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How greek mythology affected modern culture
The Influence of Ancient Greek Mythology on Modern Society
The Influence of Ancient Greek Mythology on Modern Society
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Myths and legends has influenced so many things in the modern age. Every great story seems to come from some sort of ancient myths. Whether it's a character in a movie like Hercules or Wonder Woman to movies based around classic stories like O Brother Where Art Thou. Greek and class myths have influenced countless modern films and characters. As for historical influences there are plenty of them. Naming NASA'S space program after Apollo is a big one. Other historical influences like Apollo are Mars, Roman name for Ares, who is the god of War. Over time many things have been named after Greek gods from Myths and Legends. Myths and Legends have changed over time and with today's society myths have changed from being about ancient myths and gods
The Kite Runner is a story about the life of an Afghan boy named Amir and his experiences of growing up under unusual circumstances. Such circumstances include being raised in a world of social classes that separate him from his Hazara servant, having to become a refugee from his own country, and trying to gain the love and appreciation of his father who seems to have shut out his own son on multiple occasions. In the book, the reader comes across a situation which fits the description of a commonly used literary term, Greek tragedy. A Greek tragedy is a drama in which a main character or character of interest is usually quite successful and content with their life at the start of the story, yet are brought to ruin and suffers great sorrow due to a tragic flaw. This theme of Greek tragedy is a common factor in the works of Sophocles, Achebe, and Hosseini despite major time and cultural differences.
* Life was never easy for him. His stepmother wanted to make him miserable as punishment of her husband’s infidelity”. (paraphrased)
Mythology was very important to the men and women of ancient Greece. They worshipped the gods and goddesses, wrote poems about them, and based a great deal of art work off of them. The people of Greece looked to the gods and goddesses for help in all aspects of their lives; including health, agriculture, and war. Reading about Greek mythology can inform people about the society of Greece because the Greek gods were created by the people of Greece. Three main goddesses who were worshipped by the Greeks were Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite.
They had similar beliefs, but also immeasurable differences. It was composed of many meaningful gods and goddesses that all played a part in the everyday life of the average Roman and Greek person of that time.
Hercules, or known in Latin as Heracles, was the greatest of the Greek heroes, a paragon of masculinity. In art Hercules was portrayed as a powerful, muscular man wearing lion's skin and armed with a huge club. He was also described as being a macho man buffoon, who was very impulsive. Hercules’ home and birthing place is in Thebes, Greece. Thebes is a city in central Greece. It plays as an important setting in many Greek myths, such as the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and many other important roles in Greek Mythology. The demigod, Hercules has an interesting origin, he is most famous for his 12 labors, and leaves a legacy in words and expressions.
The Iliad is an epic tale of war and hero’s within the Greek way of life. A
Mythology is critical to Greek people’s everyday life, just like how religion is in our modern day age. Everyday events, such as a thunderstorm, can be linked to a god or goddess. For example, when an earthquake would happen, it would be Poseidon crashing his tritan on the ground. People’s lives revolved around the whole ideology and it served as a way to explain the unexplained and to help them in times of need. All of the stories of these great gods and goddesses were passed down generation through generation, each time becoming more extreme and distorted.
Mythology is naturally evolved products but fantasy is an intelligent design mythis grow when people narrate the stories for long periods of time. These stories are deeply rooted with the events of historical and adopting the culture around them. Fantasy is a story that one person comes up with its entirety and them it finds a public life through mass publication myths often inspire fresh fantasies and on the other hand may fantasies also grow myths in the future. Mythology has at least three things they are connection to a particular culture, a shared world and a deeper meaning. Fantasy on the other hand is not directly a part of ‘real’ world. They may or may not be connected with other stories, they may have or not the deeper meaning,
The Classical mythology contains tales and epics of the ancient Greek and roman literatures and myths. On the other hand, Homer’s two epic poems, the Iliad relates to the events of the Trojan War while the Odyssey details Odysseus expedition after the war. Homer’s epic poems, the Odyssey and the Iliad present a major part of ancient history as modern fictional heroic stories. In ancient Greek, heroes were humans who were depicted to possess superhuman abilities. A key example in the classical mythology is Akhilles who is later known in Homer’s Iliad as Achilles. Achilles is he greatest hero of the Iliad whereas Odysseus is the greatest hero of the Odyssey. The greatest heroes from classic mythology and the modern fictional hero’s stories are mortal, and subject to death. The Odyssey and the Iliad marks the beginning of modern fictional literature.
“The happiness of the people is the end of government.” John Adams, a former president of the United States, spoke this quote. He is explaining to us about how the people of our country would be better off with no government, than with a government. The government of Greece strictly prohibits much of the freedom the people want, or need. The quote mentioned above is accurate for Greece and Legend, by Marie Lu. Political similarities are not uncommon. Although many political factions are different, the governments in Greece and Legend are related in the ways that people are treated. The political factions control all human rights, freedom of speech, middle class and education. Those who disagree or voice a descending opinion may be punished
According to ancient Greek mythology there were twelve gods called the Olympians, who lived on Mount Olympus. Apollo was one of these gods. He was the god of many things including: poetry, music, archery, and prophecy, among many other things (Daly). Apollo was a god who had many love lives, had an interesting birth and establishment story, and is represented by many items and symbols.
...but they also believe that it is influenced by current day books such as Harry Potter more than Greek myth. Even though the movie and book may be influenced by these pop culture books that is to say that those books are not influenced by Greek myth. There are influences of mythology all through the world and most things in the world are influenced by mythology in some way.
Though we don’t share the same Heroes with the Romans and Greeks, and despite the concept of Heroism evolving and changing through time, most of the qualities that defined their heroes and how they were celebrated, are really not all that different from today. While the Greeks mainly celebrated and spoke of their mythical heroes, the Romans tended to reserve that title for real life individuals such as generals, emperors, and soldiers. A great example of the Romans paying honor to one of their heroes is the Equestrian sculpture of Marcus Aurelius (LM pg. 81) This gorgeously detailed sculpture shows one of ‘The Last Good Emperors’, as he was known, atop his horse, addressing perhaps his soldiers or citizens. The sculpture was created in celebration of the return of Marcus Aurelius, and in recognition and commemoration of all his good deeds, bravery and achievements while ruling over Rome. The piece makes Marcus Aurelius seem as if he is larger than life and his pose gives off a sense of confidence, power and control, showing just how much he meant and was thought of by his people. Though this wasn’t a memorial piece, it is
Litai or the spirit of prayer followed her around and repaired harm done by her
The tragedy was a large part of people's lives in ancient Greece. Tragedies became prominent long before Christ was born. A tragedy, or goat-song, usually were seen during festivals in ancient Greek times. Tragedies gradually increased in seriousness until they were given utmost importance. Greek tragedies began at a festival in honor of a god, there were three great tragic authors, and all tragedies include a tragic situation.