Abstract: Greek mythology is among the most important Western literature translated by Chinese in modern history. Current studies mostly focus on the interpretation of textual connotation while lacking an in-depth analysis of the relationship between this kind of classical texts and Chinese social reform. By investigating Zheng Zhenduo's three translations of Greek mythology, this paper reveals that from the 1920s to mid-1930s Zheng Zhenduo used Greek mythology to explore the foreign resources of new literature, conduct academic investigation into national rules and make social criticisms in the form of myth. In Zheng Zhenduo's translated works, the function of Greek mythology undergoes numerous changes, reflecting the trend of social reform and the translator's multiple concerns.

Key words: Zheng Zhenduo, Greek mythology, modern, translation