Pantheon Mythology: The Influential Role Of Mythology In Modern Society

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To quote the outstanding American writer Thomas Bulfinch: “For mythology is the handmaid of literature; and literature is one of the best allies of virtue and promoters of happiness” (BrainyQuote). While Bulfinch does make a large point about literature as a whole, mythology still has and still continues to play a crucially influential part of society. It is through myths such as Pantheon mythologies, that the Pantheon’s followers are impacted from the common morals throughout these myths. In Pantheon myths, recurring motifs that gave suggestions to societies include: a stereotypical hierarchy of men and women, the family relationship atmosphere among deities, and how lesser gods and goddesses are oftentimes forgotten or punished for their …show more content…

This qualities are often found to be brought down from the supernatural mythologies and represented throughout the cultures who follow them. For example, within the largely-known Greek Mythological Pantheon of the old ages, there are many different gods and goddesses with their respective traits. Most of these traits today would be seen as stereotypical, but during the Ancient Greek times the traits were seen as a commonality. Mutually, the women goddesses have love, compassion, and beauty as their traits; such as the myth of beautiful Aphrodite (Leeming, 99). While male gods have strength, aggression, and courage among their attributes; similar to the expansive myth of mighty Zeus (Leeming 98). The creation of these representations early on suggests to us that ancient cultures, such as the Greek, began to think of men being the more dominant, elevated sex; while females would demonstrate the feeble, submissive gender. This vastly contrasting difference between men and women is a possible correlation of how society has been created today. As reported by a recent CNN article, only 14.2% of women hold a high executive positions throughout Fortune 500 companies. (Egan) This low percentage could possibly be contributed to the followings of men being of a higher power over women; representing how the hierarchy of the genders in Ancient Greek was influential on today’s

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