(Ebook) The Story of Myth by Sarah Iles Johnston ISBN 9780674185074, 0674185072

(Ebook) The Story of Myth by Sarah Iles Johnston ISBN 9780674185074, 0674185072

Instead of joining in this pursuit of hidden meanings, Sarah Iles Johnston argues that the very nature of myths as stories--as gripping tales starring vivid characters--enabled them to do their most important work: to create & sustain belief in the gods & heroes who formed the basis of Greek religion.

By drawing on work in narratology, sociology, & folklore studies, & by comparing Greek myths not only to the myths of other cultures but also to fairy tales, ghost stories, fantasy works, modern novels, & television series,The Story of Myth reveals the subtle yet powerful ways in which these ancient Greek tales forged enduring bonds between their characters & their audiences, created coherent story-worlds, & made it possible to believe in extraordinary gods. 

Johnston captures what makes Greek myths distinctively Greek, but simultaneously brings these myths into a broader conversation about how the stories told by all cultures affect our shared view of the cosmos & the creatures who inhabit it.

Sarah Iles Johnston is the College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Professor of Religion & Professor of Classics at The Ohio State University, where she teaches courses on Greek myths. Her many books include The Story of Myth, Ancient Greek Divination, & Restless Dead: Encounters between the Living & the Dead in Ancient Greece.