The Untold Impact of Greek Mythology
- CHASE MEYER
- Nov 24, 2021
- 3 min read
By: Lord Meyer I

One of the most crucial parts of society is mythology. Mythology is defined as the collection of myths, legends, and tales of a culture. (Bhat) The most famous of these mythologies as those of Ancient Greece. These myths are based on Gods, heroes, and kings. However, myths are rooted in reality and help shape it by giving out important morals and teachings. (Centre of Excellence) According to the Centre of Excellence, Greek mythology “has shaped culture and tradition, directed political systems and encouraged problem-solving.” (Centre of Excellence) Based on this, it is safe to say Greek myths and their values have vastly impacted modern culture.
One of the impacts of Greek mythology is the way it has influenced the English language. This is evident in some of the phrases and words we use. For example, the phase of a “Herculean task” means a task that requires immense effort. This relates to the myth of the 12 labors of Hercules. (Sharma) Moreover, a common phrase in the English language is “caught between a rock and a hard place.” This refers to soldiers caught between the Scylla, a beast with six heads, and Charybdis, another sea monster in Homer’s Odyssey. Another typical phrase to originate from mythology is “Achilles Heel,” referring to one's weakness. This comes from the story of the great warrior Achilles, who was dipped into a river by his mother to make his whole body invincible except the heel where his mother held him to do this. (Sharma) Greek mythology has even given names to some of the biggest companies in the world, such as Nike (Greek goddess of victory), Amazon (female warriors who fiercely fought in the Trojan War), Eos (a line of cameras that gets its name from the goddess of dawn), and Pandora (the first human women according to mythology).

One reason Greek mythology is so prevalent is it teaches valuable lessons. The story of Hercules teaches about the importance of strength of character and loyalty. (Centre of Excellence) The Story of Achilles teaches us that even a tiny flaw can prove to be disastrous. (Centre of Excellence) Similarly, the story of Hector, the son of Troy, being forced to fight Achilles and running away but returning and finishing the fight shows how it is crucial to overcome your fears. (Centre of Excellence) Moreover, we learn about overcoming obstacles in the story of Odysseus. (Centre of Excellence)
The final point I would like to make is that Greek mythology teaches higher moral values. The Greek Gods are not immune to human foibles such as jealousy, rivalry, greed, and manipulation, to name a few. However, we can read about how the gods deal with these problems to learn how to be better people. For example, the story of Hercules and Hera teaches about the evils of jealousy. Moreover, the story of Arachne and Athena teaches how to deal with sibling rivalries. Due to the creativeness of these stories, the messages are delivered subconsciously to the reader, meaning they are more enjoyable to read. (Centre of Excellence)
Whether you notice it or not, Greek mythology's effects are felt in many facets of life, from verbiage to moral teachings and many more.
Picture Credits: ancientworldmagazine.com
Bhat, Prerana. Greek Mythology and Its Lasting Influence on Modern Civilization. Indian Folk, 2020, indianfolk.com/greek-mythology-lasting-influence-modern-civilization/
Chami, Abdelghani. The Influence of The Greek Mythology Over The Modern Western Society. POPULAR AND DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITY OF TLEMCEN FACULTY OF LETTERS AND LANGUAGES, 2014-2015, pp. 1-63, citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1043.4613&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Sharma, Divya. HOW HAS GREEK MYTHOLOGY INFLUENCED THE MODERN SOCIETY? Divya Sharma’s Work, 2015, divyasharma06.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/how-has-greek-mythology-influenced-the-modern-society/.
The Relevance of Greek Mythology in Modern Society. (2021, Jan 18). Retrieved from https://samploon.com/the-relevance-of-greek-mythology-in-modern-society/
Why Greek Mythology is Still Relevant. Centre of Excellence, 2021, www.centreofexcellence.com/greek-mythology-still-relevant/.
Xiaoxi, Cui. Advances in Economics, Business and Management. Vol. 155, Atlantis Press SARL, 2020, pp. 475-78, www.atlantis-press.com/article/125947078.pdf.
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