"Classical mythology, also known as Greco-Roman mythology or Greek and Roman mythology, is the collective body and study of myths from the ancient Greeks and ancient Romans."
Understanding of the gods, heroes, and myths that inspired much of Latin Literature.
Creation myths: Stories about the origins of the universe and the world and how humankind came to be. One of the most famous is the Greek creation myth, which features the titans, Zeus, and the Olympian gods.
Olympian gods and goddesses: The 12 gods and goddesses who ruled the world from Mount Olympus in Greek mythology, including Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes and Dionysus.
Heroes and Heroines: Epic tales of brave figures who battled gods and monsters to achieve glory and honor, such as Achilles, Heracles, Theseus, and Perseus.
The Iliad and the Odyssey: The two epic poems of Homer that tell the story of the Trojan War and the journey of the Greek hero Odysseus, respectively.
Roman gods and goddesses: Similar to Greek mythology, but with slightly different names, often revolving around the gods Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Mars, Venus, Apollo, and Minerva.
Myths of Love and Seduction: Stories of gods and goddesses falling in love, such as the myths of Cupid and Psyche and Orpheus and Eurydice.
Ancient religious practices and rituals: How myths and gods were worshipped by the ancient Greeks and Romans, including sacrifices, festivals, and temple architecture.
The stories of the Underworld: Myths of the afterlife, including the Greek Hades and the Roman Pluto, and tales of heroes and gods who ventured to the realm of the dead.
Mythological creatures: From the serpent-headed Gorgon Medusa to the fire-breathing Chimera, classical mythology is filled with fantastical beasts.
Metamorphoses: Myths of transformation and the supernatural, such as the stories of Pygmalion and Galatea, Daphne and Apollo, and Narcissus.
Literature and Art: How classical myths have influenced art, music, and literature throughout history, and how they continue to shape our culture today.
Mythological Geography: Understanding the geography of the underworld, the geography of the gods, and other aspects of mythological geography.
Mythical Battles: Myths of gods and mortals coming into conflict with one another, such as the war between the Titans and the Olympians.
Ancient Philosophers and Mythology: Understanding the work of ancient philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, and their ideas about mythology.
Mythological Cosmology: Understanding the cosmology of the ancient Greeks and Romans and their perspectives on astronomy and the universe.
Creation myths: These are stories that explain how the world and everything in it came to exist. Examples include the Greek myth of Chaos and the Hebrew story of Genesis.
Hero myths: These are myths that describe the adventures of heroes who perform great feats, often with the help of the gods. Examples include the Greek myth of Heracles and the Norse myth of Thor.
Epic poems: These are long, narrative poems that tell tales of heroic deeds or legendary events. Examples include Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Virgil's Aeneid, and Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Tragedies: These are plays that deal with serious or tragic events, often involving conflicts between mortals and the gods. Examples include Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Euripides' Medea.
Comedies: These are plays that are intended to be humorous or satirical, often involving absurd or improbable situations. Examples include Aristophanes' Lysistrata and Plautus' A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Fables: These are short stories that teach a moral or lesson, often using animals as characters. Examples include Aesop's fables and the Panchatantra.
Folktales: These are stories that are passed down orally from generation to generation, often depicting supernatural or magical events. Examples include the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales and the Arabian Nights.
Religious myths: These are stories that explain the beliefs and practices of a particular religion or culture. Examples include the Hindu myths of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and the Egyptian myths of Osiris and Isis.
Philosophical myths: These are stories that explore deeper questions about the nature of existence or the human condition. Examples include Plato's Allegory of the Cave and the myth of Sisyphus.
Historical myths: These are stories that are based on real events or figures from history, but have been embellished or distorted over time. Examples include the legend of King Arthur and the Trojan War.
"Mythology, along with philosophy and political thought, is one of the major survivals of classical antiquity throughout later Western culture."
"The Greek word mythos refers to the spoken word or speech, but it also denotes a tale, story, or narrative."
"The Romans, who already had gods of their own, adopted many mythic narratives directly from the Greeks while preserving their own Roman (Latin) names for the gods."
"For example, the Roman sky god Jupiter or Jove became equated with his Greek counterpart Zeus; the Roman fertility goddess Venus with the Greek goddess Aphrodite; and the Roman sea god Neptune with the Greek god Poseidon."
"Latin remained the dominant language in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, largely due to the widespread influence of the Roman Empire."
"During this period, mythological names almost always appeared in their Latin form."
"However, in the 19th century, there was a shift towards the use of either the Greek or Roman names."
"For example, 'Zeus' and 'Jupiter' both became widely used in that century as the name of the supreme god of the classical pantheon."
"For example, the Roman sky god Jupiter or Jove became equated with his Greek counterpart Zeus."
"Mythology, along with philosophy and political thought, is one of the major survivals of classical antiquity throughout later Western culture."
"Mythology, also known as Greco-Roman mythology or Greek and Roman mythology, is the collective body and study of myths from the ancient Greeks and ancient Romans."
"The Romans, who already had gods of their own, adopted many mythic narratives directly from the Greeks while preserving their own Roman (Latin) names for the gods."
"Latin remained the dominant language in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, largely due to the widespread influence of the Roman Empire."
"However, in the 19th century, there was a shift towards the use of either the Greek or Roman names."
"For example, the Roman sky god Jupiter or Jove became equated with his Greek counterpart Zeus; the Roman fertility goddess Venus with the Greek goddess Aphrodite; and the Roman sea god Neptune with the Greek god Poseidon."
"The Greek word mythos refers to the spoken word or speech, but it also denotes a tale, story, or narrative."
"During this period, mythological names almost always appeared in their Latin form."
"The Romans, who already had gods of their own, adopted many mythic narratives directly from the Greeks while preserving their own Roman (Latin) names for the gods."
"For example, 'Zeus' and 'Jupiter' both became widely used in that century as the name of the supreme god of the classical pantheon."