Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Similar to previous "Flammarion Iconographic Guides" (Louis Frederic's Buddhism, CH, Mar'96; G. Duchet-Suchaux and M. Pastoureau's The Bible and the Saints, CH, Feb'95), this guide serves those viewing artworks that allude to themes of classical antiquity. According to the authors, the guide "shows how artists interpret mythology and ancient history, but is neither a history of mythology nor a treatise on the nature of mythology." Each entry includes name, variation of name in different languages, history and mythology, representation in art (including photographs), attributes, cross-references, and bibliography. Providing representations of artworks is helpful, but there are inconsistencies in many entries, most disturbing of which is the brevity or lack of discussion in the representation section. The authors' decision to use the Roman rather than Greek form of name is self-defeating, since there are no discussions on the representation of various heroes or stories at different times or by differing artists. A list of cross-references at the beginning of the book would have helped. It is sometimes difficult to determine what type of art format has been traditionally used in representing the story. This guide will serve novices or those with little classical background. M. C. Su Pennsylvania State University, Altoona Campus