Volume 1
12 Keys to Understanding Mythology

Introduction│Ariadne's Thread
1.
Finding the Lost Shoes
2.
A world of absurd fun
3.
The Two Faces of Love
4.
The Lost Sun Chariot
5.
Courtesy of trees
6.
Even to the afterlife, you need to pay a boat fare.
7.
The song is powerful
8.
A great flood overflowed the entire earth
9.
white snake, black snake
10.
Why is the god of wine resurrected?
11.
Horns on the head, horns on the groin
12.
Memory and Forgetting
The words that come out│The Chains of Aristaeus

Volume 2
12 Keys to Reading Mythology with the Theme of Love

Introduction│In Search of the Lost 'Half'
1.
A love that shouldn't happen
2.
A person you shouldn't love
3.
Catch the 'lizard'
4.
People of Lesbos
5.
Oedipus, 'Know thyself!'
6.
Electra, washing blood with blood
7.
Tereus, who dug a grave with his groin
8.
The person Narcissus loved
9.
Chaos for the Cosmos
10.
The original Romeo and Juliet
11.
Light and Shadow in Corinth
12.
Pomona, you know your 'time' very well.
Words that come out│If you don't run, you'll fall

Volume 3
12 Keys to Opening the Hearts of the Gods

Introduction│A Flock of Cranes in Ibykos
1.
Faith can make a stone into a human being.
2.
Pride can turn a man to stone.
3.
Grace, the sword without a hilt
4.
Wish Fulfillment, the Bridge of No Return
5.
A promise with humans is a promise with the gods
6.
A promise with the gods is a promise with humans
7.
Gods are not objects of knowledge
8.
Gods are not objects of competition
9.
Peleus, the wandering human, attains immortality.
10.
Bellerophon, lord of the heavenly horse, falls into the field of wandering.
11.
Meleager's 'Overaction'
12.
Prometheus, finally freed
The words that come out│Ariadne's thread and 'my' thread

Volume 4
The Twelve Labors of Hercules

Note
Introduction│Is this an ancient memory of humanity?
1.
Amphitryon is back!
2.
Heroes, descend to the ground
3.
Nemean Lion
4.
Water Serpent Hydra, Seed of Death
5.
A doe with horns!
6.
The wild boar of Mount Erymanthus
7.
You want me to clean up cow dung?
8.
The Birds of Stymphalos
9.
Bull of Crete
10.
Diomedes' Mares
11.
Amazon Queen's Belt
12.
In search of Geryones' herd of cattle
13.
The distant golden apple tree
14.
Go to the afterlife alive
15.
Hercules' life is not over
The words that come out│I hold my breath in front of the painting

Volume 5
The Adventures of the Argonauts

Introduction│From Istanbul's 'Cloudy Tavern'
1.
Jason descends
2.
Monosandalos
3.
Pelias's scheme
4.
Heroes, set sail
5.
The Women of Lemnos
6.
The Tragedy of Quizikos
7.
The Prophecy of Phineus
8.
Towards the golden sheep fur
9.
The back of the sail
Conclusion

It lives up to its reputation!
This is what captivated 2.3 million readers.
The world of myths from the best storyteller, Lee Yoon-ki!!

In 2000, the first volume of Lee Yun-gi's Greek and Roman Mythology was published, and a craze for Greek and Roman mythology swept through South Korea.
This book, which introduces Greek mythology, the foundation of Western civilization, in a way that suits our emotions and modern sensibilities, has immersed countless readers in the fascinating world of mythology. It has been praised as a book that "changed the map of Korean culture in the 21st century," and has sold over 2.3 million copies over the past 20 years.
This book was at the center of the mythology craze, from the time when Greek and Roman mythology was nothing more than an old tale from a distant land to becoming a nationally essential cultural asset and expanding into comics, performances, and exhibitions.


Greek and Roman mythology is a classic that represents the archetype of human culture, encompassing the entire humanities, including literature, history, anthropology, and psychology, and reflects the lives and world of modern people across time and space.
The intelligence and wit of Lee Yun-gi, the 'best storyteller', who possessed an exceptional talent for conveying the charm and value of these myths at a level that suited the reader's eye level, are truly remarkable.
As he wrote his first book, he gently encouraged readers, and countless readers, captivated by his eloquence and encouragement, pedaled excitedly into the vast and deep world of mythology.


