It all depends on who is telling the story and his or her view of Superman’s weaknesses and strengths. In some stories a piece of kryptonite the size of a pebble is enough to bring the Man of Steel to his knees in agony in other stories it takes a chunk the size of a basketball to induce tortuous pain. Let’s go back and consider Superman again. We could compare this point to some of our modern mythology. If you were having a lousy day, then Zeus was vengeful and merciless.
If you were having a good day, then Zeus was a kind and benevolent god. Also keep in mind that the Greeks were not attempting to create a system of absolute truth they were simply telling stories to explain the world around them. Thus the Greek gods are often as cruel, inconsistent, and sinful as humans are. When considering these stories, we must remember that the Greeks were creating stories based on their own fallible human nature. In other words, many of the stories are going to sound absolutely ridiculous and, at times, even contradict each other. They are eternally linked with who we are and what we believe.īefore diving into the colorful world of the Greek stories, it is important that we understand that Greek mythology is rife with inconsistencies. Along with fictitious characters like Superman, Washington is a significant part of what defines the American way of thinking. Although he existed in reality, he is no longer simply a man: Washington is a symbol packed with meaning for our nation. George Washington may seem like an odd part of that list, but consider the “larger than life” status that American history has given to our first president. Thus Zeus, Superman, Area 51, the Loch Ness Monster, and George Washington can all be considered parts of various mythologies. Although they tend to be fictional, it is not a requirement. Let’s get started… What Is Myth?Īlthough we often associate the word “myth” with ancient systems of make-belief religions, a myth is actually a set of stories that is significant to a culture. Jones and impress a lovely lady in your life. At the end of this series, I will offer you a fun challenge where you can be your own Dr.
#Zeus poseidon and demeter series#
Remember how Indy seemed to have all that really obscure knowledge about myths, legends, and religions from bygone eras? And remember how awesome it was when he could look at some artifact, document, or piece of architecture and connect the dots? With a little bit of effort, we can do the same, and we aim to do just that in this series on the basics of Greek mythology for the modern man. I would compare being knowledgeable about Greek mythology to one of my all-time favorite heroes: Indiana Jones. And this barely scratches the surface.Īcquiring a working knowledge of mythology can enrich a man’s life and open cultural doors that would otherwise remain locked. A company that makes athletic clothing is trying to say something about itself and those who wear their products by choosing such a name, don’t you think? Likewise, Midas auto shop, Honda’s “Odyssey” minivan, the Olympic games, and literary heavyweights such as William Shakespeare, Dante Alighieri, and Mary Shelley have all taken cues from the Greeks. For example, every time you don a pair of Nike shoes, you emblazon yourself with the name of the Greek goddess of victory, whose name was, of course, Nike. Fast forward through history and you will find evidence of the Greeks in art, books, poetry, movies, television, and popular culture.
The influence of the Greek mythology on western civilization began when the Romans adopted the pantheon of Greek gods this subsequently influenced the names of the planets in our solar system. Ancient Greek culture, however, contributes much more to the modern world than we might realize. Or perhaps you associate the topic with vague memories of sensationalized Hollywood summer movies. Greek mythology might sound like an obscure area of study, as if it is only relevant to wizened old professors in posh offices at Ivy League schools. Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Tony Valdes.
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