How to Study Greek Mythology

Greek mythology still exerts a powerful influence on modern literature, language and culture. To study Greek mythology is to study one’s own personal mythology, and while it’s easy to start on this scholarly path, you can get lost in the connections between past, present and future.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Take a class on Greek mythology. If you haven't studied Greek mythology beyond a high school class, it might be better to follow the direction of an expert before you attempt to take on an entire ancient civilization’s system of beliefs by yourself. Your class syllabus will outline many of the essential texts and academic criticisms you need to read, and from there you can decide what to pursue further, including a certificate or degree.

2. Read the myths. The Greek mythological canon Homer's "Illiad" and "The Odyssey" are good places to start. Hesiod’s “Theogony” and Apollodorus’ “Library of Greek Mythology” are some of the only texts to survive antiquity. These authors were the original journalists, chronicling the Greek myths of their day, yet they are rarely taught, even in college literary foundations classes.

4. Watch “Xena: Warrior Princess.” Popular culture’s presentation of Greek myths can say even more than scholarly works. From Disney’s “Hercules” to “Troy,” Hollywood has an important say in what portions of these stories are remembered, and which are forgotten. If you sit down to study a few episodes of “Xena,” some storylines will feel familiar, while others will not. Writers say a lot about their own beliefs with their work, especially through what they decide to alter under the guise of creative license. If Xena’s Ares is a love-struck fool instead of a compassionless god of war, maybe that’s the writer's way of valuing a loving world, rather than one of bloodshed.

5. Make everyday connections. To study Greek mythology is to study your self. These stories are the basis for the Western concept of heroism and death, melancholy and the act of falling in love. Discover these archetypes in popular culture and contemporary literature, and look for reinterpretations. Take pleasure in recognizing Greek gods and heroes, in astronomy, anatomy and chemistry. Think about the stories behind certain words, the meanings behind metaphors and allusions. Most importantly, explore how Greek mythology fits in your life, what you can learn from it and what you can contribute to its continued study.

Resources

• Encyclopedia Mythica
• Foundation of Mythological Studies