Kosmos Society Book Club | Apollodorus Library, Books 2–3.7


Hercules was taught to drive a chariot by Amphitryon, to wrestle by Autolycus, to shoot with the bow by Eurytus, to fence by Castor, and to play the lyre by Linus. … Even by the look of him it was plain that he was a son of Zeus; for his body measured four cubits, and he flashed a gleam of fire from his eyes; and he did not miss, neither with the bow nor with the javelin.

The Book Club selection for July continues (pseudo-)Apollodorus Library (or Bibliotheca). We will read the whole of Book 2, and the beginning of Book 3, up to 3.7. We will be reading of various heroes, including Herakles (or Hercules in some translations).
The discussion will start and continue in the Kosmos Forum, and we will meet online on Tuesday, July 30, at 5 a.m. EST and at 11 a.m. EST. Links will be posted in the Forum on the day.
You can read any translation you like. Here are links to a free online translation by Sir James George Frazer, which includes notes:
on Perseus (online)
or
on theoi.com (online)
or
on archive.org (online or available to download)
There is also a translation by Robin Hard on archive.org available to borrow but there may be a wait for it:
Loan copy on archive.org
Greek text:
on Perseus
Happy readings!