenty-two episodes, maintains the successful format of the prior two seasons: a series of self-contained narrative episodes that derive inspiration from tropes associated with both the ancient world and fantasy genres. Examples of the former include episode 2 (Doomsday) in which Hercules assists the inventor Daedalus with his grief over the death of his son Icarus (who famously died when the pair tried to escape Crete – see, e.g., Ovid Met. 8); epi(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1996

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S04E01–22)

Season four of HTLJ, consisting of twenty-two episodes, does little to change the successful format of the serial established by the prior seasons: i.e., the season’s arc presents a series of self-contained narrative episodes that derive inspiration from tropes associated with both the ancient world and fantasy genres. Indeed, certain episodes in this season tread over familiar narrative territory: for example, episode 11 (Medea culpa) includes another example of a dragon slaying quest (he(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S05E01–22)

The fifth and penultimate season of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys maintains the same structure as the earlier seasons with 22 stand-alone episodes depicting Hercules’ battle against ‘evil’ (in all of its various guises) and, in his role as champion of the people, his righting of the wrongs performed against the innocent. Certain tropes established in seasons three and four are now cemented as recurrent features: in particular, the modern, metatheatrical take on the clip(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1998

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Christian Williams

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Series, S06E01–08)

This final, sixth, season of HTLJ has a much shorter run than any prior season with only 8 episodes. With the ancient evil Dahak having been defeated at the end of season 5, these final episodes focused on returning to the original formula of the show (see below and analysis) in order to wrap up the narrative arc of the serial (this is hinted at by the title of the final episode: Full circle). Promotional material for the show referred to this season as "the last Legendary Journey&rdqu(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1999

COUNTRY: New Zealand United States of America


Mark Hess, Kathryn Lasky

Hercules: The Man, the Myth, the Hero

This of Hercules begins with his birth as "Palaemon" and Hera's initial attempt on his life by sending the two serpents to his cradle. After accidentally killing his teacher, Palaemon's mother sends him away. Although he thinks of himself as a monster, Palaemon goes on to make quite a name for himself as a strong warrior, not a monster, and was very happy until Hera tricks him into killing his family. This is when he becomes "Hercules", Hera's glory, and is sent t(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America


Steve Kurth , Barbara Schulz, Paul D. Storrie

Hercules: The Twelve Labors

This is a graphic novel retelling of the myth of Hercules from his youth to after the labours. It includes glossary, index and further reading. There are only 4 panels devoted to Hercules’ youth and then we are told that as a grown man Hercules was told by the oracle of Delphi (which was manipulated by Hera) to serve King Eurystheus. Unsurprisingly, there is no mention of the murders he committed, this being a children’s story. All the 12 labours are then portrayed and we also meet p(...)

literary

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: United States of America


Linda Cavallini, Alex Frith

Hercules: The World's Strongest Man

This book is a retelling of the story of Hercules aimed to encourage reading; the story was developed at the University of Roehampton with the consultation of Alison Kelly, Senior Lecturer. The story follows Hercules after he has killed his family and is performing his 12 labours until the gods forgive him. At the end, the story of how Hera tried to kill Hercules as an infant and how he joined the Argonauts is briefly summarized.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Bob Layton, Ronald Ron Lim

Hercules: Twilight of a God

In these 4 volumes of the comic book series, Hercules has been the champion of the Andromeda galaxy for over 75 years, together with his son and grandchildren. It is a part of the larger Marvel universe. The mythical hero is again placed in a sci-fi environment. It continues his adventures from the Prince of Power series and there are recurring characters. It seems that his comic book version is a kind of stereotypical cliché of the strong man without too many brains. In this retelling he(...)

literary

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United States of America


Ryan Madison

Hercules’ First Six Tasks: Short Stories Teens to Young Adult

In this installment we have a part of Hercules’ adventures mixed with other historical figures such as Alexander the Great. There is no decisive chronological development for the narrative. Hercules receives different tasks from Zeus and on the way he meets all kind of people, such as the mysterious King Phillip, the king of his home-land; he also meets Helen and Alexander, and Oedipus’ family.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Australia


Nick Roberts, Stella Tarakson

Here Comes Hercules! (Hopeless Heroes, 1)

This is book 1 in the Hopeless Heroes series. This is series of portal-fantasy adventures in which a timid boy travels to the world of ancient myth by means of a magic vase, and learns to be brave through adventures with classical heroes. In this book we meet our protagonist, Tim Baker. We are initially informed that Tim’s mother works long hours to provide for her family, so he needs to help with the housework. While cleaning, Tim accidentally breaks a large Greek vase, decorated with a s(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Tom Kindley

Heroes of the Night Sky. The Greek Myths Behind the Constellations

This is a collection of myths told for teenagers, with emphasis on stylised illustration, constellation name aetiologies, and some moral lessons. The myths included are:Ursa Major (The Great Bear)PegasusAndromedaHerculesLyre (The Lyre)Corona Borealis (Northern Crown)Orion and ScorpiusCorvus (The Crow)Centaurus (The Centaur)Ophiucus (The Serpent Bearer)(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


