Mythology in Modern Society

MYTHOLOGY IN MODERN SOCIETY

Mythology is everywhere! Daily you run across instances of words, city names, companies, literary allusions - and even planets and constellations - that take their name or borrow their theme from myths. Because of your many requests, I've provided a couple of thousand excellent examples to help you get started in your research. Remember, you're surrounded by mythology in today's society, whether you realize it or not! Mythological Influence on Modern...

Companies & Groups Planets & Constellations

Words & Expressions Literary & Pop Culture

American Cities Named From Mythology

COMPANIES & GROUPS Mythology is everywhere! There are hundreds of companies, groups and corporations that take their name, logo or theme from ancient mythology. I've provided a variety of examples to help you in starting your research. Some are well-known international companies, others are of a more local nature. Aegis - Zeus and Athena's protective shield; modern group of insurance companies (The Aegis Group). Ajax - Greek warrior in the Trojan War, who "cleaned up" in battle; popular household cleanser. Amazon - Race of warrior women; amazon.com - huge on-line bookstore. Ares - Greek god of war; popular car model. Argus - Giant watchman with a hundred eyes; Argus Security is a modern security company, specializing in commercial business protection. Atlas - Was doomed to support the heavens on his shoulders; a modern moving company (Atlas Van Lines); also, Atlas Travel is a popular name for travel agencies all over the globe. Aurora - Roman name for Eos, goddess of the Dawn; luxury car model. Charon - Boatman who ferries the souls of the dead to the Underworld; www.charon.com, a company "offering solutions for a connected world." Delphi - Sanctuary to Apollo and home to his famous Oracles; Delphi Forums (www.delphi.com) is an on-line meeting place to promote discussions and to find answers. Delphi is also the name of an international Automotive Group. Hercules - Roman name for Heracles, the greatest Greek hero; the company called Hercules - http://www.hercules.com - makes a top-selling video graphics card (their slogan is Legendary Strength, Quality and Performance); there is also the Hercules transport plane, used by the United States Air Force to carry large volumes of war material and food; Hercules Incorporated - http://www.herc.com - is a maker of chemicals and allied products. Hermes - Olympian Herald and Messenger god; popular brand of soap. Also, the FTD flower delivery company incorporates Hermes and his winged heels in their logo. Hyperion - Titan whose name means "he who goes before the sun"; a company (www.hyperion.com) that specializes in "business analysis software." Also the name of a book publishing company. Hydra - Sea serpent with nine heads, killed by Hercules; It's the chosen name (www.hydra.com) of the Internet Chess Club. Juno - Roman name for Hera, wife of Zeus; Juno is a popular web-hosting company (www.juno.com), specializing in free web pages and custom e-mail. Mars - Roman name for Ares, god of War; name of popular candy bar. Medusa - Terrible monster whose glance would petrify you, killed by the hero Perseus; Medusa Cement Company sells cement products worldwide. Mercury - Roman name for Hermes, the Messenger god; name of car model produced by the Ford Motor Company; also, an entertainment records label, Mercury Records. Midas - King with the golden touch, who transformed all he touched to gold; a famous muffler and brake chain of service stations. Minerva - Roman name for Athena, who gifted the olive tree to humans; Minerva Oil Company is an international exporter of fine food products. Nike - Winged goddess of Victory, who can run and fly at great speeds; a famous company that sells...well...if you haven't heard of the company Nike, welcome to our planet...:) Odyssey - The 10-year sea voyage endured by the Trojan War hero, Odysseus, as he sought to return home to Ithica; Odyssey Travel is a well-known travel agency; Odyssey Cruise Lines is a cruise company; Odyssey Records is a record company; there's even an Odyssey Golf Club company...you get the drift, Odyssey is a very popular modern mythological rip-off... Olympus - Home of the Olympian gods; name of popular camera and photographic technology company. Also, Olympic Airlines is another variation of the name. (Note: Thanasi's Olympus Greek Restaurant is owned by the Myth Man...) Orion - A giant hunter slain by Artemis in Greek mythology; a motion picture production company, Orion Pictures. Pandora - The first woman in Greek mythology, whose name means "all-gifted"; Pandora's Gift Boutique sells quality gift merchandise. Parthenon - The temple of Athena, built on the Acropolis of Athens; perhaps the most-used name for any Greek restaurant in any city of the world! It's ridiculous...I bet there's a Parthenon Restaurant in your town! :) Pegasus - Winged horse that was born from Medusa's head when she was killed; Pegasus Expedite Company is a national delivery/courier service; Pegasus Satellite Systems is a provider of satellite entertainment services. The winged horse motif is used by dozens of companies. Check out my Pegasus Homework Help page for more on that. Phoenix - A mythical and one-of-a-kind bird that burns on a funeral pyre after a life of hundreds of years, only to be re-born from the ashes; also the name of a national photographic technology company. Poseidon - God of the Sea and brother of Zeus; Poseidon Travel is a common travel agency name; Poseidon Seafood is a national brand of seafood products. Neptune, the Roman version, is often also used by companies, as in Neptune Fresh Lobster Co. Saturn - Roman name for Cronus, father of Zeus; also the name of the Saturn Automobile Corporation. Titans - Race of gods preceding the Olympians; Titan Tool & Die Company manufactures tools for industry. Spartan - Greek warrior state, devoted to discipline and the martial arts; Spartan Corporation is a financial advisory company; also, Spartan Tool & Die is a national manufacturer and supplier to the auto industry; Spartan Nutritional Products is a maker and distributor of health supplements. Trojan - Inhabitants of the mighty city that was destroyed by the Greeks during the Trojan War, after a siege of ten years; international manufacturer of condoms and birth control products. Venus - Roman for Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love; Venus is the name of a famous beauty product company; Venus International is a popular beauty talent agency; Venus Tan Lines is a swimsuit manufacturer; Venus Beauty Salon is found in most any city or town... Vulcan - Roman name for Hephaestus, god of the smiths and the forge; Vulcan Industries is an international manufacturer of steel products.

