I was particularly struck by how central this gap is between its so many of the myths I'm thinking particularly on the mist you tell of Demeter and Metanera. At least to date that a little bit. It's really interesting I guess that if it all comes back to this gulf existing between the god and mortals. In this age of heroes you have mortals really striving to be close to the gods are often descended from the gods and they're trying to match the gods. So that gap will always be there. And similarly when Apollo built his Delphico oracle he kidnaps a bunch of men to serve as its first priest. He gives them an answer but he's not all
Hercules, Prometheus, Pandora. The compelling characters of Greek mythology continue to fascinate readers thousands of years after their stories were first told. For this edition of the podcast, leading classicist Sarah Iles Johnston comes to Intelligence Squared to discuss their enduring popularity, which is the basis of her recent book, Gods and Mortals: Ancient Greek Myths for Modern Readers. Joining her in conversation is fellow classicist and author Daisy Dunn, author of Gods and Men: 100 Stories from Ancient Greece and Rome.
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