Greek mythology has had a significant impact on all of the arts over the years. From authors, sculptors, poets, and painters to modern day screenwriters, the influence of mythology in the arts has been profound for thousands of years. In much more recent history, as technology as given us the benefit of interactive video games, Greek mythology has found a new home. Below are a couple notable examples.

Kid Icarus

When video games first started becoming readily available and popular in the United States, some of the first games were based on mythological Greek stories or characters. In 1986, Nintendo released a game called Kid Icarus on the Famicom system. A year later it was released on the critically acclaimed Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). In Greek mythology, Icarus was the son of Daedalus, famous for unsuccessfully attempting to escape the island of Crete by flight. Ignoring his father’s advice and flying too high, the sun melted the wax wings his father had made him and he fell to his death. In the game, the main character “Pit” is loosely based on Icarus as well as Eros (Cupid, in Roman mythology). Pit is an angel assigned by Palutena, the Goddess of Light, to help her defeat Medusa, the Goddess of Darkness and her minions. After Palutena attempts to banish Medusa to the Underworld because of her hatred for mortals, Medusa declares war and the Palace in the Sky is in jeopardy. In 2003, IGN (International Gaming Network) declared Kid Icarus as #84 among the Top 100 Games of All Time.

God of War

Several years later in 2005, after video games had become drastically more sophisticated and advanced, Sony Computer Entertainment released God of War for the PlayStation 2 console. The protagonist of the game, Kratos, is purely fictional. However, much of the game’s design and storyline borrow from Greek history and Greek mythology. According to the story of the game, Kratos was a young Spartan captain, who devoted his life to doing the bidding of Ares, the son of Zeus, in exchange for saving his and his comrades’ lives during an intense battle they would have otherwise lost. Ares granted Kratos great power and bound his arms with long chains and swords. Ares then tricked Kratos into infiltrating and massacring an entire village that worshipped the Goddess of Heroic Endeavor, Athena. After the brutal attack, Kratos realized that in his frenzy he had killed his own wife and daughter. This was all according to Areas’ master plan to turn Kratos into a brutal killing machine. He then denounces Ares, and throughout the game seeks the guidance of several other mythological Greek gods and seeks his redemption.

Since the incredible success of the first God of War game, two sequels have been released as well as one mobile game based on the series, along with one prequel game for the PlayStation Portable. All of the God of War video games feature notable characters from Greek mythology.

Some other notable video games inspired by Greek mythology include:

• Heroes of Might and Magic (Series from ’95-present)

• The Battle of Olympus (1988, NES)

• Hercules Action Game (1997, PlayStation, PC)

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Nowadays, the ancient Greek language is virtually extinct. It’s maintained mainly among scholars and historians. However, the ancient Greek language and particularly Greek mythology have had a great influence on the English that we speak today, as well as on several other languages.

For instance, many medical terms borrow from Greek mythology. The drug morphine borrows its name from Morpheus, the Greek God of Slumber. Similarly, the term “aphrodisiac”, which refers to something that arouses desire, comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, lust, beauty and fertility.

Often times, when someone has a weakness it is referred to as their “Achilles’ heel” or “Achilles’ tendon”. In Greek mythology, Achilles was a Greek Hero of the Trojan War, who was said to have a body that was completely impervious to attack, except for his heel. In Greek mythology, Achilles was said to have been mortally wounded by an arrow that struck his heel.

The influence of Greek mythology on modern language has even become evident in the computer age. A very common type of computer virus is known as a “Trojan”, as a reference to the Trojan horse built by the Greek that was used to infiltrate Troy and subsequently ended the Trojan War. This virus functions similarly to the Trojan horse of Greek mythology, by disguising itself as something else and then attacking or compromising system resources.

Perhaps you’ve heard of a popular auto maintenance company called Midas? They’re official slogan “Trust the Midas touch” borrows from the mythological King Midas, who was said to have a touch that would turn anything into gold. The expression “the Midas touch” is commonly used to refer to someone that is consistently successful with whatever they attempt, particularly in terms of business.

The examples certainly don’t stop there. There are many common English words, phrases, figures of speech and even proverbs that borrow from Greek mythology. Ever heard of Pandora’s Box? Stuck between a rock and a hard place? What about a beautiful woman said to have a “face that launched a thousand ships”? As you further explore the vast world of Greek mythology, you’re likely to discover some familiar (and some not-so-familiar) terms that you otherwise might have never known the origin of.

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Homer is a world famous ancient Greek poet, believed to be the author of the epic and hugely influential works entitled the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey”. Both works have been widely published in several languages, and are frequently used as a reference when citing Greek mythology. Although no biographical information about Homer has been handed down from classical antiquity, the ancient Greeks firmly believed that Homer was a historian.

