Greek mythology is not a relic of the past. Its gods, heroes, monsters, and myths are woven into the fabric of modern life, from the names of the planets in our solar system to the vocabulary of clinical psychology, from Hollywood blockbusters to best-selling novels. This guide explores the many ways in which the ancient Greek imagination continues to shape our world, providing a structured overview of mythology’s influence on language, science, literature, film, philosophy, religion, and popular culture.
The persistence of Greek myth is no accident. For two thousand years, the Greek and Latin classics were the foundation of education in Europe and the Mediterranean world. When modern Western culture began to take shape during the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Romantic period, it consciously built on Greek models. Today, the language of mythology is the language of brands, scientific terms, medical practice, and global storytelling.
Mythology in the Languages We Speak
The first place most people encounter Greek mythology is in vocabulary. Many common English words derive from the names of Greek gods, heroes, and monsters, often unconsciously used.
The names of the days of the week in many languages are rooted in mythology. Sunday is the day of the sun, which the Greeks associated with Apollo. Monday is the moon, associated with Artemis. Tuesday is named for Tiw, a Germanic god identified with Ares. Wednesday is Woden’s day, identified with Hermes. Thursday is Thor’s day, identified with Zeus. Friday is Frigg’s day, identified with Aphrodite. Saturday is Saturn’s day, identified with Cronus. The Romance languages, including French, Spanish, and Italian, derive their day names directly from the Latin gods, who are the Roman versions of the Greek ones.
Other vocabulary traces back to Greek myth: the word “panic” comes from Pan, the shepherd god who caused sudden fear. The phrase “Achilles’ heel” comes from Achilles, the great warrior of Troy. “Herculean” derives from Heracles, meaning a task of enormous difficulty. “Muse” comes from the Muses, the goddesses of the arts. “Nemesis,” “tantalize,” “iridescent,” “siren song,” “Trojan horse,” “open Pandora’s box,” “cross the Rubicon” (from Caesar, not myth, but using mythic gravity), and countless other expressions all derive from Greek myth.
For a deeper look at the linguistic and literary use of myth, see our guide to the Muses and their symbols and our exploration of hubris in Greek myth.
Greek Mythology in Astronomy
The most visible modern use of Greek mythology is in astronomy. The planets in our solar system all bear Roman versions of Greek names: Mercury, the swiftest planet, is named for the Roman version of Hermes, the messenger of the gods. Venus, the brightest, is named for Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. Mars, the red planet, is named for Ares, the god of war. Jupiter, the largest, is named for Zeus. Saturn is named for the Roman version of Cronus, the father of Zeus. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, discovered in modern times, continue the pattern.
The constellations are also derived primarily from Greek myths. Of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union, 48 are the ancient Greek ones catalogued by Ptolemy in the second century CE, and most of the others are modern additions inspired by the Greek tradition. The twelve zodiac signs, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces, are all based on Greek mythological figures, and many other constellations carry mythic names: Pegasus, Andromeda, Perseus, Orion, Hercules, Lyra (the lyre of Orpheus or Apollo), Cygnus (the swan form of Zeus), and many more.
For a full treatment of the mythological origins of the constellations, see our guide to Greek constellations.
Greek Mythology in Psychology and Medicine
The vocabulary of modern psychology borrows extensively from Greek myth. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, drew systematically on Greek tragedy, particularly the Oedipus Rex of Sophocles, to name and describe his theories.
The Oedipus complex, the boy’s unconscious sexual desire for his mother and rivalry with his father, takes its name from the Greek hero Oedipus, who unknowingly killed his father Laius and married his mother Jocasta, fulfilling an old prophecy. The Electra complex, the female equivalent, is named for Electra, daughter of Agamemnon, who conspired with her brother Orestes to murder their mother Clytemnestra. The Narcissus complex, a form of self-absorption, is named for the beautiful youth Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection. The Phaedra complex, an unhealthy romantic fixation on a stepchild, is named for Phaedra, the wife of Theseus. The Jocasta complex overlaps with the Oedipus.
Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, developed the concept of archetypes, universal symbolic figures that recur in human myth and dream. Many of his archetypes are drawn from Greek myth: the wise old man (Chiron), the great mother (Demeter), the divine child (Dionysus), the trickster (Hermes), and the hero (Perseus, Theseus, Heracles).