MOVIES, LITERATURE & POP CULTURE Television and Movies Clash of the Titans: A movie describing the adventures of Perseus as he crosses paths with Medusa, Pegasus, the Kracken, and an array of Greek gods and goddesses

Xanadu: The Nine Muses of Greek mythology are alluded to in this movie about a struggling young artist.

Hercules and Xena: These two popular television shows bring a different myth to life every week, sometimes relying on classics, and other times creating new tales.

Wonder Woman: A favorite in the 70s, this television show spotlighted the heroism of the Amazon goddess Diana in the mortal world while illustrating her amazing super-powers.

Star Trek: This incredibly successful science fiction TV drama took a ship full of adventurers through harrowing adventures weekly, all the while cleverly inserting into the story lines ancient mythological allusions. Literature The Incarnations of Immortality Series, Piers Anthony. A brilliant anthology of Fantasy books personifying the Immortal Powers of Death, Time, War, Fate, Mother Nature, God, and Satan. The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle. Tells a tale of the last living unicorn and her quest to keep hope alive in the world. Mother Love, Rita Dove. A collection of poems telling in various ways the myth of Persephone and Demeter. The Heralds of Valdemar Series, Mercedes Lackey. A wide array of books portraying various mythological creatures, such as gryphons and salamanders. A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams. This play contains several allusions to mythology, such as the poor neighborhood in which the story unfolds ironically being called Elysian Fields. Pygmalion, G.B. Shaw. This play tells the story of a misogynistic sculptor who creates his perfect woman and prays to Aphrodite for the statue to be brought to life. The musical My Fair Lady is loosely based on this play. Brand Names Ajax trademark [Gk, a hero in the Trojan War who rescued the body of Achilles] : a brand of cleaner Argonaut trademark [L Argonautes, fr. Gk Argonautes, fr. Argo, ship in which the Argonauts sailed + nautes sailor] : a computer software company Aurora trademark [L, dawn or the Roman goddess of dawn] : a make of automobile Hyperion trademark [fr. L, fr. Gk Hyperion, a Titan, the father of Helios, Selene, and Eos] : a book publishing company Janus trademark [fr. Janus Roman god of beginnings who is represented artistically with two opposite faces] : a brand name of watch Mars trademark [fr. Mart-, Mars Roman god of war] : a brand of candy bar Mercury trademark [L Mercurius Mercury, Roman god of merchandise, trade, and theft] 1 : a record production label 2 : a make of automobile Nike trademark [Gk Nike Goddess of victory] : a brand of athletic shoe Olympus trademark [L, fr. Gk Olympos, a mountain in Thessaly that in Greek mythology is the abode of the gods] : a photographic technology company Orion trademark [L, fr. Gk Orion, a giant hunter slain by Artemis in Greek mythology] : a motion picture production company Phoenix trademark [L, fr. Gk phoinix a mythical bird of great beauty fabled to rise from its own ashes in the freshness of youth] : a photographic technology company Saturn trademark [L Saturnus Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and father of Jupiter] : a make of automobile

