Hackett Publishing

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This volume is designed as a companion to the standard undergraduate mythology textbooks or, when assigned alongside the central Greek and Roman works, as a source-based alternative to those textbooks.

In addition to the complete texts of the Homeric Hymns and Hesiod's Theogony, this collection provides generous selections from over 50 texts composed between the Archaic Age and the fourth century A.D. Ancient interpretation of myth is represented here in selections from the allegorists Heraclitus, Cornutus and Fulgentius, the rationalists Palaephatus and Diodorus of Sicily, and the philosophers and historians Plato, Herodotus and Thucydides. Appendices treat evidence from inscriptions, papyri and Linear B tablets and include a thematic index, a mythological dictionary, and genealogies. A thoughtful Introduction supports students working with the primary sources and the other resources offered here; an extensive note to instructors offers suggestions on how to incorporate this book into their courses.

"This book is a treasure-trove. It will be hugely useful to instructors teaching any level of mythology course. Not only does it provide, under one cover, good translations of the two complete books essential to every course (Theogony; Homeric Hymns), it also offers hundreds of pages of additional primary material . . . . No other book in English offers such a wide range of well-translated and important sources. This will be the perfect complement to courses in myth and ancient civilization, making exploration of the mythic heritage richer and more intellectually exciting for all. . . . The quality of translation is universally high—passages are simple, direct, accurate, yet preserve (as the editors wished) a good sense of the native stylistic variations found in the range of excerpts."
     —Richard Martin, Stanford University

"I am astonished by the simplicity of the idea, and, at the same time, the complexity of the effort, that joined to produce this outstanding work. . . the organization is impeccable and the selection is provocative. This new volume will allow instructors to encourage students to explore the dynamic nature of mythology as a whole, as well as specific myths and mythological themes, across the spectrum of ancient authors, genres, and time periods. . . . I believe this volume will be an invaluable contribution to way we teach Classical myth at the university level."
     —Monica Cyrino, University of New Mexico

"Anthology of Classical Myth is an elegant book and a welcome addition to the field of college level classical mythology textbooks. It offers, in a purposeful and orderly manner, a considerable amount of otherwise not readily available material, maintaining a tone of cultivated but lively and personally engaged learning throughout. . . . The choice of texts is what makes this anthology unique and really interesting."
     —Celica Milovanovic, The Classical Outlook

"This book, as its title suggests, is a compilation of ancient Greek and Roman texts in translation, suitable for use in classical mythology courses. . . . The end result comprises excerpts from over fifty ancient authors, from Hesiod in the 7th century BC to Latin mythographer Fulgentius in the 6th century AD. Primary sources dominate, with clear and readable translations, though each author is given a useful introduction which is brief and to the point. . . . Proclus' summaries of the Trojan Cycle are here, as are selections from Hyginus (a whole 61 pages of his Fabulae), Antoninus Liberalis, Parthenius, Pherecydes—the list could go on. To have all these together in a single volume is a real delight. . . .There are also useful notes both to students and to teachers on how to get the most from the book. It will be of value to everyone with an interest in classical mythology, and should certainly be in the library of every institution that runs courses on the subject."
     —Jenny March, Journal of Classics Teaching

". . . an exceedingly useful book for anyone teaching myth."
     —Diana Burton, Journal of Hellenic Studies

"I believe any mythology teacher who uses primary texts should order this volume for their classes; I certainly will. While the combination of Hesiod and the Homeric Hymns in one volume is in itself welcome, the addition of Apollodorus, Pausanias, Lucian, and Ovid's Heroides, among many others, should prove irresistible to experienced teachers of myth. . . . The introductory materials are very clear and well presented."
     —Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Temple University

"This volume is an excellent addition to the options available to the teacher of Classical Myth. Nowhere else is there such an assortment of texts—many unavailable elsewhere in translation—in such an easy to use and inexpensive format."
     —Daniel Berman, Penn State University

"A superb anthology—well-organized, with clear, up-to-date translations.  Will become my standard text for Greek Mythology."
     —David Layman, Department of Philosophy & Religion, Lebanon Valley College

Stephen M. Trzaskoma and R. Scott Smith are Assistant Professors of Classics, University of New Hampshire.

Stephen Brunet is Associate Professor of Classics, University of New Hampshire.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Preface.
Acknowledgments.