David Sorrow, Michael Sorrow

Heroic Hercules and the Baby Dragon (Learning in Motion Adventures, 1)

This picture book presents the story of a child, Hercules, who helps a baby dragon to return to his home. The book is aimed to make children move (jump, roll, etc.) as required by the story, hence it is a kind of interactive reading. The book opens by depicting Hercules leaning against a classical pillar and declaring, “I’m heroic Hercules. I save people. Whenever there is danger in town I’m called upon to help”. The danger in this case turns out to be a baby dragon who i(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: Online


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Hestia the Invisible (Goddess Girls, 18)

In this installment, we meet Hestia, the goddess girl of the hearth. Hestia is extremely shy and tries to avoid speaking in class, for example. She even added hoods to her chitons so she can hide her face, calling this “her invisibility strategy” (p. 23). Hestia is extremely private. At school, “keeping her hooded head down and avoiding eye contact with anyone, she managed to ward off conversation.” (p. 29). The humans on earth have a contest to find an “MOA st(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United States of America


Julia Bereciartu, Vita Murrow

High-Five to the Hero

High-Five to the Hero was written after the success of Murrow’s first published collection of subverted fairy tales, Power to the Princess, in which she addresses gendered stereotypes of femininity for young girls. Likewise, this book is collection of retold myths, fairy tales and folklore that subvert traditional representations of gender and sex, but here she disrupts traditional representations of masculinity. Murrow writes well known male literary characters, traditional champions of c(...)

literary

YEAR: 2019

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


DinoBibi Publishing

History for Kids: Greek Mythology

The book offers a broad and general introduction to Greek mythology. It consists of an introduction, conclusion and six chapters. The following themes are covered: Chapter 1: Who were the Greeks: some information regarding ancient Greece and its culture (e.g., philosophy, maths, drama); it also covers the beginning of mythology. Chapter 2: an abridged creation myth, an introduction of several Titans: Gaia, Nyx, Erebus, Tartarus, Eros, the role of Cronus and the creation of humankind. Chapter 3: (...)

literary

YEAR: 2019

COUNTRY: United States of America


Ian Trevaskis

Hopscotch. Medusa Stone (Hopscotch, 1)

Hopscotch: Medusa Stone is the story of Australian teens, Jake and Hannah, who travel from a sleepy seaside town, “Pelican Bay,” to the world of Ancient Greek mythology, when they play a game of hopscotch, using directions from a mysterious parchment, and a magical stone (the "Medusa Stone" of the title). They find themselves in the power of a games-maker, Costas the Giant, who commands them to retrieve items from the Ancient Greek heroes – Odysseus, Perseus, and Herc(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: Australia


Edmund Niziurski, Zbigniew Łoskot

How to Get Alcibiades [Sposób na Alcybiadesa]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.A group of schoolmates looked for a method of passing exams effortlessly. After many attempts, they succeeded in convincing an older boy (nick-named Shakespeare) to sell them a mysterious method that allows deceiving teachers. Th(...)

literary

YEAR: 1964

COUNTRY: Poland


Simona Bursi, Linda Cavallini, Susanna Davidson, Alex Frith , Anne Millard, Matteo Pincelli, Russell Punter, Lesley Sims , Louie Stowell

Illustrated Stories From the Greek Myths

Illustrated Stories From the Greek Myths is a highly illustrated collection of short stories for children or young teens.Contents:The Wooden Horse: Russell Punter (Author) and Matteo Pincelli (Illustrator),The Minotaur: Russell Punter (Author) and Linda Cavallini (Illustrator),Bellerophon and Pegasus: Susanna Davidson (Author) and Simona Bursi (Illustrator),The Twelve Tasks of Heracles: Alex Frith (Author) and Matteo Pincelli (Illustrator),Perseus and the Gorgon: Lesley Sims (Author) a(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Blair Drawson, Sheldon Oberman

Island of the Minotaur. Greek Myths of Ancient Crete

This is an interesting take on the myth of the Minotaur which places it within a wide context by telling a selection of myths that build up to the Minotaur's demise. This creates a multi-generational story which arcs from the days of Cronos until Phaedra's departure from Crete as the last queen of Knossos. The myths of Medea and Ariadne are told in contrast to each other. The work begins and ends with historicising interpretations of the myths, relating the myths' connections to Mino(...)

literary

YEAR: 2003

COUNTRY: Canada United Kingdom


Ewa Nowacka

I’d Like a Ticket to the Babel Tower [Proszę bilet na wieżę Babel] (The Wings of Time [Skrzydła czasu], 2)

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., section by Sebastian Mirecki and Barbara Krcha, pp. 236 and 239. This is the second book in the series Skrzydła czasu [The Wings of Time]. Three children: Paweł, his brother Janek, and their sister Małgorzata, are travelli(...)

literary

YEAR: 1998

COUNTRY: Poland


Deirdre Barry, Richard Morss

I’m a Monster (Series, 52 Episodes)

