The Greek myths are timeless classics , whose scenes and figures have captivated us since ancient times. The gods and heroes of these legends hold up a mirror to the human condition , embodying universal characteristics and emotions, like love, hatred, fortune, jealousy, revenge, hubris, greed, or bravery. These traits are the basis for immortal dramas and rich narratives, as profound as they are entertaining, which form the bedrock of our culture and literature today and remain relevant and fascinating for all readers, young and old alike. This edition contains 21 of the most famed episodes from the Trojan War , the subsequent wanderings of Odysseus , and his long-awaited return to Ithaca . The texts are carefully compiled from the seminal work Sagen des klassischen Altertums ( Gods and Heroes: Myths and Epics of Ancient Greece ) by Gustav Schwab , and strikingly illustrated by 15 artists, among them outstanding representatives of the Golden Age of Book Illustration and the Arts and Crafts Movement , including Walter Crane, William Russell Flint, Newell Convers Wyeth, and Virginia Frances Sterrett. These illustrations are complemented by scene-setting vignettes for each story and a genealogical tree of Greek gods and goddesses by Clifford Harper . Placing the tales in a historical context, the book contains an introduction by Dr. Michael Siebler and is rounded off with an extensive glossary of the most important protagonists in the Greek myths. The heroism, tragedy, and theater of Greek mythology glimmer through each tale in this lavishly illustrated edition, awakening the gods and heroes to new life .