A Note to Students: What's in This Book?; Sources and Problems; Final Advice; Organization and Layout; Symbols Found in Texts.

A Note to Instructors: Material for Background and Comparison; Ancient Approaches to Myth; Myth and History; Philosophical, Rationalizing, and Allegorical Approaches to Myth; Religion and Myth; Gender and Sexuality; Myth as a Source of Inspiration; Material for Modern Interpretation and Classification of Myth; Practical Considerations; Final Remarks.

Maps.
Genealogical Charts.
Time Line.

SELECTIONS:

Acusilaus, fragments: 23 Phoroneus, the First Mortal; 39 Aphrodite and the Trojan War.

Aelian, Historical Miscellany, excerpts: 3.22 Aineias and the Fall of Troy; 5.21 Medeia's Children; 8.3 Sacrifices at Athens; 13.1 Atalante.

Aeschylus, fragments: 70 Daughters of Helios. Zeus Is Everything; 99 The Carians (or Europa). Europa Tells Her Story; 161 Niobe. Thanatos; 193 Prometheus Freed: Prometheus Describes His Punishment.

Andron, fragment: 10 Origins of the Custom of Cremation.

Antoninus Liberalis, Collection of Metamorphoses, selections: 1 Ctesylla; 2 The Meleagrides; 4 Cragaleus; 6 Periphas; 10 The Minyades; 17 Leucippos; 26 Hylas; 27 Iphigeneia; 28 Typhon; 34 Smyrna; 36 Pandareos; 41 The Fox.

Apollodorus, Library, excerpts: A. The Early Gods, the Rise of Zeus and the Titanomachy (1.1.1-1.2.6); B. The Children of Zeus, Other Genealogies and Tales (1.3.1-1.4.5); C. The Rape of Persephone (1.5.1-1.5.3); D. The Gigantomachy and Typhon (1.6.1-1.6.3); E. Prometheus and Humanity (1.7.1-1.7.3); F. Oineus, Meleagros and the Calydonian Boar Hunt (1.8.1-1.8.3); G. Jason and the Argonauts; Medeia (1.9.16-1.9.28); H. Io (2.1.3); I. Bellerophontes (2.3.1-2.3.2); J. Acrisios, Danae and Perseus (2.4.1-2.4.5); K. Heracles (2.4.8-2.7.7); L. Europa and Her Cretan Children (3.1.1-3.1.4); M. Cadmos and Thebes (3.4.1-3.7.7); N. Theseus (3.15.6-E.1.19).

Archilochus, fragments (trans. by A. Miller): 122 Zeus and the Eclipse; 130 All Things Are Easy for the Gods; 177 Zeus and Justice.

Arrian, Anabasis, excerpt: 4.10.5-4.11.8 Worship of Alexander the Great.

Babrius, Fables, selections: 20 The Gods Help Those Who Help Themselves; 68 The Preeminence of Zeus; 70 The Marriage of Polemos and Hubris; 117 We Are Ants to the Gods.

Bacchylides, selections (trans. by A. Miller): Ode 5 Meleagros and Heracles; Dithyramb 17 Theseus and Minos.

Bion, Lament for Adonis.

Callimachus, Hymns, selections: 5 Hymn to Athena; 6 Hymn to Demeter.

Cleanthes, Hymn to Zeus.

Conon, Stories, selections: 24 Narcissos; 27 Deucalion; 34 Diomedean Necessity; 37 Cadmos; 40 Andromeda.

Cornutus, Compendium of the Traditions of Greek Theology, excerpts: 2-3 The Real Natures of Zeus and Hera; 20 Athena; 30 Dionysos.

Critias, Sisyphos, fragment.

Diodorus of Sicily, Historical Library, excerpts: 2.45-2.45 The Amazons; 3.56 Ouranos; 4.25 Orpheus; 5.66-5.73 A Euhemerizing Account of the Origin of the Gods.

Eratosthenes, Constellation Myths, selections: 7 Scorpios (Scorpio); 9 Parthenos (Virgo); 10 Didymoi (Gemini); 11 Carcinos (Cancer); 12 Leon (Leo); 14 Tauros (Taurus); 19 Crios (Aries); 21 Ichthyes (Pisces); 26 Hydrochoos (Aquarius); 27 Aigoceros (Capricorn); 28 Toxotes (Sagittarius).

