The world's oldest and most entertaining classic,
The world of Greco-Roman mythology that has survived through history
tvN [Naked World History] JTBC [China Class] Professor Kim Heon's new book!

The third book in the "Forest of Philosophy" and "Forest of Classics" series, which has long been a bestseller in the youth book market and has pleasantly shattered the conventional wisdom that philosophy and classics are difficult and dull, has been published and is a hot topic.
This book, which deals with Greco-Roman mythology, quickly became a hit on Mom Cafe even before it was published.


Professor Kim Heon of Seoul National University, a classicist who led the Western classics craze by explaining the stories and value of Greek and Roman mythology in a fun and easy-to-understand way for everyone through various broadcast media and lectures, including JTBC's [Naked World History] and tvN's [China Class], revealed that he wrote this book with special affection.
He also found strength and answers to move forward by reading the epics of ancient Greece when life was truly difficult and hard.
That is why the author recommends that growing youth chew on myths and digest them well.


There is not a single useless part in the stories of Greco-Roman mythology.
In particular, this book has compiled stories from the original myths that can pique children's interest and expand their thinking and concentration skills, such as the tragedy of Narcissus, which shows the dangers of excessive self-love (narcissism), the arrogance of Arachne, who lost everything despite her outstanding talent, and the courage of Theseus, who chose endless challenges and finally stood tall as a hero.

“I wish my child would read books.” This is probably the wish of every parent.
But what's really important is that the child reads books 'by himself' and 'for fun'.
Only then can you truly internalize the knowledge and enlightenment in the book.
If you've been concerned about your child's picky reading habits, now is the time to delve into the forest of myths, which not only offers interesting storytelling but also offers a clear understanding of the theme.
By the time you close the last page, you'll find your child confidently saying, "This book is really fun!" or "I shouldn't be like Narcissus, always saving myself!"

Narcissus wanted to greet him and shake his hand.
Just as Echo imitated Narcissus's voice, Narcissus in the spring made the same movements as Narcissus outside the spring.
The two reached out to each other equally.
The moment my hand touched the spring water, it rippled and the man in the water became distorted.
It was the same even when I tried to kiss her.
Even though they longed for each other, their meeting could never happen.
Finally, Narcissus realized everything.

“The man who made love bloom in my heart is me.
"It is my image reflected in the water! It is I who ignited the flame of love in my heart. I have ignited it, and I will be consumed by it!"
--- p.30

Many people complain that the gods in Greco-Roman mythology are so mean.
This is because we believe that God is not only omnipotent and omniscient, but also morally perfect and must uphold justice and goodness.
In fact, when I see corruption rampant in the world and evil people living well, I think, 'There is no God in this world.
We often complain, 'If there is a God, how could this happen?'


So, perhaps the Greeks and Romans imagined the gods, like Zeus and Hera in this story, to be not so different from us humans? They believed that the gods were not ethically perfect beings who embodied goodness and justice, but rather acted as they pleased, driven by their own desires and passions, and thus the world we inhabit was absurd and unreasonable.
Perhaps it is because a flawed god like Zeus or Hera seems more suitable to explain the world we live in than a good and perfect god.

--- pp.132-133

As we read the story, we must reflect not only on the actions of the human Arachne, who was disrespectful to the gods, but also on the actions of the gods themselves.
Arachne was wrong, but isn't Athena's actions, such as tearing Arachne's cloth to shreds and beating her in a fit of rage, also condemnable? Had she calmly admitted defeat, praised Arachne's skill, and encouraged her to cultivate humility, Arachne would have gained profound insight and revered the goddess, and the onlookers would have all paid her respectful tribute.
But Athena was unable to suppress her anger and missed the opportunity to show off her elegant character.
The lesson from this myth is very clear.
If you have the skills of Arachne, it would be good to also try to acquire the virtue of humility that she lacked.
If you possess the power and authority of the goddess Athena, you should also strive to possess the qualities of tolerance, consideration, and the fairness to admit defeat.

--- pp.172-173

“My brother, you are the son of Poseidon, yet you dishonor the name of Poseidon.
If you had used your strength to do good deeds to help the weak, you too would have been a hero.
Today, I will show you that no matter how harsh and evil the world may be, those with good hearts will ultimately triumph, that heroes are stronger than villains.
“I will return to you all the pain you have caused to those who have suffered!”

Theseus raised his bronze club high and struck it hard at Procrustes.
And he left the inn and walked briskly towards Athens.
The challenges and adventures he embarked on with fear made him grow into a very strong hero.
If he had not challenged himself, he might have lived a weak life like a 'mama's boy' in the Troezen Palace, in his mother's arms.
If you were to go it alone, you'd probably remain an incompetent person, unable to do anything properly. However, only those who overcome their fears and take on challenges with courage can succeed. Even if you don't succeed in everything and experience failure at times, you'll grow by the amount you challenge yourself. Through that growth, you'll ultimately get closer to success.

--- pp.311-312