Several skeptics, including renowned classics scholar Martin West, maintain that Homer is not a historical poet, but rather a fictitious character. West believes that Homer’s works were actually collective works of several poets. However, British classical scholar Geoffrey Kirk has stated that he believes both works can be attributed to one very talented individual, who used various traditional stories as inspiration for his writings.

The era of Homer is a subject of much debate, and has been that way for hundreds of years. It is unclear exactly when the man or the fictitious character came to be. Among contemporary scholars, “the date of Homer” generally refers to the time the poems were created as well as the lifetime of Homer the individual. According to Greek historian Herodotus, Homer predated him by about 400 years, which would mean Homer’s lifetime was somewhere around 850 BC. However, even older sources suggest that the date of Homer may very well date as far back as the Trojan War (roughly around the 12th century BC). Modern scholars place the date of Homer somewhere between the end of the 9th century BC and the 8th. The Iliad is generally believed to have come before the Odyssey, making it the oldest known work of western literature.

During the period of late antiquity, which falls on the timeline near the end of classical antiquity and before the Middle Ages, the popularity of the Greek language greatly declined in Western Europe, which was dominated by Latin speakers. Because of this, Homer’s poems began to fade into obscurity. It wasn’t until the 15th century in Italy that Homer’s works once again began to receive recognition. The first known edition came to be in 1488.

Homer’s works are currently studied by historical and literary scholars worldwide. They are also credited for having a substantial impact on Greek history as well as culture. When studying Greek mythology, it is almost impossible to avoid a citing from one of Homer’s epic works.

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The original Olympic Games are generally agreed upon to have been first recorded in 776 BC in Olympia Greece, celebrated until AD 393. Scholars diverge as to the exact date, with some citing a date as early as 884 BC and as late as 704BC, but the date of 776 BC is the most universally agreed upon date for the inception of the Olympic Games.

Were the Olympics created to showcase warrior skills?

There are many myths and theories surrounding the origin of the ancient Olympic Games and why they were created. One theory, which is quite a popular one, is that Greeks were warriors by trade, and once their domination of land was largely secured, the need for war and battle was no longer necessary. To exercise these physical needs, which no longer had a natural outlet, the ancient Greek city-states started building gymnasiums, stadiums and training centers.

Continuing the tradition of physical excellence

The physical aesthetic of strength and a muscular build continued because this was the physical manifestation of warriors, and warriors were revered. Since warriors essentially no longer had a job, and their work no longer defined their status, the physical power of a warrior became the new aesthetic – and this was one that could be achieved by almost anyone with enough dedication and effort.

And now, since there were no wars to fight, games were created as a place for men to demonstrate their physical strength, prowess, and skill. These competitions were open to anyone who could afford the training, and each Greek city-state would elect a representative to send to compete. This was an incredible honor as it gave the chosen participant the opportunity to bring attention to his hometown.

Was Hercules responsible for the Olympics?

The most popular myth as to the origin of the ancient Olympic Games is that Heracles was the creator of the games. He built the first Olympic stadium to honor his father, Zeus, after Heracles completed a trying assignment of 12 labors. According to legend, Heracles walked in a straight line for 400 strides and declared this distance a “stadium” or “stage.” This is why the modern stadium is the distance of 400 meters in circumference.

The synthesis of religion and the Olympics

The Olympic Games quickly became a nationally important contest, reaching their height of popularity on the 5th and 6th centuries BC. As is the case with most of Greek life, the Olympics became a fundamentally religious declaration of importance, a way of honoring the gods, as well as the abundance of good life that the Greeks owed to these deities.

The number of games and events grew from just a few to twenty at their height of popularity, and the contests and celebrations were spread over several days. The winners of each event were highly regarded, awarded prizes, and immortalized in poems and statues.

The Olympic Games gradually declined in importance as the Romans gained power in Greece and eventually brought to a halt after the final games in 393AD. The International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894, and the first modern Olympic Games were revived and held in 1896 in Athens, Greece.

Participation in the Olympic Games is still an incredible honor, bringing recognition to an athlete’s home nation, and participation has grown to include almost every country from around the world. The original Olympic Games were held every four years, and that is a tradition that continues through today’s modern Olympic Games.

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The Art of Ancient Greece has exerted a profound influence on the art and architecture we experience in today. The echoes of Ancient Greece can be seen in buildings, sculptures, and other works of art through the centuries and even in the modern lines of today’s designs.

The art of Ancient Greece is universally recognized as being divided into four periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic. However, in reality, there is no sharp difference marking the transition of one period to another. Instead, the styles blend and merge, together creating an aesthetic that is understood and widely recognized as one artistic movement.

Inspired by religion and mythology

Life in ancient Greece was heavily dominated by religion, influenced by mythology and the belief of the presence of a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Subsequently, Greek art in all of its forms is dedicated to honoring the gods and telling their stories.

