Classical Mythology
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2021
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The book is intended both for classroom use and general reader, as an introduction into classical mythology, combined with the elements of theoretical analysis, and augmented with cross-cultural comparative data. Seminal theoretical ideas are presented in succinct, accessible manner, pervious enough for the reader to grasp the essence and apply it for further interpretations of rich mythological material, both classical and international.
While covering the major body of Greco-Roman mythology, the focal attention is paid to the legends most crucial to European literary, philosophical and artistic tradition. The primary sources are indicated throughout the text.
Begun with a brief discussion of the nature of mythic cognition and the major theories on the subject, followed by a brief outline of Greco-Roman civilization, the book proceeds from the myths of Creation and synopsis of Greco-Roman pantheon to the archetypal theme of the Hero-myth, which is in common to both the myths and folktales of the world, and is rising from the universal Rites of Passage (initiations from childhood to adulthood).
Further discussion of heroic legends leads the reader through the deeper levels of the Rites of Passage to the realm of the great Mysteries of death and rebirth, descending from the Neolithic Eleusinian Mysteries of agriculture to the Paleolithic mythology of primeval hunters, with its cult of inexorable Lady of the Beasts, Mother-Lover-Destroyer.
Next, concluding step is the grand myths of tragedy, resulting from syncretism of deeply archaic motifs with centuries of literary, philosophical and psychological elaborations, and immortalized in major masterpieces by ancient tragedians. Discussion of classical saga culminates in the epic of the Trojan War, which epitomizes ancient mythology, beginning from the stories of Creation and leading to the historical foundation of future Rome. It provides the backdrop of ancient literature, ideology, and European aftermath of the classical tradition.
The book includes auxiliary surveys and charts.
1. Introduction
2. Myth: Preliminary Remarks
3. How Theorists Think: A Native’s Practical Field Guide to the Science of Mythology, Part 1: The Ancients
4. How Theorists Think: A Native’s Practical Field Guide to the Science of Mythology, Part 2: The Moderns
5. Historical Periods of the Classical World: A General Overview
6. Greek Cosmogony: The Myths of Creation(S)
7. The Olympian Family Matters
8. The Olympian Intellectuals:athena, Hephaestus, Hermes (and Pan), Apollo
9. The Hero-Myth and the Archetypal Hero: Perseus
(Cf. Appendices 5 and 6: The Hero-Chart; Comparison of Heroes)
10. Theseus, the Hero-King of Athens
11. The Saga of the Argonauts and the Flights of Medea
(Cf. Appendices 7 and 8: Famous Sea Travels; Solar genealogy of the Minoan saga)
12. Heracles the Superhero
13. The Realm of the Dead and the Trips to the Underworld
14. Eleusinia—the Mysteries of Return From Death: The Myth of Neolithic Revolution
15. The Lady of the Beasts and Her Love Victims: The Relic of Paleolithic Mythology
16. Dionysiac Passions
17. The Story of King Oedipus and His House
18. After Oedipus: The Story of Antigone
19. The Mycenaean Saga: A Story of the Ultimate Transgressions
20. The Trojan War Update
21. Appendix 1: Major Mythographic Sources In Chronological Order
22. Appendix 2: Greek—Latin Name Pairs of Classical Mythology
23. Appendix 3: Summary Dossiers of Major Gods
24. Appendix 4: Zeus’s Love-Chart
25. Appendix 5: The Hero-Myth: Comparison Chart
26. Appendix 6: Comparison of Heroic Adventures Perseus and Bellerophon
27. Appendix 7: Legendary Travels
28. Appendix 8: Solar and Bovine Genealogy of the Minoan Saga: Colchis–Crete–Athens
29. Selected References
M.A. in Classical Philology, St. Petersburg University, Russia.
Ph. D. in Classical Philology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Interests: Comparative folklore and mythology; cultural anthropology; fencing; fine metalwork.
The book is intended both for classroom use and general reader, as an introduction into classical mythology, combined with the elements of theoretical analysis, and augmented with cross-cultural comparative data. Seminal theoretical ideas are presented in succinct, accessible manner, pervious enough for the reader to grasp the essence and apply it for further interpretations of rich mythological material, both classical and international.
While covering the major body of Greco-Roman mythology, the focal attention is paid to the legends most crucial to European literary, philosophical and artistic tradition. The primary sources are indicated throughout the text.
Begun with a brief discussion of the nature of mythic cognition and the major theories on the subject, followed by a brief outline of Greco-Roman civilization, the book proceeds from the myths of Creation and synopsis of Greco-Roman pantheon to the archetypal theme of the Hero-myth, which is in common to both the myths and folktales of the world, and is rising from the universal Rites of Passage (initiations from childhood to adulthood).
Further discussion of heroic legends leads the reader through the deeper levels of the Rites of Passage to the realm of the great Mysteries of death and rebirth, descending from the Neolithic Eleusinian Mysteries of agriculture to the Paleolithic mythology of primeval hunters, with its cult of inexorable Lady of the Beasts, Mother-Lover-Destroyer.
Next, concluding step is the grand myths of tragedy, resulting from syncretism of deeply archaic motifs with centuries of literary, philosophical and psychological elaborations, and immortalized in major masterpieces by ancient tragedians. Discussion of classical saga culminates in the epic of the Trojan War, which epitomizes ancient mythology, beginning from the stories of Creation and leading to the historical foundation of future Rome. It provides the backdrop of ancient literature, ideology, and European aftermath of the classical tradition.
The book includes auxiliary surveys and charts.
1. Introduction
2. Myth: Preliminary Remarks
3. How Theorists Think: A Native’s Practical Field Guide to the Science of Mythology, Part 1: The Ancients
4. How Theorists Think: A Native’s Practical Field Guide to the Science of Mythology, Part 2: The Moderns
5. Historical Periods of the Classical World: A General Overview
6. Greek Cosmogony: The Myths of Creation(S)
7. The Olympian Family Matters
8. The Olympian Intellectuals:athena, Hephaestus, Hermes (and Pan), Apollo
9. The Hero-Myth and the Archetypal Hero: Perseus
(Cf. Appendices 5 and 6: The Hero-Chart; Comparison of Heroes)
10. Theseus, the Hero-King of Athens
11. The Saga of the Argonauts and the Flights of Medea
(Cf. Appendices 7 and 8: Famous Sea Travels; Solar genealogy of the Minoan saga)
12. Heracles the Superhero
13. The Realm of the Dead and the Trips to the Underworld
14. Eleusinia—the Mysteries of Return From Death: The Myth of Neolithic Revolution
15. The Lady of the Beasts and Her Love Victims: The Relic of Paleolithic Mythology
16. Dionysiac Passions
17. The Story of King Oedipus and His House
18. After Oedipus: The Story of Antigone
19. The Mycenaean Saga: A Story of the Ultimate Transgressions
20. The Trojan War Update
21. Appendix 1: Major Mythographic Sources In Chronological Order
22. Appendix 2: Greek—Latin Name Pairs of Classical Mythology
23. Appendix 3: Summary Dossiers of Major Gods
24. Appendix 4: Zeus’s Love-Chart
25. Appendix 5: The Hero-Myth: Comparison Chart
26. Appendix 6: Comparison of Heroic Adventures Perseus and Bellerophon
27. Appendix 7: Legendary Travels
28. Appendix 8: Solar and Bovine Genealogy of the Minoan Saga: Colchis–Crete–Athens
29. Selected References
M.A. in Classical Philology, St. Petersburg University, Russia.
Ph. D. in Classical Philology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Interests: Comparative folklore and mythology; cultural anthropology; fencing; fine metalwork.