2D animation series for children of pre-school age (4-8 years), about monsters from various parts of the world. In each episode of the series (duration: 2 minutes) we meet another character who presents himself to the audience (with the voice of an actor) and tells some fun facts about himself.* Most of presented characters are well-known – they come from mythology of different cultures, from literature, movies etc. The material is rich, colorful and original. In twelve episodes of th(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: Ireland


Nick Willing

Jason and the Argonauts

Zeus and Hera, looking like a young and handsome couple, peer down at mortals from heaven among the clouds. They are observing Jason’s life from the murder of his father Aeëtes by his uncle Pelias, through his childhood years spent in anonymity away from his home, his return to the King’s court, the forced expedition to seek the Golden Fleece for his uncle, his visit to and escape from the Amazons, the finding of the seer, the arrival in Colchis, Medea’s help in getting th(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 2000

COUNTRY: United States of America


Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Jason and the Argonauts [Ο Ιάσονας και η Αργοναυτική Εκστρατεία (O Iásonas kai ī Argonaftikī́ Ekstrateía)]

Mandilaras’ narrative starts with Jason’s childhood on Mount Pelion and ends with the hero’s adventures in Colchis. Aeson, Jason’s father, entrusted the child Jason to the centaur Chiron. When he turned twenty Jason headed for Iolcus to dethrone Pelias, his uncle. At a river crossing, Jason assisted an elderly woman, who was the goddess Hera in disguise. Jason lost one sandal in the river. King Pelias was terrified when he saw Jason. He remembered an oracle that he w(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece


Robert Byrd

Jason and the Argonauts: The First Great Quest in Greek Mythology

A lavishly produced illustrated retelling of the Jason myth, including explanatory material in boxes and footnotes. Jason and the Argonauts: The First Great Quest in Greek Mythology retells the myth in some detail, on pages packed with text and illustrations. Summarising this book requires an entry of some length.After handsome endpapers, which show a map of the Mediterranean, and trace Jason’s journey, the first section, The Golden Fleece (pp. 1–2) opens by setting up the back-story(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United States of America


Nick Roberts, Stella Tarakson

Jason's Wild Winds (Hopeless Heroes, 6)

This is book 6 in the "Hopeless Heroes" series. This is a series of portal-fantasy adventures in which a timid boy travels to the world of ancient myth by means of a magic vase, and learns to be brave through adventures with classical heroes. At the end of the previous book, Tim Baker was prepared to sacrifice himself so that the evil Hera would not harm his friends. For this deed he was named a hero by Athena who helped him return to his home.In this story we find Tim puzzled over a s(...)

literary

YEAR: 2019

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Halina Rudnicka

King Agis [Król Agis] (Spartan Trilogy [Trylogia spartańska/Trylogia antyczna], 1)

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue (accessed: June 11, 2021), Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., section by Helena Płotek, Joanna Grzeszczuk and Michał Kucharski, pp. 311–323.King Agis is the first book of Halina Rudnicka’a Spartan Trilogy. 3rd century B.C., Sparta. Young Agis succeeds(...)

literary

YEAR: 1963

COUNTRY: Poland


Aleksander Wojciech Mikołajczak

Legendary Rome [Rzym legendarny]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., section by Magdalena Łokieć, pp. 204–206. In the oldest Roman legends, long before the city of Rome was founded, Hercules had adventures in the land on the Tiber. Evander, the lord of that land, took care of Aeneas w(...)

literary

YEAR: 2002

COUNTRY: Poland


Nicolas Duffaut, Hélène Montardre

Little Stories from Mythology [Petites histoires de la mythologie] (Series)

Five of the volumes of the series tell stories connected to Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey: The Beautiful Helen, Achilles the Warrior, In the Belly of the Trojan Horse, Odysseus and the Cyclops, The Monsters of the Odyssey; five describe Olympian gods: Zeus, King of the Gods, The Abduction of Persephone, Hephaistos and the Love of Aphrodite, Apollo, the Dolphin God*, and Hermes, the God of a Thousand Gifts; eight volumes feature demi-gods, heroes and their stories: Prometheus, th(...)

literary

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: France


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Medea the Enchantress (Goddess Girls, 23)

In this installment, we meet the twelve year-old Medea, princess of Colchis. Medea’s father is very strict: “he wouldn’t let her hang out with kids he didn’t approve of.” (p. 11). While the king appears severe and controlling, he means well and just wishes to protect his only child. In this way, the authors try to explain to their readers why some parents appear stricter, namely not because they do not love their children, but quite the opposite. Nevertheless, Medea(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United States of America


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Medusa the Mean (Goddess Girls, 8)

General summary for the series see under Athena the Brain.In this installment, Medusa, the mean girl of previous volumes, is the unlikely heroine. As the only mortal in school, she feels insecure and is desperate to fit in, and we are shown that, despite her spiteful behaviour, she has feelings too. Medusa hates her mortality and wishes to be like the other immortal students “How she longed to be like them!” (p. 7). All she really wants to is to truly feel like she fits in, as A(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: United States of America


