The following symbols and abbreviations have been used: N:, D:, G:, ◊, *, &, **, ***, Ω, + and ++.
Blank spaces in connection with these symbols mean "unknown", at least for the sources supporting this Dictionary. Moreover, in all cases "1)", "2)", etc. stand for a sequence, and "a)", "b)", etc. point out different alternatives.
Each entry begins with the Name of the person, often followed by a short Description. These are referred in the sources as N: (= Name) and D: (= Description). When a particular entry can also be found in the GROUPS, the name of the Group (always written in capital letters) is indicated before the sources, which come last. In the sources the Groups are referred as G: (= Group), and when numbered, as G1:, G2:, etc. The symbol "◊" precedes "G:" in the text merely for visual reasons (to mark the beginning of a new paragraph), and it doesn't appear in the sources. The Contents of the Chapter GROUPS shows which collective entries can be found.
The material is organized in the following way:
* = origin, i.e. in most cases, parents, "*a)", "*b)", etc., showing different alternatives. The father is always named first, followed by the symbol "&", signifying union with the mother, who always follows that symbol. When one parent is unknown the symbol "&" will still be there (after the father's name or preceding the mother's). When the parentage consists of only one person the symbol "&" has been omitted.
** = mates, i.e. wives, husbands or lovers, "**1)", "**2)" , etc. showing that there have been several wives or lovers (the numbers do not necessarily show the chronological order), and "**a)", "**b)", etc. showing different alternatives or versions.
*** = offspring. "***1)", "***2)" etc., or "***a)", "***b)", etc. correspond to the information given about mates, so that the child under, for instance, "***2)" is the son or daughter of the husband or wife under "**2)".
Ω = Includes an account of the circumstances of death and/or metamorphosis, "Ωa)", "Ωb)", etc. standing for different versions. The symbol "Ω" followed by a proper name is to be read as "killed by" (e.g. "ΩAchilles" = "Killed by Achilles").
+ and ++ = These symbols preceding a name and its source facilitate reference: the name preceded by it will be found in the source bearing the same symbol.
The sources given in brackets are preceded by the symbols corresponding to the information they refer to. For the names of authors and works quoted in the sources, see Abbreviations.
Numbering of namesakes: The subscript numbers following the names are for identification purposes only They are consistent throughout all texts but do not point out a chronological order. The absence of a number indicates that there is only one mythological character with that particular name. The numbers do not belong originally to the names.
Abbreviations of sources.
