Lap of the Gods

In Lap of the Gods Jill Dudley explores the ancient Greek myths and legends of Crete and other Aegean islands, describing the landscape and the individuality of each as well as the characters she meets. With her customary light touch she traces the lives of such famous island figures as Hippocrates, Pythagoras, Homer, and Sappho who all excelled under the guidance of the Olympian gods. As in her earlier books she is curious regarding how and why Christianity took over from the pagan gods. While professing to be a wavering atheist and on a continual search for enlightenment, she also admits to calling on God (sometimes Apollo) when in a tight corner. She is accompanied as always by Harry, her stalwart husband, as they visit temple sites, early Byzantine churches, attend festivals, and climb to sacred mountain caves. The book is an easy read, well researched, informative and often comical.