Wiktor Gomulicki , Konstanty Gorski (Górski)

Memories of the Blue School Uniform [Wspomnienia niebieskiego mundurka]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.Pułtusk, a small Polish town, not far from Warsaw (part of the Polish territory under Russian rule), 1859–1864. The plot is based on autobiographical facts from the author’s school years. The main character – Wi(...)

literary

YEAR: 1905

COUNTRY: Poland


Anita Ganeri , David West

Monster Fight Club: Heroes of Myths and Legends

Monster Fight Club is a series of books written in collaboration by Anita Ganeri and David West. In this series, heroes, monsters, mythical beasts, legendary figures from around the world are pitted against one another, much as in a Dungeons and Dragons battle, or computer game. Readers are presented with some context, some facts and some figures about each pair of contestants, before they enter the ring for combat. A double-page narrative, with images of the fighting figures, sums up how the fi(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: United States of America


Kevin O’Malley

Mount Olympus Basketball

Mount Olympus Basketball presents a basketball game between two teams: the Gods (Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Hades) and the Mortals (Hercules, Achilles, Jason, Theseus, Odysseus). Narrated by two sports announcers, Fred and Chet, the game shows the gods and mortals tricking and outwitting one another. The book is full of puns and allusions to the myths. Jason is supported by a troupe of cheerleaders, the "Dancing Argonauts" (p. 4). Zeus fouls Hercules while persuading the referee, Eu(...)

literary

YEAR: 2003

COUNTRY: United States of America


Małgorzata Musierowicz

Mrs. Darling’s Kisses [Całuski pani Darling]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.The book presents a variety of recipes weaved into various stories about characters known from classic children’s books (Polish and from other parts of the world), Greek and Roman mythology and history. It is designed for a(...)

literary

YEAR: 1995

COUNTRY: Poland


Nick Harris, Nicki Palin, David Wyatt

Mythology Code Writing Kit (Ology Stationary Kit)

This is an attractive set. The purpose is for the players to create their own secret messages using the different codes. On the inside cover there is a note from John, who hopes that whoever finds this kit writes down their own adventures, and not succumb to greed as he did. The players are encouraged to use various forms of expressions for their secret messages. For example, the use of vase painting to convey ideas (there are stickers of such vases), or writing their names in the Greek alphabet(...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Natan Glücksberg

Mythology [Mitologia]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.One of the oldest books in Polish about mythology designed specifically for children. It is part of Biblioteczka dla dobrych dzieci [A Library for Good Children] — a series of small format books (7,3 x 5,2 cm) presenting ba(...)

literary

YEAR: 1824

COUNTRY: Congress Poland


Jan Parandowski

Mythology. Beliefs and Legends of the Greeks and Romans [Mitologia. Wierzenia i podania Greków i Rzymian]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.Description of the most important Greek and Roman myths. This is a significant, or even the most important book responsible for increasing basic awareness of ancient culture in Poland for a number of reasons. First, the author op(...)

literary

YEAR: 1924

COUNTRY: Poland


Wojciech Rzehak, Jacek Siudak

Mythology. Beliefs of the Greeks and Romans [Mitologia. Wierzenia Greków i Rzymian]

A previous version of the entry was published in: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.The mythology includes myths of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The book is formally divided into two parts: 1) Greek myths and 2) Roman myths; however, the first part is much larger and div(...)

literary

YEAR: 2004

COUNTRY: Poland


Carissa Weiser, Jason Weiser

Myths and Legends

Myths and legends is a podcast series on the “folklore that has shaped our world”. It was awarded the First Top Podcast prize in the Top Mythology Podcasts of 2020 by Feedspot (accessed: April 3, 2020). In Myths and legends legendary and folkloric traditions from all over the world and throughout different times are presented to wide audiences in informative and engaging audio episodes.Classical mythology holds a significant place in this selection. In fact, among the current 177 epi(...)

Radio & Podcast

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United States of America


José Daniel Cabrera Peña, Neil Smith

Myths and Legends: Jason and the Argonauts

The book describes the quest of Jason and the Argonauts in great detail, accompanied by original paintings by the illustrator as well as maps and photos from other sources. The main story is narrated in the middle, yet there are excerpts in several chapters which illuminate other key points of the story, such as the Golden Fleece, the list of Argonauts, Jason in movies etc. This is not a fiction but rather a narration of the myth aimed at older readership. The book includes an introduction on th(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United Kingdom United States of America


José Daniel Cabrera Peña, Graeme Davis

Myths and Legends: Theseus and the Minotaur

This book, part of the Myths and Legends series, surveys the myths attributed to Theseus: his eraly life and journey to Athens, the myth of the minotaur including the events preceding the creation of the labyrinth and king Minos, the desertion of Ariadne and the death of Aegeus, (the vents of the labyrinth take up 25 pp), Theseus as the king of Athens, Theseus and Pirithous, the Lapiths and Centaurs, Helen and Persephone, the Amazons, Phaedra and Hippolytus Theseus’ death and decedents, re(...)

