Ancient Greek Myths in the Modern Era

Alan Moore stated it perfectly: “I think that we need mythology. We need a bedrock of story and legend in order to live our lives ‘coherently.” 

The Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series piqued my curiosity in Greek mythology. I was enraptured by the heroes who’d conquer the globe and return home just to realise they still weren’t happy and intrigued by the comedic interpretations of natural phenomena. I once realised their relevance and it led me to discover more and more of how such “myths” are interwoven through the fabric of modern existence. 

Long since the collapse of Ancient Greece, Greek mythology has captivated and enchanted people of all centuries. These legends have been recounted and retold, carried down by word of mouth and in written renditions.

Myths, fictions, and folklore retellings all appear to be too far disengaged from our fast-paced, urban society. However, both the ancient Greeks and the Romans were unrivalled in their ability to articulate powerful narratives that have withstood the test of time. 

But which myths from the past are the most relevant in the modern environment?   Let's find out by delving into these interesting classical lores.

The myth of Phaethon can explain global warming

When it comes to our most critical current issue: climate change and global warming, the saga of this unique myth stands out more than any other. The tale of Phaeton, son of the titan Helios, appears to be an ominous foreshadowing of our contemporary environmental disaster, and has a remarkable parallel to reality.

According to legend, Phaeton, who had lived with his mother, pledged to prove to his peers that his father was Helios by driving the sun chariot across the sky. Helios proceeded to meet his son for the first time, and he was so pleased to see him that he swore on the river Styx to give him his first desire (He was probably thinking the kid would ask for a magic sword or something like that, rookie mistake if you ask me). Phaeton didn't hold back in inquiring that he be allowed to drive the sun chariot across the sky for a day — a request his father ridiculed at first, but later granted despite his son's obstinate stubbornness.

Phaeton disregarded his father and used the whip on the horses regardless, blinded by inordinate pride and a swift grasp of the reins. This enraged them, and he ultimately lost control of the sun chariot, resulting in chaos in the sky and on the earth. 

When word of Phaeton's atrocity reached Helios' brother Zeus, he was furious and sent a lightning bolt into the sky, which struck Phaeton in the chest and hurled him down to Earth and into the river Eridanus. The gods had saved the world from greater tragedy, and the planet's long path to recovery has begun...or so they claim.

Some philosophers and theologians claim that, like Phaethon, people today have deceived themselves into believing that they can use their free will to govern the reigns' of nature, even if it means contaminating the world to such an extent that it is destroyed. 

(FUN FACT: It’s said that because phaeton flew too close to the Africa it caused not only the terrain to be scorched  but people’s skin to become darker )The Olympic Games

The modern Olympics Games were first staged in 1986, after being hosted every four years previously. Though it is today renowned as a worldwide multi-sport event, its origins date back over 3,000 years to Ancient Greece. But where does this tie into mythology? 

The ancient Olympics were held once every four years in Olympia, in the western Peloponnese peninsula of southern Greece, from the ninth century B.C. through the fourth century A.D. Hercules, son of Zeus, is said to have organised the Games to commemorate his victory over the city of Elis in a conflict and to honour his father. The custom became exceedingly widespread and a significant occasion in ancient Greek culture.

The Roman emperor Theodosius I, a devout Christian, regarded the Games to be a 'pagan' pastime and declared a halt to them in the latter decade of the fourth century (12 centuries later). After a visit to the old Olympic site in the 19th century, Baron Pierre Coubertin attended a conference that would change the course of history: the Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris. He suggested the concept of recreating the Olympics as an international sports tournament conducted every four years, and the proposal was adopted barely two years later, allowing him to form the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - the contemporary Olympic Games' governing body.

POP CULTURE REFERENCES:

FUN FACT: The term "theatre" comes from the Greek word "theatron," which refers to the sitting area of outdoor arenas where spectators used to see plays. The earliest western theatre was built at Athens, and it was a semicircular edifice dug into a hillside that could seat 10,000 to 20,000 people, similar to many other Ancient Greek theatres.

