The edited volume Histórias de mitologia e de medicina gregas para jovens de todas as idades (Tales of Greek Mythology and Medicine for Youth of All Ages), authored by Susana Marques, Cláudia Cravo, Mónica Durán Mañas (Editorship, Translation, and Didactic Activities) and Alicia Esteban Santos (Texts), was published in October 2025 by Coimbra University Press. This work is the result of a collaborative, four-handed project stemming from two languages – Portuguese and Spanish – and two sister cultures, which together culminated in this bilingual study.

Medicine and mythology are the keywords of a title that appeals to readers primarily because it addresses ‘youth of all ages’ – that is, anyone who might engage with it. Ordinary mortals might consider these fields incompatible; however, the gods, who know far more than any of us, created Asclepius, whose serpent-entwined staff continues to symbolise medicine and its art to this day, a heritage undoubtedly received from his father, Apollo. With these elements combined, we find the perfect narrative, allowing medicine to intertwine with myth, legend, and consequently, gods and heroes. It reaches us here in the form of two dramatised stories.

In the first story, entitled ‘Dialogue between Hippocrates and the Child of 2020’, time intersects between past and present. Transdisciplinary work abounds on every page, guided by the hands of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, whose enduring presence is felt to this day in the oath taken by future physicians. The narrative is enriched by references to gods and heroes (Asclepius, the god of medicine; the centaur Chiron; Odysseus; Aphrodite; and Medea), literary allusions to Sophocles, Boccaccio, and Shakespeare, medical concepts such as epidemics and viruses, the music of Wagner and Carmina Burana, and philosophy, notably Plato’s Symposium. All these citations establish a constant bridge to the contemporary world, enriching both the reading experience and the proposed activities. This fascination with the Classical world, alongside the wisdom it carries – which Hippocrates’ voice helps us recall through a narrative spanning the history of epidemics – revives fundamental milestones such as the Trojan War. It traverses the geography of the Classical world – Greece, Rome, Thessaly, Larissa, Thrace, and the Aegean Sea – captivating the ‘child of 2020’ with minor curiosities about the gods, including their love affairs, betrayals, and mishaps, before culminating in a majestic piece of advice:

In the second story, entitled ‘The Tragicomedy of the Gods and the Viruses (Bombs from Olympus)’, we witness a small yet profound drama about humanity. A worried Zeus summons the gods, but his authority is no longer instantaneous: Hermes evades capture, Artemis has a prior commitment (perhaps a highly modern lunar space mission!), and Athena is running late. Drawing from his supreme wisdom, Zeus suggests a miraculous technique to be here and there at the same time – which Hephaestus identifies as telecommunication. The matter is urgent; humanity requires punishment, not through a deluge or a war, but via something involving neither victors nor vanquished. From the forge of his ideas, Hephaestus suggests a microscopic artefact endowed with monstrous powers:

Thus is explained the birth of the virus-flies that take over the world – or rather, the people of Thebes, in a form of vengeance against Oedipus, who happens to be the sole survivor of this onslaught. Thebes, however, was a mere rehearsal; the virus eventually reaches the world of real men, far more sophisticated, fierce, and utterly implacable.

The parallel with contemporary events, namely the pandemic experienced from 2020 onwards, is evident. Here, myth blends with life, guiding us as we attempt to comprehend that which lies beyond our power.

This is a highly compelling and innovative piece of work that successfully bridges various aspects of Classical themes – such as historical figures, literary characters, myths, and concepts – with contemporary issues relevant to the target audience’s universe. The deliberate choice of a dramatic text offers a distinct approach, given that adaptations for children and young people are predominantly situated within the realm of prose narrative. Furthermore, dramatic texts allow for performance-based work, which is duly addressed in this proposal and which narrative forms cannot always accommodate.

The Classical references (covering language, civilisation, and culture) in their various senses are strictly and rigorously presented, raising no questions regarding historical accuracy or relevance. Moreover, these references emerge naturally within the text without ever feeling forced. Contemporary aspects are similarly addressed with precision, avoiding the excessive explanations that one might expect from purely academic non-fiction, thereby preserving its literary nature.

Regarding discourse structure, both pieces adhere to the essential conventions of dramatic writing, respecting the progression of plot, with clear and well-defined spatial–temporal coordinates. The characters are developed with an appropriate level of depth for each work, ensuring that their dynamics contribute effectively to characterisation (both direct and indirect) and plot development. The language is accessible yet highly appropriate; the inclusion of stage directions (didascalies), while restrained, is crucial for textual comprehension and serves as an important aid to dramatisation.

One must also highlight the pedagogical focus aimed at disseminating Classical myths among today’s children and youth.The authors have included diverse didactic proposals that address multiple learning domains, adapting well to audiences with varying interests and across distinct teaching and learning contexts.

This volume represents a significant asset. Combining myth, medicine, dramatic text, and educational proposals – expertly illustrated by Hélio Falcão in a modern style deeply inspired by Antiquity – it will undoubtedly delight youth of all ages, serving as a testament to work of unquestionable quality.