Classical Mythology in Context encourages students to directly encounter and explore ancient myths and to understand them in broader interpretative contexts. Featuring a modular structure that coincides with the four main components of a classical mythology course--history, theory, comparison, and reception--each chapter (with the exception of Chapter 1) is built around one central figure or topic. Classical Mythology in Context provides: A sustained discussion of religious practices and sacred places that offers a key approach to the historical contextualization of Greek myths An introduction to--and integration of--theoretical approaches to myth in each chapter that shows how these approaches affect the ways in which students understand myths and mythic figures Ample selections of primary sources, all from the Oxford World's Classics series A robust comparative approach examining Greek myths alongside other myths from the Mediterranean Basin and the Ancient Near East An approach to the reception of myths as interpretation and reflection in Western art, with an emphasis on contemporary culture An Ancillary Resource Center (ARC) that includes PowerPoint-based lecture slides and an Instructor's Resource Manual A Companion Website that provides additional student and instructor resources FEATURES Compelling and relevant illustrations provide visual evidence for placing myths in context Abundant maps help students locate all sites in Greece, the larger Greek world, and the Ancient Near East A detailed Timeline for Greece, Rome, and the Ancient Near East helps students situate key works within their cultural and historical contexts "The Essentials": In Part I, these boxes appear at the start of each chapter, introducing students to the most essential information about a god or goddess and previewing that chapter's content. In Part II, they appear whenever a new hero or heroine is introduced. "Before You Read" section for each primary source and critical reading is prefaced with a brief contextual overview followed by questions that encourage critical thinking Paired chapters explore different aspects of a god, hero, or heroine, equipping students with analytical tools that can be applied to other topics A list of Key Terms at the end of each chapter helps students review and retain its most important points A "For Further Exploration" annotated bibliography at the end of each chapter provides a starting point for students who wish to learn more about the chapter's content A Select Bibliography at the end of the book, divided by chapter (and further divided by chapter section) emphasizes scholarly works that are accessible to students A Combined Glossary and Index includes a pronunciation key, the Greek form (where relevant), and brief description for all figures, places, and rituals in the text " Classical Mythology in Context brings the nuances of mythology before the eyes of students who might only know these tales through some bland rendition that squares away all the contradictions and paradoxes in the original texts. This book insists upon critical thinking and thoughtful reflection from its readers."--Micaela Janan, Duke University "The inclusion of sections on Theory, Comparison, and Reception is one of my favorite features of Classical Mythology in Context. It takes the whole project to an intellectual level more ambitious than that of rival textbooks."--John Gibert, University of Colorado "I like the overall organization of this book. I find the primary source selections original, well justified, and interesting. The table of contents reflects many of the choices I have already made for my own Classical Mythology class, and it will be useful to have all of this in a handy volume."--Marie-Claire Beaulieu, Tufts University "The table of contents closely resembles how I teach classical myth. It touches on the myths themselves, but does not simply retell them. It considers religion, art, and scholarship, yet merges these seamlessly into a coherent presentation that is fun to read."--Robert Forman, St. John's University " Classical Mythology in Context may be the new standard for the undergraduate classical myth course. It breaks away from the encyclopedic content-intensive traditional format to a much wider scope. Chapters give due attention both to ancient cults and the literary classics of the Greeks and their important variants. Recurrent themes and patterns that mark ancient myth are enlarged with comparative texts from Mesopotamia, Rome, and even the early Christian era. Theories are not simply enumerated and summarized, but are put to work to illuminate the dominant concerns of mythic narrative. Explanations are lucid and accessible to students. Cultural connections, especially those that touch on gender, race, and hierarchy, figure prominently. Students will recognize throughout the book that what th