One of the famous ones is the story of Cupid and Psyche. Cupid, the god of love, falls in love with Psyche, a mortal princess. Their relationship is filled with challenges and trials set by Venus, Cupid's mother. Eventually, Psyche becomes immortal and they are united.
The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is also well - known. Orpheus, a talented musician, falls in love with Eurydice. However, she dies and he travels to the underworld to bring her back. He uses his music to charm Hades and Persephone, who allow Eurydice to follow him back on one condition, that he doesn't look back at her until they are out of the underworld. Sadly, he fails and loses her forever.
One of the most famous classical love stories is 'Romeo and Juliet' by Shakespeare. It tells the tragic love between Romeo and Juliet from two feuding families. Another is 'Pride and Prejudice' which shows the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, full of misunderstandings at first but eventually leading to love. Also, 'Tristan and Isolde' is a well - known classical love story of star - crossed lovers.
One of the most famous is 'The Butterfly Lovers'. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai fall in love but face many obstacles due to traditional customs. Another is 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl'. They are separated by the Milky Way but can meet once a year. Also, 'Xi Shi and Fan Li' is a story of love and loyalty in ancient China.
One well - known classical erotica story is 'The Decameron' by Giovanni Boccaccio. It contains various tales that often touch on love, lust, and human relationships in a somewhat risqué way for its time. Another could be 'Kama Sutra' which is not just about sexual positions but also has elements related to love and courtship in an ancient Indian context.
Apollo and Hyacinthus is quite well - known. Apollo was a powerful god, and his love for Hyacinthus was intense. Their story is tragic as Hyacinthus' death was a great loss to Apollo. The creation of the hyacinth flower out of his love and grief is a poignant part of the story.
One of the well - known classical short horror stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who tries to convince the reader of his sanity while describing how he murdered an old man because of his 'vulture - like' eye.
There are many interesting characters in old norse mythology stories. For example, Baldr, the son of Odin and Frigg. He was known for his beauty and goodness. However, due to Loki's trickery, he was killed by a mistletoe arrow. Then there are the Valkyries, female figures who choose the slain warriors to go to Valhalla, Odin's hall in the afterlife.
One well - known story involves the satyrs' wild and lustful behavior. In Greek mythology, satyrs were often depicted as half - man, half - goat creatures with strong sexual appetites. For example, the story of Pan, a major satyr figure. He was associated with nature and was often shown chasing nymphs. However, these stories are part of the complex and sometimes racy mythology of the ancient Greeks, which also had deeper symbolic meanings related to human nature, fertility, and the relationship between the civilized and the wild.
Then there's 'Myths of the Greeks and Romans' by Michael Grant. This book offers a comprehensive collection of the Greek (and also Roman) mythology stories. It is written in a clear and straightforward style, making it easy for readers to understand the complex relationships and events within the myths.
Some well - known classical literature novels include 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. It's a story about love and marriage in the 19th - century English society. Another one is 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville, which is an epic tale of a captain's obsession with a white whale. Also, 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes is a famous Spanish novel that follows the adventures of a deluded knight.
Some classical French novels include 'Manon Lescaut' by Abbé Prévost. It's a story of love and passion. 'Paul et Virginie' by Bernardin de Saint - Pierre is another one. It has a more idyllic and sentimental tone, set in a colonial context. And 'Gil Blas' by Alain - René Lesage, which is a picaresque novel following the adventures of the title character through different social strata.