Follow a myth
to its landscape.

History Britannica says that on her journey Demeter revealed her secret rites to the people of Eleusis, who had welcomed her. Britannica: Demeter ↗

Literature Theseus forgets to raise a white sail in place of the black one. His father Aegeus sees the black sail from the Acropolis, thinks his son is dead, and dies. Apollodorus, Library, Epitome 1.7–1.11 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗

History Knossos, in Crete, was the capital of the legendary King Minos and the main centre of the Minoan civilisation. Britannica: Knossos ↗

History Excavations at Knossos began under Sir Arthur Evans in 1900. They revealed a palace at the centre of a Bronze Age culture that dominated the Aegean between about 1600 and 1400 BCE. Britannica: Knossos ↗

Literature He sails away with Ariadne. At the island of Naxos, Dionysus falls in love with her and carries her off. Apollodorus, Library, Epitome 1.7–1.11 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗

Literature Daedalus buries his son, and the land where he lies is named Icaria. Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.183–235 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗

Literature Proud of his success, Icarus leaves his father and soars higher. The sun’s heat softens and melts the wax, and with no feathers left he falls into the sea calling his father’s name. That sea, Ovid says, is now called the Icarian Sea. Ovid, Metamorphoses 8.183–235 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗

Literature Acrisius puts Danae and the baby into a chest and casts it into the sea. It washes up on the island of Seriphus, where Dictys brings the boy up. Apollodorus, Library 2.4.1–2.4.3 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗

Literature Back on Seriphus he turns Polydectes and his friends to stone with the Gorgon’s head, then gives the head to Athena, who puts it in the middle of her shield. Apollodorus, Library 2.4.1–2.4.3 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗

History Britannica gives Danae’s father as Acrisius of Argos, and says Polydectes, who wanted to marry Danae, tricked Perseus into promising to fetch Medusa’s head. Britannica: Perseus ↗

History According to another account, Perseus buried the head in the marketplace of Argos instead of giving it to Athena. Britannica (Students): Medusa ↗

History A third tradition said Cyclopes built the huge stone walls of cities such as Tiryns and Mycenae. Britannica: Cyclops ↗

Literature Orpheus goes down through the gate at Taenarus to the river Styx, and sings to Persephone and Pluto, the rulers of the dead, asking to have his wife back. Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.1–85 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗

History In the Odyssey, Odysseus is away from his kingdom of Ithaca for 20 years: 10 at the Trojan War and 10 on the journey home. Britannica: Odysseus ↗

Literature In the Odyssey, Odysseus asks the singer Demodocus to sing of the wooden horse, which Epeius built with Athena’s help and which Odysseus brought into the citadel of Troy, filled with men. Homer, Odyssey 8.482–520 (trans. A. T. Murray) · Theoi Project ↗

History Britannica says the tales of more than one sack of Troy are supported by archaeological evidence. Britannica: Greek mythology ↗

Literature In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Arachne is a young weaver famous across Lydia. Her father lives in Colophon and dyes wool purple. Ovid, Metamorphoses 6.1–145 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗

Literature Midas begs to be forgiven. Bacchus tells him to follow the stream that flows by Sardis up to its source and plunge into it. When he does, the golden power leaves his body and tints the stream with gold. Ovid, Metamorphoses 11.85–193 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗

History The river is the Pactolus, near Sardis in modern Turkey. The story was used to explain the gold found in its sands. Britannica (Scholars): Midas ↗

Literature Ovid sets the story in Sicily: Proserpina is picking flowers by Lake Pergus, near Henna, when Pluto takes her. Ovid, Metamorphoses 5.341–571 (trans. Brookes More) · Theoi Project ↗

Literature In Apollodorus, Daedalus flies on to Camicus in Sicily. Apollodorus, Library, Epitome 1.12–1.15 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