How many words derived from Greek have you used today? British Council teachers in Greece, Martha Peraki and Catherine Vougiouklaki, explain why English owes so much to the Greek language.
Antique, idol, dialogue, geography, grammar, architect, economy, encyclopaedia, telephone, microscope.. all these common English words have something in common: they're derived from Greek. To this list, we could add thousands more words, some common and others less so. Clearly, the Greek language has had an important influence on the English language. Let's take a closer look.
Spire more imagination, partly because the Greek myths are abundant in fantasy and adventure. An Investigation of the Employment of Greek Figures in Their Poems The two generations of British Romanticpoets in the 18th to 19th century were inevitable influenced by Greek mythology. Their poems were the best evidence.
- Greek Mythology does not have an actual Bible, like Christianity, instead their religion is an 'oral tradition that started in the Bronze age and their plots and themes unfolded gradually in the written literature of the archaic and classical periods' (History).
- Of the development of AngloAmerican literature, analysis of Greek mythology for English - language and literature. The Greek Mythology. Greek mythologyis the story of the ancient Greek gods, heroes and the universe of natu ral life and deeds of the story is the birthplace of European civilization. Greek mythology is a fairy tale, but the.
- This guide is intended for students who are enrolled in Literature 105, or for those interested in researching mythology in literature. Reference works are an excellent way of getting background information on your topic.
A very brief history of the Greek language
Greek is one of the oldest Indo-European languages and is usually divided into Ancient Greek (often thought of as a dead language) and Modern Greek.
Modern Greek is derived from Koine, a common dialect of Ancient Greek that was understood throughout the Greek-speaking world at that time. In the 19th century, Modern Greek became the official language of the Kingdom of Greece.
According to Peter T. Daniels, the Ancient Greeks were the first to use a 'true' alphabet, that is, one representing both vowels and consonants. Indeed, the word 'alphabet' is formed of the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, 'alpha' and 'beta'.
Words In Greek Mythology
What English owes to the Greek language
The Oxford Companion to the English Language states that the 'influence of classical Greek on English has been largely indirect, through Latin and French, and largely lexical and conceptual..'.
According to one estimate, more than 150,000 words of English are derived from Greek words. These include technical and scientific terms but also more common words like those above.
Words that starts with 'ph-' are usually of Greek origin, for example: philosophy, physical, photo, phrase, philanthropy.
Many English words are formed of parts of words (morphemes) that originate from the Greek language, including the following examples:
- phobia (fear of), as in arachnophobia – the fear of spiders
- micro (small), as in microscopic – so small it's hard to see
- demos (people) as in democracy – government by the people
A great example of the influence of the Greek language are the two speeches written in English but actually consisting of only Greek words (with the exception of articles and prepositions) by the former Prime Minister Prof. Xenophon Zolotas, who was also an economist.
English expressions derived from Ancient Greek culture
Greek mythology has been very influential in Western culture, particularly its art and literature. Unsurprisingly, some common expressions in English derive from these ancient myths and beliefs.
To have an 'Achilles heel' means to have a weakness or vulnerable point. Achilles was a Greek hero and central character in Homer's epic poem, The Iliad. He was only vulnerable at his heel. Example sentence: I'm trying to eat more healthily, but chocolate is my Achilles heel.
The 'Midas touch' is another common expression deriving from Greek mythology. Describing a near-magical ability to succeed at anything one undertakes, the expression originates from a story of King Midas, who is remembered for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold. Example sentence: My brother's business is so successful, he really has the Midas touch!
An idiom which has its roots in Greek antiquity is ‘crocodile tears'. The phrase might come from the popular ancient belief that crocodiles weep while eating their victims. In fact, crocodiles do lubricate their eyes via their tear ducts, usually when their eyes start to dry out after being out of the water for a long time. Nevertheless, the behaviour is also thought to occur when crocodiles feed. It's used in English to describe expressions of sorrow that are insincere.
About the illustrator
Nokia 208 rm 949 flash file. Chris Tompkins is a print designer with a focus on book and poster design, identity creation/branding, illustration, layout and art direction. See more of his work at christompkinsdesign.com.
Out of all the mythologies of the world, Greek mythology has influenced Western Civilization the most. Literally thousands of artists and writers have used Greek mythology as their muse--bringing the ancient stories to life through sculpture, painting, poetry, and song. Myth-inspired phrases such as Achilles Heel and Oedipus Complex and stand-alone words like labyrinth and mentor proliferate our language.
Media other than high art use mythological references too. Businesses and advertising firms use mythology as a selling tool. Arethusa Plumbing references Arethusa (a nymph transformed into a spring), a diamond necklace is titled a Pandora for its irresistibility, and towering billboards bear the name Olympus. All these examples show how culturally ingrained Greek mythology has become. Together with the Bible and Shakespeare, Greek mythology rounds out the 'Big Three of Allusions.' Any serious student of literature must have a healthy background in these three areas in order to spot the numerous references authors make to them.
INTRODUCTION TO ANCIENT GREECE READING PACKETThis packet of information provides a good background for both English and history teachers who want to teach students about ancient Greece.Also available in the website store is a series of 50 questions (and a key) that you can use with this packet of information. For more information click here.
