There are many great paintings and sculptures to admire and appreciate, but where should one start? Who were the groundbreaking artists that broke away from the past and found new ways to express nature, emotions, and the human form? In the first half of this book, these and many other questions are answered through 50 key works of Western art. Each entry can be digested in just 30 seconds. With 300 words and a single image, the context in which a painting or sculpture was created is explored, its features highlighted, and its influence on the art world explained. And what did Hercules do according to mythology to complete his twelve tasks? Why did Odysseus take ten years to cover 500 miles? You may remember such epic events, but do you know them well enough to enrich discussions at a dinner with stories about gods and monsters? The second half of this book presents the key details and decodes the deeper meaning of the greatest classical myths. The book reveals the origins of the gods, heroes, and monsters of ancient Greece and Rome, outlining the main aspects of their stories for the average reader in half a minute, with no more than two pages, 300 words, and an image.