Classical mythology, the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks and Romans, was never treated as separate from history, religion, philosophy, or politics in antiquity; it was an integrated worldview that shaped how the Greeks and Romans understood their gods, their heroes, and their place in the world. Stories of the Olympian gods, the Trojan War, and heroes like Herakles, Theseus, and Odysseus were preserved and transformed across centuries of epic poetry, tragedy, art, and ritual. These myths continue to shape Western art, literature, and language millennia later, appearing everywhere from Renaissance painting to modern film and everyday expressions. [Editor’s note: the corresponding page on the original site was a 2008 course syllabus for a mythology class Dr. Siegel taught, not illustrated content, and was not appropriate to migrate directly. This overview was drafted as a placeholder and should be reviewed/expanded by Dr. Siegel.]