The Greek Myths

The Greek Myths
First editions
AuthorRobert Graves
LanguageEnglish
PublisherPenguin Books
Publication date
1955
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages2 volumes (370 pp, 410 pp)

The Greek Myths (1955) is a mythography, a compendium of Greek mythology, with comments and analyses, by the poet and writer Robert Graves. Many editions of the book separate it into two volumes. Abridged editions of the work contain only the myths and leave out Graves's commentary.

Each myth is presented in the voice of a narrator writing under the Antonines, such as Plutarch or Pausanias, with citations of the classical sources. The literary quality of his retellings is generally praised. Following each retelling, Graves presents his interpretation of its origin and significance, influenced by his belief in a prehistoric Matriarchal religion, as discussed in his book The White Goddess and elsewhere. Graves's theories and etymologies are rejected by most classical scholars. Graves argued in response that classical scholars lack "the poetic capacity to forensically examine mythology".[1]

  1. ^ The White Goddess, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, p. 224. ISBN 0-374-50493-8