The Labors of Hercules Beal

Schmidt, Gary D. The Labors of Hercules Beal. 2023. 352p. ISBN 9780358659631.

Living on Cape Cod, Hercules Bean is no hero. His parents both died in a gruesome car accident last year, and now he lives with his older brother, who moved in with his girlfriend to keep the family's garden center. He's more of a weakling. Being named after a Greek demigod has meant nothing but ridicule. Now in 7th grade, Hercules is confronted by a new social studies teacher, a retired Marine commander who runs his classroom like a drill training ground. He's strict and demanding, but he's also fair. When he assigns a year-long project connected to various aspects of social studies, everyone groans. Hercules' fear is realized when he's assigned the performance of Hercules' Twelve Labors. How is Hercules supposed to do all of that mythical stuff in real life?

Missing his parents terribly, and convinced that his brother's girlfriend is a vampire (seriously, Hercules has never seen her out in the sun), Hercules has to figure out a way to perform the twelve labors and report on his progress in monthly meetings. Working with his teacher, Hercules soon accomplishes the first of his twelve labors, and discovers along the way that they not need be exactly like what Hercules the hero confronted. His friends and his family join him and start giving him leads, helping him complete more of the labors. When a hurricane hits Cape Cod, Hercules is faced with his hardest labor yet. 

Making friends along the way, Hercules manage to accomplish all of the labors, and realizes that there is more to a community than working alone. A really humorous story, The Labors of Hercules Beal will thrill the fan of Greek myths with multiple references and how these would apply in real life. Despite his sorrow, Hercules remains upbeat and optimistic, and eventually successfully completes this assignment, learning valuable lessons along the way.

Fas of The Labors of Hercules Beal should take a look at the Wednesday Wars.

Lore Olympus, Vol. 1

Smythe, Rachel. Lore Olympus, Vol. 1. 2021. 384p. ISBN 9780593160299. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Hades is the king of the underworld, and his life is pretty lonely. The other gods make fun of him, and the guy usually is an afterthought in his brother Zeus' mind. Invited to yet another of Zeus' parties, Hades calls the nymph Minthe to see if she will join him. She declines, and Hades finds himself alone once again at a social gathering. 

Persephone is invited to the same party by her roommate Artemis, and the two girls have a good time.  Hades notices Persephone and he is instantly smitten. Wanting to get back at him for indiscrete comments he made, Hera, wife of Zeus, arranges for Eros, god of love, to get Persephone drunk and leave her in Hades' car, causing an embarrassing situation for the both of them. 

Hades doesn't notice Persephone until he arrive back to his mansion. He takes her inside and places her in a bedroom. When she awakes, she strolls through the mansion before encountering Cerberus, whom she quickly tames. Finally, Hades and Persephone spend some time together talking about live and love. But soon enough it is time to return to the world above, and Persephone leaves Hades behind. Hades is still smitten, but since Persephone doesn't have a cellphone, he has no way of contacting her.

Meanwhile, Apollo, brother to Artemis, attempts to seduce Persephone, since he's certain she deserves better than the god of death. As Persephone experiences her own tragedy, Hades finally connects some dots and realizes that Persephone has been trying to reach him ...

A modern remake of an ancient tale, that of Hades and Persephone, Lore Olympus is rendered in sharp colorful contrasts and witty dialogs. The characters inhabit our current world, and have the same tools and gadgets we use. Plus, their issues are very human ones as well. Fans of Greek mythology will appreciate this story, and graphic novel lovers will enjoy the gorgeous illustrations.

Heroes in Greek Mythology

Nardo, Don. Heroes in Greek Mythology. Part of the Library of Greek Mythology series. 2017. 80p. ISBN 978-1-60152-968-8. Available at 398.2 NAR on the library shelves.

Of all of the ancient Greek myths, from monsters to gods and goddesses, from creation stories to natural phenomena, all of these share a central element, that of a hero. The hero of myths was bigger than life, with an outsized personality and powers that derived from the gods and put them out of the leagues of most mortals. From Achilles' invulnerability in battle, except for the heel that wasn't dipped in the river Styx, to strong Heracles, heroes were able to do things that most humans were not able to. They mingled freely with the gods. They fought and protected Greece from its enemies. They fought against oppression and chaos. And in their stories was redemption and hope.

