While familiarity with classical mythology is generally recognized as essential to the understanding of literature and art and to the preservation of a great and valuable part of our artistic and spiritual heritage, the method of assuring such a familiarity to the rising generation differs in different schools. In many the stories of the gods and heroes are read in the lower grades from one or another of the children's books based on the myths, and any further knowledge of the subject depends upon the study of Vergil and other Latin or Greek writers and on the use of reference books in connection with reading in English literature.

Introduction

PART I THE GODS

 Chapter

  I The World of the Myths

  II The Gods of Olympus: Zeus

  III Hera, Athena, Hephaestus

     I. Hera (Juno)

     II. Athena (Minerva)

     III. Hephaestus (Vulcan)

  IV Apollo and Artemis

     I. Apollo

     II. Artemis (Diana)

  V Hermes and Hestia

     I . Hermes (Mercury)

     II. Hestia (Vesta)

  VI Ares and Aphrodite

     I. Ares (mars)

     II. Aphrodite (Venus)

  VII The Lesser Deities of Olympus

     I . Eros (Cupid)

     II. Other Deities of Olympus

     The Gods of the Sea

  IX The Gods of the Earth

  X The World of the Dead

PART II THE HEROES

  XI Stories of Argos

  XII Heracles (Hercules)

  XIII Stories of Crete, Sparta, Corinth, and Aetolia

     I. Stories of Crete

     II. Stories of Sparta

     III. Stories of Corinth

     IV. The Calydonian Boar Hunt

  XIV Stories of Attica

  XV Stories of Thebes

  XVI The Argonautic Expedition

  XVII The Trojan War

      The Wanderings of Odysseus

  XIX The Tragedy of Agamemnon

  XX The Legendary Origin of Rome

    Appendix A

    Appendix B