Euripides Mythographus : The Mythographical Impulse of Greek Tragedy

As literacy expanded in Classical Athens, myths became increasingly fixed through textualization, fostering a more analytical and critical approach to storytelling. Euripides did not merely adapt myths for the stage but actively interrogated their origins, authority, and reliability. His tragedies engage with myth in ways that go beyond poetic retelling, incorporating elements of metanarrative reflection, myth rationalization and skeptical revision that align closely with contemporary mythographical practices. Unlike earlier poets, who treated myth in a more authoritative way, Euripides problematizes it, highlighting competing versions and inviting audiences to question what is real or fictional. This volume examines the extent to which Euripides’ engagement with myth mirrors the methods of the mythographers, positioning him as a pivotal figure in the development of myth criticism. His approach —marked by skepticism, intertextuality, and an awareness of myth as a constructed discourse— foreshadows later developments in both historiography and literary analysis. Thus, Euripides Mythographus can be of great value for those scholars interested in exploring the boundaries between genres in the tragic poet.