GALLERY OF THE GODSThis gives a quick overview of the main gods and goddesses of Greek mythology.
GOD AND GODDESS PRESENTATION (SALE ITEM)This presentation gives an overview of the main gods and goddesses from Greek mythology and includes original artwork!
GREEK GOD AND GODDESS QUIZ (SALE ITEM)This quiz asks students to match the descriptions of the main Greek gods and goddesses to their names.
GREEK AND ROMAN NAME QUIZ MATCHING (SALE ITEM)This quiz asks students to match the Greek and Roman names of the gods and goddesses.
'HADES AND PERSEPHONE' (A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT-STORY)This Reader's Theater script-story dramatizes the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, where the god of the underworld abducts a young maiden. This myth explains the seasons of the year.
REACHING OLYMPUS: TALES OF TITANS, GODS, AND MORTALS TEXTBOOK (SALE ITEM) This full-sized textbook contains a full list of Reader's Theater script-stories dramatizing stories of the Greek gods and goddesses. Additional activities and worksheets are also included.
REACHING OLYMPUS: HEROES, BEASTS, AND MONSTERS TEXTBOOK (SALE ITEM)This full-sized textbook contains a full list of Reader's Theater script-stories dramatizing tales of the Greek heroes like Theseus, Perseus, and Heracles (Hercules).
'THE BALLAD OF BELLEROPHON' (A MYTHIC PARODY) This handout presents a parody of the story of the winged horse, Pegasus, and his less-famous rider, Bellerophon.
DISNEY'S HERCULES VIEWING GUIDE (SALE ITEM) Use this viewing guide to help your students analyze the Disney film Hercules. The download also includes the Reader's Theater script-story 'Heracles: The True Story.'
12 LABORS OF HERCULES ESCAPE ROOM (SALE ITEM)This fun activity asks players to decode twelve different messages that correspond to the Twelve Labors of Hercules.
Antique, idol, dialogue, geography, grammar, architect, economy, encyclopaedia, telephone, microscope.. all these common English words have something in common: they're derived from Greek. To this list, we could add thousands more words, some common and others less so. Clearly, the Greek language has had an important influence on the English language. Let's take a closer look.
Spire more imagination, partly because the Greek myths are abundant in fantasy and adventure. An Investigation of the Employment of Greek Figures in Their Poems The two generations of British Romanticpoets in the 18th to 19th century were inevitable influenced by Greek mythology. Their poems were the best evidence.
- Greek Mythology does not have an actual Bible, like Christianity, instead their religion is an 'oral tradition that started in the Bronze age and their plots and themes unfolded gradually in the written literature of the archaic and classical periods' (History).
- Of the development of AngloAmerican literature, analysis of Greek mythology for English - language and literature. The Greek Mythology. Greek mythologyis the story of the ancient Greek gods, heroes and the universe of natu ral life and deeds of the story is the birthplace of European civilization. Greek mythology is a fairy tale, but the.
- This guide is intended for students who are enrolled in Literature 105, or for those interested in researching mythology in literature. Reference works are an excellent way of getting background information on your topic.
A very brief history of the Greek language
Greek is one of the oldest Indo-European languages and is usually divided into Ancient Greek (often thought of as a dead language) and Modern Greek.
Modern Greek is derived from Koine, a common dialect of Ancient Greek that was understood throughout the Greek-speaking world at that time. In the 19th century, Modern Greek became the official language of the Kingdom of Greece.
According to Peter T. Daniels, the Ancient Greeks were the first to use a 'true' alphabet, that is, one representing both vowels and consonants. Indeed, the word 'alphabet' is formed of the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, 'alpha' and 'beta'.
Words In Greek Mythology
What English owes to the Greek language
The Oxford Companion to the English Language states that the 'influence of classical Greek on English has been largely indirect, through Latin and French, and largely lexical and conceptual..'.
According to one estimate, more than 150,000 words of English are derived from Greek words. These include technical and scientific terms but also more common words like those above.
Words that starts with 'ph-' are usually of Greek origin, for example: philosophy, physical, photo, phrase, philanthropy.
Many English words are formed of parts of words (morphemes) that originate from the Greek language, including the following examples:
- phobia (fear of), as in arachnophobia – the fear of spiders
- micro (small), as in microscopic – so small it's hard to see
- demos (people) as in democracy – government by the people
A great example of the influence of the Greek language are the two speeches written in English but actually consisting of only Greek words (with the exception of articles and prepositions) by the former Prime Minister Prof. Xenophon Zolotas, who was also an economist.
English expressions derived from Ancient Greek culture
Greek mythology has been very influential in Western culture, particularly its art and literature. Unsurprisingly, some common expressions in English derive from these ancient myths and beliefs.
To have an 'Achilles heel' means to have a weakness or vulnerable point. Achilles was a Greek hero and central character in Homer's epic poem, The Iliad. He was only vulnerable at his heel. Example sentence: I'm trying to eat more healthily, but chocolate is my Achilles heel.