literary

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Grzegorz Kasdepke

Myths for Children – Zeus & Co [Mity dla dzieci – Zeus & spółka]

The magical and amazing world of ancient gods and heroes shown in an accessible way in amusing and straightforward language. Each story focuses on a different god or hero. This is a collection of well-known myths adapted for children and told in a simple, funny and clear way. The stories are very interesting and present the most important mythological characters. The book includes original illustrations.The selection includes the myth of the origin of the world, Cronus’ golden age and(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: Poland


Riccardo Francaviglia

Myths in Sicily: Thunderbolts 2 [I miti in Sicilia: I fulmini, 2]

This book (the second of a 2-book series) explores the Greek myths that are found in Sicily. The myths narrated in this volume are: the abduction of Persephone and the creation of the seasons; Arethusa and Alpheus; stories about Heracles: his birth and the creation of the Milky way when he bites Hera’s breast, his struggle with Erice and his tasks to bring the golden apples and Cerberus; the birth of Hephaestus; the escape of Daedalus and Icarus.The focus is on the Sicilian connections to (...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: Italy


Riccardo Francaviglia

Myths in Sicily: Thunderbolts I [I miti in Sicilia: I fulmini, 1]

This book (the first of a 2-books series) explores the Greek myths that are found in Sicily. The myths narrated in this volume are: the creation of the world and the struggle between Titans, Gods and Giants; Odysseus in Sicily (Polyphemus, Aeolus, Scylla and Charybdis); Daphnis and Nomia; Artemis and Orion; Acis and Galatea. The focus is on the Sicilian connections to the myths (places, natural phenomena). Each story is accompanied by an illustration and also includes extra information boxe(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: Italy


William Adams

Myths of Old Greece in Story and Song

This is a factual book of fairly brief retellings of key Greek myths, which deviate little from their ancient sources such as Ovid. The stories are told without much background information or context to how the same characters fit into different stories. This approach is acknowledged by Adams at the start, who sees this as making the myths more accessible to children. Adams has also, according to his introduction, made an effort to retell the stories in a manner he believes would have been how t(...)

literary

YEAR: 1900

COUNTRY: United States of America


Wanda Markowska

Myths of the Greeks and Romans [Mity Greków i Rzymian]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.The book includes stories of ancient gods and heroes. We find there the most important myths about the origins of the world, as well as the most popular ones, e.g. about Prometheus, Daedalus and Icarus, Sisyphus, or Romulus and R(...)

literary

YEAR: 1968

COUNTRY: Poland


Jimmy Palmiotti , Mark Texeira, Frank Tieri, Raul Trevino

New Labors of Hercules

This is a comic-book in which Hercules is the main protagonist in a Marvel universe occupied with other superheroes such as Captain America and the Avengers. This is the first volume in which we get to meet Hercules. In the Marvel universe Hercules is no longer the heroic figure of the past, but a drunken mess. The book opens with a scene of a baby crushing animatronic snakes and it emerges that the setting is a new TV series about the life of the Greek hero. The new series appears to be a (...)

literary

YEAR: 2005

COUNTRY: United States of America


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Nyx the Mysterious (Goddess Girls, 22)

In this installment, we meet Nyx, the goddess of the night. 12 years old Nyx is a loner. She lives alone in Hades, from where she ascends to the heaven to cover the world with a unique night-cape. Nyx is invited to MOA by Athena and Artemis as an “unsung hero”. She wishes to take this opportunity to educate the students and Zeus on the importance of night for relaxing and rejuvenating. She wishes to prove to them it is not frightening or alarming. She loves her job and is proud of it(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United States of America


Adam J. B. Lane, David Slavin

Odd Gods: The Oddlympics

The publisher describes this series as ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Percy Jackson’. This is the third book of the Odd Gods series, which follows the adventures of Oddonis. Oddonis and his brother, Adonis, are the twin sons of Zeus and his Norse goddess wife, Freya. While Adonis is the handsome and successful god of love, Oddonis is strange-looking and socially awkward. In this book, Oddonis and his group of misfits lose in a game of tug to the gods group. The gods group are excited an(...)

literary

YEAR: 2020

COUNTRY: United States of America


Nick Roberts, Stella Tarakson

Odysseus' Trojan Trick (Hopeless Heroes, 8)

This is book 8 in the "Hopeless Heroes" series. This is a series of portal-fantasy adventures in which a timid boy travels to the world of ancient myth by means of a magic vase, and learns to be brave through adventures with classical heroes. At the end of the previous book, Tim Baker went to ancient Greece to try and say farewell to his friends, since his mother decided to sell the ancient vase, and found out that, due to one of Hera's machinations, they have no memories of him. A(...)

literary

YEAR: 2020

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Henry Lion Oldie

Odysseus, the Son of Laertes. Book 1: The Man of Nomos [Одиссей сын Лаэрта. Книга I: Человек Номоса (Odissei syn Laerta. Kniga I: Chelovek Nomosa)]

