What Makes Greek Mythology So Popular in the World of Entertainment?
You have to go back almost 3,000 years to find the first references to Greek mythology. As time has gone on, these tales of gods and goddesses have far from waned. The truth is that today they are more popular than ever. They have infiltrated modern culture and can be found almost everywhere we turn. From books to films and from plays to games, there’s no escaping the impact here. The question has to be why are we all so obsessed with Greek mythology? Let’s take a look.
Greek Mythology in Popular Culture
You may wonder how events of millennia ago can have such an impact on modern-day culture. One reason for this is that the stories and tales are easy to adapt and retell in contemporary settings. The stories have lessons to teach us that apply even today, and writers and artists have reimagined these so that they hit home even now.
When people are touched by these modern takes, it creates an interest in the original stories too. People want to imagine how it all happened back then. They want to see the sights and hear the sounds. That explains why even the likes of online casinos have embraced the Greek mythology theme. You only have to look at Sky Vegas Casino and its range of Zeus slots featuring symbols and mechanics modelled after famous Greek gods and heroes, to see how popular this theme really is.
Stunning Visuals
Another reason that Greek mythology is so popular when it comes to entertainment is because the images created over the centuries are nothing short of stunning. Ever seen an image of Zeus and his thunderbolts? How about Aphrodite emerging from a shell? The thing is, these gods and goddesses have been described in such detail in the past that we can now recreate them and provide visuals that are striking.
The Best Storytelling Material
When it comes to writing a book, a TV programme or even a film, the storyline is what comes first. Writers need a compelling story to work with before they write a single word. In fact, many writers will attest that the initial idea can be more difficult to settle on than the finished article itself. Greek mythology provides ready-made storylines that are good to go. When you look at films such as Troy, the Greeks provided a blockbuster movie that was pretty much already written. Then there’s the film, Immortals. Here we’re told the stories of Zeus and how he was the most powerful of all the Greek gods and no modern-day tale could ever compete.
Timeless Appeal
The reality is that our love of all things Greek mythology is unlikely to ever disappear. With stories of love, heroes, heroines, tragedy and betrayal, there will never be a time when human interest will fall away. These are themes that naturally appeal and that will never change. Produces of games, films and books know that these are themes that are familiar to us and provide characters who we recognise instantly. Why would they ever have a reason to move away from these?