Song Lyrics "You consider me the young apprentice Caught between the Scylla and Charybdis..." --The Police, "Wrapped Around Your Finger" (Refers to the monsters in Greek mythology by which sailors had to pass; the phrase has come to mean being between two equally perilous alternatives, neither of which can be passed without encountering the other, i.e. between a rock and a hard place) "And I know now how it feels To be weakened like Achilles With you always at my heels." (Mentions the hero Achilles, who was killed by being cut on the only vulnerable spot on his body: his heel) "Now I see your face before me. I would launch a thousand ships To bring your heart back to my island." --Indigo Girls, "Ghost" (Alluding to Helen of Troy, who is said to have been so beautiful that her abduction was the cause of the Trojan War, i.e. the launch of a thousand ships) "You can roll that stone To the top of the hill Drag your ball and chain Behind you." --Rush, "Carve Away the Stone" (Referring to the fate of Sisyphus, a legendary king of Corinth condemned eternally to repeat the cycle of rolling a heavy rock up a hill in Hades each day only to have it roll down again as it nears the top) "If we burn our wings Flying too close to the sun..." --Rush, "Bravado" (Alluding to the fate of Daedalus, the legendary builder of Cretan labyrinth who makes wings to enable himself and his son Icarus to escape from imprisonment, only to have the wax of the wings melt as the child flies too close to the sun) "Oh, I will dine on honey dew And drink the milk of Paradise." --Rush, "Xanadu" (Refers to nectar and ambrosia, the food and drink of the immortal souls in Elysia) "...I watched him struggle with the sea I knew that he was drowning And I brought him into me..." --Suzanne Vega, "Calypso" (This song tells the tale of the sea nymph Calypso in The Odyssey who keeps Odysseus on the island of Ogygia) "You can hear the siren screaming Take me to the promised land." --Yes, "State of Play" "The x-ray is her siren song My ship cannot resist her long." --Rush, "Cygnus X-1" "Like a siren she calls (to me)." --U2, "In God's Country" (Each of these songs describe the song of the sirens, mythological Greek sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, supposed to lure sailors to their destruction by their seductive singing) "He's the king of the ninth world In each and every lobster cage A tortured human soul..." --Sting, "The Soul Cages" (Alludes to the Ninth Ring of the Underworld, which is eternally reserved for the most evil and hopeless souls) "Rise from the ashes-- A blaze of everyday glory..." --Rush, "Everyday Glory" (Refers to the rebirth of the phoenix, who burns himself on a pyre to rise once more, in the freshness of youth)

Months of the Year April n [ME April, Averil, Aperil, fr. L Aprilis, perh. fr. Gk Aphro, short for Aphrodite] : the fourth month of the Gregorian calendar January n [ME Januarie, fr. L Januarius, 1st month of Roman year, fr. Janus the two-faced god of beginnings] : the first month of our calendar year March n [ME, fr. OF, fr. L martius of Mars, fr. Mars the Roman war god] : the third month of our calendar year May n [ME, fr. OE & L; OF mai, fr. L Maius, fr. Maia Maia, mother of Hermes] : the fifth month of our calendar year Days of the Week Friday n [ME, fr. OE frigedaeg, fr. (assumed) Frig Frigga + daeg day, prehistoric trans. of L dies Veneris Venus' day] : the sixth day of the week, following Thursday Saturday n [fr. L Saturnus Saturn, ancient Roman god of agriculture and father of Jupiter] : the seventh day of the week, following Friday Thursday n [ME; OE Thursdaeg, fr. ODan Thursdagr, lit. Thor's day, fr. D donderdag, fr. G Donnerstag; trans. of LL dies Jovis Jove's day] : the fifth day of the week, following Wednesday Tuesday n [ME tewesday, OE tiwesdaeg, orig., phrase Tiwes daeg Tiw's day, translating L dies Martis day of Mars] : the third day of the week, following Monday Wednesday n [ME Wednesdai, OE Wednesdaeg, mutated var. of Wodnesdaeg Woden's day; cognate of D Woensdag, Dan onsdag; trans. of L Mercurii dies day of Mercury] : the fourth day of the week, following Tuesday Times of the Day Halcyon Days n [fr. Gk Alkyone, corres. to the fourteen windless days in the legend] : the seven days before and after the winter solstice night n [ME, fr. OE niht, L noct-, nox, Gk nykt-, nyx night; assoc. with the Greek god of night, Nyx] : the time from dusk til dawn when no sun is visible MYTHOLOGY IN MODERN SOCIETY SCHOOL MYTHOLOGICAL NICKNAMES

Mythology is everywhere! There are THOUSANDS of schools that have taken their nicknames from mythology, not to mention all the professional teams. I've provided a list of major American universities and colleges whose names include a mythological reference. Let me know if you'd like me to include your school!

