Abstract conference paper Knowledgeable Youngsters. Youth, Media and Early
Modern Knowledge Societies
Mythology as a moral compass
John Tholen MA (Utrecht University)
In the early modern Netherlands Ovid’s Metamorphoses was an essential part of the curriculum
in Latin schools. However, mythology was not only used to acquire knowledge of Latin. Many
prefaces to the Metamorphoses and other mythological editions, which often explicitly had an
educational purpose, emphasise the value of mythology in educating youngsters. The ‘fables’
served as exempla for moral conduct. Learning Latin seems of secondary significance here.
Reading mythological stories was consistently defended in these prefaces, which
demonstrates mythology was not of undisputed reputation. Criticism especially stemmed from
a Christian point of view. Stories about unchaste and pagan gods would have a particularly bad
effect on children’s Christian morality.
However, according to David van Hoogstraten, who wrote a mythological handbook in
Dutch, good students will automatically select valuable elements in mythology, while ignoring
subversive parts. He legitimises his view by referring to Plato’s advice to start education with
mythology, in which dwells no harm. Mythological stories, according to Van Hoogstraten, help
youngsters gain resistance against ‘the blows of fortune, its fluctuation and changeability’ and
encourage ‘steadfastness and patience’. Other stories are explained as avoiding ‘wrong
opinions, cruelty, disloyalty, and impure passions’. Various mythological characters in this way
are connected to archetypal virtues and vices: Hercules stands for courage, Tantalus is a
deterrent of avarice, Marsyas of reckless behaviour and arrogance. Girls were also taught
through mythology. For example, Jan Baptist Houwaert, who wrote a maiden’s handbook,
discusses the cruel fate of Philomela (who was abducted, raped, and mutilated by her brother
in law) to teach girls in marital morality.
Mythology books from the early modern Netherlands show us how mythology played a
role in educating youngsters. In my paper I will give an insight into the nature of the moral
lessons used to prepare young people for a role in society.