(no subject)

[darchildre]

So...I have a somewhat weird request for information. The internet knows everything, right?

The vast majority of my knowledge of Greek mythology comes from books aimed at kids, and that a long time ago. I have recently found myself wanting to revisit those stories, but in a closer to the actual sources kind of way, without having to learn ancient Greek. Sort of, y'know, like reading the Eddas but with Olympians instead of the Aesir. Except that I know nothing about Greek whatsit beyond what I remember from the D'Aulaires. (Well, and Homer. I have read the Odyssey.)

What should I read?

Comments

[polarisnorth]

I think Edith Hamilton's Mythology is the go-to book, unless that's changed since I last went on a myth-kick. And of course there's always Bullfinch's.

[darchildre]

Thanks - I will look into those.

I'm kinda looking more for translations of original texts (like the Eddas), rather than paraphrased retellings, though. Like, where Ms Hamilton et al learned the stories to begin with.

[polarisnorth]

In that case I definitely third the rec of Ovid's Metamorphoses.

[finch]

So like, Hesiod's Theogeny and Works and Days, and Ovid's Metamorphoses? Have you read the Homeric Hymns?

[nicki]

Oo, oo, I can use college stuff!

Hesiod, Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides and (if you have lots and lots of time) Herodotus are good sources. Homer with the Illiad and Odyssey is, of course, the oldest, but Hesiod is of similar vintage, though he is more lyric and hymn than ballad (also more rant). Herodotus is commonly thought of as the first historian, but he includes a LOT of myths from a number of peoples in his writing. His Histories are really really long, though. Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides are Greek playwrights and they are much faster reads, but it's hard to tell how much artistic license is included. If you want to be really esoteric, there are also some academic works regarding linear B writing that include some speculation based on carved epitaphs and other monumental writings.

[toft]

I would second Ovid's Metamorphoses. It is a lovely book and by far the majority of our Greek and Roman mythology stories come from it. You might be interested to check out Ted Hughes' translations of extracts from it as a starter, or just get a Penguin translation of it and go.