★ Nine classical myths hold mirrors up to our fiercest passions, guiding us towards forgiveness, empathy and a deeper understanding of ourselves.
★ Myths don't age, because they've been waiting for us to read them again
The core belief of this book is simple: every time we read a myth, it feels like the first time. They are not outdated tales, but an inexhaustible source of wisdom that never grows old. The author weaves together classical scholarship, philosophy, and emotional healing, making stories from two thousand years ago feel sharp and relevant today. With each rereading, you see something in yourself you hadn't noticed before.
★ Nine words, nine doors to self-understanding
Each myth leads to a key word: recognition, vision, peace, magnanimity, healing, depth, acceptance, transgression, balance. These are not abstract concepts — they are entry points to understanding yourself. You won't remember all the names and genealogies of the gods after reading this book. But you will remember how those feelings were seen, named, and held.

Every time we read a myth, it feels like the first time. Inexhaustible sources of wisdom and introspection, myths are proof that it is possible to never grow old. Fear, anger, desire, grief, joy: in these stories we encounter figures that give meaning to our emotions, reflect us, and question us. True gifts from the past, myths continue to enrich us, and with each rereading we learn something more about who we are. This book contains nine such gifts. Nine myths that have the power to care for what has always driven every one of our actions: our emotions. The strength of Andromache, who defends love even in loss, becomes our own when we face the end of a relationship; the fury of Achilles, which gives way to magnanimity, can teach us the courage of empathy; when we are at the mercy of a panic attack, knowing the state of mind embodied by the god Pan can help us, because what is named can be contained; while our most vital and elusive part belongs to Dionysus—it is he who heals what escapes the control of rationality. These nine "therapeutic" stories give us nine key words in return; each one invites us to deep introspection, opening new spaces for healing. Because if at first glance these myths speak of gods, heroes, and heroines, in reality they tell what the ancients knew about us: the passions that move us, the transformations we are called to undergo, and how wounds can become the very site of healing.

CRISTINA DELL'ACQUA
　　teaches Greek and Latin at Collegio San Carlo in Milan and Contemporary Latin Culture at IULM University in Milan. She curates the new Classics series for Roi Edizioni and writes cultural articles for Corriere della Sera. She has contributed weekly columns (Dizionario del Tempo Presente and Mitici) for La7's social media and the series I nostri miti and I miti delle stelle for Corriere della Sera's digital editions. Her books include Una Spa per l'anima (2019), Il nodo magico (2021) and La formula di Socrate (2023) for Mondadori, and Il desiderio di volare (2022) for Solferino.