Promethium
Today: Chemical element 61.
Named after Prometheus, the Titan associated with bringing fire to humanity.
IUPAC
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Ancient Greek words and myths in the modern world
Words from Greek Mythology We Still Use Today
Many words we still use today have their origins in Greek mythology. Words such as mentor, panic, narcissism, nemesis, atlas and odyssey can all be traced back to ancient Greek gods, heroes and myths.
What modern words come from Greek mythology?
Greek mythology has left a surprisingly large mark on the English language. Some words come directly from mythical figures: mentor comes from Mentor, panic is associated with Pan, narcissism comes from Narcissus, and nemesis comes from the goddess Nemesis.
Other myths survive as expressions. An Achilles heel is a hidden weakness, a Herculean task requires enormous effort, a Sisyphean task seems endless, and opening a Pandora's box creates unexpected problems.
Below you can explore the origin, meaning and mythological root of these words, together with Greek names that survive in medicine, chemistry, psychology, astronomy and space exploration.
Mythology across cultures
Greek & Roman God Equivalents
Why is Zeus called Jupiter in Roman mythology? Explore the historically established connections between Greek and Roman gods, from Aphrodite and Venus to Hermes and Mercury.
Compare Greek & Roman Gods →Explore the modern legacy
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Elements & Chemistry
Greek mythology reached even the periodic table. Several elements were named after Titans and other mythological figures, often because their stories reflected something about the element itself.
Tantalum
Today: Chemical element 73.
Named after Tantalus. The name recalls his inability to reach the water surrounding him, reflecting tantalum's resistance to chemical attack.
IUPACNiobium
Today: Chemical element 41.
Named after Niobe, daughter of Tantalus. The name reflects the close chemical relationship between niobium and tantalum.
IUPACTitanium
Today: Chemical element 22.
Named for the Titans, the powerful older generation of Greek gods.
IUPACLanguage & Everyday Expressions
Greek myths survive quietly in everyday English. Familiar words and expressions such as panic, mentor, nemesis and Achilles heel all have roots in the ancient Greek world.
Narcissism
Today: A term describing excessive self-focus or self-admiration.
Origin: Derived from Narcissus, who became fascinated by his own reflection.
Greek mythology / modern psychologyEcho
Today: The word for a reflected or repeated sound.
Origin: Associated with Echo, the nymph condemned to repeat the words of others.
Greek mythologyMentor
Today: A trusted adviser or teacher.
Origin: The modern word comes from Mentor, the Ithacan figure associated with advising Telemachus in the Odyssey.
Homeric traditionHerculean
Today: Describing something requiring enormous strength or effort.
Origin: Derived from Hercules, the Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles.
Greek mythologyAtlas
Today: A collection of maps.
Origin: The geographical sense ultimately derives from Atlas, the Titan associated with bearing the heavens.
Greek mythologyNemesis
Today: A formidable opponent or source of downfall.
Origin: The modern word comes directly from Nemesis, goddess of retribution and balance.
Greek mythologyPanic
Today: Sudden overwhelming fear.
Origin: Traditionally associated with Pan and the sudden fear caused by his frightening cries and appearances.
Greek mythologyMidas Touch
Today: The supposed ability to turn opportunities into success or profit.
Origin: Named after King Midas, whose wish caused everything he touched to turn to gold.
Greek mythologyOdyssey
Today: A long journey involving many experiences and difficulties.
Origin: Derived from the Odyssey, the epic centred on Odysseus' long journey home.
Homeric traditionSisyphean
Today: Describing an apparently endless, repetitive or futile task.
Origin: Derived from Sisyphus, condemned to push a stone uphill only for it to roll back down.
Greek mythologyTrojan Horse
Today: A term used in computing for malicious software disguised as legitimate software.
Origin: The computing term ultimately refers to the Trojan Horse story and the Greek infiltration of Troy.
Modern computing terminologyAchilles Heel
Today: A small but potentially decisive weakness.
