Classical mythology

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Classical mythology or Greco-Roman mythology is both the body of and the study of myths from the ancient Greeks and Romans as they are used or transformed by cultural reception. Along with philosophy and political thought, mythology represents one of the major survivals of classical antiquity throughout later Western culture.[1] The Greek word mythos refers to the spoken word or speech, but it also denotes a tale, story or narrative.[2]


During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, when Latin remained the dominant language in Europe for international educated discourse, mythological names almost always appeared in Latinized form. With the Greek revival of the 19th century, however, Greek names began to be used more often,[3] with both "Zeus" and "Jove" being widely used as the name of the supreme god of the classical pantheon.

'Classical' myth[edit]

Classical mythology is a term often used to designate the myths belonging to the Greek and Roman traditions. The myths are believed to have been acquired first by oral tradition, entering since Homer and Hesiod (ca. 700 BC) the literate era; later works by those who studied or collected the myths, or sometimes all literary works relating to mythology, are known as mythography and those who wrote them as mythographers.[4] A classical myth as it appears in later Western culture is usually a syncretism of various versions from both Greek and Latin sources.





See also[edit]

Related topics[edit]

Classical mythology categories[edit]

On individual myths or figures[edit]


  1. ^ Entry on "mythology" in The Classical Tradition, edited by Anthony Grafton, Glenn W. Most, and Salvatore Settis (Harvard University Press, 2010), p. 614 et passim.
  2. ^ "Basic Aspects of the Greek Myths - Greek Mythology Link". Retrieved 2016-12-07. 