If you think the legendary gods and goddesses of classical mythology are ancient history, think again. This little book focuses on a variety of those fascinating gods and goddesses and some of the lessons they've been teaching people since long ago—with a few wild and crazy tales to boot.

Here are just a few of the interesting facts you'll find in Classical Mythology:

• Head of a crocodile, body of a lioness, rear of a hippopotamus, Ammut was a female demon who took the last measure of a person's deeds. If he'd been wicked, Ammut would eat his soul and he'd spend eternity in torment.

• The most famous "miracle birth" in Greek mythology is that of Athena, goddess of wisdom, who sprang fully formed from the head of Zeus.

• Cronus ate five of his kids on purpose.

• The Nereids were patron spirits of sailors, who whispered kind, loving words about them to ensure they would stay safe at sea.

• In Egyptian mythology, the Phoenix was a magical firebird, associated with the sun. It lived for hundreds of years, and when it died it was reborn from its own ashes.

• You might say that Atlas is all over the map. The Titan who holds up the heavens gave his name to the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlas Mountains in northern Africa, and the mythical lost continent of Atlantis. And of course a bound collection of maps is also called an atlas.

Ever what was in Pandora's box? Or how Achilles came to have a weak spot? You'll find the answers inside.