Origin: The expression comes from Achilles, the great warrior of the Trojan War. Later tradition made his heel the vulnerable part of an otherwise almost invulnerable body.
Greek mythological traditionTantalise
Today: To tempt someone with something desirable that remains just out of reach.
Origin: The word derives from Tantalus, whose punishment left food and water eternally close to him but impossible to obtain.
Greek mythology / English etymologyPandora's Box
Today: Something that unleashes many unforeseen problems or complications.
Origin: The expression comes from Pandora. In Hesiod's account the container was a jar rather than a box, but 'Pandora's box' became the familiar later expression.
Hesiodic tradition / later European usageAphrodisiac
Today: Something believed to stimulate sexual desire.
Origin: The word derives from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess associated with love, beauty and sexual desire.
Greek etymologyTitanic
Today: Enormous in size, strength or power.
Origin: The adjective ultimately refers to the Titans, the immensely powerful divine generation who preceded the Olympians.
Greek mythology / English etymologyProcrustean
Today: Forcing very different things into an arbitrary uniform standard.
Origin: The term comes from Procrustes, who forced travellers to fit his bed by stretching them or cutting them down to size.
Greek mythology / modern English usageChaos
Today: Complete disorder or confusion.
Origin: The English word ultimately comes from Greek khaos. In Greek cosmogony, Chaos is the primordial state or entity at the beginning of existence. The modern meaning developed from this ancient Greek idea of an undefined or disordered beginning.
Greek etymology / Hesiodic traditionChimera
Today: An unrealistic idea, fantasy or impossible combination.
Origin: The word comes from the Chimera, the hybrid monster of Greek mythology. Because the creature combined parts of different animals, 'chimera' developed into a word for an improbable or fantastical combination.
Greek mythology / English etymologyProtean
Today: Able to change form easily; versatile or highly variable.
Origin: Protean comes directly from Proteus, the prophetic sea god who could repeatedly change his shape to avoid capture.
Merriam-Webster / Greek mythologySiren
Today: A loud warning device; also something dangerously attractive or alluring.
Origin: The word comes from the Sirens of Greek mythology, whose irresistible songs lured sailors towards destruction.
Merriam-Webster / Greek mythologyHarpy
Today: A historical insult for a grasping, unpleasant or predatory person.
Origin: The word derives from the Harpies, winged female beings of Greek myth who carried things away and tormented figures such as Phineus.
Greek mythology / English usageStygian
Today: Extremely dark, gloomy or infernal.
Origin: Stygian derives from Styx, the river and divine figure associated with the boundary of the Greek Underworld.
Greek mythology / English etymologyPygmalion
Today: A name associated with transformation through expectation or influence.
Origin: The name comes from Pygmalion, the sculptor whose idealised statue was brought to life. The myth later inspired numerous artistic, literary and psychological uses of the name.
Greek mythological traditionAdonis
Today: A very handsome young man.
Origin: The name Adonis became a common descriptive term because the mythological Adonis was renowned for extraordinary youthful beauty.
Greek mythology / English usageHermaphrodite
Today: A historical biological term for an organism possessing both male and female reproductive characteristics.
Origin: The word derives from Hermaphroditus, whose name combines Hermes and Aphrodite. In myth, Hermaphroditus and Salmacis became joined in a single body. Modern scientific terminology usually uses more specific terms where appropriate.
Greek mythology / biological terminologyMedicine & Anatomy
Ancient mythology also left its mark on medicine and anatomy. Gods, heroes and mythical creatures have given their names to parts of the body, medical conditions and enduring symbols of healing.
Achilles Tendon
Today: The strong tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel.
Its anatomical name refers to Achilles and the legendary vulnerability associated with his heel.
Anatomical terminologyAtlas Vertebra
Today: The first cervical vertebra, supporting the skull.
It is called the atlas because it supports the head, recalling Atlas bearing the heavens in Greek mythology.
Anatomical terminologyMorphine
Today: A powerful opioid medicine used for severe pain.