Athenas Joint team of Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, California), Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, California) and Scripps College (Claremont, California)

Athenians Mount St. Mary's College (Los Angeles, California)

Argonauts College of Notre Dame (Belmont, California) University of Great Falls (Great Falls, Montana) University of West Florida (Pensacola, Florida)

Centaurs Allentown College (Center Valley, Pennsylvania) Purdue University-North Central (Westville, Indiana)

Golden Griffins Canisius College (Buffalo, New York)

Golden Rams Albany State University (Albany, Georgia) West Chester University of Pennsylvania (West Chester, Pennsylvania)

Griffins Fontbonne College (St. Louis, Missouri) Golden Gate University (San Francisco, California) Reed College (Portland, Oregon) Johnson & Wales University (Providence, Rhode Island) Gwynedd-Mercy College (Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania)

Fighting Griffins United States Marine Helicopter Squadron HMM-266 (Okay, they're not a school, but they certainly deserve to be here...:)

United States Marine Helicopter Squadron HMM-266 Mascot Kindly Submitted by Capt Dennis A. Frantsve Helicopter Pilot/Ground Safety Officer/Family Readiness Officer

Griffons Missouri Western State College (Saint Joseph, Missouri)

Phoenix University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (Green Bay, Wisconsin) Wilson College (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania)

Spartans Aurora University (Aurora, Illinois) Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio) Castleton State College (Castleton, Vermont) Manchester College (North Manchester, Indiana) Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan) San Jose State University (San Jose, California) St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, New York) University of North Carolina-Greensboro (Greensboro, North Carolina) University of Tampa (Tampa, Florida) York College of Pennsylvania (York, Pennsylvania) Central Bible College (Springfield, Missouri) D'Youville College (Buffalo, New York) Missouri Baptist College (St. Louis, Missouri) Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia) University of Dubuque (Dubuque, Iowa)

Titans

California State University-Fullerton (Fullerton, California) Indiana University-South Bend The Ohio State University-Newark (Newark, Ohio) University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit, Michigan) University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) Westminster College (New Wilmington, Pennsylvania) Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Illinois)

Tritons Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, Florida) University of California-San Diego (San Diego, California)

Trojans

Anderson College (Anderson, South Carolina) Dakota State University (Madison, South Dakota) Taylor University (Upland, Indiana) Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, Tennessee) Trinity International University (Deerfield, Illinois) Troy State University (Troy, Alabama) University of Arkansas-Little Rock (Little Rock, Arkansas) University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California) (men's team) Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia) Hannibal-LaGrange College (Hannibal, Missouri) Mount Olive College (Mount Olive, North Carolina)

Vulcans California University of Pennsylvania (California, Pennsylvania) University of Hawaii-Hilo (Hilo, Hawaii)

Mythology in Personal Names

April : the fourth month, named from an abbreviation for Aphrodite Cassandra : a daughter of Priam endowed with the gift of prophecy but fated never to be believed

Clio : the Greek Muse of history

Cynthia : an epithet of Artemis, so called for her birth on Mount Cynthus

Daphne : a nymph in Greek mythology who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape the pursuing Apollo

Diana : the Roman goddess of the moon and hunting, the protectress of women

Elissa : the Phoenician name of Dido, a mythological queen of Carthage who killed herself when abandoned by Aeneas

Hector : a bullish Trojan champion slain by Achilles

Helen : the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda and wife of Menelaus whose kidnapping by Paris was the cause of the Trojan War

Irene : the personification of peace in classical mythology

Iris : a messenger of the gods, regarded as the goddess of the rainbow

Leda : the mother of Castor and Clytemnestra by her husband Tyndareus, and of Pollux and Helen by Zeus, who was wearing the form of a swan

