Introduces the Greek god Ares and explains his importance; features well-known Greek myths about this god; and includes a map of ancient Greece and a family tree of the principal Greek gods. Additional features to aid comprehension include a table of contents, informative sidebars, a list of Greek characters introduced in the text, a list of equivalent Roman gods and goddesses, sources for further research including websites, an index, and an introduction to the author and illustrator.

An illustrated retelling of the Greek myth that details the story of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war.

In the world of Terrador, the Persian Empire dominates over the other nations on the eastern continent of Dastia. When Darien, the teenage prince of Persia, is banished from his homeland and is forced to wander the endless desert of the Lost Sands, he meets a new and unusual friend, and his grand adventure begins.It is said that no human can cross the vast desert and survive. In the forsaken wasteland, the young boy will discover a power beyond his imagining, one that will change him forever.From the author who brought you the Age of Darkness series comes a new fantasy/action/adventure epic for young adults with a unique mythological twist.

Offering deeper insights into the critically acclaimed God of War® franchise, this novel returns us to the dark world of ancient Greek mythology explored in the heart-pounding action of God of War I, the bestselling video game. A brutal warrior, Kratos is a slave to the gods of Olympus. Plagued by the nightmares of his past and yearning for freedom, the Ghost of Sparta would do anything to be free of his debt to the gods. He is on the verge of losing all hope when the gods give him one last task to end his servitude. He must destroy Ares, the god of war. But what chance does a mere mortal have against a god? Armed with the deadly chained Blades of Chaos, guided by the goddess Athena, and driven by his own insatiable thirst for vengeance, Kratos seeks the only relic powerful enough to slay Ares . . . a quest that will take him deep into the mysterious temple borne by the Titan Cronos! From the black depths of Hades to the war-torn city of Athens to the lost desert beyond, God of War sheds a brutal new light on the bestselling video game and on the legend of Kratos.

*Includes pictures *Includes ancient myths and accounts of Ares and cults that worshiped him *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading Ares, the God of War and personification of all that is reactionary and violent, is remembered today as the hated, unshakeable, and infallible embodiment of the violence prevalent in war and society at large, but surviving evidence suggests that this may not have always been the case. To understand that, it's necessary to remember that Greek mythology has been filtered and tempered by centuries of editors and zealots and fickle word of mouth. The stories that arrive in the beloved mythology books of today were not necessarily those read and told by the ancients. This is true not only thanks to later mythographers' overeager shears, wielded in order to strip the ancient Greek myths of much of their "heathenism," but also because over 2,000 years later, modern society is not privy to much of the cultural strata from which these stories emerged. This book was written in the hope of presenting the modern reader with as much of the latter as possible, so as to provide a more accurate representation of Ares than is found in most modern collections of ancient Greek mythology. Being the "living" representation of the act that killed family members every year is more than enough to attract a certain degree of ignominy, but it is very likely that negative feelings towards Ares were not as pervasive among the ancient Greeks as one might believe today. An important thing to bear in mind when thinking about the stories of Ares is that the thin vein of myth that has come down today most often comes directly from Athenian sources, which were unfavorable towards Ares because they were generally unfavorable towards anything considered un-Athenian. The historian Thucydides, while discussing the Peloponnesian War, which was fought between Athens and Sparta at the end of the 5th century BCE, said that any "future scholar" would no doubt believe that the great city of Sparta was culturally insignificant in comparison with her enemy, Athens. It is well known today that Ares was worshipped by the warlike Spartans, but since they created very few grandiose works of architecture or literature (compared to those that came out of Athens), Sparta's views on Ares, and most other deities they worshipped, are paltry. Athenian culture, on the other hand, dominated the ancient world's art and culture, and its influence was felt strongly in the beloved myths and histories of the epoch. For better or worse, then, Athens left subsequent generations their marginalized corpus of ideas on ancient Greek religion, and this can be seen in the paltry occurrences of Ares in modern books on Greek mythology today. That said, being a worshipper of Ares didn't necessitate the bellicose nature of the Spartans, either. Although Athens left literary and archaeological evidence of their preferences for civic worship, many other poleis (Greek city-states) were loath to openly despise the god of war, despite his macabre associations. After all, war was a facet of yearly life, and Ares was one of the 12 gods of the highest Greek pantheon of deities who commanded worship according to a divine mandate. Ares's appearances in myths today (his affair with Aphrodite being a strong favourite) seem to be cursed by repeated banality. There's little of the "War God" in any of his stories other than the odd mention of how horrid he is. However, with a little effort, Ares and his influences can be found, even if only at the fringes of the stories, in the wider literary canon. One such example is the "Judgment of Paris," which refers to the Trojan warrior Paris's decision to award Aphrodite with the Golden Apple of the Hesperides (or the "Apple of Discord," as it came to be known).

Ares, the god of war, who once invaded Olympus, tried to take over Earth, stood at the walls of Troy, and fought toe to toe with and against Earth's greatest heroes, turns his back on centuries of warfare to begin life anew with a single goal: to raise his child. Then Olympus comes under seige and calls upon Ares for help again. What will happen if he refuses?

A unique retelling of Greek mythological tales featuring love, betrayal, murder and ruthless ambitions—for fans of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. Discover six classic Greek myths in this exciting retelling that paints both famous and lesser-known characters in a whole new light. Follow the likes of Odysseus, Lamia, Bellerophon, Icarus, Medusa and Artemis as their fates are revealed through bloody trials, gut-wrenching betrayals, sinister motives and broken hearts. With an accessible writing style that delves into the thoughts, feelings, desires, and motivations of every character, these mythical figures and their compelling stories will resonate with readers as they are guided through perilous and tragic adventures. Greek Mythology Explained provides an in-depth analysis of each story told as it unravels the greater themes and valuable lessons hidden within each chapter. Inside these pages, you’ll . . . Sail with Odysseus as he navigates through the straits of Messina with a terrifying monster on each side, intent only on killing him and his crew. Witness Lamia’s world turned upside down as she loses her kingdom, her children and her humanity. Journey with Bellerophon as he battles the Chimera and becomes the hero that he was destined to be. Take flight with Icarus and Daedalus as they escape their confinement and the Cretan navy. Follow Medusa as she loses faith in the gods and becomes the monster she so adamantly wished to protect her people from. Experience the love between Artemis and Orion, as well as the bitter jealousy it spawns at the core of her brother Apollo.