Day 2:
Hobbies

Greek Mythology’s Substantial  Impact on Western Culture

Did you know that the element titanium is named after the Gods’ and Goddesses’ forebears, the mightily-described Titans? Greek mythology is a mixture of folklore stories and themes regarding the primordial deities, Olympians, minor gods and goddesses, heroes, customs, and habits. As the philosophers back then recognized the significance of the myths, they were commonly taken as facts in Ancient Greece. Though it has significantly changed over the years, the term West was, after all, born in Greece. These legends and stories connect to today as many aspects of Western culture directly refer to the traditions and practices of Greek myths. Given how it has deeply rooted itself in our society, it is important to understand Greek mythology as it has given us all insights and vital information into our lives, allowing us to reflect and grow as people. It has done this through its profound impact on emotions, modern entertainment, the arts and literature, democracy and justice, and on different naming conventions. 

To explain the impact of Greek mythology on Western culture, one must first understand its influence on emotions. Modern shows and performances are built upon the foundations made by Greek theatres that first began in the 6th century BCE in Athens, a city named after the Greek goddess Athena. Many Greek innovations here include the conception of new genres such as tragedy, which was mostly based on stories and themes from their mythology. According to Mark Cartwright of the organization World History Encyclopedia, “Theatre [from 1st century BCE has been] firmly established as a popular form of entertainment and it would endure right up to the present day. Even the original 5th-century BCE plays have continued to inspire modern theatre audiences with their timeless examination of universal themes ...” (Cartwright, 2016).  Without these changes to theatres and genres, the acts and plays we see today would look and feel very different in their themes, style, and stories. In addition to its contribution to theatre and emotions, Greek mythology has also had a similar effect on modern entertainment. 

Much of the films and television that we watch today are retellings of classic Greek myths. For instance, according to Box Office Mojo, the Disney animated movie Hercules, in June of 1997, based on the hero Heracles, made $99,112,101 domestically. However, it is not only in movies and television that Greek mythological stories are used as many video games such as Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Hades, or God of War are based upon the gods and goddesses that develop their worlds.  These examples go to show the interest in Greek myths and the success it has garnered from major companies like Disney or Ubisoft. Likewise, it has also had a salient influence on the arts and literature found today by current authors and artists. 

Most of the Greek mythology’s impressions left today frequently involve the arts and literature. Painters, sculptors, poets, and other writers from most periods from almost anywhere have been in some capacity influenced by it. For instance, according to Britannica Kids, “Great modern novelists inspired by Greek mythology include James Joyce of Ireland [whose] masterpiece Ulysses was written as a modern parallel to Homer’s Odyssey” (Kids.Britannica.com, accessed 2021).  Another example is how famed artist Pablo Picasso drew an etching titled Minotauromachy, a representation of his personal tragedies that he connected with the Minotaur myth, a body of a man and the head of a bull (see fig. 1). These pieces of literature and works of art are commonly thought of as inspirational and revolutionary by many of their respective communities such as the examples before. When asked in an interview about how the mythology-based Percy Jackson series deals with Greek mythology and censorship, author Rick Riordan states near the end, “Greek mythology is studied extensively from grades 1-8, not to mention the Iliad and the Odyssey in the upper grades. English literature draws heavily on Greek mythology. It always has — from Chaucer all the way to modern novels” (Riordan, accessed 2021).  He essentially says that though it has always been studied in school and the modern books we read today continue to draw on it for inspiration, we do not stop to think about what it has changed and its cultural significance. While discussing the arts and literature, democracy is a term that comes up a lot. For instance, creative writing is a great instrument for using your voice for advocacy.

Fig 1. Minotauromachy (A Minotaur confrontation with a young girl while a battle rages on). 1935. PabloPicasso.org, https://www.pablopicasso.org/minotauromachy.jsp. Creative Commons Attribution only license CC BY-SA 4.0. 

Ancient Greeks are no strangers to the concept of democracy as they are credited for first inventing it. The first democracy, like theatre, was in Athens, though it was very different from the modern-day democracies in the world. One of the most notable ways Greek mythology has affected modern politics is through the goddess Themis. Themis, also known as Lady Justice, inspires all to be just and virtuous, influencing much of the political system with statues commemorating her in important places such as the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa. They host Lady Justice as a metaphor, icon, and inspiration for their decisions made. However, her daughter, Dike, had an even bigger connection to Western democracy. Dike being the goddess of human laws and rights established laws and customs to Greek politics that nations like the United States still use today. Statues like these in public locations can easily be dismissed if you don't pay attention, but they are really strong, subtle symbols standing there. Similarly, many names come from Greek mythology just as a courthouse might erect an equitable goddess. 

