- Ancient Greek myths shaped and were shaped by one of the most important culture in the history of the world. Even today, stories such as Oedipus, Narcissus, Odysseus and the Golden Fleece reverberate through our popular culture. This is the ideal introduction to Greek myth. The opening chapter is a detailed background to Greek culture and mythology. From then on, the book explores eleven well-known Greek myths, retelling them in modern English, and teasing out their meanings and cultural significance.