Fontenrose Joseph Eddy was born in California in 1903 and studied political science at Berkeley and later earned his master's degree in Ancient Greek and Classical, and a doctorate in Greek Mythology. After academic experiences at Cornell, Oregon and Yale, he returned to Berkeley, where he devoted himself to the research and teaching until 1986, when he died. He chaired the Department of Classical Studies and was named professor emeritus. His works include The Ritual Theory of Myth (1966), The Delphic Oracle: Its Responses and Operations (1978), Orion: The Myth of the Hunter and the Huntress (1981) and his first published work, Python, study of Delphic myth and its origins (1959), translated into Spanish only work, with which he won academic recognition. His other great interest was literature, particularly the works of John Steinbeck, which saw an influence of mythology.