Recommended Reading
By Shannon
Oldies, but Goodies
Mythology, Timeless Tales of Gods & Heroes
by Edith Hamilton
Starting with a classic, Hamilton's Mythology has been a constant go-to for fans since 1942. It's a great starting point for those new to the myths.
The Greek Myths
by Robert Graves
Another classic, Graves' retellings are detailed and a great starting point for research or for recreation.
Modern Takes
Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook
by Liv Albert
A sharp-witted and beautifully illustrated guide to the gods. A favorite of ours!
Mythos
by Stephen Fry
Wonderfully written, Fry's spin on the myths is the ultimate comfort read.
Heroines of Olympus: The Women of Greek Mythology
by Ellie Mackin Roberts
Covering 50 women of myth, these short entries are easily accessible with detailed sourcing. A wonderful option to help start your deeper dig into the stories.
Archaic Sources
The Iliad and The Odyssey
by Homer
Possibly the oldest surviving story of the Olympian gods getting too involved in mortal business and being super messy about it.
Emily Wilson has an amazing translation of The Odyssey gorgeously pays respect to the original text while being approachable for a modern audience.
Theogony and Works and Days
by Hesiod
Theogony is a genealogy of the gods from the creation of the universe through the Olympian establishment. Works and Days cover Greek society and ethics. While we can read Hesiod for the knowledge, just be aware that he really did not like women and his telling of Pandora's story shows it.
The Homeric Hymns
by Anonymous
Filled with hymns dedicated to the gods, this ancient text contains the oldest surviving, complete version, of the Abduction of Persephone. It also tells the story of Baby Hermes stealing cows. It's a lot of fun!
The Homeric Hymn to Demeter: Translation, Commentary, and Interpretive Essays
Edited by Helene P. Foley
Want to geek out and deep dive into the Hymns to Demeter? Foley's work includes an annotated version of the myth, as well as commentary on the religious, cultural, and social themes of the Hymns, particularly where they relate to women.
Hellenistic to Roman Era
The Library of Greek Mythology
by Apollodorus
A concise guide to Greek myth from the origins of the universe to the Trojan War. Essentially, an ancient handbook for myth.
Metamorphoses
by Ovid
Where Apollodorus is brief but comprehensive, Ovid is detailed and sprawling. His Roman Empire-era spin on the ancient Greek stories is heavily influential to our modern understanding of these myths.
Content warning: Ovid doesn't pull his punches. These versions are detailed and brutal.
Audiobook Lectures
Classical Mythology
by The Great Courses - Professor Elizabeth Vandiver
Vandiver's lecture is an incredibly engaging and fresh intro to the world of Greek myth and its culture The chapter for Demeter, Persephone, and Hades is particularly choice material.
Classical Mythology: The Greeks
by Professor Peter Meineck
Meineck's myth lectures focus on the importance of the storytelling of the myths. We are introduced to ancient poets and explore what the gods meant to these ancient people.
To The Internet!
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby!
We pointed out Liv's book earlier in the post, but her Myths, Baby! podcast is on constant rotation for us. She even has reading episodes so we can listen while doing things around the house. We love the feminist examination of myth and her focus on amplifying ancient LGBTQIA+ voices.
Theoi.com
And here we crown our king (sorry Hades!). Theoi.com is our go-to source for research. Meticulously maintained and robustly credited, this site is a modern-day oracle and our library is so much richer (and bank account poorer) for it.
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Our go-to retellings and recommended sources for all things Greek mythology - from books to websites to podcasts.