SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
Ancient
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Arguably the most famous primary source for the Ancient Greek myths, the Iliad is one of the few surviving epic poems from antiquity.
Set during the ten year Trojan War, the events told in the Iliad relate only to a period of a few weeks, but the characters in Homer's work allude to events leading up to, and during the war. The Iliad is more than simply a story of battles between the Achaeans and Trojans, and deals in depth with the infighting within the Achaean camp, especially between Achilles and Agamemenon; whilst also dealing with the concepts of fate, and the manipulations of the gods. |
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Written in the 3rd Century BC, the Argonautica, as written by Apollonius Rhodius, is a complete epic that deals with the voyage of the Argo.
The Argo was of course the ship of Jason, and the other Argonauts, so obviously, the Argonautica deals with the Quest for the Golden Fleece. The Argonautica commences with the warning offered to Pelias about the man with one sandal, deals with the gathering of heroes at Iolcus, follows the journey to Colchis, and also the love affair that emerges between Jason and the sorceress Medea. Whilst not the whole story of Jason's life, the Argonautica brings forth the elements, that today, are the hallmarks of the Greek hero. |
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Modern
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Robert Graves was an English classicist, famed for his historical novels and poems. Now primarily known for his works relating to the First World War, and his historical novel I, Claudius, Graves also wrote The Greek Myths.
First published in 1955, The Greek Myths is a compendium of myths from Ancient Greece interpreted by Graves. The personal element that graves imbues into The Greek Myths, in his hypthesises and conclusions, makes for entertaining read, and an easy way to get an overview of the core myths of Ancient Greece. At the same time it has to be acknowledged that scholars mistrust the work precisely because it is the personal interpretation of Graves, with conclusions made that have but passing relation to the tales told in original sources. |
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Stephen Fry is an English comedian, actor, director, presenter and writer; and though he first came to prominence as a comedic double act with Hugh Laurie, he is arguably today more highly regarded for his intellect, as he was the long time presenter of QI.
In Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold, Fry combines his comedic origins with his knowledge of the ancient Greek myths. The myths that appear in Fry's work are broadly based around those told of within Heiod's Theogony and Ovid's Metamorphoses. Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold is by no means comprehensive, and indeed some say it is rather overly selective in the myths from Ancient Greece that are retold. The absence of tales relating to the great heroes Heracles and Perseus, or indeed events of the Trojan War, might disappoint some. |
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Colin Quartermain - - 12th January 2019