May : the Roman goddess of growth and increase and the mother of Hermes

Melissa : the sister of Amalthea who nourished the infant Zeus with honey in Greek mythology

Niobe : she provoked Apollo and Artemis to vengeance for taunting their mother, Leto, with the number and beauty of her own children; her children were slain and she was turned into stone by Zeus, in which form she continued to weep over her loss

Penelope : in classical mythology, the wife of Odysseus who remained faithful to him throughout his absence at Troy, despite having many suitors

Phoebe : a Titanesse, daughter of Uranus and Gaea and mother of Leto, later identified with the goddess Artemis Rhea : the mother of Zeus

Selena : the goddess of the moon who loved Endymion

Sibyl : the prophetess at Apollo's oracle on Delphi

MYTHOLOGY IN MODERN SOCIETY WORDS AND PHRASES

Mythology is everywhere! There are literally THOUSANDS of words and expressions that derive from ancient myths.

Excellent Alphabetic Listing Proverbial Expressions

Classical Clichés Phrases & Conversation

Bookmark this page, I'll be adding lots of material first chance I get!

THE GREEK ALPHABET

Phrases & Conversation Achilles' heel : a vulnerable point [fr. L, fr. Gk Achilleus Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior at Troy, slayer of Hector] Argus-eyed : vigilantly observant [L, fr. Gk Argos, a hundred-eyed monster of Greek mythology] Augean stable : a condition or place marked by great accumulation of filth or corruption [L Augeas, king of Elis, fr. Gk Augeias; fr. the legend that his stable, left neglected for 30 years, was finally cleaned by Hercules] By Jove! : an interjection often used to express surprise or agreement [fr. L Jov-, Juppiter Jupiter, the Roman equivalent to Zeus, ruler of the Olympian gods] Caught between the Scylla and Charybdis : trapped between two equally unpleasant choices, i.e. caught between a rock and a hard place [fr. the names of the monsters Scylla and Charybdis, who were situated in the Strait of Messina to trap sailors between them] Delphic utterance : a comment or response to a question that is ambiguous and therefore difficult to understand [fr. Delphi, the site of the oracle of Apollo] Herculean effort : an task of great intensity or difficulty [fr. Gk Herakles Hercules, a hero renowned for his strength and for performing the 12 tasks set before him by Hera] Janus-faced : duplicitous, two-faced [fr. Janus Roman god of beginnings who is represented artistically with two opposite faces] Midas touch : an uncanny ability for making money in every venture [L, fr. Gk legend of the Phrygian king Midas who is given the power to turn everything he touched into gold] Olympian feat : a lofty task, as one befitting the immortals [fr. Gk Olympos, the mountain in Greek mythology that is the home of the gods] Pandora's box : a prolific source of troubles [fr. the myth surrounding the box sent by the gods to Pandora] procrustean bed : a scheme or pattern into which someone or something is arbitrarily forced [L, fr. Gk Prokroustes Procrustes, a villainous son of Poseidon in Greek mythology who forces travelers to fit into his bed by stretching their bodies or cutting off their legs] siren song : an alluring utterance or appeal, especially one that is seductive or deceptive [ME sereyn, fr. OF sereine, fr. L Siren, fr. Gk Serein Siren, one of several mythological Greek sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, supposed to lure sailors to their destruction by their seductive singing] Struck by Cupid's arrow : smitten, in love [L Cupido, the Roman god of erotic love] Thyestean banquet : a dinner at which human flesh is eaten [fr. Thyestes Thyestes, who was, in classical mythology, the brother and rival of Atreus; he unknowingly ate the flesh of his own sons which Atreus fed to him as punishment for committing adultery with the wife of Atreus] To climb Parnassus : to create fine art, especially to compose poetry [fr. Gk Parnasos Parnassus, a mountain in Greece sacred to Apollo and the Muses]

THE GREEK ALPHABET The Greek alphabet has twenty-four letters. It originated in Ionia, and was adopted at Athens in 403 B.C. The letters from A to T are derived from Phoenician and have Semitic names. The rest were invented by the Greeks.

From the Greek alphabet are derived the alphabets of most European countries. The ancients used only the large letters, called majuscules (capitals as E, uncials as e); the small letters (minuscules), which were used as a literary hand in the ninth century, are cursive forms of the uncials.

Keep in mind that our word 'alphabet' comes to us from the first two letters in the Greek, Alpha and Beta.

The last letter in the Greek alphabet is Omega, and that's where we get the expression "The Alpha and the Omega", which means "The Beginning and the End", or All That Is.

