Pathfinders

Greek Mythology

General Information & Where to Start

This guide is designed to help you find information about Greek mythology and mythological characters using the Internet and/or your local public library.

The best way to begin your search is to figure out key terms that point to the specific information you need. Using specific terms while searching results in better, faster, and more concise information retrieval. Use some of the key terms listed below (for example) when searching the Internet or your local library’s online catalogue:

• Greek legends; Greek mythology
  If possible, give the specific legend: Oedipus Rex, Agamemnon
• Greek god; Greek goddess
  If possible, give the specific name: Poseidon, Minerva, Aphrodite, Zeus
• Greek heroes
  If possible, give the specific name: Odysseus, Helena
• Greek mythological creatures (or monsters)
  If possible, give the specific name: cyclops; pegasus; minotaur
• Specific events or key ideas: Trojan horse, Achilles’ heel

IPL Indexed Resources

The IPL has many resources that point to information on Greek mythology in the reference, teen, and youth departments. Try looking in the IPL’s

Arts & Humanities—Classics—Classical Literature section for other possible links to information on Greek mythology. The following list includes information on Greek mythology indexed by the IPL; many of these sites contain links to other sites on the World Wide Web that you may also find helpful.

• Information on Myths and Mythological Characters
  • Encyclopedia Mythica:
    “This is an encyclopedia on mythology, folklore, mysticism, and more. It contains hundreds of definitions of gods and goddesses, supernatural beings and legendary creatures and monsters from all over the world.” Mythologies covered include Chinese, Greek, Latvian, Norse, Persian and Roman.”
  • The Greek & Roman mythology and mythological charcters section at the Myths and Legends site provides many links to Internet resources.

  History, Criticism, and Full-Text of Greek Myths

  • The Internet Classics Archive
  • The Classical and Biblical resources section of Literary Resources on the Net contains some links related to Greek mythology and literature.
  • History for Kids’ Greek Civilization Topics, with a specific section for the Arts.

  Kid’s May Want to Try IPL’s Youth Catalogue

  • Myths &Fables

Other Places to Look on the Internet

Remember to be critical of your sources. Just because the information is on the Internet doesn’t mean it’s correct!

• Yahoo’s Society_and_Culture:Mythology_and_Folklore:Mythology:Greek.
• Also try using your favorite search engine with specific search terms, like the ones suggested above, to look for additional information on the Internet.

Print Resources

Your local library will probably have information on Greek mythology and mythological characters. Most public libraries in the United States use the Dewey Decimal Classification system. Some call numbers that may be useful are listed below. Library staff can also help you find information.

292 Classical (Greek and Roman) religion

398 Folklore

880 Hellenic Literatures; classical Greek

938 History of the Ancient World—Greece

For quick reference information you may want to consult the following print sources:

• The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Hornblower, Simon and Spawforth, Antony. , editors. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1996.
• Room, Adrian. Who’s Who in Classical Mythology. Lincolnwood, Ill. : NTC Publishing Group, 1996.
• Tripp, Edward. The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology. New York: Penguin, 1974.
• Zimmermann, John Edward. Dictionary of Classical Mythology. Toronto ; New York : Bantam Books, 1964.
• Another good source for general literature questions is The Reader’s Encyclopedia.
  Ask your librarian if you don’t find it with other reference sources:
  • Benet’s Reader’s Encyclopedia. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996.

A good source for “original” text and content:

• Hendricks, Rhoda. Classical Gods and Heroes. New York : Morrow Quill Paperbacks, 1974.

There are MANY children’s and young adult editions of Greek myths and legends. Check your local library for titles such as:

• Rockwell, Anne F. The One-eyed Giant and Other Monsters from the Greek Myths. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1996.
• Switzer, Ellen Eichenwald. Greek Myths: Gods, Heroes, and Monsters: Their Sources, Their Stories, and Their Meanings. New York: Antheneum, 1988.

This pathfinder created by Lisa Lande
Modified 02.03.2004, Isabel A. Cole