Roman Mythology: A Traveler’s Guide from Troy to Tivoli[em] [/em]

Classicist Stuttard (Greek Mythology: A Traveler’s Guide from Mount Olympus to Troy) follows in the footsteps of Aeneas, Hercules, Apollo, Bacchus, and other mythical figures in this fascinating guide. Starting in Troy at the end of the Trojan War, Stuttard sets out with Aeneas, hero of Virgil’s epic poem The Aeneid, on his long journey to Italy, where, according to legend, his descendants Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome centuries later. Stuttard then explores the city’s ancient landmarks, including the Forum, the Capitoline and Aventine hills, and the Tiber river, revealing the central role each location plays in myths popular at the start of the Roman Empire in the first century BCE. Excerpts from Virgil, Ovid, Livy, and Plutarch, among other poets, historians, and statesmen, establish the importance of mythology in the politics of Rome, particularly during the reign of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, who once dressed as Apollo, the god of civilization, to fend off the threat of civil war. Each chapter concludes with modern-day travel tips and an archaeological overview of the locations under discussion, pinpointing when myth gave way to history. Readers planning a Roman holiday will enjoy this fresh take on the city’s history and culture. (Oct.)