Heroines of Greek and Roman Myth: An Intermediate Latin Reader

Abstract

This volume offers students a fresh approach to reading Latin through the lens of women’s stories in classical myth. Too often, the myths encountered in Latin classrooms center on men, while women are pushed to the margins or depicted primarily as victims of violence. This reader deliberately shifts focus, presenting narratives of nine heroines without requiring students to navigate accounts of sexual assault—an important consideration when the challenge of mastering Latin syntax is already demanding. The stories, carefully adapted from ancient sources, progress in grammatical and stylistic difficulty, beginning with accessible prose and gradually building toward the complexity of authentic classical Latin. Drawing on Dickinson College’s Latin Core Vocabulary, the book ensures that learners are practicing the most useful words, while less common terms are glossed in-line to promote fluid reading rather than constant translation. Designed for students completing an introductory Latin sequence or beginning an intermediate course, the volume reinforces core grammar through repeated exposure while introducing more authentic word order and stylistic patterns in later chapters. Both practical and engaging, this book smooths the transition from textbook Latin to unadapted texts, making the voices of classical heroines central to the learning experience.