“Imagine that you are now learning to ride a bicycle called mythology.
First, get on the bike and start pedaling.
“I will follow you, holding the luggage from behind.”
_From the introduction to volume 1

“Reading mythology is like finding the temple in your heart.”

There are countless books on Greek and Roman mythology, but the name that still comes to mind first for South Korean readers is Lee Yun-gi.
To him, myths, universal stories of humanity, were valuable as a means of understanding himself, others, and the world.
Lee Yun-gi presented us with a mythological tale of a different temperature, based on piety and warmth toward the people of his time.
Only when we are with him can we each become the protagonists of our own myths.
Meanwhile, with the desire to present readers with a colorful mythological story, he traveled to historical sites and museums throughout Europe, including Greece, the setting of the myth, and took almost 20,000 photos, almost obsessively.
The author's sincerity in vividly conveying to the reader the sensations he saw and felt is fully reflected in every page of the book.


“As I visit Greek temples, I also create a temple in my heart.
This temple serves people.
Serve courtesy to humanity.
Reading mythology is like finding the temple that resides in my heart.
The Olympian gods no longer exist.
But those gods were the universal dreams and truths of the people living at that time.
So I think that reverence for the gods is reverence for the people of that time, reverence for the moral code of that time.
I believe that being pious to the people of my time is the very act of opening the hearts of the gods.”
_From the introduction to volume 3

In memory of “the beloved Lee Yun-gi”
The entire 5-volume series in one volume
A special 1,200-page hardcover edition is now available.

In August 2010, when news of the passing of author Lee Yun-gi, a representative novelist of our time, an outstanding translator, and a mythology expert who was much loved by readers, was announced, countless people expressed their sorrow and condolences.
It is a sad loss to say goodbye to a true 'storyteller' who possessed not only the power of narrative but also an exceptional skill in handling language, and the journey of Lee Yun-gi's mythical world, which we expected to continue together for a long time, has come to a sad end.
However, the bereaved family who held the funeral discovers a file left behind by the author.
It was a posthumous work containing the story of the Argo Expedition, which is considered one of the most exciting adventures in Greco-Roman mythology.
The manuscript was published posthumously, and the series was completed with the fifth volume.


“I write with a particular aim, like an arrow, toward young readers who experience frustration.”
_From the introduction to volume 5

In 2020, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first publication of 『Lee Yun-gi's Greek and Roman Mythology』 and the 10th anniversary of Lee Yun-gi's passing, a special combined edition of all five volumes is presented with a new binding.
This special edition is a beautiful 1,200-page hardcover volume containing the text of all five volumes in the series, along with over 220 newly added illustrations and illustrations selected from existing books.
Inspired by the author's writing note, "I aim and write like an arrow, especially toward readers who experience frustration," the new cover design features the goddess Artemis drawing an arrow from her bow and Teucer aiming his bow at something on the front and back.
"Lee Yun-gi's Greek and Roman Mythology," which has been consistently loved as a "national myth book" for the past 20 years, will be a special gift that brings the joy of ownership and intellectual vitality to new readers encountering it for the first time, as well as to longtime readers revisiting it with renewed appreciation.

* Praise from readers of this book

“The most accessible and readable Greek and Roman mythology book.”

“The myths told by Mr. Lee Yun-gi were stories about people.
“A languid joy, as if my grandmother or mother were reciting to me when I was young.”

“A book that helped me understand Western culture more deeply.
“I regret not having read it sooner.”

“I’ve been meaning to read Greek and Roman mythology for a long time, and thanks to this series, I finally did it!”

“This book gave my narrow and sloppy knowledge a smooth and structured form.”

"A book I want to keep and look at over and over again! I thought I should read it again someday."

“The author’s unique interpretation of Greco-Roman mythology stands out.”

“The mythical journey with Mr. Lee Yoon-ki was such a happy 10 years.
“Thank you for helping me dream of a myth.”