From Achilles to Christ

Book excerpt: ''The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact.'' - C.S. LEWIS In From Achilles to Christ, Louis Markos introduces readers to the great narratives of classical mythology from a Christian perspective. From the battles of Achilles and the adventures of Odysseus to the feats of Hercules and the trials of Aeneas, Markos demonstrates how the characters, themes and symbols within these myths both foreshadow and find their fulfillment in the story of Jesus Christ - the ''myth made fact.'' Along the way, he dispels misplaced fears about the dangers of reading classical literature and offers a Christian approach to the appropriation and interpretation of these great literary works. This engaging and eminently readable book is an excellent resource for Christian students, teachers and readers of classical literature. ''this is a much-needed Christian introduction to the classical pagan sources that framed the Mediterranean culture in which the apostles proclaimed the gospel. The argument of this book would have been obvious to the church fathers.'' PATRICK HENRY REARDON, senior editor, Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity, and author of The Trial of Job.