GREEK PRONOUNCED EQUIVALENTS EXAMPLE

Al-pha a father bE-ta b beg

gA-mma g go

dE-lta d dig

E-psilon e met

zE-ta z daze

Ee-ta e immediate

thE-ta th thin

iO-ta i police kA-pa c,k kin

LA-mbda, LA-bda l let

mu m met

GREEK PRONOUNCED EQUIVALENTS EXAMPLE

nu n net

xi x taxi

O-mikron o obey

pi p pet

rho r run

SEE-gma s sun

tau t tar EEp-seelon (u) y ŭ: Fr. tu; ū: Fr. sûr

phi ph graphic

chi ch Christian

psi ps gypsum

om-E-ga

PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES NAMED FROM MYTHOLOGY Mythology is everywhere! There are hundreds of places in the United States (and Canada, not to mention the entire world!) named from Greek Mythology. Odds are you'll find a few good examples right in your own state, wherever you live. Consider that there are at least 16 cities named Athens in the United States! Or, even more amazing, there exist no less than 26 American cities that contain Troy in their names! I've researched each of the 50 States and have put together a huge list of American cities whose names relate to mythology. Let me know if I've missed any and I'll be happy to add them.

Athens, the capital city of Greece, is named after the goddess Athena: Athens, Georgia Athens, Ohio Athens, Alabama Athens, Indiana Athens, Maine Athens, New York Athens, Pennsylvania Athens, Tennessee Athens, Texas Athens, West Virginia Athens, Wisconsin Athens, Louisiana Athens, Michigan Athens, Illinois Athens, Pennsylvania New Athens, Illinois Athens County, Ohio Athens, Wisconsin

Athena's Roman equivalent was Minerva: Minerva, Kentucky Minerva, New York Minerva, Ohio

Achilles was the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, killed only when an arrow struck his heel, the only vulnerable spot on his body: Achilles, Virginia

Ajax was the name of two famous warriors of the Trojan War: Ajax, South Dakota Apollo was another Olympian, the god of music and light. After him is named: Apollo, Pennsylvania North Apollo, Pennsylvania Apollo Beach, Florida Apollo Annex, Florida Apollo Theater, Chicago Apollo Theater, New York

Amazons in Greek mythology were a ferocious race of warrior women: Amazonia, Missouri

Arcadia was a famous place in ancient Greece: Arcadia, California Arcadia, Florida Arcadia, Indiana Arcadia, Iowa Arcadia, Kansas Arcadia, Louisiana Arcadia, Michigan Arcadia, Missouri Arcadia, Nebraska Arcadia, Pennsylvania Arcadia, South Carolina Arcadia, Wisconsin

Ares was one of the 12 Olympians, the despised god of war: Ares Peak, New Mexico

Argo was the name of the famous ship that Jason and the Argonauts used to sail on their voyage to get the Golden Fleece. Argo, Texas Argos was the hundred-eyed watchman of Hera, slain by the Greek messenger god Hermes: Argos, Indiana

Arion was the poet tossed overboard by Pirates who was saved by a dolphin: Arion, Iowa Arion, Ohio

Atlas was the hapless Titan who was doomed to support the heavens on his shoulder forever. Many variations of his name have given us a number of American place names: Atlantic Beach, Florida Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Idaho Atlanta, Illinois Atlanta, Indiana Atlantic, Iowa Atlanta, Kansas Atlas, Kansas Atlanta, Louisiana Atlanta, Michigan Atlas, Michigan Atlanta, Missouri Atlanta, Nebraska Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlanta, New York Atlantic Beach, New York Atlantic, North Carolina Atlantic Beach, North Carolina Atlantic, Pennsylvania Atlasburg, Pennsylvania Atlanta, Texas Atlantic, Virginia

Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, similar to the Greek Eos: Aurora, Colorado Aurora, Illinois Aurora, Indiana Aurora, Iowa Aurora, Kansas Aurora, Kentucky Aurora, Maine Aurora, Minnesota Aurora, Missouri Aurora, Nebraska Aurora, New York East Aurora, New York Aurora, North Carolina Aurora, Ohio Aurora, Oregon Aurora, South Dakota Aurora, Utah Aurora, West Virginia

Daphne was a beautiful woman who was pursued by the god Apollo. She turned into a laurel tree in order to escape from his amorous advances. After her is named: Daphne, Alabama

