Reaching Olympus: The Roman Myths, Including the Aeneid

Roman mythology continues the grand storytelling tradition of Greek mythology. The Aeneid, the poet Virgil’s masterpiece, tells the journey of the Trojan lord Aeneas as he leaves the destruction of the Trojan War behind to discover a new home in Italy. The poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses inventively re-tells the Greek myths by linking them together through the theme of metamorphosis or transformation. The allegorical myth of Cupid and Psyche analyzes the connection between the heart and the mind. The legends of Romulus and Remus, the Sabine women, and Lucretia explain how Rome was founded and then grew into a mighty republic. This textbook includes 11 script-stories that re-tell these wonderful Roman myths. Each script-story is prefaced by a 2-page teacher guide complete with background information, story summary, pre- and post-story discussion questions, project ideas that connect the myths to the modern world, and terms that can be taught using the script. Also included is a battlefield strategy game, a glossary of important characters, and a name pronunciation guide.