died out; in fact they are as popular today as ever. For thousands of years, these myths have been the basis for plays, operas, paintings, and movies. Freeman’s version of the myths will appeal to the many people who are unsure about some mythological references, and to everyone who enjoys reading stories about errant gods, fantastic creatures, and human heroes. Whether it is Zeus’s wandering eye, Theseus’s battle with the half-human, half-bull Minotaur, or the tribulations of lovers, such as Pyramus and Thisbe or Hero and Leander, these tales never fail to entertain. They are by turns sublimely beautiful and deeply disturbing; they provide valuable insights into the Greek and Roman imagination. They speak to fundamental aspects of human nature—our hopes, fears, desires—that have not changed. Freeman’s version is contemporary and accessible. It reflects no school of critical interpretation, just a wish to share these stories in a version that is faithful to the originals. (Sometimes variations in the myths have been combined; sometimes one version has been chosen in preference to the others.)

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