One of the Source Libraries of Western Art: The Three Great Mythological Systems

Many people think that artistic creation relies solely on boundless creativity, but in fact, art is rooted in abundant background material. Much of Western art draws from the rich sources of Western religion and mythology.

One of the Source Libraries of Western Art: The Three Great Mythological Systems

1. Artistic creation is not born out of thin air; it requires a solid foundation of materials. To understand Western art, one must first understand Western religious and mythological systems, as the vast majority of works are closely tied to religious themes and mythological stories.
2. Ancient Greek art is the predecessor of medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo art, exerting a profound influence on over two thousand years of European art history. Its cultural backdrop is the mythology of ancient Greece.
3. The Ancient Greek period spans approximately 650 years, from the rise of Mycenaean civilization around 800 BCE to the fall of Greek city-states in 146 BCE. Greek mythology primarily comes from two books, The Iliad and The Odyssey, collectively known as The Homeric Epics.
4. The Greek mythological system is polytheistic, with different gods governing different aspects of life. The twelve Olympian gods, along with other deities, were born from the union of the Sky Father and Earth Mother. These include Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Athena, and many others.
5. Greek mythology reflects the wisdom and advancement of Greek civilization. Great philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were born in this era, and many complex geometric theorems, like the Pythagorean Theorem, were developed during this time. The Greek culture’s pursuit of science far surpassed the following thousand years of the medieval period.
6. Although Greek mythology often involves fictional gods, its primary purpose was to explain natural phenomena, not to rule over the people, which shows a certain inclination toward scientific inquiry. For example, to explain the seasons, Greek mythology attributes them to the changing emotions of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, as she reunites and separates from her daughter, symbolizing the cycle of seasons.
7. In Greek mythology, gods were often associated with different professions, and some had rather peculiar duties. For instance, Atlas was tasked with holding up the sky on his shoulders to prevent it from collapsing. These stories reflect the Greeks’ innate curiosity about the natural world, driven by a desire to understand the laws of nature.
8. Due to Greece’s geographical location, Greek mythology did not spread across all of Western Europe, and thus it didn’t have a widespread influence on the Western world. Later, Roman and Norse mythology became more prominent across the European continent.
9. After the Roman Empire conquered the entire Greek region and defeated Alexander the Great’s Macedonian kingdom, they assimilated much of Greek mythology to ease their rule. This led to a series of renamings, such as Zeus becoming Jupiter, Aphrodite becoming Venus, and Ares becoming Mars.
10. Norse mythology is a system filled with tragic elements and fatalism, with a core value centered on the pursuit of heroism. Norse mythology holds that the gods are ultimately fated to die, but what matters most is the spirit of never surrendering or giving up—heroism at its finest.
11. Norse mythology still leaves traces in modern society. The days of the week, for example, are named after Norse gods. Wednesday represents Odin’s day (Odin being the chief god in Norse mythology), and Thursday is Thor’s day, named after the thunder god Thor.

Fun Fact

Classic Mythology-Themed Animation: Saint Seiya

A well-known animated series, Saint Seiya, was created based on the three major mythological systems. Through this show, you can quickly and easily learn about the key gods from these mythologies.