Most people probably know that a person’s fatal flaw is usually also called an Achilles heel, a hero whose only weak spot was his heel. Furthermore, other examples include having the Midas touch; everything turns to gold, opening Pandora's Box; unlocking a world of trouble, a Sisyphean task; something that can never be completed, or lying in the arms of Morpheus; sleeping. All of these stories come from stories that involve themes, like a king named Sisyphus that annoyed the gods so he had to push a boulder up a steep hill that would always roll back down when he was near finishing, or from the specialty of a deity, like Morpheus, the god known for sleep and dreams. When you understand what the metaphor is truly referring to, rather than a vague concept, it garners more appreciation and incorporates a higher sense of meaning. These aspects of culture are not alone in their influence, however, they have been most distinguishable. 

Greek mythology has had a continuous influence on the cultural aspects of the world without us even realizing it. Through its impact on emotions, entertainment, the arts and literature, democracy, and names, Greek myths have impacted a note-worthy part of our lives. Since understanding these myths can consequently change your perspectives on a variety of topics, take time to learn another mythology from a different geographical location as that caimprove both your cultural knowledge and teach more virtues and life skills. 

Bibliography

Adkins, A.W.H. and Pollard, John Richard Thornhill. "Greek mythology". Encyclopedia

Britannica, 12 Apr. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Greek-mythology. Accessed

30 April 2021.

Cahill, James. “How Artists Use Myth to Explore the Darker Side of Human Nature.” CNN,

Cable News Network, 11 June 2018,

www.cnn.com/style/article/artists-myth-flying-too-close-to-the-sun/index.html.

Cartwright, Mark. “Ancient Greek Theatre.” World History Encyclopedia, World History

Encyclopedia, 29 Apr. 2021, www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Theatre/#:~:text=Greek

theatre began in the,genre of Greek comedy plays.&text=Thus the works of such,all

modern theatre is based.

Ehrlich, Blake and Vanderpool, Eugene. "Athens". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jan. 2021,

https://www.britannica.com/place/Athens. Accessed 30 April 2021.

Lyon, Sofia. “What Exactly Is ‘Western Culture’?” The Bottom Line, The Bottom Line, 23 Feb.

2020,

thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/2020/02/western-mystery-an-analysis-of-western-culture.

Markman, Alix. “4 Greek Mythology Inspired Games to Get You Pumped for Hades.” Screen

Rant, Valnet Inc, 21 Aug. 2020,

screenrant.com/hades-release-greek-mythology-god-war-apotheon-odyssey/.

Riordan, Rick. “An Interview With Rick.” Rick Riordan, Rick Riordan,

rickriordan.com/about/an-interview-with-rick/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.

Syjuco, Miguel. “Art and Literature Are Vital to Democracy - Here's Why.” World Economic

Forum, 10 May 2017,

www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/05/literature-and-creative-writing-are-vital-to-democray-here-s-why/.

Wesciv. “Greek Mythology and Politics.” Greek Mythology and Western Civilization, 4 Dec.

2015,

greekmythandwesciv.wordpress.com/2015/12/03/how-greek-mythology-influenced-western-politics/.

“Ancient Greek Philosophy; Philosophers of Ancient Greece.” Hellenism, 22 Apr. 2021,

hellenism.net/greece/ancient-greek-literature/greek-philosophers/.

“Greek Myths.” American Museum of Natural History, American Museum of Natural History,

www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/air/greek-myths#:~:text=The Greek stories

of gods,these myths are much older.

“Greek Mythology.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,

kids.britannica.com/students/article/Greek-mythology/608505#:~:text=Influence on

Western Art and Literature,-Luke MacGregor—Reuters&text=The myths of ancient

Greece,been inspired by Greek mythology.

“Hercules.” Box Office Mojo, IMDb, www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl240748033/weekend/.

Impact of Greek Mythology on Western Culture.

2.files.edl.io/213tHM9CcfqO8kTD1bnMYwYlQzfHnHZEflsPXJu0dJh4h0ef.pdf.

“Minotauromachy, 1935 by Pablo Picasso.” Pablo Picasso,

www.pablopicasso.org/minotauromachy.jsp

“The Element Titanium.” It's Elemental - The Element Titanium, JEFFERSON LAB

RESOURCES, education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele022.html.