The name was formed from Morpheus, the figure associated with dreams, reflecting the drug's sleep-producing effects.
History of pharmacology / Greek mythologyChimera and Chimerism
Today: An organism containing genetically distinct cell populations.
Scientific 'chimera' terminology takes its name from the mythological Chimera, a creature composed of parts of several different animals.
Biomedical terminologyPriapism
Today: A medical condition involving a prolonged penile erection.
The medical term derives from Priapus, the fertility god characteristically represented with an exaggerated phallus.
Medical terminology / Greek mythologyIris of the Eye
Today: The coloured ring of tissue surrounding the pupil of the eye.
Iris is the Greek word for rainbow and also the name of Iris, the rainbow-associated divine messenger. The anatomical iris was named for its varied colours.
Anatomical terminology / Greek etymologyAsclepius and Medicine
Today: The Rod of Asclepius remains one of the world's best-known symbols of medicine.
Asclepius was the Greek god associated with healing and medicine. His staff entwined by a single snake became an enduring medical symbol.
History of medicine / Greek mythologyPsychology & Ideas
Psychologists and later thinkers repeatedly turned to Greek mythology for names and metaphors describing human behaviour, fear, expectation and the workings of the mind.
Cassandra Complex
Today: A modern term for warnings that are repeatedly ignored or disbelieved.
Derived from Cassandra, the Trojan prophetess whose true predictions were doomed to be ignored.
Modern terminology / Greek mythologyOedipus Complex
Today: A concept associated with Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory.
Freud took the name from Oedipus, whose tragedy centres on his unwitting killing of his father and marriage to his mother.
History of psychoanalysisElectra Complex
Today: A later psychoanalytic term proposed as a female counterpart to the Oedipus complex.
The term takes its name from Electra, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, although the psychological concept is distinct from Electra's actual myth.
History of psychoanalysisNarcissism in Psychology
Today: A psychological term relating to excessive self-focus and self-importance.
The terminology draws on Narcissus, whose fascination with his own reflection became one of mythology's best-known images of self-absorption.
Modern psychology / Greek mythologyPhobia
Today: An intense or persistent fear; also widely used as the suffix -phobia.
Phobia derives from Greek phobos, meaning fear or flight. Phobos is also the personification of fear in Greek mythology and a son of Ares.
Merriam-Webster / Greek etymologyHypnosis
Today: A state of focused attention and increased responsiveness to suggestion.
Hypnosis derives from Greek hypnos, meaning sleep. Hypnos was also the divine personification of sleep in Greek mythology.
Greek etymology / history of psychologyPygmalion Effect
Today: The idea that higher expectations can influence and improve performance.
The psychological term takes its name from Pygmalion, the mythological sculptor whose expectations and devotion centre on a statue that ultimately comes to life.
Modern psychology / Greek mythologyScience & the Natural World
Mythological names continue in modern science, where ancient figures provide names and metaphors for ideas about biology, nature and the Earth itself.
Gaia
Today: A name widely used in Earth science, ecology and environmental thought.
Gaia was the primordial Earth in Greek mythology. Her name has been reused in modern scientific contexts concerned with Earth as an interconnected planetary system.
Greek mythology / Earth scienceGaia Hypothesis
Today: A scientific hypothesis describing interactions between living organisms and Earth's environment.
The hypothesis was named Gaia after the Greek personification of Earth, reflecting its view of Earth as a strongly interacting system.
Earth system scienceAstronomy
The night sky is filled with Greek mythology. Astronomers have used the names of gods, Titans, heroes and monsters for constellations, moons, asteroids and other worlds across the Solar System.
The naming often follows a mythological family: Mars has Phobos and Deimos, Neptune's moons draw on Greek sea mythology, and several of Pluto's moons are named for figures associated with the Underworld.
Ariadne
Today: Asteroid 43 Ariadne.
Named after Ariadne, who helped Theseus escape the Labyrinth.