This is a heroic fantasy fiction based on the myth of Odysseus, aimed at young adults, in novel format. The novel belongs to the Achaean Cycle [Ахейский цикл] of Oldie. The first book – The Man of Nomos – describes the childhood of Odysseus, and explains, how he became “the man of Nomos” – a kind of a person whose greatest value is preservation of his world rather than heroic self-sacrifice. A strange boy, able to see phantoms, ghosts and gods, s(...)

literary

YEAR: 2000

COUNTRY: Russia


Henry Lion Oldie

Odysseus, the Son of Laertes. Book 2: The Man of Kosmos [Одиссей сын Лаэрта. Книга II: Человек Космоса (Odissei syn Laerta. Kniga II: Chelovek Kosmosa)]

This is a heroic fantasy fiction based on the myth of Odysseus, aimed at young adults, in novel format. This book, together with the first book of the same novel, belongs to Oldie’s Achaean cycle [Ахейский цикл]. The plot of the novel is reframing and reinterpretation of Iliad and Odyssey. The Nomos of Odysseus and his friends Mentor and Diomedes breaks out into Cosmos – or, strictly speaking, into The Caldron of Cronus. The famous problem of classical epic – the abso(...)

literary

YEAR: 2001

COUNTRY: Russia


Lisl Weil

Of Witches and Monsters and Wondrous Creatures

In this informational picture book, Weil takes young readers on a tour of mythical creatures from around the world. She opens by explaining the role of mythical creatures as providing answers for the things that happen that cannot be explained. "Some of these creatures were good; some were bad. Some were like animals; some were like people . . . Every country, every different group of people, had their own wicked monsters and wondrous creatures that became a part of the stories that were to(...)

literary

YEAR: 1985

COUNTRY: United States of America


George O'Connor

Olympians (Series)

Olympians is a series of graphic novels that takes one deity per volume as the focus, retelling numerous myths related to that god.Volume 1. Zeus. King of the Gods. Featuring creation myths and the war between the Titans and Olympians. Narrator unspecified.Volume 2. Athena. Grey-Eyed Goddess. Featuring the myth of Athena's conception and birth; Pallas; the attack of the Giants; Medusa and Perseus; Arachne. Narrated by the Moirae (The Fates). Volume 3. Hera. The Goddess and her Glory. Fe(...)

literary

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United States of America


Jan Parandowski

Olympic Discus [Dysk olimpijski]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.First Olympic Games after the wars with Persia, the 76th Olympiad (476 B.C.). Contestants come to Elis at least one month before the games to train at the local gymnasium and be screened by the judges. The plot focuses on two cha(...)

literary

YEAR: 1933

COUNTRY: Poland


Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis

Once Upon a Time… (Series, S05E12–21)

The second volume of season 5 (episodes 12–21) features characters from Greek mythology, these episodes are entitled: Souls of the Departed, Labour of Love, Devil’s Due, The Brothers Jones, Our Decay, Her Handsome Hero, Ruby Slippers, Sisters, Firebird, Last Rites. The last episode of the season (23), The Untold Story, is not included in the summary, as it is a recap of the whole season, mentioning a single object inspired by Greek mythology, the Olympic crystal which plays(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United States of America


Caroline S. Ewing , Shari Lewis

One Minute Greek Myths

This is a picture book anthology for young readers which presents key figures from classical mythology. The introduction implies the stories are meant to be read aloud to children by parents. The tone and word choice are fun, light and simple. Modern slang and pop cultural references are used to make the stories more relatable to the audience. Every chapter has one to four brightly coloured illustrations. Most chapters are two pages long, with the idea presumably being that each can be read in o(...)

literary

YEAR: 1987

COUNTRY: United States of America


Henryk Sienkiewicz

Orso

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.The action is set in a small town in Southern California, when after the time of grape harvest, begins a period of fun and celebrations. A travelling circus of Mr. Hirsch comes to town; performances by a couple of young artists, (...)

literary

YEAR: 1879

COUNTRY: Austro-Hungarian Empire


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Pallas the Pal (Goddess Girls, 21)

In this installment, two stories occur simultaneously. Pallas, Athena’s best friend from Earth, arrives for a visit and sword-dancing in the Immortal Market Place. The other story revolves around the unexpected birth of Athena’s new baby sister, Hebe. While Athena is worried about her father’s affection, Pallas is worried because she accidently broke her father’s sword during her routine. She thinks, “too bad her dad didn’t have a goddessgirl like Athena for a(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United States of America


Weng Chen (Jade), Carolyn Hennesy

Pandora Gets Jealous (Mythic Misadventures, 1)

This is the first instalment in a series of books called "Mythic Misadventures" that takes the classic story of Pandora's box and gives it a young, adventurous, partly contemporary twist - Pandora is Prometheus' thirteen-year-old daughter. In Pandora Gets Jealous, she brings the box Zeus had given her father to school for her annual school project. When she accidentally unleashes all the evils inside, she is tasked with recapturing them all before the entire world is ruine(...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United States of America