Euripides, fragments: 286 Bellerophontes. Bellerophontes on the Gods; 473 The Cretans. Pasiphae Defends Herself; 660 The Captive Melanippe. Melanippe in Defense of Women.

Fulgentius, Myths, selections: 2.11 The Story of Vulcan and Minerva; 2.12 The Story of Dionysus.

Hellanicus, fragments: 88 The Three Kinds of Cyclopes; 125 Melanthos and Codros; 145 The Story of Patroclos; 157 The Murder of Chrysippos Son of Pelops.

Heraclitus, Homeric Problems, excerpts: 5 The Nature of Allegory; 54 Athena versus Ares; 56 Poseidon versus Apollo; 69 The Love of Ares and Aphrodite; 70 Odysseus' Adventures.

Herodorus, On Heracles, fragments: 13 A Reinterpretation of Heracles Holding Up the Sky; 14 The Myth of Heracles as Philosophical Allegory; 30 A Rationalized Account of the Punishment of Prometheus; 34 The Six Altars at Olympia.

Herodotus, The Histories, excerpts: 1.1-1.5 A Historical Interpretation of the Conflict Between Asia and Greece (trans. by S. Shirley); 1.23-1.24 Arion and the Dolphin (trans. by S. Shirley); 2.113-2.120 The Egyptians on Whether Helen Ever Went to Troy.

Hesiod, excerpts (trans. by S. Lombardo):
Theogony complete.
Works & Days 1-234 [1-201].

The Homeric Hymns (trans. by A. Lang, updated and modified):
The long Hymns: 1 To Dionysos; 2 To Demeter; 3 To Apollo; 4 To Hermes; 5 To Aphrodite.
The short Hymns: 6 To Aphrodite; 7 To Dionysos; 8 To Ares; 9 To Artemis; 10 To Aphrodite; 11 To Athena; 12 To Hera; 13 To Demeter; 14 To the Mother of the Gods; 15 To Heracles the Lion-Hearted; 16 To Asclepios; 17 To the Dioscouroi; 18 To Hermes; 19 To Pan; 20 To Hephaistos; 21 To Apollo; 22 To Poseidon; 23 To Highest Zeus; 24 To Hestia; 25 To the Muses and Apollo; 26 To Dionysos; 27 To Artemis; 28 To Athena; 29 To Hestia; 30 To Gaia, the Mother of All; 31 To Helios; 32 To Selene; 33 To the Dioscouroi.

Horace, Odes, selections: 1.10 Mercury; 2.19 Bacchus; 3.11 The Danaids.

Hyginus, Stories, selections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 152a, 153, 154, 155, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 169a, 171, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206.

Longus, Daphnis and Chloe, excerpts: 2.34 Pan and Syrinx; 3.23 Pan and Echo.

Lucian, selections:
Dialogues of the Dead: 23 Agamemnon and Ajax in the Underworld.
Dialogues of the Gods: 5 Prometheus and Zeus; 9 Zeus and Hera Discuss Ixion; 16 Hermes and Apollo Discuss Hyacinthos.
Dialogues of the Sea Gods: 2 Polyphemos and Poseidon; 7 The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis; 9 Delos; 11 Io; 12 Danae and Perseus in the Chest.
Judgment of the Goddesses.
On Sacrifices.

Lucretius, On the Workings of the Universe, excerpts: 1.1-101 Lucretius Invokes Venus; 2.589-2.660 The False Myth of Mother Earth; 5.1161-5.1240 The Origins of Religion.

Ovid, Heroides, selections: 1 Penelope to Odysseus; 3 Briseis to Achilles; 4 Phaedra to Hippolytus; 10 Ariadne to Theseus; 12 Medea to Jason.

Palaephatus, On Unbelievable Things, selections: Prologue; 1 The Centaurs; 2 Pasiphae; 4 The Cadmeian Sphinx; 6 Actaion; 15 Europa; 21 Daidalos; 24 Geryones; 28 Bellerophontes; 30 Phrixos and Helle; 32 The Amazons; 33 Orpheus; 34 Pandora; 38 The Hydra; 39 Cerberos; 40 Alcestis; 41 Zethos and Amphion; 42 Io; 43 Medeia; 45 The Horn of Amaltheia.

Parthenius, Sentimental Love Stories, selections: Introductory Letter; 2 Polymele; 3 Euippe; 4 Oinone; 12 Calchos; 13 Harpalyce; 15 Daphne; 20 Leiro; 29 Daphnis.