In medicine, the caduceus, the winged staff with intertwined serpents, is the symbol of the medical profession in the United States (although its use is technically incorrect, since the proper symbol of medicine is the staff of Asclepius, a single serpent with no wings). The word “phobia” itself derives from Phobos, the Greek god of fear, and many specific phobias are named from Greek words or myth. The rod of Asclepius remains the symbol of the World Health Organization. Pharmacology is full of Greek myth: morphine is named for Morpheus, the god of dreams. The names of muscles, bones, nerves, and diseases draw on Greek (and Latin) vocabulary. For a deeper look at this, see our guide to mythology in psychology.
Greek Mythology in Literature
The influence of Greek myth on literature is so pervasive that it is almost easier to count the works that do not reference it. The Greek epics of Homer and Hesiod were the foundation of Greek and Roman literature, and these in turn became the foundation of medieval and Renaissance literature in Europe.
In the Renaissance, writers like Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Milton consciously imitated Greek models. Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida retells a subplot of the Trojan War. A Midsummer Night’s Dream features Theseus and Hippolyta, with Titania, Oberon, and Puck drawn from various European sources influenced by Greek myth. The Winter’s Tale references Apollo’s oracle at Delphi. Milton’s Paradise Lost explicitly imitates Homer and Virgil.
In the modern period, the echoes of Greek myth are everywhere. James Joyce’s Ulysses retells the Odyssey in the streets of Dublin. Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon takes its title from a biblical source that itself draws on Greek myth. Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad retells the Odyssey from the perspective of the hanged maids. Madeline Miller’s Circe and The Song of Achilles have been bestsellers. Stephen Fry’s Heroes and Troy are popular retellings. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, the most successful children’s book series in a generation, retells Greek myth for young readers. Madeline Miller, Rick Riordan, Natalie Haynes, and many others have created a flourishing modern genre of myth retelling.
Greek Mythology in Film and Television
The Greek myths have always been a rich source of material for film and television. The earliest blockbusters in cinema history were Greek myth adaptations: the Italian silent films of the early 20th century retold the Odyssey and other myths. The stop-motion effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen created a string of myth-based films in the 1950s and 1960s, including Jason and the Argonauts (1963), which featured the famous skeleton fight.
The 2004 film Troy, starring Brad Pitt as Achilles, Orlando Bloom as Paris, and Eric Bana as Hector, brought the Trojan War to a mass audience, although it deviated significantly from Homer. More recent productions include the BBC/Netflix series Troy: Fall of a City (2018), the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023), and the various retellings from the God of War video game franchise, the Hades video game from Supergiant Games, and the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey game.
For a deeper look at the cinematic legacy, see our guide to mythology in film.
Greek Mythology in Brand Names and Logos
Many of the world’s most recognisable brands borrow from Greek mythology. The athletic apparel giant Nike is named for the Greek goddess of victory, and its swoosh logo, designed by Carolyn Davidson in 1971, has been read as a stylised wing of the goddess. The French luxury house Hermes, the razor brand Venus, the confectionery company Mars, the cleaning product Ajax, the jewellery brand Pandora, and the Olympus camera company all take their names from the same well — as do the Italian car makers Maserati (with its trident), the car brand Mercury, and the watch brand Titan.
Greek Mythology in Philosophy
The ancient Greek philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans, and the Neoplatonists, engaged deeply with the mythological tradition. Plato used myths as philosophical tools, including the famous Myth of the Cave in the Republic and the Myth of Er in the Republic’s final book, as well as the cosmogonic myth in the Timaeus. Aristotle, while critical of myth as a mode of knowledge, used mythological examples in his works on poetry, rhetoric, and natural philosophy.
In the modern period, philosophers have continued to draw on Greek myth. Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy argued that Greek tragedy emerged from the tension between the Apollonian and Dionysian principles, with Apollo representing order, individuation, and the dream state, and Dionysus representing chaos, dissolution, and intoxication. This framework has been hugely influential in literary criticism, art theory, and cultural studies.
Greek Mythology in Religion and Spirituality
The ancient Greek religion declined under Roman rule and was eventually replaced by Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. The Christian polemicists, including Eusebius and Augustine, viewed the Olympian gods as demons or false idols, and many of the great Greek temples were destroyed or converted into churches.
Yet the influence of Greek myth persisted in subtle ways. The early Christian apologist Justin Martyr famously interpreted the Greek gods as fallen angels. The cult of Demeter and Persephone influenced early Christian understandings of resurrection. The Neoplatonist philosophers of late antiquity, including Plotinus, Proclus, and Iamblichus, attempted a synthesis of Platonic philosophy and the old Olympian religion, and this synthesis influenced both Christian theology and the development of magic and the occult in late antiquity.