Told by the ancient Greeks to explain the world around them, heroes were from another age, and often inspired by real people who had played major roles during Greece's bronze age five hundred years earlier. Many of the heroes fought against monsters such as giants, cyclops, or Medusa. Some fought for true love, defying Hades and retrieving a lost soul from the Underworld. Others toppled tyrants and dictators. Some were on quests, sometimes of their choosing, like Jason and the Argonauts, but sometimes as punishment, such as Odysseus. Others were lovers whose relationship was so pure the gods wept to see them so happy. All of them, however, remain popular and relevant to this day, permeating our own culture and connecting us to universal ideals, impulses, and desires.

Books in this series include:

• Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology
• Heroes in Greek Mythology
• Monsters in Greek Mythology

Monsters in Greek Mythology

Nardo, Don. Monsters in Greek Mythology. Part of the Library of Greek Mythology series. 2017. 80p. ISBN 978-1-60152-970-1. Available at 398.2 NAR on the library shelves.

Myths often use elements of reality and incorporate them into fantastic descriptions to explain a specific phenomenon or a historical occurrence. For the ancient Greeks, monsters were part and parcel of their experiences. How could they explain the skulls of prehistoric elephants with a hole in the middle where the trunk would be attached? Cyclops. How about the deadliest animals for humans, raptor birds, big cats, and venomous snakes? Flying dragons. Builders of ancient ruins that used stone blocks so tall and heavy that the technology of the day could not move them? Giants.

All of these monsters populated the myths and legends of the ancient Greeks. Some came from the birth of the world, when the gods created the Giants who eventually waged war on the Olympian deities. Others were Cyclops who preyed on men. Many monsters were condemned to the underworld. Some where ugly monsters, cursed by the gods like Medusa. Still others had unknown origins but ended up as constellations in the sky, like Orion and the Hydra.

Throughout Greek myths, recurring figures are often sinister reptilians with the face of a woman. Both themes were heavily influenced by man's perception of women as inferior and villainous, creatures who consorted with snakes to poison men's lives. 

These myths continue to be popularized in movies and books, and retain a foothold in our science-based world, providing a basis of understanding that underpins most of Western Civilization. Fans of myths and history will enjoy the way in which ancient Greeks conjured monsters to triumph over.

Books in this series include:

• Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology
• Heroes in Greek Mythology
• Monsters in Greek Mythology

Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology

 Nardo, Don. Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology. Part of the Library of Greek Mythology series. 2017. 80p. ISBN 978-1-60152-972-5. Available at 398.2 NAR on the library shelves.

For ancient people, the world was a mysterious place. Natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and storms had no rational explanation. Why were some people struck dead, while others survived? Why did famine affect an entire nation one year, only to have the following year bring a bountiful harvest? Humans crafted myths to explain what was happening around them. Inspired from Egyptian and Babylonian civilizations, ancient Greeks of the bronze age told stories of gods and their battles, dalliances, and meddling in human affairs to explain the events that were taking place.

By the time Classical Greece emerged, these stories and myths permeated the whole society, from rich folks to slaves, and offered a common understanding of the world around them. Despite the growth of philosophy and science, myths continued to be told and retold, ensuring that stories that explained natural phenomena and environmental catastrophes were widely shared.

Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology shares stories of myths that centered around events and phenomena that happened in nature and that the Greeks could not explain. From the daily rotation of the Sun to the four seasons, from earthquakes to the name and appearance of animals and flowers, fans of Greek mythology will appreciate the details outlined in this book and the ways the Greeks explained what they saw around them.

Books in this series include:

• Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology
• Heroes in Greek Mythology
• Monsters in Greek Mythology

Living and Working in Ancient Greece

Randolph, Joanne. Living and Working in Ancient Greece. Part of the Back in Time series. 2018. 48p. ISBN 978-0-7660-8971-6. Available at 938 LIV on the library shelves.

Despite all of our technology and advanced materials, the lives of ancient Greeks was remarkably similar to ours today. They actively participated in politics, attended sporting events, and went to entertainment venues to enjoy the latest plays and musical acts. Growing up in Ancient Greece, children would play cooperative and competitive games as well as with toys. They helped with household chores and received some education, more for boys than for girls. Home life was centered on the family, with dwellings featurings an indoor courtyard and rooms with different functions.

Life could also be hard in Ancient Greece. Slavery was accepted, and the area was controlled by multiple city-states whose power didn’t reach much beyond their borders. Only freeborn males could become citizens and participate in the political life of their city. Women’s roles were limited to their house.

Many famous Greek philosophers influenced Western thought and Western society, from Plato to Aristotle. Greek science remained cutting edge until it was forgotten in the Middle Ages, but spurred on a renaissance in Europe when this information once again became available, this time through Islam and Arabic preservation of ancient knowledge.

