Greek and Roman mythology has fascinated people for more than two millennia, and its influence on cultures throughout Europe, America, North Africa, the Middle East, and elsewhere attests to the universal appeal of the stories. ""Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology"" examines the best-known figures of Greek and Roman mythology together with the great works of classic literature that are the sources for our mythological understanding. This new encyclopedia presents ancient mythology from a literary perspective and features numerous illustrations from both ancient and modern works of fine art to show how myths have been transmitted in visual form through the ages. The entries include: Greek and Roman gods and heroes, such as Athena, Achilles, Apollo, Heracles, Odysseus, Orpheus, Poseidon, and Zeus; Mythological creatures, such as Cerberus, the Gorgons, the Minotaur, and Pegasus; and great works of literature that provide the sources for classical mythology, including the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; the ""Aeneid of Virgil""; the ""Iliad and the Odyssey"" of Homer; and the ""Metamorphoses"" of Ovid and much more.