Greek Mythology: From Rome to Today

Greek Mythology: From Rome to Today
by Rit Nosotro
Comparative Essay or Change Over Time essay

Describe why Greek Mythology became part of the Roman Pantheon and the influence that has on modern culture.

Through cultural diffusion, Greek Mythology became part of the Roman Pantheon; Greek thought affects us in almost all areas of life, and its end is Humanism.
Before we understand the affects of Greek Mythology and thought, we must first learn the origins and development of the Greek ideas. Greek religion originated from the worship of one god, who was called Zeus, and developed into the worship of many. Idolatry is usually a corruption of a truer religion. The religions before Greek thought worshipped an omnipotent, all-powerful god or gods. It could be said that many of the religions were twisted versions of the worship of the one true God.

The Greek religion was different. Instead of making their gods great, transcendent, and mysterious, the Greeks, in the words of Edith Hamilton, an honorable citizen of Athens, “…made their gods in their own image.” This is the beginning of humanism, for not only did the Greeks make their gods human-like, but actually glorified the human body in their gods. Humanism was later developed into an anti-God religion. Through an observation of the often contradictory systems of nature, the Greeks created myths to explain nature. Thus the gods often are pictured as quarreling and fighting in often shameful and base actions. This was a novel idea in the ideas of religion; instead of omnipotent all-powerful gods the Greeks had created human gods. They had created Humanism, which would develop into a belief that the metaphysical did not exist at all.

Some of the deeper thinking Greeks recognized the impossibility of these ideas. Some believed that the gods should not be brought down to the level of man in righteousness, but worshipped reverently as above man and his excitements. The poets, without much philosophical thinking, had developed the stories of the gods. Most Greek Mythology was written by poets, like Homer, and had little to do with religion. The philosopher Socrates appears in his writings to express doubt in the mythologies and believed more in a single omnipotent god. Plato wrote about him in a conversation Socrates had with Euthyphro. Euthyphro, who was incriminating his father, used the instance of Zeus killing his father Cronus for murder as a proof for his case. In response Socrates said, “And do you really believe that the gods fought with one another, and had dire quarrels, battles, and the like, as the poets say, and as you may see represented in the works of great artists?” Socrates hints at the unreality of the Greek gods, for they are imperfect, like man, and thus are not an apt standard for piety.

The Romans were so greatly influenced by the Greeks, that their culture is almost a complete continuation of Greece. Greece built colonies on the Italian peninsula, thus influencing Etruscan cities. As the Roman army expanded it conquered the Etruscans, who were also influenced by the Greeks, and then the Greek colonies. Although Rome had physically conquered Greece, it was Greek thought had conquered Roman thought. The great body of Greek Mythology, through the influence of Greek ambassadors, merchants, slaves, and artists, became part of Roman Mythology. Thus Greek Mythology evloved into the Roman Pantheon through cultural inffusion.

Roman views of the gods were different than that of the Greeks. The Romans were practical; they viewed the gods on a contractual basis. If a Roman citizen performed the proper farming purification ceremonies he would get a good harvest. On the other hand the Greeks performed sacrifices as gratitude to the gods, or for forgiveness of sins. The Roman religion had a less beautiful view of the gods than the Greeks. The Greeks had a complicated view of their gods as fickle, even proper sacrificing would not guarantee the favor of the gods. The Romans viewed the gods almost like machines that would grant good or bad depending on what they did.

Athens continued to cultivate its religion, and became the center for new religions. More cults came into view. Here Paul proclaimed the gospel. He spoke of one true God, the one true religion that had become corrupted over the years to the worship of many strange deities. The Roman Empire eventually became Christian, and spread Christianity throughout the world.

Yet Greek Mythology did not die out with the popularization of Christianity. Certainly few of its ideas did not. During the Renaissance especially, Greek thought and learning inspired a new interest. Many Christians learned Greek knowledge. The Calvin Commentaries affirm this saying, “Since all truth is from God, if anything has been said aptly and truly even by impious men, it ought not to be rejected, because it proceeded from God. And since all things are of God, why is it not lawful to turn to His glory whatever may be aptly applied to this use?”

The effects of Greek thinking continue today. Higher education and sports were Greek ideals that carry on today. In schools and colleges subjects are divided up like the Greeks did. The Olympic Games, founded by the Greeks, still take place. Although the Bible has been banned from general public education in US schools, it is required that students learn Greek Mythology. Also such Greek ideals as, democracy, human rights, capitalism, classical art and architecture, absence of morality and tolerance for abnormal behavior live on in our society.

Even the American government was based on Greek thinking. American government was influenced by Aristotle’s idea of a mixed government. A mixed government included the best of three forms of government; monarchial, aristocratical, and democratical. The president was the monarchial part of the government, the aristocratical part was the Senate, and the democratical part of the government was the House of Representatives. The founders knew these principles well, and implemented them into a practical government.

Thus Greek thinking has influenced greatly the entire world. But there are two ways to respond to Greek thinking. One can learn it, and make use of it as Calvin believed or one can take up the religion of Humanism based in the Greek Mythology. These two responses to Greek thinking can be seen throughout the world. America's founding fathers used Greek thinking to start a Christian nation. But modern culture has gone back to Athens and made Greek Mythology their religion of humanism.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
"Chapter 11. Classical Greece and the Origins of Humanism, Part II" The Xenophile Historian. October 2003.< http://xenohistorian.faithweb.com/worldhis/Hist11b.html >

Edith Hamilton. Mythology Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. New York: Warner Books Inc. 1999

M. E. Thalheimer. A Manueal of Ancient History. Cincinnati and New York: Wilson Hinkle & CO. 1872

Plato. (Translated by Benjamin Jowett) The Trial and Death of Socrates Four Dialogues. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1992

from <http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/cot/t2w06greekinfluence.htm> ( )

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