The 'Midas touch' is another common expression deriving from Greek mythology. Describing a near-magical ability to succeed at anything one undertakes, the expression originates from a story of King Midas, who is remembered for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold. Example sentence: My brother's business is so successful, he really has the Midas touch!
An idiom which has its roots in Greek antiquity is ‘crocodile tears'. The phrase might come from the popular ancient belief that crocodiles weep while eating their victims. In fact, crocodiles do lubricate their eyes via their tear ducts, usually when their eyes start to dry out after being out of the water for a long time. Nevertheless, the behaviour is also thought to occur when crocodiles feed. It's used in English to describe expressions of sorrow that are insincere.
About the illustrator
Nokia 208 rm 949 flash file. Chris Tompkins is a print designer with a focus on book and poster design, identity creation/branding, illustration, layout and art direction. See more of his work at christompkinsdesign.com.
Out of all the mythologies of the world, Greek mythology has influenced Western Civilization the most. Literally thousands of artists and writers have used Greek mythology as their muse--bringing the ancient stories to life through sculpture, painting, poetry, and song. Myth-inspired phrases such as Achilles Heel and Oedipus Complex and stand-alone words like labyrinth and mentor proliferate our language.
Media other than high art use mythological references too. Businesses and advertising firms use mythology as a selling tool. Arethusa Plumbing references Arethusa (a nymph transformed into a spring), a diamond necklace is titled a Pandora for its irresistibility, and towering billboards bear the name Olympus. All these examples show how culturally ingrained Greek mythology has become. Together with the Bible and Shakespeare, Greek mythology rounds out the 'Big Three of Allusions.' Any serious student of literature must have a healthy background in these three areas in order to spot the numerous references authors make to them.
INTRODUCTION TO ANCIENT GREECE READING PACKETThis packet of information provides a good background for both English and history teachers who want to teach students about ancient Greece.Also available in the website store is a series of 50 questions (and a key) that you can use with this packet of information. For more information click here.
GALLERY OF THE GODSThis gives a quick overview of the main gods and goddesses of Greek mythology.
GOD AND GODDESS PRESENTATION (SALE ITEM)This presentation gives an overview of the main gods and goddesses from Greek mythology and includes original artwork!
GREEK GOD AND GODDESS QUIZ (SALE ITEM)This quiz asks students to match the descriptions of the main Greek gods and goddesses to their names.
GREEK AND ROMAN NAME QUIZ MATCHING (SALE ITEM)This quiz asks students to match the Greek and Roman names of the gods and goddesses.
'HADES AND PERSEPHONE' (A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT-STORY)This Reader's Theater script-story dramatizes the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, where the god of the underworld abducts a young maiden. This myth explains the seasons of the year.
REACHING OLYMPUS: TALES OF TITANS, GODS, AND MORTALS TEXTBOOK (SALE ITEM) This full-sized textbook contains a full list of Reader's Theater script-stories dramatizing stories of the Greek gods and goddesses. Additional activities and worksheets are also included.
REACHING OLYMPUS: HEROES, BEASTS, AND MONSTERS TEXTBOOK (SALE ITEM)This full-sized textbook contains a full list of Reader's Theater script-stories dramatizing tales of the Greek heroes like Theseus, Perseus, and Heracles (Hercules).
'THE BALLAD OF BELLEROPHON' (A MYTHIC PARODY) This handout presents a parody of the story of the winged horse, Pegasus, and his less-famous rider, Bellerophon.
DISNEY'S HERCULES VIEWING GUIDE (SALE ITEM) Use this viewing guide to help your students analyze the Disney film Hercules. The download also includes the Reader's Theater script-story 'Heracles: The True Story.'
12 LABORS OF HERCULES ESCAPE ROOM (SALE ITEM)This fun activity asks players to decode twelve different messages that correspond to the Twelve Labors of Hercules.
Greek Mythology In English Language
MYTHOLOGICAL ALLUSIONS PACKET This packet of activities teaches students what an allusion is and asks them to locate and create allusions to Greek mythology.
INTERACTIVE THESEUS QUEST In the style of Choose Your Own Adventure books, this activity lets you choose the destiny of Theseus, one of Greece's greatest heroes as he faces off against the Minotaur!
28 MYTH-INSPIRED POEMSThis packet contains a variety of poems inspired by Greek mythology. Warning: Some poems will not be suitable for younger learners.
MYTHICAL BEASTS, MONSTERS, AND LESSER GODS PRESENTATIONThis presentation gives students an overview of the lesser gods and creatures of Greek mythology.
GREEK MYTHOLOGY COLORING SHEETS (SALE ITEM) These 15 black-line coloring pages are cartoon-style renditions of the Greek Gods.MYTHOLOGY CHARADES CLUESCharades is a great way to end a unit on mythology. Use these clues to play charades based on characters from Greek Mythology.
12 TALES OF LOVERSThis worksheet presents 12 short myths from Greek mythology that deal with famous love stories.
GREEK GOD AND GODDESS POSTERS (SALE ITEM)This eye-catching set of 16 posters is perfect for getting students interested in a study of Greek mythology! The 11 X 14' full-color images are printed on thick and sturdy cardstock. They also come with FREE SHIPPING!