Classical Mythology

First told centuries ago, the ancient myths of the Greeks and Romans continue to fascinate and influence the world today. The expanded edition of this popular guide examines why these legends remain an integral part of human history, citing their literary value, and their presence throughout popular culture in such works as J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, and the Coen brothers’ film O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

In the 1970s and 80s, Northrop Frye and Jay Macpherson co-taught a very influential course at the University of Toronto's Victoria College on the history of Western mythology—Frye focusing on the biblical myths; Macpherson on the classical. Biblical and Classical Myths recreates the thought behind that course, with Frye's lectures—unpublished until very recently—supplemented by Macpherson's popular 1962 textbook on classical mythology, Four Ages: The Classical Myths. By complementing the biblical tradition with the classical, this volume imparts a comprehensive understanding of western mythology.