Castor and Polux were famous twins of Greek mythology: Castor, Louisiana

The Nymph Calypso was a witch who tried to convince the hero Odysseus to stay with her on her island, rather than sailing home: Calypso, North Carolina

Cassandra was the seer who was cursed by Apollo, so that her prophecies were never believed: Cassandra, Pennsylvania Ceres was the Roman goddess of the harvest, similar to the Greek goddess Demeter: Ceres, California Ceres, Virginia

Clio was one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology: Clio, Alabama Clio, California Clyo, Georgia Clio, Iowa Clio, Michigan Clio, South Carolina Clio, West Virginia

Corinth was a famous place in Greek mythology, figuring in numerous myths: Corinth, Kentucky Corinth, New York Corinth, Texas Corinth, Vermont East Corinth, Vermont

Crete was the island where Zeus was raised as a baby while hiding from the wrath of his father, Cronus: Crete, Illinois

Diana was the Roman name for the Greek Artemis, goddess of the forest and the hunt: Diana, Texas Diana, West Virginia

Fortuna was the Roman goddess of luck, similar to the Greek Tyche: Fortuna Ledge, Alaska Fortuna, California Fortuna, Missouri The Oracles in mythology were respected seers who foretold the future: Oracle, Arizona

The most famous Oracle was Apollo's, at a place called Delphi: Delphi, Indiana Delphia, Kentucky Delphi Falls, New York

Hector was a brave warrior who fought on the Trojan side against the Greeks during the Trojan War. He was killed by Achilles: Hector, Arkansas Hector, California Hector, New York

Homer was the ancient poet and writer who gave us the famous books the Iliad and the Odyssey: Homer, Alaska Homer, Georgia Homerville, Georgia Homer, Illinois Homer, Indiana Homer, Louisiana Homer, Nebraska Homer, New York East Homer, New York

Hymera was the Greek personification of the Day: Hymera, Indiana

Hesperia was the Greek goddess who personified the Evening: Hesperia, California Hesperus was the elusive god who personified the Evening: Hesperus, Colorado

Irene was the ancient Greek personification of Peace: Irene, South Dakota Irene, Texas

Iris was the Greek goddess of the Rainbow: Iris, South Carolina

Ithaca was the island home of the Trojan War hero, Odysseus; the Odyssey by Homer detailed his voyage back home to Ithaca: Ithaca, Nebraska Ithaca, New York Ithaca College, New York Ithaca, Ohio

The Parthenon in Athens was the splendid temple at the Acropolis, built in honor of the great goddess Athena: Parthenon, Arkansas

Dike (or Dyke, pronounced DEE-key) was the Greek mythological personification of Justice: Dike, Iowa Dike, Texas Dyke, Virginia

Echo was the beautiful maiden who fell in love with the vain Narcissus and was reduced to just an echo: Echo Lake, California Echo, Louisiana Echo, Minnesota Echo, Oregon Echo, Texas Echo, Utah

The Elysian Fields was the final resting place of famous heroes: Elysian, Minnesota Elysian Fields, Texas

Eros was the Greek god of love, similar to the mischievous Roman Cupid: Eros, Louisiana Eros, Arizona

Flora was the Roman name for the Greek Chloris, goddess of plants and vegetation: Flora, Illinois Flora, Indiana Flora, Louisiana Flora, Mississippi Glen Flora, Texas Glen Flora, Wisconsin

The Griffin was a mythical creature with the face, beak, talons and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion: Griffin, Georgia Griffin, Indiana

Hades was the feared god of the Underworld: Hades Creek, Washington Hercules (Heracles) was the greatest hero of ancient Greece. He performed the famous 12 labors: Hercules, California

Luna was the Roman goddess of the moon, equivalent to the Greek goddess Selene: Luna, New Mexico

The city of Marathon was the setting for a magnificent battle, and where we get the modern day race called the marathon: Marathon, New York

Mars was the Roman god of war, the equivalent of the Greek god Ares: Mars Hill, Maine Mars, Pennsylvania

Medusa was the monster who would turn to stone whomever happened to look upon her: Medusa, New York

Mentor was a famous tutor/teacher in ancient Greek mythology: Mentor, Minnesota Mentor, Ohio

Mercury was the Roman name for the Greek god Hermes, winged messenger to the gods: Mercury, Nevada Mount Olympus was the lofty home of the ancient gods. From Olympus we get place names such as: Olympic Valley, California Olympia Heights, Florida Olympia Fields, Illinois Olympia, Kentucky East Olympia, Virginia Olympia, Washington