David M. Graham

Pandora Revisited

This fantasy novel for young readers is set in the present day. Diana, 14 years old, and her brother Jason, 9 years old, travel with their parents from the USA to Greece to the funeral of their great grandmother and the reading of her will. Diana, led by a mysterious fish, finds a box in a sea-cave and opens it. What had been placed inside the box and now have broken loose are all the ancient monsters that had pursued the humanity in ancient times. This is told to the siblings and Dmitri, their (...)

literary

YEAR: 2005

COUNTRY: United States of America


Christos Kondeatis, Sara Maitland

Pandora’s Box: A 3-Dimensional Celebration of Greek Mythology

"Open this box…and enter a world of marvels" invites the blurb of Maitland and Kondeatis’ Pandora’s Box. Fastened with a golden ribbon, the book/box opens to reveal hidden compartments, pop up pages, and other interactive elements alongside a textual commentary of the myths, culture and history of the ancient Greek world. It includes a labelled portrait of the major Olympians with their symbols and accoutrements and a map of Odysseus’ wanderings. On one page lo(...)

literary

YEAR: 1995

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Kate O’Hearn

Pegasus and the Fight for Olympus (Pegasus, 2)

This is the second installment in the Pegasus series. For more on this series, see the entry on Pegasus and the Flame.After saving Olympus, our heroes, Emily, Paelen and Joel, together with Pegasus, are still nonetheless facing constant threats from the Nirads. They need to return to earth to save Emily’s father, who is being held by CRU. They are also being assisted by the charming Cupid, who causes some tension within the group. Cupid relies on his charm, yet he is an aloof Olympian(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Kate O’Hearn

Pegasus and the Flame (Pegasus, 1)

This is the first installment in the Pegasus series.  While the main protagonist, Emily Jacobs, is not a descendant of the gods, she is nonetheless a special Olympian deity, called “the daughter of Vesta” and “the flame of Olympus”.The main characters are Emily, a thirteen years old girl who recently lost her mother and whose police officer father works long hours; the class bully, Joel, who is interested in myths; and an Olympian thief named Paelen, who tried to ste(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Kate O’Hearn

Pegasus and the New Olympians (Pegasus, 3)

The story begins with an Olympian football match, suggested by the mortal Joel. During the game, when Joel is kissed by the mischievous Sphinx, Emily realizes she is jealous yet is reluctant to acknowledge her growing affection for Joel. Meanwhile Emily continues her struggle with her power. She discovers that besides the power of the flame, she might possess more mysterious powers which could make objects disappear. That is why she is afraid she might hurt her friends. Meanwhile her father acts(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Simon Spence

Persephone

The Early Greek Myths series of children’s books presents myths for very young readers. The books tell the myths in simple language. Each double page includes a full-page illustration on the left page and a page of text on the right. Stephen Fry provides a forward to Persephone. He explains that myths tell us the stories of inspirational characters and of the way things came to be. Persephone is "one of the most delightful" myths, relating "how young Persephone got lost and (...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: Ireland


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Persephone the Daring (Goddess Girls, 11)

General summary for the series see under Athena the Brain.In this installment, the rock star Orpheus arrives in the academy. His fan, Persephone, is persuaded to help him retrieve his loved one, Eurydice form the underworld. Orpheus and Eurydice are rock stars and Eurydice especially is characterized as a free spirit who does not care for rules and therefore gets into trouble and is trapped in the underworld. The great love story of the duo is presented through their music, Eurydice being Orpheu(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United States of America


Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Pheme the Gossip (Goddess Girls, 10)

General summary for the series see under Athena the Brain.The gossip girl Pheme is the centre of this book. Pheme appeared in many of the books so far, but always as a very marginal character who only contributed gossip. Here her story is developed. As the Goddess Girl of Gossip and Rumour, Pheme sees it as her duty and job description to get into everyone’s business and report on it, often before she thinks of the consequences of her tales. She considers her gossip an art form. Pheme&rsqu(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United States of America


Thetis Authentics Ltd.

Pinax. Gods and Heroes [Πίναξ. Θεοί και Ήρωες (Pínaks. Theoí kai Īrōes)] (Series): Heracles [Ηρακλής (Īraklī́s)]

For a summary introduction to the series, please see the Pinax. Gods and Heroes. Athena [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες. Αθηνά] entry in this database.This particular pinax shows Heracles fighting the Lernaean Hydra, a scene from the Twelve Labours. There is a cardboard mount that can be used to display the pieces once the scene has been assembled.(...)

electronic

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Greece


Joan Holub, Leslie Patricelli

Play Nice, Hercules!

The main character, 'Hercules', is a pre-school-aged child in the modern era. His father tells him to 'Play nice', but he answers that he is 'not nice. [He] is strong'. Hercules knocks over a toy monster and scatters toy soldiers. He then knocks down blocks that his little sister is playing with. Hercules is remorseful about making his sister cry. He rebuilds the pyramid of blocks. An image then suggests that his sister is about to knock them over; the story ends with the(...)

literary

COUNTRY: United States of America


Funko LLC.

