Explain why Greek myths have significantly influenced Western art and literature.

The symbolic and universal significance of Greek myths

Greek myths address emotions and existential questions that every human being experiences: fear, love, jealousy, the search for meaning. Through emblematic characters like Icarus, a symbol of perilous ambition, or Oedipus, an embodiment of tragic fate, myths speak to everyone. Their simple yet rich narratives, filled with strong imagery, remain familiar regardless of the century. They do not merely recount divine or heroic adventures; they primarily express universal truths about humanity, its qualities, faults, and deepest challenges. That is why they have withstood the test of time without aging a bit.

Greek myths as sources of artistic inspiration

Greek myths have always been a goldmine for artists. The stories of Icarus flying too close to the sun or Medusa and her snakes have appeared in paintings, sculptures, and pottery since antiquity. A host of Renaissance artists like Botticelli (with his famous Birth of Venus) and Michelangelo drew directly from these myths to express beauty, suffering, or heroism. Even today, these tales inspire amazing works, whether in illustrations, street art, or even cinema, serving as universal visual or symbolic references.

Influence of Greek mythological narratives on major literary works

Greek mythological tales have given a significant boost to Western writers since antiquity. The great tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides are the first examples, but later authors like Shakespeare, Racine, and even Goethe reappropriated these myths, telling stories of fate, passion, and human dramas in their own way. For instance, Shakespeare drew from Greek legends to infuse tragedy into Hamlet based on the myth of Orestes, and Racine uses the romantic torments of Phaedra to discuss jealousy and guilt. More recently, mythology has inspired modern authors such as James Joyce, whose Ulysses completely revisits Homer's Odyssey, and Albert Camus, who takes the character of Sisyphus to speak about the meaning of life. The strength of these Greek tales lies in their ability to address timeless universal themes, such as the quest for self, existential doubt, ambition, in short, the big questions that still captivate everyone today, from famous authors to average readers.

The philosophical and moral dimension of Greek myths in art and literature.

Greek myths often address universal existential and moral questions. Stories like that of Icarus, who embodies excessive ambition, or Prometheus, symbolizing rebellion against the gods to bring knowledge to humanity, raise questions about the limits of humanity. All these topics have inspired philosophers and writers since antiquity, dramatizing dilemmas surrounding concepts like fate, responsibility, or divine justice. In literature, this leads to reflection on the consequences of our choices, while in art, the visual representation of these myths offers an accessible reflection on virtues, vices, and human ethics. Myths thus function as true philosophical mirrors, constantly reflecting our own behaviors, pretensions, and weaknesses.

The contemporary adaptation of Greek myths and their current resonance.

Even today, Greek myths have not aged a bit and continue to inspire works of all kinds. Many authors revisit the story of Odysseus, as seen in the bestselling novel "The Odyssey of Penelope" by Margaret Atwood. In cinema, Hollywood regularly bets on the adventures of Hercules, Perseus, or the epic battles surrounding Troy. The video game "God of War" brings these tales to a contemporary audience, featuring ancient heroes like Kratos, a warrior tortured by his fate. Even modern pop culture draws from figures such as Medea, Orpheus, or the gods of Olympus, remixed in various forms: TV series, comics, or manga. Greek myths provide universal stories that people still identify with today—proof that despite their thousands of years on the clock, they still tell us so much about what it means to be human.