Tales of the Greek Heroes

Robert Lancelyn Green’s book combines religious myths, legends, and folktales that mirror the cultural and literary traditions of ancient Greece and classical antiquity, particularly from the eighth to the fourth centuries BCE. This period encompasses the Archaic and Classical eras, marking the height of political and cultural development in ancient Greece. The myths Green recounts were considered factual at the time and shaped religious and moral beliefs in Greek society. Originally, these myths were part of an oral tradition, passed down and adapted by storytellers and singers through performance. As a result, the stories continuously evolved, creating a diverse and often conflicting collection of cultural texts. These oral myths served to educate and entertain while providing commentary on humanity and the world.

The first textual sources of Greek myth emerged during the fifth century BCE in Homer’s epics and Hesiod. According to Herodotus, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey codified the key traits of the Olympian gods and were among the first works to frame the stories of the Greek heroes and gods in a cohesive narrative format. Hesiod’s Theogony is another valuable source that includes a detailed genealogy of the Olympian gods, while