This curated and commented list is designed to guide you through the rich world of classical mythology, providing a comprehensive and structured approach to exploring these timeless tales. Our reading list includes the all classical texts that form the Greco Roman mythological knowledge. Each entry is carefully arranged in an optimal reading order, allowing you to follow the chronological progression of myths and understand the intricate connections between different stories and characters. The green colors in the list indicate essentials. The oranges are optionals, and the red ones are less significant.
I suggest a two-tour reading approach. For the first read, start with the green texts, and if you’re interested in the certain topic like Heracles, include the oranges as well. In the second tour, read the orange texts plus the red ones if you’re very interested and want to cover everything. You can make a third tour for the red texts or skip them completely.
Although I do not like to call Homeros Homerus, I have followed the general practice in the discipline and given the names of the Greek authors in Latin so that the works searched for can be easily found. Their works are presented in their most well-known English names, with their original names included in parentheses in Latin transcriptions.
Whether you are a newcomer to classical mythology or a seasoned enthusiast, this list will providing you with a structured pathway to deepen your understanding and appreciation of these ancient narratives. Don’t let the length of the list intimidate you; many of the works are quite short. Prepare to embark on a journey through the legends of Olympos, the heroic adventures of demigods and tragedies of heroes!
- 1. GODS AND HEROES
- 1.1 Overview of Myths
- 1.2 Gods
- 1.3 Heroes
- 1.3.1 Royal House of Thebes
- 1.3.2 Heracles
- 1.3.3 Argonautika
- 2. TROIAN WAR
- 3. POST TROIA
- 3.1 House of Agamemnon
- 3.2 Other Heroes
- 4. VARIOUS WORKS
- 5. VERY FRAGMENTARY WORKS
1. GODS AND HEROES
1.1 Overview of Myths
Before diving into individual stories of gods, demigods, and heroes, we will take a broad look at myths.
HESIODUS, Theogony (Theogonia): The birth of the gods.
HESIODUS, Works and Days (Erga kai Hemerai): The main theme is farming, but in the first part of the poem, creation myths are briefly summarized.
OVIDIUS, Metamorphoses: Creation and the adventures of gods and heroes. An overview of Greek myths.
ANTONINUS LIBERALIS, Metamorphoses (Metamorphoseon Synagoge): Brief collection of metamorphoses.
APOLLODORUS, The Library (Bibliotheke): A summary of almost all the Greek myths. But it is a work of low literary value.
HYGINUS, Fables (Fabulae): Similar of Bibliotheke, including literary value.
OVIDIUS, Fasti: Festivals and related myths including original Roman myths.
1.2 Gods
CLADIANUS, Battle of the Giants (Gigantomachia): Short poem narrating battle of the giants.
AESCHYLUS, Prometheus Bound (Prometheus Desmotes): Tragedy of Titan Prometheus.
EURIPIDES, Bacchae (Bakchai): Dionysus punishing Pentheus who refuses to worship him.
NONNUS, Dionysiaka: Myths of Dionysus.
CLADIANUS, The Rape of Proserpine (de Raptu Proserpine): Abduction of Persephone
[HOMEROS], Homeric Hymns (Homerikoi hymnoi): Praise to the gods.
CALLIMACHUS, Hymns (Hymnoi): Praise to the gods.
Orfic Hymns (Hymnoi Orfikoi): Praise to the gods.
LUCIANUS, Dialogues of Gods (Theon Dialogoi): Comic dialogues with gods.
LUCIANUS, Dialogues of the Sea Gods (Enalioi Dialogoi): Comic dialogues with sea gods.
LUCIANUS, Dialogues of the Dead (Nekrikoi Dialogoi): Comic dialogues with dead.
1.3 Heroes
AESCHYLUS, Suppliants (Hiketides): Story of Danaides.
EURIPIDES, Ion: Tragedy of woman named Creusa (not the wife of Aeneas).
MUSAEUS GRAMMATICUS, Hero and Leander (ta kath’ Herokai Leandron): Tragic story of lovers.
PLUTARCHUS, Theseus: Life of Theseus.
EURIPIDES Hippolytos: Tragedy of woman named Phaedra, wife of Theseus.
SENECA, Phaedra: Same story.
1.3.1 Royal House of Thebes
Cadmus is the founder of the famous Greek city of Thebes. King Oedipus, a descendant of Cadmus, is known for the tragic events that befell him and his family. These events were highly regarded by tragedians and were widely staged.
SOPHOCLES, Oedipus Rex (Oidipous Tyrannos): Tragedy of Oedipus.
SENECA, Oedipus: Same story.
SOPHOCLES, Oedipus at Colonus (Oidipous epi Kolonoi): Death of Oedipus.
SOPHOCLES, Antigone: Tragedy of Antigone, daughter of Oedipus.
AESCHYLUS, Seven against Thebes (Hepta epi Thebas): After death of Oedipus, his two son strugle for throne of Thebes.
STATIUS, Thebaid (Thebais): Battle for Thebes but not as play but poem.
EURIPIDES, The Phoenician Women (Phoinissai): Alternate story of sons of Oedipus.
SENECA, The Phoenician Women (Phoenissae): Same story.
EURIPIDES, The Suppliants (Hiketides): Aftermath of Seven against Thebes and end of story of royal house of Thebes.
1.3.2 Heracles
EURIPIDES, Heracles: Mad Heracles murders his family.
SENECA, The Mad Hercules (Hercules Furens): Same story.
EURIPIDES, Alcestis: Heracles saving a dead woman.
[HESIODUS], Shield of Heracles (Aspis): Poem about an adventure of Herakles.
SOPHOCLES, The Women of Trachis (Trachiniai): Death of Heracles.
SENECA, Hercules on Mount Oeta (Hercules Oetaeus): Same story.
EURIPIDES, Children of Heracles (Herakleidai): Tragedy of children of Heracles after his death.
1.3.3 Argonautika
Argonautika is long and important legend that takes place little before the Troian War.
APOLLONIUS, Argonautika: Heroes of Greece embark on a journey to retrieve the Golden Fleece.
VALERIUS FLACCUS, Argonautica: Same story. Apollonius was preferred because the ending is missing here.
Orphic Argonautica (Orpheos Argonautika): Story of Argonautika from perspective of Orpheus.
EURIPIDES, Medeia: Story of Medea after Argonautika.
SENECA, Medea: Same story.
2. TROIAN WAR
STATIUS, Achilleis: Life of Achilleus up to start of Troian War.
COLLUTHOS, Abduction of Helen (Arpage tes Helenes): Abduction of Helen, the cause of Troian War.
EURIPIDES Iphigenia at Aulis (Iphigeneia he en Aulidi): Tragedy of Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon. Start of Troian War.
HOMERUS, Ilias: Legend of Troia.
Dictys Cretensis, Chronicle of the Troian War (Ephemeris Belli Trojani): History of Troian war starting from birth of Paris to death of Odysseus.
Dares Phrygius: Troian priest. Read when he comes up in Ilias (book V).
EURIPIDES, Rhesus (Rhesos): Odysseus and Diomedes’ assassination attempt on Hector during Troian War. They kill Thracian King Rhesus instead. Read when this story is told in Ilias (Book X).
LYCOPHRON, Alexandra: Story of Troian priestess Cassandra or Alexandra. Very obscure reading.
SOPHOCLES, Ajax (Aias): Death of Greater Aias.
SOPHOCLES, Philoctetos: Tragedy of wounded and cursed Greek hero Philoctetos. He has the bow of Heracles which is required for capturing Troia.
VERGILIUS, Aeneid II: Fall of Troia narrated in book II of Aeneid. For now, we will only reading the second book.
TRYPHIODORUS, Fall of Troia (Alosis Iliou): Fall of Troia.
QUINTUS SMYRNAEUS, Posthomerica (ta meth’ Homeron): Fall of Troia.
EURIPIDES, The Troian Women (Troiades): Tragedy of Troian Women after fall of the city.
SENECA, The Troian Women (Troades): Similar story.
EURIPIDES, Hekabe: Hekabe, wife of Priamos griefing after fall of the city.
3. POST TROIA
3.1 House of Agamemnon
Like Royal House of Thebes, family of Agamemnon is also the subject of stories.
SENECA, Thyestes: We’re going back in time a little, to Agamemnon’s father.
AESCHYLUS, Agamemnon: End of Agamemnon.
SENECA, Agamemnon: Same story.
AESCHYLUS, Libation-Bearers (Choephoroi): Orestes, son of Agamemnon taking revenge of his father’s death.
SOPHOCLES, Electra: Same subject with Choephoroi.
EURIPIDES, Electra: Same subject with Choephoroi.
AESCHYLUS, Eumenides: Expiation of Orestes.
EURIPIDES, Orestes: Expiation of Orestes.
EURIPIDES, Iphigeneia he en Taurois: (Iphigenia among the Taurians) Expiation of Orestes.
3.2 Other Heroes
HOMERUS, Odysseia: The homecoming adventure of Odysseus, one of the main characters of Troia.
EURIPIDES, Kyklops: Story of Odysseus and Polyphemus. Read when this story is told in Odysseia.
EURIPIDES, Helene: Tragedy of Menelaus and Helene after Troia.
EURIPIDES, Andromache: Tragedy of Andromache, wife of Hektor, becomes slave.
VERGILIUS, Aeneid: A Troian group who managed to escape from Troia, led by Aeneas, -after many adventures- traveled to Italy and settled there. There they unite with the natives and become the Latin people who will later found Rome.
4. VARIOUS WORKS
OVIDIUS, Heroines (Heroides): Fictitious love letters by mythical women to their lovers e.g., Penelope to Odysseus, Dido to Aeneas etc.
DIODORUS SICULUS, Bibliotheke Historike I-V: It describes the geography and culture of the peoples of Egypt, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. It can be read both for a final overview of myths in general and to learn a little more about geography.
PAUSANIAS, Periegesis tes Hellados: Description of Greece. Geography heavy but myths and cults are told.
PHILOSTRATUS, Eikones: Descriptions of mythical paintings.
CALLISTRATUS, Ekfraseis: Descriptions of mythical statues.
PHLEGON, Miracula: Collection of marvellous tales and stories.
PINDARUS, Odes (Odai): Songs for victors of games.
5. VERY FRAGMENTARY WORKS
These are very fragmentary works and they offer dull reading.
Greek Epic Fragments: There are many bits and pieces of archaic poems about myths named epic cycles. These are collected in Loeb’s Greek Epic Fragments: From the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC.
DIODORUS SICULUS, Bibliotheke Historike VI-VII: Before and after of Troian War.
HESIODUS, Katalogos: Myths told in genealogical order.
CALLIMACHUS, Aitia: Collection of elegies about origins.
CALLIMACHUS, Hekale: Encounter of Theseus and Hekale.
Orphica Fragmenta: Orphic poems.
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