“‘Seize the day’. Let us seize life. Let us enjoy it. This is the great lesson of myths. Emilio del Río (Logroño, 1963), university professor and author of “Little History of Classical Mythology” (Espasa), it says, smiling and confident. Illustrated by Jvlivs, it is a joy to “bring to readers of all ages the life lessons that myths give us, balancing humor and rigor.”
“Chesterton taught us that seriousness is not the opposite of fun, that it is boring and that good distribution must be entertaining and rigorous at the same time,” emphasizes Del Río. He wants to make it clear that his new book – three editions in a month – is “not a handbook or mythological dictionary.” Invites you to take part in an entertaining and profitable journey through the classical world. “You don’t have to have any knowledge of mythology to enjoy it,” says the author, doctor of classical philology, responsible for the popular podcast “Locos por los classics” (RNE) and author of “Latin Lovers” (2019). “Calamares a la Romana” (2020) and “Crazy about the Classics” (2023).
He wants his readers to “have a good time, learn, and understand the world better.” “We cannot understand our history or Western culture without mythology,” says Del Río. “Myths exist in art, painting, music or literature and they help us to look forward to the future for which we need innovation and imagination. And mythology makes us dream and awakens our imagination,” he emphasizes.
“We can fly on winged horses, face the bloodthirsty Minotaur or try to escape from the cave of a cyclops.” “Seneca, Marcus Aurelius and Cicero offer us funny adventures, great excursions and self-help in the best sense, and not the fairground charlatans of today,” says Del Río. “Mythology is not a revealed word, nor a divine truth, nor a holy book to kill for. “It is created by artists, poets, playwrights, historians and philosophers,” he congratulates himself.
Between all the myths, he stays with the phoenix bird, “who tells us that we can be reborn from the most difficult moments in life and move forward again – what we now call resilience – and with Athena.” “A woman born from the head of Zeus, the goddess of wisdom, intelligence or strategy in war. The deity of Athens and therefore of all cities. “The goddess of civilization, harmony, dialogue and agreement that urban coexistence, urbanity, requires,” she lists. “We need Athena more than ever,” he claims.
“Selfie” by Narcissus
Hercules, Perseus, Narcissus and Echo, Pygmalion and Galatea or Odysseus “reflect the human condition, good and evil, generosity or greed,” he argues. “These are life lessons,” emphasizes Del Río. “We live surrounded by mythology. The planets and the days of the week refer to mythological gods: Mars, Mercury, Jupiter…” he emphasizes. “When we say we live in a very narcissistic time, we are referring to Narcissus, who was the first to take a ‘selfie’ and drowned while trying to capture his image reflected in the water,” he says.
Homer teaches us through Odysseus that “life is a journey full of dangers.” I heard the siren songs, another mythological concept that is very present today in police cars, ambulances and firefighters. “It does not teach us to be careful with the ‘siren songs,’ that is, with temptations and dangers.” “Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, gives her name to NASA’s latest mission to put a woman on the moon, and Orion is a hunter who challenges Artemis. “Making ends meet is an odyssey, our politics are labyrinthine and we call the viruses that sneak into our devices Trojan horses,” he lists.
Another example is the already very rich King Midas: “Instead of asking Dionysus for friendship, health or love, he asks for more money; May everything you touch turn to gold. He will not be able to eat or drink and will beg to return to his previous state,” he says.
“The Olympus of Disclosure”
Del Río is proud to be included in a collection that includes Fernando García de Cortázar with his “Little World History”, Manuel Fernández Álvarez with “Spain”, Fernando Argenta with music, José Antonio Marina with painting, Fernando Savater with the philosophy or Henry came with the conquest of America. “I am entering Olympus, but I am the trainee of these gods of distribution,” he ironizes.
Del Río holds a Doctorate in Classics from the Complutense University of Madrid, where he is currently a Professor. He is the author of essays and research on classical communication and oratory. Since 2012 he has led the Latin American and classical culture section “Verba Volant”, first on “It’s not an ordinary day” on Cadena Ser and currently on Radio Nacional in the mornings.
He leads doctoral theses and has carried out research stays at several universities. He was awarded the Cross of Alfonso X the Wise for his services in the areas of education, science, culture, teaching and research. He has also received awards from the Spanish Society for Latin Studies and the Spanish Society for Classical Studies.
