A potent pantheon of gods, heroes engaged in epic battles, fearsome mythical creatures and supernatural transformations - such fantastical elements infuse Greek myths with a wonder and excitement that's hard to beat. These tales of love, courage, conflict and intrigue, shared for thousands of years, still exercise a powerful influence on our modern lives.

Richard Buxton is Emeritus Professor of Greek Language and Literature at the University of Bristol. Among his many books are Imaginary Greece, The Complete World of Greek Mythology and Myths and Tragedies in their Ancient Greek Contexts. From 2006?12 he was President of the Foundation for the Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae.