Abstract
This chapter assesses the Athenians’ mythical knowledge and demonstrates that the social memory of Athens’ mythical past is a valuable evidence for the study of Athenian democratic ideology. It shows that the Athenians engaged with myth in virtually every aspect of their public and private lives and were familiar with the Greek mythical tradition in all its complexity. As a result, they were able to appreciate variations in mythical narratives and their potential ideological value. The chapter first reviews the myths deployed at the dramatic festivals and the Panathenaea. It then explores the myths adopted in the institutional settings of Athenian oratory: the state funeral for the war dead, the lawcourts, the Assembly and the Council. The presence of myth in the private contexts of the family and the symposium is also addressed. The chapter ends with an analysis of some mythical variants attested in Athens, which demonstrates that the Athenians often deployed multiple versions of the same myths.
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