Story- You may well wonder at the continuing popularity of Greek mythology in the twenty-first century. The term ‘Greek Mythology’ conjures up images of impossibly beautiful gods and goddesses, fire and brimstone, roaring beasts and larger-than-life heroes.
On the surface, they may seem like impossible flights of fancy written by ancient philosophers. However, we need to keep in mind that these stories were written by people like Socrates, Homer and Aristotle, whose brilliant minds have made them immortal in the annals of human history.
The truth is, Greek myths are not only rooted in reality but have helped shape modern thinking in many important ways. Their mythical nature does not take away from the fact they contain important morals and teachings that are as relevant now as they were thousands of years ago.
Knowledge of Greek mythology has long-influenced society in subtle ways. It has shaped culture and tradition, directed political systems and encouraged problem-solving. It would be fair to say that the whole basic concept of modern thinking can be traced back to Greek stories and the valuable lessons they taught.
Influence of Greek Mythology on English Language and Literature
Many words used in the modern English language like idol, antique, dialogue, economy, spartan, architect, microscope, telephone, plus many more have been derived from the Greek language. The Greeks were the first to have a full-fledged alphabet system replete with vowels and consonants.
According to an estimate, more than 150,000 words in the English language are derived from ancient Greek. We can find allusions to Greek mythological figures in modern-day literature as well.
For example, C. S. Lewis’ ‘Till We Have Faces’ is a retelling of the Greek tale of Cupid (Eros in Greek) and Psyche. Similarly, Mary Shelley incorporated the theme of Prometheus in her book, ‘Frankenstein’. Hermione, the well-known character in Harry Potter, owes her name to Greek mythology. Hermione was the daughter of Helen of Troy and the King of Sparta.
If you notice, several global companies have been named after Greek mythical figures.

Multiple Choice and Short Response
1.According to the article, which of the following are ways in which the Greek culture and mythology has had an influence on society over time? HIGHLIGHT all that apply.
It has influenced our modern language
It has taught enduring values and morals to those who read them.
It has provided models and ideas for authors to draw upon