Readers interested in the impact had on our world today will appreciate the research and the descriptions that went into making this book a vivid reminder of the past.

Religion in the Roman Empire

Holtzer, Ben. Religion in the Roman Empire. Part of the Life in the Roman Empire series. 2017. 80p. ISBN 978-1-5026-2263-1. Available at 292.07 HOL on the library shelves.

Life in the Roman Empire could be hard, but the Romans believed that deities and spirits surrounded and protected them from Fate and from their enemies. The Roman pantheon of gods and goddesses was varied and incorporated the worship of deities as far away as Egypt and the Middle East into a homegrown version of the Greek gods. Along with the major gods and goddesses, worshipped throughout the Empire under different names, the Romans believed that each man and woman had their own guardian spirit, while their houses and cities did too. As a result a series of elaborate rituals arose to celebrate and appease these spirits to gain their blessings.

As the Empire expanded, more deities were added to the well-known deities such as Jupiter and Venus. Women were an integral part of worship, and often had their own religious duties to perform. The Vestal virgins kept Rome’s eternal flame going. The wives of Emperors were worshipped as deities and, while alive, held sumptuous services to the gods. For the Romans, religion was a fact of life, neither questioned nor doubted.

The rise of the monotheistic religion of Christianity at first went unnoticed in the halls of power, but as Christians gained in popularity their demands that only God be worshipped drew the ire of Emperors. Christians were martyred and executed, but in the end Constantine converted to Christianity and eventually all Roman gods were banned. For hundred of years afterwards Roman deities continued to be worshiped, but as the Empire fell and was replaced by competing kingdoms, Christianity triumphed and the gods disappeared. Their names remain, however, both in the days of the week and in the months of the year.

Other titles in this series include The Countryside in the Roman Empire, The City in the Roman Empire, and Patricians in the Roman Empire.

Dateline: Troy

Fleischman, Paul. Dateline: Troy. 1996. 80p. ISBN 1-56402-469-5. Available at 398.2 FLE on the library shelves.

The Trojan War is one of the better known ancient conflicts that pitted Greek city states against Troy. When Zeus was asked to judge who was the fairest between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, he decided that Paris of Troy should judge. Reputed a fair judge, Paris was promised Helen’s hand if he selected Aphrodites as the fairest. After doing so, Helen was struck and when she met Paris she immediately decided to be with him. Paris maneuvered Helen’s husband out of the way, then departed with the Greeks’ treasure and their most beautiful woman and returned to Troy.

Bound to help the King of Sparta, other Greek cities sent soldiers and commanded that Troy send Helen back. Upon Troy’s refusal, the Greeks set sail and lay siege to the city. At turn plagued and helped by the Gods, who were fighting each other, the Greeks eventually managed to enter Troy’s formidable defenses using a wooden horse as an stratagem. Many Greek heroes died during the ten years that the war lasted, and in the end all most the combatants found ruin and death.

Out of this foundational myth arise stories such as Odysseus and the founding of Rome.

Told in alternate pages with a summary and newspaper headlines, this book demonstrates that the story lines that influenced live over 2,500 years ago are still with us today. The tragedy that is Troy and humankind’s cupidity continues to influence the world today.

The Odyssey

Homer. The Odyssey. 2016. 37 mins. Abridged. Available as an audiobook on Overdrive.

Odysseus left to fight Troy, and he has now been missing for ten years. Nobles are swarming his wife Penelope, hoping to lay their hands on his lands and riches. His young son, Telemachus, grows up and becomes the leader of father’s kingdom in his absence, but his nobles still oppose him.

The goddess Athena advocates for Odysseus’ return to Ithaca, and Zeus finally consents. He returns home only to realize that his nobles are in open revolt and have been wasting his wealth. Disguised by Athena, he is recognized by his old nurse and by his valiant dog. Odysseus partakes of a meal in the palace before revealing himself in a feat of strength. Blood flows as the nobles are punished and Odysseus reclaims his throne, helped by Telemachus.

Ancient Sparta

DiPrimio, Pete. Ancient Sparta. 2013. 48p. ISBN 978-1612282763. Available at 938 DIP on the library shelves.

One of the most feared ancient society, Sparta was, at the height of its power, a militaristic society living a simple lifestyle based on harsh laws. Over six chapters, this short book discusses different aspects of Spartan life and society through a storytelling format supplemented by pictures.

Topics examined include laws and the founding of Sparta; its military might and prowess on the field of battle; Spartan women, who were more educated and more equal with their men than the rest of Greek society; and the Spartan way of life. The book also includes a map of Greece and a timeline of Spartan history.