Reading Assignment: Stories of Greek and Roman Mythology

Greek and Roman mythology contains an almost endless number of stories. Many of these stories are familiar, and in some cases, they can be connected to modern life. Read and study these selections below.

The Trojan War

Begin by reading about the Trojan War. This war is one of the cornerstones of Greek mythology. Homer's works, The Illiad and The Odyssey, contain much of the known information about the Trojan War. These stories follow Odysseus through the war and other adventures following the war, and they chronicle his interactions with various gods and goddesses, as well as mythical monsters.

The following selection is from Bullfinch's Mythology. Read carefully about the Trojan War.

Click here to read Bullfinch's "Trojan War"

Hercules

Hercules was one of the children of Zeus. He was believed to have remarkable strength. Hera was said to have hated Hercules because he was born out of one of Zeus's affairs.

Read a biography of Hercules, using the link in the sidebar, and then read the story of his 12 Labors below

Click here to read "The Twelve Labors of Hercules"

Hades and Persephone

Another well-known story is that of Persephone and Hades. Hades is said to have abducted Persephone and taken her to the underworld against her will, where she became his wife. Read more about the story of Persephone in the handout below:

Click here to read "Persephone"

Romulus and Remus

This myth is central to Roman mythology. It describes the way Romulus and Remus were nursed by a she-wolf and then adopted and cared for by a shepherd and his wife.

Click here to read "Romulus and Remus"

Monsters

Greek and Roman mythology contains many monsters. These monsters range in their level of danger and appear in many stories. A few of the common monsters in Greek mythology include Cyclops, Scylla, and Charybdis. Read through the following selection from Bullfinch's Mythology in order to learn more about these monsters.

Click here to read Bullfinch's "Mythology Monsters"

Love Stories

The love stories in Greek & Roman mythology may seem quite different from the stories of today. Take a look at the following three stories of Cupid and Psyche, Pygmalion, and Apollo and Daphne. How do these stories illustrate Geek love? How is it different or the same as love today?

Click here to read "Cupid and Psyche"

Click here to read "Pygmalion"

Click here to read "Apollo and Daphne"

IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS