Welcome to the journey.
This newsletter will chronicle the writing and research process of my new manuscript, The Invention of Greek Mythology.
This is a book I feel I’ve been writing most of my adult life. I’ve been studying Greek mythology for about three decades (I specialized in it for my doctorate) and continue to find in the subject an endless source of illumination about who we are as human beings.
In the past year I’ve been closely following the nationwide discussion on diversity, inclusion, and equity. I’ve been attempting to listen and learn.
One thing I’ve come away convinced of is that diversity strengthens rather than weakens us as humans.
Now I want to demonstrate why that’s true for the ancient Greek tales.
I believe that the evergreen popularity of Greek Mythology comes from its inherent and continuing diversity.
Its multiculturalism.
Traditionally, some folks have attempted to claim Greek Mythology for Europeans—that it’s a unique creation of Western civilization. In darker days, it was claimed to bolster fascist notions of a spurious “Aryan” race.
But the original myths that inspired Greek Mythology were never purebred European, whatever that means.
Greek myths began as a mixture and collaboration of many different cultures in the area of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Anatolian (area of modern Turkey), western Syria, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, while the Greeks themselves put their own beautiful stamp on their own final product.
This incredibly strong original blueprint for creativity allowed Greek myths to thrive in other times and places. And every culture that encountered the tales added to them, like open-source software, making them relevant for every audience that encountered them.
My basic thesis: Greek Mythology was invented by diverse peoples, and because of this is itself inventive of new stories, new art, new insights into a universe of humane things.
I’m hoping this newsletter will create and sustain a dialogue with my manuscript, in which the newsletter both reports and informs what I’m writing. As you read and comment, you’ll become part of the dialogue, helping me clarify my ideas while at the same time learning about Greek myths, Greek Mythology, and everything in between.
I’m excited. I hope you will be, too.
Looking forward to it!
Thanks! Let me know if you have anything you'd like discussed.