• Morpheus from 'The Matrix' (Greek god of dreams.)

  

  Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Warner Bros.

Morpheus is the name of the Greek deity of dreams. Dreaming throws the sleeper "in the arms of Morpheus," where he can transmit heavenly messages or visions of the future. Morpheus and his family are thought to dwell in the Dream Planet of Morpheus, which is a separate but connected world. 

Morpheus has more in common with The Matrix's hero than just a name. Morpheus, like his heavenly namesake, transports Neo and others between the "dream world" (the Matrix) and the "waking world" (Earth). When he gives Neo the red and blue pills, he gives him the option of awakening or abiding in his dreams indefinitely.

• Firenze from the Harry Potter series (Chiron)

Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Warner Bros. Chiron is the brightest and noblest of the Centaurs, according to Greek mythology. Chiron was Zeus' half-brother, son of the titan Kronos and served as a teacher and mentor to many renowned Greek warriors, including Jason and Achilles. When Chiron passes, Zeus resurrects him as the constellation Sagittarius in the sky. 

Harry and his comrades learn from their own wise centaur, Firenze, in the Harry Potter franchise. He is instrumental in Harry's rescue from the Forbidden Forest, and he subsequently teaches Divination, or the study of the stars. He, like Chiron, is regarded as peculiar among his species.

• Luke Skywalker rescues Darth Vader in 'Star Wars'  (Orpheus descent  into the underworld.)

  

Photo: Flickr / 20th Century Fox

When Eurydice (Orpheus's love) demises away from a snake bite , a bereft Orpheus searches for her in Hades' underworld, jeopardising his existence to save her soul. He eventually beseeches Hades to spare Eurydice's life. The deity agrees, as long as Orpheus does not glance back at her on his reentry to the surface world. Unfortunately, he does just that, only to find Eurydice still stuck in the underworld, mere steps away from freedom but lost forever due to Orpheus's insecurity and lack of faith.

In Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker deliberately surrenders to the Empire in order to save his father, Darth Vader, much as Orpheus seeks to save his beloved. Early draughts of the screenplay, in which Emperor Palpatine dwelt in an underground volcanic lair reminiscent of Hades' Lake of Fire, made this notion clearer. The plot is identifiable even in the finished film, with Luke luring the person he loves away from a living death and the reigning figure of darkness - only to have his loved one seized away at the last moment.

Some more references:

• Versace: After owner/founder Gianni Versace equated his designs to the fabled creature's "fatal attraction," the fashion brand adopted Medusa as its logo.
  

• Pandora: The name of the jewellery collection was prompted by the first mortal female in Greek mythology, whose name meant "all-gifted." The tale of Pandora's Box speaks of a titan named Prometheus who gave humanity fire as a gift; Zeus retaliated by bringing Pandora, the first mortal woman, to Earth and gifting her a box full of a  plethora of evil spirits like disease and anguish. These spirits would be unleashed into the world if she opened it, regrettably curiosity got the best of her, and she released all the unpleasant elements in the world. The subject of Pandora's Box is that curiosity is a human attribute that may easily be, and often is, their demise, as the phrase goes, "curiosity killed the cat."

• Amazon: The retail online platform is named after the amazon warriors. The Amazons were a troop of fierce female warriors who were specialised in warfare and archery. According to legend, these fearsome warriors battled mankind in combat, demonstrating tremendous proficiency and valour. Penthesilia, one of the most renowned Amazon queens, is claimed to have fought in the Trojan War, a legendary battle involving Greeks and Spartans. Movies like Marvel's Wonder Woman portray these mythical women as courageous and ferocious warriors, assisting them in becoming a symbol of the feminist movement in Greece and across the world.

• Dove: The dove, a symbol of the Goddess of beauty, love, and allure: Aphrodite, inspired this personal care and skin brand.
  

"Old Myths, Old Gods, Old Heroes Have Never Died. They Are Only Sleeping At The Bottom Of Our Mind. Waiting For Our Call We Have Need For Them. They Represent The Wisdom Of Our Race."

-Stanley Kunitz