Mythological Texts: Commentary, Notes, and Discussion Questions
You may have studied mythology in English class in high school by reading summaries and syntheses of myths - the most popular of which are by Bullfinch, Edith Hamilton, or Robert Graves. In other words, someone else read the original myths and synthesized them into stories that you could read, each of which drew on multiple individual texts and artifacts. In our study of mythology, we are going to construct our own knowledge - we are going to read the individual texts and examine individual artifacts, analyze them, and create our own synthesis.
We will rarely talk generally about individual gods or myths - rather, you should refer to what Hesiod said about Zeus in the Theogony, or what Homer said in the Iliad. For this reason, while "encyclopedia" sources can provide valuable information, it is important to follow the breadcrumbs to the sources of their information. (Theoi.com does an excellent job of providing breadcrumbs for you to follow, which is one of the primary reasons that I recommend that site.)
I have written commentary, notes, and discussion questions for the individual texts that we will be reading. Click on the title of the text below to be taken to that text's page.
We will rarely talk generally about individual gods or myths - rather, you should refer to what Hesiod said about Zeus in the Theogony, or what Homer said in the Iliad. For this reason, while "encyclopedia" sources can provide valuable information, it is important to follow the breadcrumbs to the sources of their information. (Theoi.com does an excellent job of providing breadcrumbs for you to follow, which is one of the primary reasons that I recommend that site.)
I have written commentary, notes, and discussion questions for the individual texts that we will be reading. Click on the title of the text below to be taken to that text's page.
Aeschylus: the Oresteia (Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, Eumenides)Apollonius, the ArgonauticaEuripides, ElectraEuripides, MedeaHesiod, the TheogonyHesiod, the Works and DaysHomer, the IliadHomer, the OdysseyHomeric Hymn to DemeterLivy, History of RomeOvid, MetamorphosesSophocles, ElectraSophocles, Oedipus the KingVirgil, Aeneid |