International astronomical namingAchilles
Today: Asteroid 588 Achilles.
Named after Achilles, the foremost Greek warrior of the Trojan War.
International astronomical namingHector
Today: Asteroid 624 Hektor.
Named after Hector, the principal defender of Troy.
International astronomical namingPatroclus
Today: Asteroid 617 Patroclus.
Named after Patroclus, companion of Achilles.
International astronomical namingOdysseus
Today: Asteroid 1143 Odysseus.
Named after Odysseus, legendary king of Ithaca.
International astronomical namingIcarus
Today: Asteroid 1566 Icarus.
Named after Icarus, who flew with wings made by his father Daedalus.
International astronomical namingEros
Today: Asteroid 433 Eros.
Named after Eros, the Greek god associated with love and desire.
International astronomical namingPsyche
Today: Asteroid 16 Psyche.
Named after Psyche, the mortal heroine associated with Eros.
International astronomical namingEuropa
Today: One of Jupiter's four large Galilean moons.
Named after Europa, the princess carried away by Zeus in the form of a bull.
NASA / International astronomical namingIo
Today: One of Jupiter's four large Galilean moons.
Named after Io, the priestess associated with Zeus and Hera.
NASA / International astronomical namingGanymede
Today: The largest moon in the Solar System, orbiting Jupiter.
Named after Ganymede, the Trojan prince carried to Olympus to serve as cupbearer to the gods.
NASA / International astronomical namingCallisto
Today: One of Jupiter's four large Galilean moons.
Named after Callisto, the follower of Artemis who was transformed into a bear.
NASA / International astronomical namingPrometheus
Today: A small moon of Saturn.
Named after Prometheus, the Titan associated with fire and humanity.
NASA / International astronomical namingPandora
Today: A small moon of Saturn.
Named after Pandora, the first woman in the Hesiodic tradition.
NASA / International astronomical namingEpimetheus
Today: A small moon of Saturn.
Named after Epimetheus, brother of Prometheus and husband of Pandora in Greek tradition.
NASA / International astronomical namingPhobos
Today: The larger and innermost moon of Mars.
Phobos was named for the mythological personification of fear, a son and companion of Ares. The name Phobos itself means fear.
NASADeimos
Today: The smaller and outer moon of Mars.
Deimos was named for the mythological personification of dread or terror, traditionally a son of Ares and brother of Phobos.
NASATriton
Today: Neptune's largest moon.
Triton is named after the sea god Triton, son of Poseidon. Neptune's moons generally follow a naming tradition based on Greek sea gods and nymphs.
NASAGalatea
Today: An inner moon of Neptune.
Galatea belongs to Neptune's family of moons named from Greek sea mythology. Galatea was one of the Nereids associated with the sea.
International astronomical namingRhea
Today: The second-largest moon of Saturn.
Rhea is named after the Titan Rhea, daughter of Uranus and Gaia, wife of Cronus and mother of several Olympian gods.
NASAIapetus
Today: A large moon of Saturn noted for its dramatic light and dark hemispheres.
Iapetus is named after the Titan Iapetus, brother of Cronus and father of figures including Atlas and Prometheus.
NASATethys
Today: A medium-sized icy moon of Saturn.
Tethys is named for the Titan goddess Tethys, one of the ancient divine generation associated with Oceanus.
NASA / International astronomical namingDione
Today: An icy moon of Saturn.
Dione takes its name from the Greek goddess Dione, an ancient divine figure sometimes associated with Zeus and Aphrodite.
NASA / International astronomical namingHyperion
Today: An irregular, sponge-like moon of Saturn.
Hyperion is named after the Titan Hyperion, traditionally associated with heavenly light and father of Helios, Selene and Eos.
NASA / International astronomical namingPhoebe
Today: An irregular outer moon of Saturn.
Phoebe takes its name from the Titaness Phoebe, one of the older generation of Greek divine figures.
International astronomical namingPan
Today: A small moon orbiting within Saturn's rings.
