The Impact of Greek Mythology on the Modern World

Greek mythology has gripped and fascinated the minds of people across generations, long since the fall of Ancient Greece. The stories have been told and retold, passed on verbally and in the written form. There are several versions and retellings of these tales, but one thing remains constant- people's love for it. Apart from capturing imaginations, there have been other impacts of Greek mythology; whether it be prominent or subtle, this article lists some of the areas that have been influenced by the mythology of Ancient Greece.

Science

The Hippocratic oath, named after the Greek physician Hippocrates, begins with the words, "I swear by Apollo the physician, and Asclepius, and Hygieia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses..." The oath is taken by doctors around the world to this day. The Caduceus, which is almost universally recognised as a symbol for medicine, consists of a staff with two snakes coiled around it. This is derived from the staff of Hermes, the Greek messenger god.

The planets in our solar system have been named after the Roman version of the Greek gods. For example, Jupiter from Zeus, god of the skies; Mars from Ares, god of war; and Venus from Aphrodite, goddess of love. The names of many other celestial bodies have also been inspired by Greek mythology. The largest moon of Jupiter is named after his cupbearer, Ganymede. And our solar system is termed 'heliocentric', inspired by the sun god Helios.

Titanium, the 22nd element in the periodic table, was named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth after the Titans.

The Oedipus complex theorised by Sigmund Freud owes its name to the myth of Oedipus.

Brands

Various modern brands have been named after Greek mythological personas.

Nike has been named after the goddess of victory and Amazon after a group of female warriors of the same name. The name of the jewelry brand Pandora has been taken from the myth of Pandora's box.

Human names

Many human names have been popularised by these mythological characters. Some notable examples are Rhea, the titan of fertility, Helen (of Troy), and Jason, who ventured to capture the Golden Fleece.

Pop Culture and Art

The Renaissance - Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and the works of Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and so many more show the impact of Ancient Greek tales on the cultural revolution that was the Renaissance.

Shakespeare - The bard is infamous for his references to Greek mythology in all of his works. Whether it be Circe, Oedipus, or Troilus and Cressida- reading Shakespeare's work indirectly means reading (or re-reading) various Greek myths.

Literature - Mary Shelley's 1817 classic, Frankenstein is subtitled The Modern Prometheus, after the titan of the same name who created humans and enlightened them about the use of fire. Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is a modern example, where the stories incorporate Greek gods and heroes.

Film - Some famous examples are Disney's Hercules (1997), Wonder Woman (2017), Wrath of the Titans (2012), and Troy (2004).

Ethics and Morals

Stories are the perfect way to teach people, especially children, about morals. Greek mythology is rich with allegory and didacticism and serves as a tool to learn about philosophy, ethics, and values.

Phrases

Many modern-day phrases like 'Achilles Heel', 'Trojan Horse', 'Pandora's Box', and 'Midas Touch' all owe their origin to Greek mythology, showing their relevance to this day.

It is clear from the examples above that Greek mythology has strong roots in today's society. It has had subtle influences on various fields, making these stories known to people almost subconsciously. Learning more about Greek myths can be a very rewarding hobby because once you do so, you can notice and observe its influence on different aspects of our lives today.

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