Research Guides: CSTS 375/675: Interpreting Mythology (BMC): Finding Sources for Myths

Books about Mythology

Gods and Mortals by Sarah Iles Johnston
ISBN: 9780691199207

Publication Date: 2023-02-07

E-book with re-telling of many ancient myths. Particularly useful because Johnston provides a detailed index of ancient sources for the myths.

Brill Companions to Classical Reception
Many books in this series on ancient works and their later reception (up to the 21st century)

A few additions to the bibliography in your Moodle course; try these for finding information on interpretation of myth.

A Handbook to the Reception of Classical Mythology by Vanda Zajko; Helena Hoyle
ISBN: 9781119072119

Publication Date: 2017

Essays that explore a wide variety of aspects of Greek and Roman myths and their critical reception from antiquity to the present day.
The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Mythography by R. Scott Smith; Stephen M. Trzaskoma
ISBN: 9780190648312

Publication Date: 2022
The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology by Roger D. Woodard
ISBN: 9781139001731

Publication Date: 2009
The Reception of Myth and Mythology by Maria Moog-Grünewald
ISBN: 9789004183308

Publication Date: 2010

Reference works

Oxford Classical Dictionary
Find brief scholarly entries/description on topics on Greek and Roman history, literature, myth, religion, linguistics, philosophy, law, science, art, and archaeology. Covers additional topics in Near Eastern studies and Late Antiquity. 5th edition continuously updated.
Brill's New Pauly and Supplements
Includes bibliographical references and subject and keyword indexes for late antiquity and classical periods. Online version of Der neue Pauly--which includes 13 volumes on Antiquity, 5 on the Classical Tradition, and one index volume--and Brill's New Pauly. Screen displays are primarily in English, with some also available in German. The encyclopedia itself includes the original German work and its English translation.
Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece & Rome
Offers a comprehensive overview of the literature, history, archaeology, art, philosophy, science, and religion of the Greek and Roman world from the Bronze Age to the fifth century CE. It also covers the legacy of the classical world and its interpretation and influence in subsequent centuries.
Oxford Bibliographies in Classics
Provides bibilographies of and encyclopedic articles about over 50 topics in the classics. Includes introductions to each topic area, guides to introductory works, textbooks, guidebooks, journals, reference works etc., and links to useful websites. Bibliographies are browseable by subject area and keyword searchable.

The Classical Tradition by Anthony Grafton (Editor); Glenn W. Most (Editor); Salvatore. Settis (Editor)
ISBN: 9780674035720

Publication Date: 2010-10-25

Encyclopedia with lengthy articles. Afterlife of classics in literature, philosophy, art, architecture, history, politics, religion, and science

Lists of Abbreviations

Each reference book or text may use different abbreviations for the ancient sources. Some are easier to decipher than others.

The Oxford Classical Dictionary uses Hom. Hymn Dem. refers to Homer's Hymn to Demeter. however, it may also be referred to as HHDem (e.g. Sarah Johnston, Gods and Mortals).

Always refer to the list of abbreviations in the texts. These are typically found at the beginning of the book but check the table of contents.

List of Abbreviations for Oxford Classical Dictionary