Genealogia Deorum Gentilium (Genealogy of the Gods of the Gentiles) is a comprehensive mythological work composed by Giovanni Boccaccio, an Italian author, poet, and scholar of the 14th century. This book, written between 1350 and 1364, is considered one of the most influential texts on classical mythology from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
The Genealogia Deorum Gentilium is divided into fifteen books:
During the time Boccaccio wrote Genealogia Deorum Gentilium, there was a significant revival of interest in classical antiquity. Boccaccio, a key figure in the early Renaissance, aimed to collect and systematize the myths known from antiquity, which had been largely forgotten or distorted during the Middle Ages. His work reflects a shift towards humanism, where the study of classical literature was seen as a way to understand and emulate the virtues of the ancients.
The Genealogia Deorum Gentilium had a profound impact:
Originally written in Latin, Genealogia Deorum Gentilium was widely copied and distributed in manuscript form before the advent of the printing press. The first printed edition was published in Venice in 1472, and numerous editions followed, with translations into Italian, French, and other European languages. These editions often included illustrations, which became a valuable resource for artists.