Literary Sources (Myth and Religion)

Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey

Homer, the author of The Iliad and The Odyssey, served as the primary source of Greek myth and religion.
These epic poems give insight into the societal values and religious beliefs of the ancient Greek culture.
Various gods and goddesses such as Apollo, Athena, Hermes, and Zeus are key figures; their actions and interactions with mortals play central roles in the narrative.
The concepts of fate, honor, and the afterlife are widely explored in these texts.

Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days

Another crucial source is Hesiod’s Theogony which outlines the genealogy of the Greek gods, offering detailed insight into the relationships and power dynamics amongst the deities.
Hesiod’s Works and Days portrays the harsh life of a farmer, and is filled with moral and practical advice, highlighting the human dependence on the gods.
Both of Hesiod’s works emphasise the importance of hard work, justice, and piety.

Sophocles

Playwright Sophocles showed moral and religious dilemmas through tragedies like “Oedipus Rex” and “Antigone”.
His works address the concept of hubris (excessive pride), punishment from the gods and the tension between divine law and mortal law.

Euripides

Euripides, another prominent Greek tragedian, included strong observations on religion, particularly in his play “The Bacchae”.
Euripides often used tragedies to indirectly critique and question societal norms, religion, and the traditional roles of gods and humans.

Virgil’s Aeneid

The Aeneid by Virgil is a primary source of Roman myths, portraying religious rituals, interactions with gods, and the connection between prophecy and fate.
The epic poem is a patriotic work that gives credit to the gods for Rome’s success and describes Rome’s divine destiny.
The underworld, as described by Virgil, heavily influenced later Christian concepts of Hell.

Ovid’s Metamorphoses

Ovid’s Metamorphoses is a collection of mythological and legendary stories with themes of transformation, often violent or provocative.
Intertwining narratives depict the actions of Roman gods, goddesses, heroes, and mortals.
The work provides variations to established myths and uniquely interprets various religious themes.

Overall

These literary works provide valuable insight into the spiritual, political and societal frameworks of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
The prevalence of gods, morals and societal beliefs in these texts reflect how deeply religion was embedded into their daily lives.
Knowledge of these sources is crucial in understanding the religious belief system, practices and the associated mythology of these civilisations.