Here's a page about some early Roman and Greek history
with the mythological influences acknowledged that have been woven into the history. Not a
whole lot that's new there, but worth a look.

http://www.aug.edu/langlitcom/humanitiesHBK/handbook_htm/roman_history.htm

Joyce would have chosen Ulysses rather than Odysseus for his book that used the Odyssey as its scaffolding
because of Latin and the very strong influence
of the Catholic Church upon his early formation.