Greek Mythology recurring in the 21st Century.

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 Greek Mythology recurring in the 21st Century by Mary Rose N. Tolentino

Note: These contain my personal opinion. We may disagree, but I am very much willing for discussion. 



Before digging into Hesiod’s work titled Theogony, let us get to know him first. Hesiod belongs to the oldest Greek poets.  He wrote Theogony in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C when Greece recovered from the “Greek Dark Age,” which is the period where epic poetry flourished. Theogony is an example of epic poetry. Here is a picture of Hesiod:





Theogony is an account of the creation of the universe and the lists family and the genealogy of Greek Gods and Goddesses and their relationship with one another. Let us take a look at how big Greek mythology is. Below is a list of how relevant Greek mythology is to the 21st century.



Influence of Greek Mythology 



Greek Mythology is one of the most famous kinds of mythology compared with other countries. Many words that are now part of our vocabulary are part of Greek mythology.  I think the reason that it being timeless is it has its contrasting themes. A balance between the negative and positive attitudes that gods and goddesses possess gives moral and teachings relevant even if they were an account hundred or even millions of years ago. It is also part of our curriculum, even if it already exists as early as 700 BCE, which justifies its influence. To add up, numerous films inspired by Greek mythology, books, name of constellations, and planets prove how it influences us up until now. The fact that we are also studying Hesiod is also one factor. 



Here is one example of an old mythology book that was reissued recently on its 75th anniversary.



[Mythology Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton] https://www.pinterest.es/pin/739716307531571337/


Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it


Violence and hunger for power are some of the recurring themes in Theogony, where the Gods and Goddesses use violence for them to remain in power. One of the best examples is Zeus, who abused his powers. Zeus is the King of Gods, yet his actions are not even god-like. The number of his affairs and nonconsensual acts that come down to rape and torture is clearly an abuse of power.


[Zeus children]. https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/548242954641056250/



Abuse of power is also very timely, especially in our current president’s term, which I would like to call tyranny. War on Drugs that killed the lives of many which other nations also find disturbing, as it is alarming.


TRT World and Agencies (2016). [A woman cradles the body of her husband, who was killed on a street vigilante group, according to police, in a spate of drug-related killings in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines].https://www.trtworld.com/asia/hundreds-killed-in-philippines-war-on-drugs-2259



He even confirmed that his hand is blood-stained. In an interview with BBC, he said, "I killed about three of them... I don't know how many bullets from my gun went inside their bodies. It happened, and I cannot lie about it." and when asked if he thinks if he is fit for the job of president he confidently says “Yes of course, given the problems of my country, yes.” This is way back in 2016, and his reign is nothing but problems. 


Denying the Lumads their right to education by shutting their schools and controversial “rescue operations.” 


Reysio-Cruz, D. (2019). [“Lumad” students and their teachers assert their right to education during a street protest in Quezon City]. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1141670/deped-shuts-down-55-lumad-schools


I still vividly remember when Lumads visited Philippine Normal University for the event called LAKBAY-ARAL 2020: Inang Pamantasan Lunduyan ng Katutubong Karapatan.  TEKSTURA participated by teaching the Lumads how to do faux calligraphy in relation to culture, and I cannot help but feel enraged when they have written these statements:


Save our school. Stop Lumad killings. Photo from: PNU TEKSTURA


Libro hindi bala. Photo from: PNU TEKSTURA 


Edukasyon hindi gyera

Ang aming kinabukasan ay aming paglaban

Land is life

Lumad ako dili (hindi) terorista

Photo from: PNU TEKSTURA



Picture of the workshop featuring Clarriz Daniel, TEKSTURA VPI 2019-2020 with the Lumads



Red tagging, which seems to be as a "tactic in silencing critics about voicing concerns and opinions ... is a way to weaken the opposition before the 2022 elections" (Lalu, 2021). Moreover, the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act which diminish democratic space and even violates existing rights and protection, which is a sign of abuse of power. Also, the denial of the franchise for the ABS-CBN network even if the BIR said that it has no tax delinquency and they are 'regularly' paying taxes (BIR exec as cited in Galvez, 2020). Note that all of this is happening in the middle of pandemic, but the government seems to be more scared of the critics than the virus itself. Even the controversial case of higher-ups neglected by the president is a clear sign that he is not respecting his constituents like the Nuezca case, the Debold Sinas Case, and missing PhilHealth funds. Also, PNP thinks that universities are a perpetuating ground for the recruitment of the New People’s Army, and announcing names without presenting evidence is another kind of abuse of power as all of these is happening right under his nose yet steps to alleviate and address the problems are nowhere to be seen. These are just some of the issues mentioned that all boils down to abuse of power and violence. 


The reason why I am associating this with Greek mythology, even though it is fictitious all boils down to it recurring even if this is (assumed to happen) hundreds of decades ago. Learning Greek mythology is essential to know these things for it not to happen again. Especially the 2022 election is coming. Register and exercise your right to vote! This is my own state of an oppositional statement supported by personal experience because what the president does affects each and every one of us. 





References: 

ABS-CBN did not commit violations - BIR Sec. CNN Philippines. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/2/24/ABS-CBN-SEC-BIR-no-violations.html


DepEd formally shuts down 55 Lumad schools in Davao. (2019, October 8). Rappler.com. https://www.rappler.com/nation/deped-shuts-down-lumad-schools-davao-region


Galvez, D. (2020, July 1). ABS-CBN has no tax delinquency; 'regularly paying taxes' - BIR exec. Inquirer.net. https://business.inquirer.net/301458/abs-cbn-has-no-tax-delinquency-regularly-paying-taxes-bir-exec


Hesiod, Theogony. (n.d). Theoi Project. https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html


Lalu, G. P. (2021, January 25) Red-tagging, as explained by an AFP yop brass and premier activist. Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1388097/red-tagging-as-explained-by-an-afp-top-brass-and-a-premier-activist


Philippines: Duterte confirms he personally killed three men (2016, December 16). BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38337746


Reysio-Cruz, M. (2019, July 15). DepEd shuts down 55 'lumad' schools. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1141670/deped-shuts-down-55-lumad-schools


Solmsen, F. (2019, October 18). Hesiod. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hesiod





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