Ancient Greeks in Modern Life

The ancient Greeks speak of legendary humanoids and creatures, mortal and immortal. They have the invincible gods and goddesses, like the great Athena and the powerful Zeus, and the mortal humans alike. Now, we have rich businessmen, creative architects and those who live as the wind blows. These two completely different worlds, one with knives, the other with guns, may seem opposites, but in the furthest depths of their way of living, lies a few personality traits that seem to be passed on generation after generation.

Venturing into the different realms of monarchy and democracy, the unique rulers set very similar laws. No man, woman, or child should commit incest (crime of marrying a close relative). This crime is punished with separate ways, but punished nonetheless. The Greeks will be tormented with guilt by the Furies, a group of spirits that cause chaos to a victim. In the modern era, it is punished by being sentenced to prison.

We have in a way become more civilized, killing is prohibited and there are no exceptions. In ancient Greece, avenging a father’s death and fulfilling a mission is not punished, in fact, it is punished if it is not done. For example, when Heracles needed to slay the Minotaur to fulfill one of his 12 labors, it was not considered a death crime and blood-guilt. Usually, revenge is sprouted by jealousy of another family and betrayal. When Athamas, the king of Boeotia, left his wife, Nephele, to be with Ino (a princess), Nephele asked the goddess Hera for help. Hera drove Athamus mad and made him kill Ino and his sons, making him believe that he was killing a deer.

Greed has been and always will be a problem in humanity. A man always seeks for more and will do anything to achieve it. When Pelops wanted to marry Hippodameia with a contest, he bribed the servant (Myrtilus) of his opponent to betray his master. The servant hijacked his master’s chariot and so Pelops won. On the way home, he killed Myrtilus so that Myrtilus will not pose a threat to him.

The ancient Greeks did indeed have gods and goddesses which this religion has now turned into myths. These gods and goddesses dispensed justice, wrath, greed and revenge on mortal delinquents. Though they do not appear in mortal life anymore, they are shown by abstract things like karma, luck, fate, etc. When people are in search for more space, they often commence war for the land, like the raging war of Troy and the war between the Russians and Ukraine. 

There are certain traits that define humans, its what makes us who we are. No matter how much we evolve, the basic personalities remains the same.