While merely mortal, these legendary Greek heroes were clearly a different breed -- one perfectly equipped for adventure. Find out why the strongman Heracles had to perform impossible tasks known as the 12 Labors. Discover the great tales of courageous Theseus, who faced the lethal Minotaur, and see Jason's determination to find the Golden Fleece, along with his sudden fall from grace.

"Humans are mortal, in that they are born, grow old, and eventually die. In contrast, the gods were immortal; they never aged and they lived forever. The other factor separating the mortals from the immortals in Greek eyes was the immense power those gods wielded. That power could either aid and support human civilization or utterly destroy itA sense of wonder based on respect for the gods is an ever-present facet for of all the hundreds of surviving...

"Whether one looks at gods walking the earth, heroes killing monsters, or evil villains threatening society, the great mass of ancient Greek myths seems to overflow with colorful characters and stories. These tales were in a sense among the meat and potatoes of the classical Greeks' cultural identity. They felt that in certain ways their myths explained where they came from and to some degree who they were as a people"--

"The mythical character the ancient Greeks called Odysseus and the Romans called Ulysses is a true hero for the ages. The tale of his adventures has been retold countless times over the centuries. Yet it remains as exciting as it was when the Greek storyteller Homer first recited it close to three thousand years ago. In the great epic the Iliad, Odysseus is one of the Greek kings who attack the famous city of Troy. After winning the Trojan War, Odysseus...