A Handbook to the Reception of Classical Mythology

Few literary traditions have left a greater imprint on the modern world than the rich body of myths passed down through the ages from the ancient Greeks and Romans. A Handbook to the Reception of Classical Mythology presents a collection of essays that explore all aspects of the characters and characterizations of Greek and Roman myths and their critical reception from antiquity to the present day. Featuring contributions from top international Classical scholar and experts from cognate fields, readings reveal how ancient myths have been continually interpreted, reinterpreted, and reshaped over time. Initial essays offer a chronological exploration of mythography from Greek to modern times, along with innovative topics such as anthologies of myths for children and contemporary mythography, featuring a discussion of fan–fiction and the graphic novel. Subsequent sections cover a wide range of approaches and themes, as well as the pantheon of iconic figures and texts from antiquity and beyond. Written with impeccable scholarship, A Handbook to the Reception of Classical Mythology offers an essential resource to the evolving reception of Greco–Roman mythology throughout history while revealing its enduring influences on Western literary and cultural traditions.

Vanda Zajko is Reader in Classics at the University of Bristol, UK. She is co–editor with Miriam Leonard of Laughing with Medusa: Classical Myth and Feminist Thought (2006); with Alexandra Lianeri of Translation and the Classic: Identity as Change in the History of Culture (2008); and with Ellen O Gorman of Classical Myth and Psychoanalysis: Ancient and Modern Stories of the Self (2013).