A Handbook to the Reception of Classical Mythology

This collection of essays offers a comprehensive examination of how Greek and Roman myths have been interpreted and reimagined across centuries, from antiquity through contemporary times. The chronologically organized pieces trace the evolution of mythological reception, revealing how different historical periods prioritized distinct sets of myths and adapted them to reflect contemporary values. The book demonstrates that mythography—the scholarly interpretation and recording of myths—has been crucial to preserving these ancient stories while allowing them to remain culturally relevant. Readers will discover how classical narratives have been continuously reshaped through various lenses including literature, art, and political discourse.

What distinguishes this work is its systematic approach to showing mythology as a living tradition rather than a fixed canon, making it particularly valuable for students of classical reception studies and anyone interested in cultural transmission. The essays collectively argue that the survival of these ancient stories depends entirely on their ongoing reinterpretation, connecting Ovid's transformations to modern feminist retellings in a seamless continuum. This volume successfully illustrates that classical mythology functions as a dynamic dialogue between past and present, where each generation discovers new meanings in age-old tales. You'll finish reading with a transformed understanding of myth as an ever-evolving conversation rather than a static collection of stories.