In the modern era, there have been various attempts to revive the ancient Greek religion. The Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes (YSEE) is a modern organization of Greeks who continue to practise the old religion, and Hellenic Reconstructionism is an active movement in many countries. For more on this, see our history of the Greek gods in modern times.
Greek Mythology in Sports and the Olympics
The modern Olympic Games, founded by Pierre de Coubertin in 1896, were consciously inspired by the ancient Greek festival at Olympia, where athletic competitions were held every four years in honor of Zeus. The original games, held from 776 BCE to 393 CE, included running, jumping, throwing, wrestling, and chariot racing, and they were a central religious and cultural event of the ancient Greek world.
The modern Olympics preserve many of the original forms: the torch relay, the victory ceremony, the laurel wreaths, the athletes’ oath, the opening and closing ceremonies with their invocations of the gods. The Olympic motto, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (Faster, Higher, Stronger), is a translation of a phrase from Pierre de Coubertin’s original French formulation, which itself drew on classical models. The Olympic flame is lit at the ancient site of Olympia by women dressed as priestesses of Demeter.
Greek Mythology in Music and the Performing Arts
Greek myth has inspired countless works of music, from Claudio Monteverdi’s opera Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria (The Return of Ulysses, 1640) to Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos (1912) and the dance piece Apollo (1928) by George Balanchine. The operas of Jean-Baptiste Lully, including Cadmus et Hermione and Phaëton, retold Greek myths. Hector Berlioz wrote an opera on the Trojan War, Les Troyens (1856-1858). Modern composers continue to draw on Greek myth: the singer-songwriter Florence and the Machine titled an album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful with reference to the myth of Zeus and Io.
In the dance world, Isadora Duncan, the founder of modern dance, claimed to have been inspired by the Greek vases she saw in the British Museum, and she performed barefoot in flowing tunics to evoke the spirit of the ancient Greek stage. The Joffrey Ballet, the New York City Ballet, and many other major companies have built repertoires around Greek myth.
Why Greek Mythology Endures
The persistence of Greek mythology in modern culture is a testament to the depth of the ancient Greek imagination. The stories are not just decorative. They address universal human experiences: love, loss, jealousy, the search for meaning, the relationship between parents and children, the inevitability of death, the possibility of redemption.
The figure of Achilles, choosing glory over long life, is the archetype of the warrior-hero. The figure of Odysseus, struggling to find his way home, is the archetype of the wandering survivor. The figure of Medea, taking terrible revenge on the man who abandoned her, is the archetype of the wronged woman. The figure of Persephone, moving between worlds, is the archetype of the threshold figure. These are not just characters in old stories. They are templates for the human condition, and they remain alive because they continue to be true.
The Deep Influence of Greek Mythology
The influence of Greek mythology on Western culture is so deep and so pervasive that it is often invisible. Many of the words we use every day, the ideas we take for granted, the stories we tell our children, the images we see in our daily lives, are all derived from the ancient Greek tradition. The Greek myths are not just one influence among many; they are the foundation of the Western tradition, the bedrock on which the modern world has been built.
The Greek myths are the foundation of the Western literary tradition. Homer, Hesiod, the Greek tragedians, the Hellenistic poets, the Roman poets who adapted the Greek myths, the medieval and Renaissance writers who retold them, the Romantic poets who rediscovered them, and the modern novelists who continue to retell them form a continuous tradition, and any one of them would be the start of a long list. The Greek myths are the common inheritance of the Western world.
The Greek myths are the foundation of the Western artistic tradition. The Greek sculptures, the Greek temples, the Greek vases, the Greek coins, the Roman copies of Greek originals, the Renaissance paintings inspired by the Greek myths, the Baroque and Neoclassical sculptures, and the modern art that continues to draw on the Greek tradition make up one of the longest single artistic genealogies in the Western tradition.
The Greek myths are the foundation of the Western philosophical tradition. The pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans, the Neoplatonists, and after them the entire medieval and modern philosophical tradition, are all in some sense working in the wake of the Greek mythological inheritance.
The Greek myths are the foundation of the Western scientific tradition. The earliest Greek scientists, including Thales, Anaximander, and Pythagoras, sought to explain the natural world in terms of natural causes rather than divine intervention. They did not abandon the Greek myths entirely, but they sought to find the rational principles underlying them. The Greek scientific tradition, which gave us mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and natural philosophy, was the foundation of the modern scientific tradition.
Greek Mythology and the Visual Arts
The influence of Greek mythology on the visual arts has been profound and enduring. The Greek myths have inspired some of the most famous works of art in the Western tradition, from the sculptures of the Parthenon to the paintings of Botticelli, from the reliefs of the altar of Zeus at Pergamon to the films of Steven Spielberg.