The nine Muses in Greek mythology were the ones who inspired the arts, sciences, music and all things cultural: Muse, Pennsylvania

Neptune was the Roman name for Poseidon, Greek god of the sea: Neptune Beach, Florida Neptune, New Jersey Neptune City, New Jersey

Orestes was the tragic figure who killed his mother, Clytaemnestra, and was pursued by the Furies, in the tragedy Oresteia by Aeschylus: Orestes, Indiana

Pandora (all-gifted) was the first mortal woman. Her curiosity made her open up a jar (box), which unleashed all the world's evils upon the earth: Pandora, Ohio Pandora, Texas

Paris was the Trojan prince who ran away with beautiful Helen, an act which caused the famous Trojan War: Paris, Tennessee Penelope was the faithful wife to Odysseus, of Trojan War and Odyssey fame: Penelope, Texas

Sparta was a famous city state in ancient Greece, renowned for its highly disciplined and ferocious warriors: Sparta, Georgia Sparta, Illinois Sparta, Kentucky Sparta, Michigan Sparta, Mississippi Sparta, New Jersey Sparta, New York East Sparta, Ohio Sparta, Tennessee Sparta, Virginia Sparta, Wisconsin

Thebes was another famous city state, with a storied mythical history: Thebes, Illinois

Troy was the ancient mythological city where the famous Trojan War took place. Many US places are named Troy: Troy, Alabama Troy, Idaho Troy, Illinois Troy Grove, Illinois Troy, Indiana Troy Mills, Iowa Troy, Kansas Troy, Maine Troy, Michigan New Troy, Michigan Troy, Missouri Troy, Montana Troy, New Hampshire Troy, New York Troy, North Carolina Troy, Ohio Troy, Pennsylvania Troy, South Carolina Troy, Tennessee Troy, Texas Troy, Vermont North Troy, Vermont Troy, Virginia Troy, West Virginia East Troy, Wisconsin

Venus was the Roman name for gorgeous Aphrodite, Greek goddess of Love: Venus, Florida Venus, Pennsylvania Venus, Texas

Vesta was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Hestia, ancient goddess of the home and hearth. Her attendants were called the Vestal virgins: Vesta, Minnesota Vesta, Virginia Vestal, New York

Victoria was Roman for the Greek Nike, winged goddess of Victory: Victoria, Minnesota Victoria, Mississippi Victoria, Texas Victoria, Virginia

Vulcan was the Roman name for Hephaestus, Greek god of the forge: Vulcan, Michigan Vulcan, Missouri Vulcan, West Virginia

Zephyr was one of the wind gods, the West Wind: Zephyrhills, Florida Zephyr Cove, Nevada Zephyr, Texas

Notus was another wind god, this one the South Wind: Notus, Idaho

Orion was a giant in Greek mythology who was placed in the stars as the Constellation Orion: Orion, Illinois Orion, Michigan

Juno was the Roman name for Hera, wife to Zeus, the supreme Greek Olympian: Juno Beach, Florida

Jupiter was the Roman name for the King of the Olympians, Zeus: Jupiter, Florida

Helen of Troy was the most beautiful woman on earth, and the cause of the Trojan War: Lake Helen, Florida Helen, Georgia Helena, Georgia Helen, Maryland Helena, Missouri Helena, Montana Helena, New York Helena, Oklahoma Helen, West Virginia Helenville, Wisconsin

Marathon was another famous Greek place and the scene of a decisive ancient battle. We get the modern 26 kilometer Marathon Race from this city: Marathon, Florida Marathon Shores, Florida Marathon, Iowa Marathon, Texas Marathon, Wisconsin

The Phoenix was the legendary bird that would perish every few hundred years, only to be reborn from the ashes: Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix, Maryland Phoenix, New York Phoenix, Oregon Phoenixville, Pennsylvania Phenix, Virginia

Ulysses was the Roman name for Odysseus, hero of Homer's epic saga The Odyssey: Ulysses, Kansas Ulysses, Kentucky Ulysses, Nebraska Ulysses, Pennsylvania

Urania was the one of the nine Muses, the Greek Muse of astronomy, astrology and Universal love. Urania, Louisiana

Uranus (Sky) was an original Titan, husband to Gaea (Mother Earth): Uranus, Alaska