Have you ever read novels that were inspired by ancient Greek Myths? These timeless stories have had a big impact on literature and still interest readers of all ages. Many authors have used ancient Greek mythology as a starting point to create their own amazing works. These novels have largely shaped the way we perceive the world and our literature as well. Homer’s epic poems like The Iliad and The Odyssey have defined the structure for various novels in the literary sphere. 

Lots of authors have taken inspiration from these ancient Greek Myths to create their own successful novels, such as Ulysses, Frankenstein, The Picture of Dorian Gray etc, that will be discussed here.

Here are a few classical novels inspired by Greek Myths:

Ulysses by James Joyce

James Joyce, an Irish author who was inspired by Homer, created the amazing novel of Ulysses. He was especially inspired by the narrative of Odysseus, the protagonist of The Odyssey, who was one of the most fascinating and complex characters in literature. The title of this book, Ulysses, is a Latin translation of the name Odysseus.

Ulysses starts its narrative from a day in Dublin where it follows the story of three main characters. The book is divided into important parts from Homer’s story such as “Lotus Eaters” “Cyclops” and “Calypso” and have created a familiar story from Homer’s Odyssey.

The protagonist of this book Leopold Bloom has various qualities that are shared with Odysseus. Joyce discusses the history of Ireland as well as its relationship with England, making it special for many people.

Frankenstein By Mary Shelley

Written in 1818 by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein is inspired by the myth of Prometheus from the Greek Myths. This Victorian Gothic novel takes its narrative from the perspective of Victor Frankenstein and his creation of life, which mirrors the myth of Prometheus who defied the Olympian Gods by stealing fire for the sake of humanity for them to create a civilization.

Mary Shelley’s reference to Prometheus’s punishment is extended to Victor’s punishment which is reflected by his guilt and anguish after creating the figure of life.

The ancient Greek Myth of Prometheus is the main inspiration for Frankenstein, which makes this Gothic novel one of the greatest works of Literature.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Picture Of Dorian Gray written by the Irish author, Oscar Wilde, narrates the story of a young, beautiful and narcissistic man who trades his soul in exchange for eternal youth due to his obsession with beauty. 

Based on the Greek Myth of Narcissus, who was a beautiful hunter who rejected those who loved him and became obsessed with himself after looking at his reflection in a pool. The myth of Narcissus resonates with the story of Dorian Gray due to his fixation of beauty and the self, imparting valuable lessons as well.