In ancient Greece, gods were tangible figures that had shape, substance, and a well-known look. All Ancient Greeks knew what Zeus, the king of the gods, looked like, although nobody had ever seen him first hand. The same was true of all the major deities; they had a recognizable human form, complete with tokens and talismans that were often the source of their power.

The ancient Greeks could tell which god or goddess was pictured on a vase or in a sculpture just by looking at the representation. But part of the point of art is to transcend time and space, so clues, usually in the form of the specific god’s symbol, are usually painted or sculpted into every work of art.

The mythological stories told through pottery

Pottery was an integral source of art, and one that permeated life on a daily basis. Pottery was meant to be used, not merely displayed, which is why there is little remaining pottery and it is often badly damaged. Most of the pottery that survived into modern day includes drinking jugs, used for storing wine and water, as well as mixing bowls, which were used to prepare food. There are almost no remaining plates or cups because these were the pieces attracting the most wear and tear. Funeral urns and wine jugs that were presented as trophies are the exception to the daily use rule, and they are more plentifully preserved than some other pieces.

In early pottery, the designs were largely geometric and abstract. The pieces were made from clay that was left to harden, painted, and then fired in a kiln – using much the same process as is used today. Black, white, red and yellow were the most commonly available dyes, and these are the colors that will be seen most frequently. In later periods, stories of Greek history, mythology and religion were told on pieces of pottery. This was a way to reinforce their belief system and honor previous periods of history.

Greek sculptures of historical importance

Sculpture was another popular form of art in ancient Greece. Sculptures were usually made of stone (marble or limestone) or bronze. Bronze was a highly prized and expensive material, and thus, generally only families of extreme wealth could commission a statue or sculpture of bronze. Ancient Grecian sculpture carries on the tradition of other forms of art—telling stories of the gods, Greek history, and honoring the gods.

Most of the art in ancient Greece was functional and decorative, not only aesthetically pleasing. Greek art was used to remind people of their beliefs, what was important in life, and above all, to honor the gods to whom they owed so much.

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Though often remembered together in history, there are several cultural, social and ideological differences between the people of Ancient Greece and the people of Ancient Rome.

The similarities that they do share, however, are a result of Greco-Roman relations as early as the 8th century BC, when Italian tribes came into direct contact with the Greeks who had settled in Southern Italy and Sicily. The Italians were influenced by many aspects of Greek culture, such as the alphabet, coinage, as well as some of their gods. The next big Greco-Roman clash was during the conquest of Greece and other Hellenistic countries in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. At the time, Roman civilization was still in its infancy, and was nothing like the empire that it would go on to become. In fact, most Romans were peasants, and viewed the Hellenistic lifestyle as far more comfortable and luxurious than their own. They soon adopted several other Greek elements such as statues, mosaics on the floors, and the practice of dining while reclined.

While there are notable similarities between the Ancient Greeks and the Ancient Romans, the differences are vast. First of all, the term “Ancient Greeks” usually refers to the people of Greece from 750 BC (the archaic period) to 146 BC. While “Ancient Romans” are historically considered the inhabitants of Rome from the 9th century BC all the way up until the 5th century AD. Although both civilizations began around relatively the same time period, the Greeks are actually the older of the two. The Greek Dark Age goes back as far as 1150 BC, and there is evidence of Greek civilizations even before then. On the other hand, the Roman Empire lasted for 12 centuries, while the lifespan of Ancient Greece (from the archaic period) was considerably shorter.

Even though the Ancient Greeks shared many gods with the Romans, they often had different names for them. For instance, the god of beauty was known to the Greeks as Aphrodite, while the Romans called her Venus. Similarly, the Greeks had Poseidon, while the Roman equivalent was Neptune. Some gods had common names between the two cultures, such as Apollo.

In ancient Rome, having social prominence often afforded one special rights, while this was not the case in Greece. People born into prominent Greek families generally were not entitled to any additional societal benefits, and were not given any extra power within the government. They were divided into four social classes based on wealth, but it was possible for people to change social class if they earned more money. In Sparta, all men who completed their education were given the title of equal. Slaves in ancient Greece had no political power, but were allowed to have families and even own land. In Rome, political power and social status were kindred forces. The voting system consisted of tribes of voters, and the tribes were made up of citizens of the same social class. The tribes of the lowest classes were often very big and few, while the tribes of higher classes were small and abundant. Voting would commence until the majority of the tribes had voted, often resulting in many of the lower class citizens being disregarded.

Another key difference was language. While the people of Ancient Greece spoke Greek, the Romans spoke Latin. Eventually, after increased contact with Greece, Roman nobility and scholars began adopting Greek as a second language.

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