The moon is named after Pan, the rustic Greek god associated with shepherds, wilderness and sudden fear.
International astronomical namingCharon
Today: Pluto's largest moon.
Charon is named after the mythological ferryman who carried the dead across the river Styx into the Underworld.
NASAStyx
Today: A small moon of Pluto.
Styx is named after the mythological river separating the world of the living from the realm of the dead.
NASAHydra
Today: One of Pluto's small outer moons.
Hydra is named after the many-headed serpent of Greek mythology, best known as one of the monsters defeated by Heracles.
NASAKerberos
Today: A small moon of Pluto.
Kerberos uses the Greek form of the name Cerberus, the three-headed hound guarding the entrance to the Underworld.
NASAEris
Today: A dwarf planet in the outer Solar System.
Eris was named after the Greek goddess of discord and strife. The name was particularly apt because its discovery helped trigger the debate that led to Pluto's reclassification as a dwarf planet.
NASA / International Astronomical UnionAndromeda
Today: A northern constellation and the name associated with the Andromeda Galaxy.
The constellation is named for Andromeda, the princess rescued by Perseus from a sea monster.
Astronomical traditionCassiopeia
Today: A prominent W-shaped northern constellation.
The constellation is named for Cassiopeia, queen and mother of Andromeda in Greek mythology.
Astronomical traditionCepheus
Today: A northern constellation.
Cepheus is named after the mythological king, husband of Cassiopeia and father of Andromeda.
Astronomical traditionPerseus
Today: A northern constellation.
The constellation represents Perseus, the hero who killed Medusa and rescued Andromeda.
Astronomical traditionPegasus
Today: A major northern constellation.
The constellation is named after Pegasus, the famous winged horse of Greek mythology.
Astronomical traditionHeracles
Today: The constellation Hercules preserves the Roman name of the Greek hero Heracles.
The constellation traditionally represents Heracles, known to the Romans as Hercules, the hero famous for his Twelve Labours.
Astronomical traditionSpace Exploration
Modern space exploration continues the tradition. NASA chose Apollo for the programme that first carried humans to the Moon, and later named its return-to-the-Moon programme Artemis — Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology.
The mythology continues with Orion, the hunter among the stars, whose name is carried by the spacecraft designed to take Artemis crews beyond Earth.
Apollo Programme
Today: NASA's programme that carried humans to the Moon.
The programme bears the name Apollo, one of the major Olympian gods of Greek mythology.
NASAArtemis Programme
Today: NASA's programme for renewed human exploration of the Moon.
Artemis was chosen as a deliberate successor to Apollo: in Greek mythology Artemis and Apollo are divine twins.
NASAOrion Spacecraft
Today: NASA's crew spacecraft used for Artemis deep-space missions.
The spacecraft takes its name from Orion, the celebrated hunter of Greek mythology who was placed among the stars.
NASAArts, Learning & Culture
The influence extends beyond science. Greek mythology survives in the language of art and learning, in familiar cultural names and in ideas that have been reinterpreted for the modern world.
Museum
Today: An institution preserving and displaying objects of cultural, historical or scientific importance.
The word ultimately derives from the Greek Mouseion, a place associated with the Muses, divine patrons of learning and the arts.
Greek etymologyMusic
Today: The art of organising sound into rhythm, melody and other forms.
The word ultimately derives from Greek mousike, meaning the art or activity associated with the Muses.
Greek etymologyNike
Today: The name of the modern sportswear company Nike.
The company name comes from Nike, the Greek goddess and personification of victory.
Nike / Greek mythologyNike and Victory
Today: Nike remains a widely recognised name associated with victory and achievement.
Nike was the Greek personification and goddess of victory. The ancient name survives prominently in modern culture.
Greek mythology / modern cultureMuses and Inspiration
Today: The word muse means a source of artistic inspiration.
The modern word comes from the Muses, the divine patrons of poetry, music, history and other arts. Calliope was traditionally the Muse of epic poetry.
Greek mythology / English etymology