Impact of Greek Mythology On Western Culture
Impact of Greek Mythology On Western Culture
Impact of Greek Mythology On Western Culture
On Western Culture
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.
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 modern societies include:
the face that launched a thousand ships (a woman worth going to war for).
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.