Here are posts I enjoyed this week:
A review on Eidolon of Stephen Fry’s Mythos, The Greek Myths Retold is great reading in itself, as well as providing insight into the latest offering in the long tradition of reframing Greek mythology for each generation. A bonus of this review is the paragraph towards the beginning that lists many recent titles that reinterpret aspects of Greek tradition, whether in translations or fiction. If that sort of books are your cup of tea, you’ll find a fine harvest. And a charming new myth collection is always worth knowing about. What’s your favorite childhood mythology collection? Click here for Eidolon “All the Ways of Being a Person”
Great post about 10 novels that use Greek myths, either in modern settings or otherwise. Some of these I wasn’t aware of, so I’m guessing you, too, will find some good reading ideas. Your favorite on this list? Or even better, recommendations that aren’t here? (Atwood’s Penelopiad is among this excellent collection) Click here for Signature “Your Favorite Classic Myths Reimagined in 10 Books”
Dice from Roman, medieval and renaissance times show a shift from “lopsided and uneven” to standardized cubic design. The Romans thought fate or the gods influenced which number you got, so “fair” dice didn’t matter. By 1450 CE knowledge of math put an end to the wiliness to leave it up to the gods. This conclusion is based on the study of so many dice and the gradual changes in their design over time that that archaeologists will be able to use any found dice to date layers of an excavation. Your thoughts on the psychology of gaming? Click here for Archaeology Magazine In the Trenches “No Dice Left Unturned”