Fine art Publishing / GREEK MYTHS BY TASCHEN

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"Greek Myths" Hardcover, quarter-bound, 20.5 x 25.6 cm, 1.44 kg, 336 pages Taschen Store - 2, rue de Buci 75006 - Paris - taschen.com

MUSE, LET ME SING

by Alice Gardner

“Even the lover of myth is in a sense a lover of wisdom, for the myth is composed of wonders.” - Aristotle

Though gilded tales of gods and heroes and wondrous creatures have fascinated since those first machinations of Hesiod in the mid 8th-century BC, their allure remains as stalwart as Zeus’ virility. And with releases like Taschen’s illustrated Greek Myths, that golden age of Homeric storytelling continues.

Beautifully illustrated by the likes of Clifford Harper, Walter Crane, Arthur Rackham, and Virginia Frances Sterrett, Greek Myths is a collection of 47 tales from Gustav Schwab’s seminal 19th-century anthology, a reimagination of a tradition millennia-old.

These are the stories that have shaped the modern consciousness and formed the bedrock of modern literature. They have captivated us by holding a mirror up to the very best (and worst) of the human condition, and are as pansophic as they are entertaining. Although we may not be descended from Zeus or have the ability to turn our enemies to stone with a glance, the pursuits of Jason, Perseus, and Odysseus are relatable.

They embody universal characteristics and moralities that remain as true today as they did in an age where everything could be blamed on the mood of the gods; take it from Icarus - don’t fly too close to the sun.

Schwab’s rich narrative is met by vivid and dramatic illustrations, a collection of talent from the Golden Age of book illustration, of whose biographies are also featured. These are in turn complemented by scene-setting vignettes and a specially-commissioned genealogical tree of gods and goddesses by Clifford Harper.

There’s no need to consult the oracle: you will enjoy this book.