# Bibliotheca

> work by Pseudo-Apollodorus, a compendium of Greek myths

**Wikidata**: [Q817383](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817383)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliotheca_(Apollodorus))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bibliotheca

## Summary
The Bibliotheca is a compendium of Greek myths attributed to the ancient mythographer Pseudo-Apollodorus. It serves as a comprehensive mythological handbook, summarizing the major stories and genealogies of Greek mythology. The work is considered one of the most important sources for Greek mythology, providing a systematic account of myths from creation to the Trojan War.

## Key Facts
- The Bibliotheca is a literary work classified as a mythography, depicting myths in written form.
- It is attributed to Pseudo-Apollodorus, an ancient mythographer active during the Roman Empire period.
- The work has a sitelink count of 39 across Wikipedia language editions.
- It is identified by multiple Wikidata properties including P18 (image), P214 (national library identifiers), and P227 (GND identifier).
- The Bibliotheca has aliases including "Apollodorus' library" and "Apollod."
- It is categorized under genre Q580854 (mythology) on Wikidata.
- The work's inception date is listed as +0001-00-00T00:00:00Z on Wikidata.
- It is classified as instance_of Q7725634 (literary work) on Wikidata.
- The Bibliotheca is linked to the country of origin Q2277 (Greece).
- It has multiple national library identifiers including n85088519 (Library of Congress) and 157719069 (BNF).
- The work is associated with the Wikipedia title "Bibliotheca (Apollodorus)."
- It has a wikidata_description identifying it as "work by Pseudo-Apollodorus, a compendium of Greek myths."
- The Bibliotheca is connected to 16 sitelinks for the mythography category.
- It is related to the Roman Empire, the period during which Pseudo-Apollodorus was active.
- The work has 21 sitelinks for Pseudo-Apollodorus, indicating extensive coverage across Wikipedia editions.

## FAQs
What is the Bibliotheca and who wrote it?
The Bibliotheca is a compendium of Greek myths attributed to Pseudo-Apollodorus, an ancient mythographer who lived during the Roman Empire period. It serves as a comprehensive mythological handbook summarizing major Greek myths from creation to the Trojan War.

Why is the Bibliotheca important for understanding Greek mythology?
The Bibliotheca is one of the most important sources for Greek mythology because it provides a systematic and organized account of myths that would otherwise be scattered across various ancient texts. It serves as a mythological handbook that preserves stories and genealogies that might have been lost otherwise.

What type of work is the Bibliotheca classified as?
The Bibliotheca is classified as a literary work and specifically as a mythography, which is a written depiction of myths. It falls under the broader category of mythology (genre Q580854) and is considered a significant work of ancient Greek literature.

When was the Bibliotheca created?
The inception date for the Bibliotheca is listed as +0001-00-00T00:00:00Z on Wikidata, though this represents a general timeframe rather than a specific date. The work was created during the Roman Empire period when Pseudo-Apollodorus was active.

How is the Bibliotheca preserved and referenced today?
The Bibliotheca is preserved through multiple national library identifiers including Library of Congress (n85088519), BNF (157719069), and others. It has extensive coverage across Wikipedia language editions with 39 sitelinks and is referenced using various cataloging systems including GND (4365470-8).

## Why It Matters
The Bibliotheca matters because it represents one of the most comprehensive and systematic attempts to preserve Greek mythology in a single work. As a compendium created during the Roman Empire period, it bridges the gap between classical Greek culture and the Roman world, preserving stories that were central to Greek identity and religious practice. The work serves as an essential reference for scholars studying Greek mythology, literature, and religion, providing a framework for understanding the complex web of Greek myths and their interconnections. Its importance extends beyond academic study, as it has influenced countless retellings of Greek myths in literature, art, and popular culture throughout history. The Bibliotheca's systematic approach to organizing mythological information set a precedent for later mythological handbooks and encyclopedias, making it a foundational text in the field of mythography.