The ancient art of the Greek world is filled with depictions of the myths. The Parthenon, the temple of Athena in Athens, was decorated with the myths of the goddess and the heroes. The temple of Zeus at Olympia was decorated with the Twelve Labors of Heracles. The pediment of the temple of Artemis on Corfu depicts the Gorgon Medusa. The famous François Vase depicts the battle of the gods and the giants, the funeral games of Patroclus, and many other scenes from the Greek myths.
The Roman art that survives is largely a copy or adaptation of Greek originals, and the Greek myths are the source of many of the most famous works of Roman art. The Apollo Belvedere, the Laocoön group, the Venus de Milo, the Borghese Gladiator: all are Roman copies of Greek originals, and all are inspired by the Greek myths.
The Renaissance art of the 15th and 16th centuries was deeply influenced by the Greek myths, particularly after the rediscovery of the ancient world. Botticelli’s Birth of Venus is paintings of the Renaissance, and it is a direct depiction of the myth of Aphrodite’s birth from the sea foam. Michelangelo’s Bacchus is a depiction of the god Dionysus. Raphael’s Parnassus depicts Apollo and the Muses. Titian’s many paintings of the Greek myths, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Europa, are among the masterpieces of the Venetian school.
The Baroque art of the 17th century continued the tradition, with Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne, Caravaggio’s Medusa, and Rubens’s many paintings of the Greek myths. The Neoclassical art of the 18th and 19th centuries, with its emphasis on order, clarity, and the classical tradition, drew heavily on the Greek myths. Jacques-Louis David’s Oath of the Horatii is a Neoclassical masterpiece, and Antonio Canova’s sculptures of the Greek gods are among the most famous works of Neoclassical art.
Greek Mythology and the Modern World
The influence of Greek mythology on the modern world is not just a matter of literature and art. It is a matter of the very way we think, the very way we speak, the very way we understand the world. The Greek myths are the foundation of the modern world, and they are present in every aspect of our lives.
The language we use is filled with Greek myth. The word “panic” comes from Pan. The word “phobia” comes from Phobos. The word “museum” comes from the Muses. The word “tantalize” comes from Tantalus. The word “narcissism” comes from Narcissus. The word “Achilles’ heel” comes from Achilles. The word “Herculean” comes from Heracles. The word “odyssey” comes from Odysseus. The word “siren” comes from the Sirens.
The science we practice is filled with Greek myth. The constellations bear the names of the Greek gods and heroes. The planets bear the names of the Roman versions of the Greek gods. The chemical elements and biological genera bear the names of the Greek myths. The vocabulary of science, from “atlas” to “morphine” to “titanium” to “venus flytrap,” is filled with Greek myth.
The medicine we practice is filled with Greek myth. The caduceus, the symbol of medicine, comes from Hermes. The staff of Asclepius, the symbol of the World Health Organization, comes from Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. The Hippocratic Oath, the foundation of medical ethics, is named for Hippocrates, the Greek father of medicine. The word “pharmacy” comes from the Greek pharmakon, which is itself connected to the myths of Medea and the other Greek sorceresses.
The psychology we practice is filled with Greek myth. The Oedipus complex, the Electra complex, the Narcissus complex, the Phaedra complex, the Jocasta complex: all are named after Greek mythological figures. The archetypes of the unconscious, the hero, the great mother, the wise old man, the trickster, the shadow: all are derived from the Greek myths. The psychology of Carl Jung, the psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud, the developmental psychology of Erik Erikson, the humanistic psychology of Abraham Maslow: all draw on the Greek myths.
The Future of Greek Mythology
The future of Greek mythology in Western culture looks bright. The success of the Percy Jackson franchise, the God of War video game series, the Hades video game, and the Circe and The Song of Achilles novels has demonstrated that the myths continue to resonate with modern audiences. The myth of Medea has been the subject of recent adaptations by women directors, and the story of Achilles and Patroclus has been the subject of a series of recent retellings that have brought the queer aspects of the story to light.
The Greek myths will continue to be retold, reinterpreted, and reimagined by each new generation, just as they have been for three thousand years. They are not relics of the past; they are living stories that continue to shape the way we think, the way we feel, the way we understand the human condition.
For deeper explorations of specific aspects of the modern reception of Greek myth, see our guides to mythology in film, mythology in psychology, and Greek constellations. For the broader context, see our complete guide to Greek mythology, our guide to the Olympian gods, our guide to the Greek heroes, our guide to monsters, and our guide to the Trojan War.