Pausanias, Description of Greece, excerpts (trans. by J. G. Frazer, adapted): A. The Sanctuary of Theseus in Athens (1.17.2-1.17.3); B. Sanctuary of Dionysos in Athens (1.20.3); C. The Tomb of Medeia's Children in Corinth (2.3.6-2.3.9); D. The Temple of Hera near Mycenae (2.17.1-2.17.4); E. The Grave of Thyestes Between Mycenae and Argos (2.18.1-2.18.2); F. Three-eyed Zeus in Larisa near Argos (2.24.3-2.24.4); G. Epidauros and Asclepios (2.26.3-2.27.4); H. Poseidon and Horses (7.21.7); I. The Oracle of Hermes (7.22.2-7.22.4); J. Lycanthropy in Arcadia (8.2.3-8.2.7); K. Black Demeter near Phigalia in Arcadia (8.42.1-8.42.4); L. Actaion's Bed near Plataia in Boiotia (9.2.3-9.2.4); M. The Reconciliation of Zeus and Hera in Plataia (9.2.7-9.3.1); N. Did Oidipous Have Children By His Mother? (9.5.10-9.5.11); O. The Sphinx (9.26.2-9.26.4).

Pherecydes, The Histories, fragments: 10 The Story of Danae; 11 The Story of Perseus; 12 The Death of Acrisios.

Pindar, Olympians, selection (trans. by A. Miller): 1 Pelops.

Plato, excerpts:
Protagoras: 320c-322d The Origin of Justice Among Mankind.
Republic: 2.376d-380c The Role of Poets and Myth in an Ideal State (trans. by G.M.A. Grube, rev. by C.D.C. Reeve); 10.614a-10.621d The myth of Er (trans. by G.M.A. Grube, rev. by C.D.C. Reeve).
Symposium: 189d-193b A Myth About the Origin of the Sexes (trans. by A. Nehemas and P. Woodruff).

Plutarch, Life of Theseus, excerpt: 24.1-25.2 The Synoikismos of Attica.

Proclus, Summaries of the Cyclic epics: A. Cypria; B. Aithiopis; C. The Little Iliad; D. The Sack of Ilion; E. The Returns; F. The Telegony.

Sallustius, On the Gods and the Cosmos, excerpt: 3-4 The Purpose and Types of Myth.

Sappho, fragment (trans. by A. Miller): 1 Prayer to Aphrodite.

Semonides, fragment (trans. by A. Miller): 7 The Different Kinds of Women.

Simonides (trans. by A. Miller): 543 Perseus in the Chest.

Sophocles, fragments: 432 Nauplios. Nauplios on the Achievements of his Son, Palamedes; 583 Tereus. Procne Laments the Life of Women; 941 [Unknown tragedy] The Power of Aphrodite; 1130 [Unknown satyr play] Satyrs as suitors.

Statius, Achilleid, excerpts (trans. by N. Zeiner): 1.242-1.282 Thetis Takes Achilles to Scyros; 1.819-1.885 Achilles' True Identity Is Uncovered by Ulysses and Diomedes.

Theocritus, Idylls: 11 Polyphemos' love for Galateia.

Theophrastus, Characters: 16 The Superstitious Man.

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, excerpt (trans. by P. Woodruff): 1.1-1.12 Thucydides Reassesses Greek Prehistory.

Vergil, excerpts:
Aeneid: 2.1-2.558 Aeneas Escapes from Troy; Aeneid 6.237-6.755 Aeneas Goes to the Underworld.
Georgics: 4.452-4.527 Orpheus in the Underworld.

Xenophanes, fragments (trans. by A. Miller): 11 Homer and Hesiod on the Gods; 14 What Humans Believe About the Gods; 15 If Animals Worshiped Gods; 16 Foreign Gods; 18 The Gods Withhold Things from Men; 23 God Is Unlike Man; 24 God Perceives Everything; 25 God Sets Everything in Motion; 26 God Is Motionless.

Xenophon, Memorabilia, excerpt: 2.1.21-2.1.34 The Choice of Heracles.

Appendix One: Linear B Sources (by Thomas G. Palaima).
Appendix Two: Inscriptions.
Appendix Three: Papyri.
Note on Texts and Translations.
Names and Transliterations.
Index/Glossary.