Myth and the Novel: Introductory Remarks and Comments on the Roundtable Discussion

In the last two decades we can notice a new and intensified interest in myth and ritual, especially in Greek Studies. Both categories interact with plot and literature. We can even speak about a mythical and ritual poetics in Greek literature from its earliest beginnings until the Imperial times. In the genre of novels myths have been rather understudied, even though they appear ubiquitously in the texts. Therefore, I had the idea of organizing a roundtable at ICAN IV with the title ‘Myth and the Ancient Novel’. Myth plays a significant role in the plots of the novels; it triggers the action at decisive points (often by means of an ekphrasis), produces important analogies, intensifies content through exempla, and is simply material that is ‘good to think and play with’ (Cueva and Graf). Sometimes, the novel can be understood as a reaction to a mythical narration (Graf). Rare myths, moreover, can serve as sign of sophistic education (Bremmer), and local myths play a particular role in that paideia, even seen on the foil of “glocalization” (Whitmarsh). In the literary form, myth becomes part of an overall intertextual play (Cueva). However, myth is not only read, but also performed and part of an interperformative, interdiscursive and interritual process as well. Furthermore, through myths one can express hope for union with the divine (Zimmerman). Moreover, we should not forget that myths place emphasis on gender, violence and power (Futre Pinheiro).