Woven Tales of Greek Mythology

Woven Tales of Greek Mythology (no publisher link available), Michael D. Clark. Covenant Books (ISBN: 9798894854540) 2025.

Summary: A rendering of Greek mythology from creation to the odyssey with parallels to Judeo-Christian texts.

Michael D. Clark, Ed.D has undertaken a fascinating project in this book. He seeks to offer a chronological and continuous rendering of Greek mythology from the creation through Heracles and Jason and the Argonauts up through the events of the Iliad and the Odyssey. The lefthand pages of the book render Greek mythology while the right hand pages draw parallels between the episode and Judeo-Christian scripture, and apocryphal and other ancient texts. The text is enhanced by drawings rendering some of the mythological events, often placed on pages with no biblical parallel. He also includes a very helpful glossary of characters in Greek mythology.

There is quite an extensive scholarship comparing biblical and other ancient near east texts. This is the first instance I’ve come across (though I am by no means a scholar in this field!) of looking at parallels between Judeo-Christian texts and Greek mythology. But given the interaction between Greek philosophy and Christian theology, there might be warrant in this work.

And indeed, Clark explores a number of interesting parallels. For example, he opens with the Greek paradise myth of Pelasgus, comparing it with the Adam story. Likewise, the Deucalion flood myth obviously has parallels with the biblical and extra-biblical flood accounts. Then there is the story of the Cyclops, Polyphemous, blinded in the eye in the middle of his forehead, paralleling the stone striking down Goliath.

Sometimes the parallels underscore the differences. For example, I see the contrast between the extraordinary training in martial arts of Heracles and the more normal youth of Jesus, punctuated with his discussions with religious leaders at age twelve.

There is an extended section paralleling the labors of Heracles with the final challenges Jesus faced with the religious leaders before his crucifixion. But here, I found the parallels often superficial. For example, in the ninth labor, he parallels the golden belt of Hippolyte to the Romain coin used in the discussion of paying tribute. Yes, there were objects of monetary value. Yes, deceitful behavior is part of the story. But I felt this a stretch at best.

Perhaps more far-fetched was the likening of Medusa’s lifeless head, carried in the backpack of Perseus to the carrying of tablets of the law in the ark, and the idea that “Medusa represented the law found in the commandments.” The only parallel I see are containers carrying objects.

I felt part of the challenge was in finding parallels with a narrative of all the Greek myths. Some are of genuine interest like creation, flood, or resurrection stories. Likewise, definite moral parallels also abound. But some parallels are little more than linguistically similar or seem a bit of a reach. Would a more modest goal of, say, ten of the most significant parallels discussed in greater depth be more effective?

In saying this, I want to recognize the author’s effort. However, I felt this could have benefited from review by other scholars of Greek mythology and Judeo-Christian literature. Likewise, a more focused treatment might have enhanced “the weave.”

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for review.