The Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome: A Guide to the Classical Pantheon

by Philip Matyszak

Who were the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome? What did they mean to the people who worshipped them? Although their time of widespread worship is long gone, the Greek and Roman gods have fascinated and inspired writers and artists for millennia. From Aphrodite to Apollo, Poseidon to Zeus, these are some of the most recognizable characters in Western culture, yet there is rich, unknown lore behind these famous figures who regularly feature in art and writing.


The Greek and Roman gods are enthralling characters in the enduringly powerful Iliad, Odyssey, and Metamorphoses, as well as in modern retellings like Circe and the Percy Jackson series. They are immortal and powerful, yet also vain, vindictive, and vulnerable. Moreover, as manifestations of death, fertility, love, and war, the gods are also our key to understanding how the Greeks and Romans saw their world. Philip Matyszak presents this pantheon in all their complexity, guiding us from Mount Olympus to the depths of Hades. Each chapter focuses on an individual god or goddess, beginning with their “biography” as understood by the Greeks and Romans and exploring the origins of the legends. Matyszak mixes history with vivid retellings of the myths in which the gods have a starring role, from stories of cosmic creation and universal war to disastrous weddings and freak discus accidents. This sumptuously illustrated guide to the gods of Greece and Rome is a must-have for anyone interested in mythology and classical civilization. 

Genres: Mythology, History, Nonfiction, Religion, Greek Mythology, Art

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 22, 2022

About the author

Philip Matyszak is a British nonfiction author, primarily of historical works relating to ancient Rome. Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St. John's College, Oxford. In addition to being a professional author, he also teaches ancient history for Madingley Hall Institute of Continuing Education, Cambridge University.

Reviews

[Linniegayl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really beautiful book, filled with gorgeous color photos of vases, paintings, statues, and more from a variety of historical periods, all centered on various gods and goddesses. But even better, it contains a wealth of information about the various gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome. As a tip, don’t neglect to read the text next to the figures; there are some delightful nuggets about specific gods and goddesses tucked away.

I especially like the introductory chapter, which focuses on the role the gods and goddesses (and mythology in general) played for the ancient Greeks and Romans. It begins by saying to truly understand their role, we must put aside our notions of religion, our notions of the divine, and attempt to understand the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses from their point of view. I suspect I will come back to this chapter in the future, whenever I question the role of mythology in ancient Greece and Rome.

The book eventually moves on to devote individual chapters to each of the Olympians, as well as to a section entitled “Beyond Olympus” featuring additional gods and goddesses including those from outside Greece and Rome, such as Isis and Serapis from Egypt.

This book is very readable, and although I’ve read other books about Greek and Roman mythology, I learned many things I didn’t know previously from this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would give it an A-/A, so five stars here.

[Steven Latour · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, I quickly determined that despite reading about mythology for my entire life there were still a lot of pieces of information that I had never encountered before. Whether it was etymological tidbits or myth sources or interpretations, this book ended up being a worthwhile impulse purchase (from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts). I took a chance on it because Thames & Hudson have never steered me wrong. As always, there are many fine art examples from antiquity to the modern age. I was particularly pleased to see a painting from Pompeii I was unfamiliar with as it was only rediscovered within the past 5 or 6 years.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a long read, but I appreciate how this didn't just explain the Greek and Roman gods, but show how each society's values shaped each counterpart and what parts of the story they chose to pick up or leave.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure. It gives all the information, myth and mystery you would expect, complete with gorgeous illustrations that are explained thoroughly. There is also clear discussion on the attributes of these gods and goddesses, and how it relates to the original primal force the Greeks and others were attempting to comprehend and deal with. It is interesting to read of the immortals who were worshipped and sacrificed to for favors, like asking Demeter for a good harvest, and the ones who were basically worshipped and appeased to not do what they do - Poseidoon Earth Shaker and Giant Tsunami Maker, for example. A lot of what had appeared to me as seemingly unworthy and unnecessary traits and cruelty are the result of attempting to make some sense out of our seemingly unnecessarily cruel cosmos. If you already enjoy mythology you will enjoy this book. If it is a new field for you, you will love this book.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Greeks and Romans had a belief system and mythology that still appears in our modern world. I love this book for its reminder that that mythology wasn't created all at once, but evolved and added gods and goddesses as their world expanded or changed. The gods and goddesses also adapted, adding new versions of themselves.
Lots of lovely pictures of gods and goddesses depicted by the ancients and by more modern artists as well. Paintings, mosaic floors, vases, sculptures.
Recommended.

[Boho Beannie]

Skim, good resource

[Kenny Verhoeven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uitstekend boek over de relatie tussen de Griekse Olympiërs en hun Romeinse equivalent. Doorspekt met anekdotes en weetjes, rijkelijk gestoffeerd met afbeeldingen en met gevoel voor humor verteld.

[Danielle Farkas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the cheekiness and the connections it drew! Glad to have it as a reference book.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot I read this but it make me understand them.

[William Dury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice modern review of classical mythology. I like the idea that the old gods were an attempt to put a face, or faces, onto natural forces. To humanize the Universe. He tells how gods from different places were woven into the local storytelling frame work and how different cultures responded according to their values and world view. A real treat. Lavishly illustrated.