## Notable For
- Being one of the most comprehensive compendiums of Greek mythology from antiquity
- Serving as a systematic handbook that organizes scattered mythological traditions into a coherent narrative
- Preserving Greek mythological stories and genealogies that might have been lost otherwise
- Being attributed to Pseudo-Apollodorus, one of the most important ancient mythographers
- Having extensive coverage across multiple Wikipedia language editions (39 sitelinks)
- Being classified as both a literary work and a mythography, representing a unique genre
- Maintaining relevance for over two millennia as a key source for Greek mythology
- Influencing subsequent mythological handbooks and reference works
- Providing a bridge between classical Greek culture and the Roman Empire period
- Being preserved through multiple national library cataloging systems and identifiers

## Body

### Historical Context and Creation
The Bibliotheca was created during the Roman Empire period, a time when Greek culture was being preserved and transmitted throughout the Mediterranean world. Pseudo-Apollodorus, the attributed author, lived during this period when there was a renewed interest in classical Greek literature and mythology. The work represents an attempt to systematize the vast body of Greek mythological tradition that had developed over centuries, collecting stories that were previously scattered across various epic poems, tragedies, and other literary works.

### Structure and Content
As a compendium of Greek myths, the Bibliotheca follows a systematic approach to organizing mythological information. The work covers the entire spectrum of Greek mythology, from the creation of the world through the age of heroes and culminating in the Trojan War. It includes detailed genealogies of gods, heroes, and legendary kings, providing readers with a comprehensive framework for understanding the relationships between different mythological figures. The work's structure reflects its purpose as a handbook, making it accessible to readers who wanted to understand the complex web of Greek mythological traditions.

### Authorship and Attribution
The work is attributed to Pseudo-Apollodorus, an ancient mythographer whose exact identity remains uncertain. The "pseudo" designation indicates that while the work was traditionally attributed to Apollodorus of Athens, modern scholars have questioned this attribution. Despite this uncertainty, the name has stuck, and the work is universally known as the Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus. The author's deep knowledge of Greek mythology and ability to synthesize various sources suggests they were likely a scholar or someone with extensive education in classical literature.

### Literary Classification and Genre
The Bibliotheca is classified as both a literary work and a mythography, representing a unique genre that combines elements of literature, reference works, and religious texts. As a mythography, it serves the specific purpose of depicting and preserving myths in written form, distinguishing it from other types of ancient literature. The work's classification under genre Q580854 (mythology) on Wikidata reflects its primary focus on mythological content, while its status as a literary work acknowledges its artistic and cultural value.

### Preservation and Transmission
The Bibliotheca has been preserved through multiple channels, including manuscript traditions and modern cataloging systems. The work is identified by numerous national library identifiers, including Library of Congress (n85088519), BNF (157719069), and GND (4365470-8), ensuring its accessibility to scholars and researchers. Its extensive coverage across Wikipedia language editions (39 sitelinks) demonstrates its continued relevance and the global interest in Greek mythology. The work's preservation through various cataloging systems has helped maintain its status as a key reference work for Greek mythology.

### Relationship to Other Works
The Bibliotheca exists within the broader context of ancient Greek literature and mythography. It draws upon earlier sources such as Homer's epics, Hesiod's Theogony, and various tragic plays, synthesizing this material into a coherent whole. The work also influenced later mythographers and mythographic traditions, setting a precedent for systematic approaches to organizing mythological information. Its relationship to other works in the field of mythology is reflected in its classification and the extensive network of connections in cataloging systems.

### Cultural and Academic Significance
The Bibliotheca's significance extends beyond its role as a mythological handbook. It represents an important cultural artifact that preserves Greek religious and cultural traditions during the Roman period. For modern scholars, it serves as an essential primary source for studying Greek mythology, literature, and religion. The work's systematic approach to organizing mythological information has made it invaluable for understanding the development and transmission of Greek mythological traditions. Its continued use in academic contexts and its presence in multiple languages demonstrate its enduring relevance to the study of classical civilization.

### Modern Reception and Use
Today, the Bibliotheca remains a fundamental resource for anyone studying Greek mythology. Its systematic organization makes it particularly useful for scholars who need to understand the relationships between different mythological figures and stories. The work is frequently cited in academic publications and serves as a starting point for research into specific mythological traditions. Its availability through various digital platforms and its presence in multiple languages have made it accessible to a global audience, ensuring that the knowledge it preserves continues to be transmitted to new generations of readers and scholars.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/abbrevhelp)