Diodorus Siculus

Ancient Greek Myths Diodorus Siculus

We are pleased to make this classic work accessible to a wider audience.

The Library of History, written between 60 BCE and 30 BCE by Diodorus Siculus, is not widely read because it is loaded down with detailed descriptions of all the nations of his time and obscure histories, which are of interest only to specialists.

But there is a gem hidden by all that dusty verbiage: one of best ancient accounts of many Greek myths. It contains the best surviving account of the entire myth of Heracles. It contains excellent concise accounts of the complete myths of Dionysus, Jason, Medea and the Argonauts, Theseus and the Minotaur, Oedipus and the Seven Against Thebes, and Daedalus. It contains brief accounts of many other myths.

This edition includes only the parts of the Library of History that are about Greek myths. It breaks the text up into chapters and adds subheadings to make it more readable.

Diodorus sometimes tries to explain away the myths, but soon reverts to the myth itself. For example, he says that Heracles did so much good during his life that people worshiped him after his death, leading to the myth that he was deified after he died. But right afterwards, he says that Hera reconciled with Heracles after he was deified.

Whether you are just learning about these myths or are an expert looking for more details about them, this book is for you.