Greek mythology is silly—isn’t it? Who would be interested
in stories about Gods and Goddesses, supernatural powers, and strange
creatures? Our intellectual society certainly doesn’t have any room for those
sort of tales.
If you believe any of that, you might have a hard time
explaining the popularity of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Harry
Potter books, and even Spiderman comics. The exciting adventures of Zeus,
Apollo, Athena and other Greek heroes are still alive today—they just have
different names.
Many scholars might argue that comparing Greek mythology and
modern literature is like comparing apples and oranges. They are two
completely different things. Let’s take a closer look.
Greek mythology is a collection of legends passed on from
generation to generation by the ancient Greeks. The stories usually contained
many supernatural elements (i.e. magic, monsters, Gods and Goddesses, etc.),
although their purpose was often to help clarify or rationalize natural
occurrences. For example, a Greek myth might help shed light on the origin of
lightning and rain, or it might explain why cultural differences exist. The
myths also provided moral lessons, and often featured a show down between good
and evil.
In modern society, the general public rarely uses myths or
stories to explain why a cat meows, or why some people are black and others are
white. Most people rely on science to answer these questions. But there is a
skeptic in all of us.
Because it is so difficult to explain exactly why things are
the way they are, or why certain things happen when they do, it is not uncommon
for individuals to look for answers beyond science. Perhaps that is why Harry
Potter and Lord of the Rings—or even Star Trek and Star
Wars—have become so popular. They describe a world that exists—or has
existed—without the average person having any knowledge of it. Just like Greek
mythology, these stories tell of a world that is more fascinating than the one
we live in. If such a world did exist, it would certainly offer an easier
explanation to some of life’s puzzling mysteries.
There is another theme in Greek mythology that has lasted
through the centuries. The battle of Good vs. Evil. This is a story line that
never seems to grow old. You can still find the “right against wrong” theme in
Superman comics, James Bond movies, or Hardy Boys novels.
The struggle of Good and Evil premise isn’t something that
is limited only to Greek mythology or to modern literature. It has been a
common topic in the writings, myths, and legends of an assortment cultures
throughout history. It can easily be concluded that the battle of morality has
remained the same, despite changes in technology, language, culture, and even
religion.