Greek and Roman Parallel Stories

Plutarch. Moralia, Vol. 4. Babbitt, Frank Cole, editor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1936 (printing).

Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)

Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.

This work is a collection of parallel stories that juxtaposes historical and mythological events from Greece with similar legendary accounts from Rome and Italy. The author's primary aim is to reinforce the credibility of ancient history by demonstrating the striking similarities between the events of both cultures. The narratives are organized thematically, beginning in the early sections with political and military motifs, such as heroic deaths in battle, self-sacrifice, and acts of treason. As the work progresses, the focus shifts toward familial tragedies, forbidden love, infidelity, and brutal betrayals motivated by greed or jealousy. The collection concludes with episodes of revenge, the downfall of cruel tyrants, and the mythical origins of city foundations, leaving the reader with a vivid sense of the shared moral and cultural fabric of the Greco-Roman world.