Myth Rationalization in the Tragedies of Euripides

ABSTRACT:The tragedies of Euripides are composed of traditional mythological material, yet the characters in his tragedies question the validity of their own stories, including the involvement of gods and goddesses. Philosophy, historiography, and early mythography were rationalizing myths at the time when Euripides was composing tragedies. I present several scenes from his tragedies, which exemplify and parallel these other rational genres. My article maintains that Euripides used these approaches to innovate the art of tragedy and participate in the intellectual climate of his milieu.