The Story of Myth
Sarah Iles JohnstonInstead 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.