Impact of Greek Mythology

Greek mythology’s impact on modern societies cannot be understated. Modern language, industry, arts
and culture all demonstrate the impact of
Greek mythology in today ‘s world. For
example, most people who have no
formal knowledge of Greek mythology
still know that Hercules was a strongman
and that Venus (the Roman version of
the Greek Aphrodite) is the goddess of
love.

The Impact of Greek

Mythology on Language

Very few people speak ancient Greek on a regular basis, but Greek mythology has shaped English
and other languages on many levels. A “Herculean task,” for example, is a task that requires
great effort. This phrase comes from a myth about the Twelve Labors of Hercules.

The drug morphine takes its name from the Greek God of Sleep, Morpheus. “Venereal disease”
is a rather unflattering reference to Venus. The goddess of love fares better in the term
“aphrodisiac “, referring to any substance or circumstance that arouses sexual desire.

To this day, an unpleasant woman may be called a “harpy” (a winged monster with a woman ‘s
torso and a bird ‘s feet). Alternately, a handsome man is an “Adonis,” the mortal man so beautiful
that Aphrodite herself fell in love with him.

We call computer viruses “Trojans,” a rather unfair comparison with the Trojans, as we’re actually
referring to the Greek-built Trojan horse, used by the Greeks to infiltrate Troy and end the
Trojan War.

The impact of Greek mythology on western culture and language isn’t confined to individual
words. Many expressions, proverbs and clichs are direct references to ancient Greek myths.
For example, the expressions “caught between a rock and a hard place” and “between the
Devil and the deep blue sea” both come from tales about sailors being caught between the
monsters Scylla and Charybdis of Greek mythology. Other common expressions that demonstrate
Greek mythology’s impact on the English language include but are not limited to the following:

 an Achilles heel (a single fatal vulnerability)

 having the Midas touch (means to have good fortune in everything you do)
 lying in the arms of Morpheus (sleeping)
 opening Pandora’s Box (unlocking a world of trouble)
 rich as Croesus (to be very wealthy--Croesus was known for his wealth)
 the face that launched a thousand ships (a woman worth going to war for, referring to
Helen of Troy).
 Beware of Greeks bearing gifts (You should
be suspicious of people who are suddenly kind
to you/ Be suspicious of anyone offering
something; they may have a hidden intention.)
 Gordian knot (A complicated, intricate
problem)
 to harp (to repeat or especially complain
about something many times in an annoying
way)
 Cereal (wheat, oat and corn from Ceres, goddess of agriculture).
 Nemesis (an opponent or enemy that is likely to be impossible for you to defeat, or a
situation that is likely to be impossible for you to deal with)
 Odyssey (a long, exciting journey)
 Oedipus/Electra Complex: A son's/daughter's attachment to his mother/her father.
 phobias (fears)
 sour grapes (If you describe someone's attitude as sour grapes, you mean that they say
something is worthless or undesirable because they want it themselves but cannot have it.)
 hygiene (sanitary practices; cleanliness: personal hygiene, from the Greek god for health)
 Hypnosis (a sleeplike state, from Hypnos: god of sleep who lived in a dark cave without
sunlight)
  Music (from The Muses, the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts)
 Narcissism (excessive love of self from Narcissus a gorgeous man, half-nymph and half-
god)
 Echo (a repetition of sound from Echo, a mountain nymph who talked excessively)
 Mentor (from the name of Athena’s human form)
 Siren (a device for producing a warning sound—From half bird and half woman, evil
creatures in Greek mythology singing hypnotizing songs—they are also used as the logo of
Starbucks.
 Nectar (the drink of
gods)
 Nike (the goddess of
victory)


In a typical 80,000-word English

dictionary, about 5% of the words
are directly borrowed from
Greek; this is about equivalent
to the vocabulary of an
educated speaker of English
(for example, “phenomenon” is a
Greek word and even obeys
Greek grammar rules as the plural is “phenomena”). However, around 25% are borrowed
indirectly. This is becau se there were many Greek words borrowed in French and Latin
originally, which then filtered down into English because English borrowed so many words from
Latin and French (for example, “elaiwa” in Greek evolved into the Latin “oliva”, which in turn
became “olive” in English). According to British Council, more than 150,000 words of English are
derived from Greek words. The Oxford Dictionary includes 10,500 Greek words, which constitute
21,6% of the dictionary.
Cultural Impact of Greek Mythology in the West

Greek mythology ‘s impact on modern societies is often seen in the arts and popular culture. In
the 1980s, the all-female rock band The Bangles had a top ten hit with the single Venus.

Television shows and movies, such as Disney ‘s Hercules, have also reintroduced mythological
figures to new generations, including characters such as Hades, the Lord of the Underworld. In
fact, movies have been retelling versions of Hercule’s story since the 1950s.

Some of the most famous works of art and literature demonstrate the impact of Greek mythology
on western culture. Botticelli ‘s The Birth of Venus is one of the world ‘s most recognizable
paintings.

Operas often delve into Greek mythology, as well. Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld is one
of the most famous examples.

Great writers such as Dante, Shakespeare and Milton make frequent references to Greek
mythology, so much so that an understanding of Greek myths is necessary to truly appreciate their
works. American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Tanglewood Tales is a collection of rewritten
Greek myths.

Science and Greek Mythology

Greek mythology ‘s impact on modern societies can be seen on any clear night. Many
constellations are named after characters or monsters from Greek myths, including the Milky
Way, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Hercules and Gemini.

All of the planets and most of the moons in the solar system are also named after Greek
mythological characters, although the planets have been given Roman versions of the Greek
names. Even our Earth was named after a Greek myth: Another name for our planet is “Gaia,” the
name of the Greek earth mother, which is also the root of the word geology and geography.

Diseases characterized by inflammation, often caused by an infection are formed by the Greek
suffix –itis: bronch-itis or arthr-itis. In fact, almost all anatomical and medical terminology owes a
Greek linguistic influence: pediatrician (from the Greek words: Child + Healing), cardiology
(from the Greek words Heart + science), gastrology (from the Greek words tummy/stomach +
science), nephrology (from the Greek words kidney + science), gynecology (from the Greek words
woman + science).

Signs of Greek Mythology in Modern Societies

The names of Greek mythology surround us today, sometimes in unusual places. Would Ajax, one
of the great Greek heroes of The Iliad, be happy knowing he’s the namesake for a popular
cleaning product or a football club?

Sometimes, references to Greek mythology are appropriate. The Aegis is the shield used by both
Zeus and his daughter Athena. Today, the Aegis Group is an insurance company, and the U.S.
navy uses Aegis cruisers. In both of these instances, the reference to Greek mythology is clearly
valid in that the insurance company and Navy boats provide protection, just as the Greek shield.

At other times, the connection between Greek mythology and modern products is more tongue-in-
cheek. A popular brand of condoms is named “Trojan,” slyly alluding to the Trojan horse that
allowed the Greeks to safely penetrate Troy’s defenses.

Despite our sometimes questionable uses of Greek mythology in contemporary culture, its impact
on modern societies cannot be understated. References to Greek myths abound. In fact, Greek
myths even influence our maps. A collection of maps is an
Atlas, named for the titan who held up the earth. And
Europe, seat of so many societies influenced by Greek
myths, is named for Europa, the maiden carried off by
Zeus, who had disguised himself as a bull to trick her.