Hyginus, Fabulae

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of what we know about the author, date, title, text, and purpose of the Fabulae attributed to Hyginus. Although the Fabulae contains mostly Greek material, its translation and glossing of Greek terms and use of both Roman and Greek sources show that the material was adapted for a Roman audience. The organization and style of the Fabulae suggest that the focus was on utility and ease of consultation, and that it was meant more for reminding people of the core details of various myths than for offering detailed variants, resolving difficulties, or analyzing these myths.