In this little book the attempt has been to trace Greek History so as to
be intelligible to young children. In fact, it will generally be found
that classical history is remembered at an earlier age than modern
history, probably because the events are simple, and there was something
childlike in the nature of all the ancient Greeks. I would begin a
child's reading with the History of England, as that which requires to be
known best; but from this I should think it better to pass to the History
of Greece, and that of Rome (which is in course of preparation), both
because of their giving some idea of the course of time, and bringing
Scripture history into connection with that of the world, and because
little boys ought not to begin their classical studies without some idea
of their bearing. I have begun with a few of the Greek myths, which are
absolutely necessary to the understanding of both the history and of art.
As to the names, the ordinary reading of them has been most frequently
adopted, and the common Latin titles of the gods and goddesses have been
used, because these, by long use, have really come to be their English
names, and English literature at least will be better understood by
calling the king of Olympus Jupiter, than by becoming familiar with him
first as Zeus.