A short introduction of the Influences of Greek Mythology in art, and why it remained relevant for so long.
Article by: Julie Allan
Posted March 3rd, 2024
Greek History and Mythology
For the past few thousands of years, art has gone through drastic changes. Usually following along with the cultural and religious nuances of its creators. But despite the passing of time, of conquerors, and of devastation of entire civilizations and great empires, Greek mythology has been a continuous influence in Western culture and especially in our art.
Mythology itself is defined as a collection of stories that belong to a specific tradition or religion. Although many people think of mythology simply as “stories” or something false, they are much more than that. Specifically Greek mythology, which has been adopted and adapted by many cultures, including the Etruscans and Romans. But at its core it is a collection of stories that were once regarded as “divine truths”.
The word “history” and “stories” have been interchangeable for a long time. Both coming from the ancient Greek word historia, referring to the study and account of past events and narratives. Back in Herodotus’ (484-424BCE) time, being a historian meant hearing stories that were orally passed down by generations, and keeping records of them. These stories were often thought of as the result of supernatural forces interacting with our world, and turned into what we would now call “mythology,” but then, they were taken as facts, and as what we would call it, history.
Taking a quick glance at the media we consume nowadays, we can see clear influences of Greek mythology both in the stories told and the symbolism used. Whether you are a fan of the classics themselves, or its many renditions, you can be sure Greek mythology is all around you. If you are a big reader like me you are definitely familiar with mythology retellings like Circe, The Song of Achilles or Ariadne, and maybe even modern takes on mythology like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson, the Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo series. You can also find characters like Wonder Woman, a princess of the amazons, who stems from a Greek myth.
Besides in the literary arts and film, Greek mythology is strongly represented in painting. Often depicting great epic tales, or sometimes simply as a tool for symbolism, the great Renaissance artists loved a good mythology painting. During the European Renaissance there was a strong revival of the interest in Greek art, symbols and their use as historical records. So how come all of these stories have remained so relevant when many others fell between the cracks.
Let’s dive into the three main reasons Greek mythology stood the test of time and remains relevant to us, to this day.
The great epics
The first thing that pops into someone’s head when thinking about Greek mythology are the great heroes of old; Heracles, Achilles, Perseus, Jason, Odysseus and so on. This is because as humans, we absolutely love a good story. Greek mythology instigated not only a set of beliefs but the creation of epic poetry, tragedies, comedies and art. The people who recorded these events were not only interested in their theological aspects, but also in the retaining of historical records. Herodotus himself says he writes his stories so that the deeds of men would not be lost to time and their memories would be preserved. Because of this, these works were given a literary and historical value that lasted thousands of years after they were written.
Although certain aspects of other mythologies may have survived through syncretism, the epics created by the ancient Greeks remained in their written form. This allowed them to retain their presence and relevance, and through its literary value survive power changes and the destruction of their belief structures. Meanwhile, other Mythologies have faded through time, or been erased by their conquering cultures because records were passed on orally and through religious practices.
The Demystification
The second point we can highlight is a direct result of the fact that there was a separation of story and religion. This allowed one to survive while the other faded. When Christianity started to become the predominant religion of the west, a strong line was drawn between Christianity and paganism. Paganism encompassed pretty much everything that was not Christianity or Judaism. Pagan religions were strongly suppressed and persecuted by the church; their practices were outlawed and their followers executed. This caused a great loss of tradition and important records were destroyed simply for their connection with pagan beliefs.
Meanwhile the great epics hid within the stories of heroes, wars and history, in the theologies of the past and the gods of Olympus. This separation of story and religion granted Greek mythology the opportunity to be demystified. It was seen less as a pagan religion and more as a set of narratives and fairy tales. The stories were read in an allegorical mode of interpretation. The church tolerated and reappropriated these stories, and therefore, pagan artistic, moral and poetic reproductions were allowed. As the years went by, and the Renaissance came along, the interest in classical history was enhanced. As the power of the church weakened over the centuries, intellectual studies and history that people looked back to still had all the detailed accounts recorded in tales of Greek mythology as a source of knowledge.
Building over Ruins
Finally, the third aspect of why Greek mythology was able to survive for so long because Christianity was built over the ruins of the ancient Greek and Roman beliefs.
As mentioned previously, Roman Mythology was highly influenced by the Greeks. Although two distinct cultures, their beliefs were extremely similar. As a result, when Christianity became the prominent religion of the Roman Empire, many temples were repurposed or destroyed, but the foundations of these new Cathedrals were built over the literal ruins of Roman temples, which allowed many aspects of Roman theology to be continued into Christianity. Many art styles, symbolism and imagery were simply transferred into this new religion.
Even after the Fall of the Roman Empire, Rome remained a huge influence in art. During the nineteenth century, when classical artists would join the Academy des Beaux Arts, they would oftentimes travel to Rome to study from the great masters. The art presented at the infamous salons was completely influenced by Roman art and as a result of that many tales from Greek mythology were reflected in these artworks.
Julie Allan is a BFA student in illustration, painting and art history at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA.
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