Pop! Disney (Series, Vinyl Figure no. 380): Phil

This is a "Funko Pop!" vinyl collectable figurine  of the satyr Phil from the Disney movie Hercules (1997). This figure is part of the Disney Hercules collection, which includes Hercules (no. 378), Meg (no. 379), Hades (no. 381), Baby Hercules (no. 382) and Baby Pegasus (no. 383). The figure shows a serious Phil, his mouth only slightly smiling although he appears to be frowning more than smiling. He appears determined, pointing his finger straight ahead. His other hand is clutche(...)

material

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United States of America


Funko LLC.

Pop! Disney (Series, Vinyl Figure no. 381): Hades

"Funko Pop!" Hades is a "Funko Pop!" vinyl collectable figurine. It is part of the "Disney Hercules" collection, which includes Hercules (no. 378), Meg (no. 379), Phil (no. 380), Baby Hercules (no. 382) and Baby Pegasus (no. 383).  These figures are licensed from the Disney movie Hercules (1997). Like all "Funko Pop!" Figures, Hades has a large head on a small body.  He is smiling, and his smile reveals rows of pointed, jagged teeth. Hades is blu(...)

material

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United States of America


Funko LLC.

Pop! Disney (Series, Vinyl Figure no. 382): Baby Hercules

This is a "Funko Pop!" vinyl collectable figurine of baby Hercules from the Disney movie Hercules (1997). It is part of the "Disney Hercules" collection, which includes Zeus (no. 593), Meg (no. 379), Phil (no. 380), Hades (no. 381), Hercules (no. 378) and Baby Pegasus (no. 383).The figure shows a happily smiling baby, his mouth is slightly open without teeth. He has wavy blond hair and is sitting, wearing a white diaper. One hand is rested over his knee and the other hand hol(...)

material

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United States of America


Seymour Kneitel

Popeye the Sailor (Series): Greek Mirthology

The episode starts with Popeye the Sailor trying to convince his four nephews (Popeye, Peepeye, Poopeye and Pupeye) to eat spinach instead of ice cream. As an example of a great spinach-eater he sets Hercules, the children's great ancestor. Popeye starts the story about the great hero as a fairy-tale: "Once upon a time, a long time ago…", taking his nephews to a distant land where Hercules lived (the location is not specified). Hercules looks just like Popeye (he even has a (...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1954

COUNTRY: United States of America


George O'Connor

Poseidon. Earth Shaker (Olympians, 5)

Poseidon. Earth Shaker has Poseidon himself as its narrator and it tells stories of the god’s offspring and of his contest to be the patron of Athens. As a first generation Olympian, Poseidon was part of the overthrow of Cronos, and the graphic novel opens with the brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades looking down into the great chasm into which Cronos has been hurled. The division of the realms takes place, and "of course" (p. 4), Poseidon receives the seas as his domain. There ar(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: United States of America


Nick Roberts, Stella Tarakson

Problem with Pythagoras (Hopeless Heroes, 4)

This is book 4 in the Hopeless Heroes series. This is a series of portal-fantasy adventures in which a timid boy travels to the world of ancient myth by means of a magic vase, and learns to be brave through adventures with classical heroes. Our hero, Tim Baker, faces two difficult problems. The first – a failing math test. The other – his mother's new boyfriend who happens to be a teacher from his school, Larry Green. Tim is dumbfounded and is not sure how to react to this awkwar(...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: United Kingdom


Jim Whiting

Profiles in Greek and Roman Mythology: Hercules

This book narrates the various stories connected with Hercules: his birth, labours and other adventures, including his slavery at Omphale’s palace and the Trojan War. The book also include further information (titled F.Y.I. sections) about Zeus’ affairs, Hades, Sophocles, the Argonaut and a brief Greek history. The text is accompanied by various photos of museum artifacts and paintings as well as a map. At the end there are notes, further reading (including academic research) and an (...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United States of America


Robert Baxter, I. M. Richardson

Prometheus and the Story of Fire

The book claims that the origin of the characters of Greek mythology can be found in the stories of Prometheus and Pandora. The narrative begins with chaos and the appearance of Gaea and Uranus, whose first children were monsters. Siblings to these monsters were Cyclops and Titans. Gaea calls upon her Titan children to fight Uranus, who had locked the monsters underground. Cronus steps forward and succeeds in overthrowing Uranus. To make sure he remains ruler of the universe and that none of his(...)

literary

YEAR: 1983

COUNTRY: United States of America


Eric Freeberg, Diane Namm

Roman Myths

Retelling of classic Roman myths meant for ages 7–9 with one illustration per story. Following the stories, the author includes questions for discussion about each story. The stories in the book:The Oak and the Linden TreePrometheus and IoAtlas and the Eleventh Labor of HerculesRomulus and RemusEscape from TroyThe Golden BoughCupid and PsycheMinerva and ArachneOedipus and the SphinxOtus and Ephialtes(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United States of America