Lucy Samuel explores the importance of Greek myths in the 21st century
The ancient Greek myths are increasingly popular among this generation, with many retellings emerging in the last twenty years such as the Percy Jackson series, The Song of Achilles and The Silence of the Girls. Ancient mythology has inspired countless pieces of art, theatre, music, and architecture – it is essential in the study of any humanities subject. Even though they are thousands of years old, we are still fascinated by Greek myths – but why? Why do we root for heroes, despair at the actions of the gods, and find comfort in the (rarely occurring) happy endings? To answer this question, I think we should take a look at what life was like around 2,550 years ago.
In the sixth century BC, ancient Greece was a hub of religion, culture, and art. A new democratic age was developing, resulting in Athens becoming the leading city-state of Greece, with more freedom granted to free male citizens regarding politics. Many theatres were built around this time, such as the Theatre of Dionysus, which further emphasised the importance of theatre at the heart of Greek culture. The production of black-figure pottery reached its peak during this period, shaping the famous style of Greek art that is so recognisable today. In the next hundred years, the literary works of Sophocles and Euripides would be published, inspiring generations of actors, playwrights, and authors.
These impactful developments in politics, art, and culture can all be traced back to one key source: Greek myths and religion. In fact, the epic tales of heroes and Olympians were the inspiration for almost every part of ancient Greek society, and this inspiration remained until the religion of the Greeks faded out during the rise of Christianity in the first centuries AD. Despite being over 2,000 years old, we are still fascinated by Greek myths, and this lasting interest may be due to their deep roots in Western culture which we may not even realise.
For example, the ancient Greeks established the key principles of tragedy, exemplified in plays such as Oedipus Rex, which features a hero/heroine with a hamartia (fatal flaw), a romantic arc, and a tragic ending. This type of tragedy inspired Hamlet and many other Shakespearean plays, which have greatly influenced Western literature. Furthermore, the Greek myths inspired numerous pieces of artwork over the last few hundred years such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. This painting popularised the myth of Venus (Aphrodite) and sparked a renewed interest in mythology during the Renaissance which continues today.
Lastly, I think that we still have a fascination with the Greek myths because they are relatable to us even today. You might be thinking ‘Relatable? How could stories about man-eating horses and one-eyed giants be relatable?’ But after all, it was people like you and me who came up with these stories. Take The Iliad, for example. Homer presents “godlike” Achilles as the fiercest warrior to ever live. Yet, despite his strength, Achilles sulks like a child to his mother when things don’t go his way. Similarly, the Greek gods are anthropomorphic (given human characteristics), meaning they display different emotions and have a lot of moral ambiguity (especially Zeus – despite being the leader of the gods with supreme authority, Zeus was known for his uncontrollable lust and, in one myth, he even turned into gold rain to seduce Danae, the mother of Perseus).
Whether sad or hilarious, the best part about the Greek myths is that they are outrageous and unbelievable. We can laugh at the constant failings of the gods, cry for the tragic victims, and ultimately take comfort in knowing that none of these crazy tales will happen in our reality. In this way, Greek myths serve as a powerful reminder of our humanity, bridging the gap between ancient and modern life.
