One of the most important features of civilization and culture is their mythology.

Myths traditionally revolve

around stories about gods, kings and heroes and are passed down from generations to generations, being
portrayed in various ways from stories, poems, paintings, architecture, and many more. Myths are sacred
tales that explain the world and man's experience and are as relevant to us today as they were to the ancients
because they answer timeless questions and serve as a compass to each generation. The subjects of myths
reflect the universal concerns of mankind throughout history: birth, death, the afterlife, the origin of man and
the world, good and evil and the nature of man himself.

Myths are also pervasive in the arts and advertising, for a very simple reason. From film to cars to perfume,
advertising uses visual metaphors to speak to us. A name, phrase, or image based on a familiar myth can
speak volumes to those who have been absorbing these mythic tales since birth.

Greek mythology, one of the most widely known mythologies, is the collection of myths originally told by
the ancient Greeks. Not everyone is acquainted with Greek mythology. But one must know that there’s no
single original text in Greek mythology as it is in Christian bible or the written Hindu Vedas. In fact, the
earliest Greek myth was a part of oral tradition and its plots and themes were unravelled eventually in
classical literature. The epics mainly revolved around the twelve gods who were said to live in Mount
Olympus. For thousands of years, the characters, stories and themes of Greek mythology have shaped art
and modern culture. So, the modern western society has been significantly influenced by Greek mythology,
and lots of references to it can be found throughout modern life in science, arts, literature and language.

So, how exactly are our lives influenced by it? Not a lot of people are accustomed to the fact that Greek
mythology, to a large extent, has shaped the English language. For example, the expression “caught between
a rock and hard place” is the direct reference to the story of soldiers caught between the monster Scylla and
Charybdis of Greek myth. Various phrases such as “Achilles heels”, “the Midas touch”, “opening a
Pandora’s box” allude to different chronicles of Greek mythology.

Greek myths appear in numerous Renaissance paintings, are adapted into modern novels, movies, TV
shows, video games and brands. References to Greek mythology can be seen in popular books and movies
for children like Harry Potter. The name of the character Minerva McGonagall comes from the Roman name
of Athena, the goddess of Wisdom, and the personalities of the two are strikingly similar. Many famous
brands depict the extent of the influence of Greek civilization and mythology in the modern world. Nike, the
Goddess of Victory, is the inspiration for the sports brand, Nike, with their logo too signifying the ‘swoosh’
of bravery and strength of Greek warriors. Also, Morphine, a narcotic drug that is used to relieve pain,
derives from the Greek god of sleep, Morpheus.

One of the biggest contributions by Greek mythology is the long-standing tradition of the Olympics. They
were primarily held in the honour of Zeus, the father and king of Greek God and Goddesses. The games and
festival of the Olympics were held every four years for 12 centuries. A common symbol of the Olympics is
the flame that is lit to inaugurate the games and this is done so due to ancient Greek custom where a sacred
fire was to be kept burning throughout the Olympics on the altar of the sanctuary of Hestia, the goddess of
the hearth.

These examples depict just a few ways in which the Greek culture is significant even today. The hidden
influences of Greek mythology in today’s world are vast and these everlasting legends will continue to
contribute to the society in the future as well.