Idiom of the myths of ancient Greece: History and the Present

myth - a story that appeared in the earliest stages of history.And his fantastic images (legendary heroes, gods) is a kind of attempt to summarize and explain many of the phenomena of nature, the events taking place in society.In mythology, it reflects the personality and aesthetic relationship to reality, and moral views.The most famous and popular today are the myths of ancient Greece.Many of them are used in the literature and in the rites.A idioms of Greek mythology - is an expression that can be heard everywhere.However, not everyone knows where originates or that catch phrase.So, let's see what idioms of the myths we use and why.

Augean stables

This phrase we use when talking about too dirty areas, where there is a complete mess.Or call as an enterprise organization, which run all the cases.Why do we say so?The fact is that in Greek mythology, these stables - a vast possessions of the king of Elis - Augeas, which do not put things in order for many years.And I cleansed them one day Hercules, giving the river Alpheus through the stables.This water and took with them all the dirt.This idiom of the myths of ancient Greece, became famous thanks to the historian Diodorus of Sicily.It was he who first told about this myth.

Ariadne's thread

This is another idiom of the myths of ancient Greece, which figuratively means opportunity clue, a way to help find a way out of a difficult situation.Ariadne in mythology - is the daughter of Pasiphae and the Cretan king named Minos.When the prince came to Crete Theseus, doomed along with the other guys to be devoured by the Minotaur, she loved him.A Minotaur lived in the Labyrinth, where there was a huge number of transitions.Going back one day, people would never have got back.Ariadne gave Theseus a big ball of yarn that guy unwinding, getting to the monster.After killing the Minotaur, Theseus easily walked out of the room through the skin.

sink into oblivion

In Greek mythology, was the river of forgetfulness - summer, which flowed in the underworld.When the soul of a deceased person tried the water from this source, she forgot about all of earthly life.This idiom of the myths of ancient Greece means - disappear without a trace, no one knows where the gulf, etc.

Wheel of Fortune

In mythology, Fortuna - the goddess of happiness and unhappiness, of blind chance.It is always portrayed standing on the wheel or ball, blindfolded.In one hand she had the wheel, who says that the fate decides the destiny of man, and the other - a cornucopia, indicating well-being, which can give the goddess.The wheel or ball says about her constant variability.Using this idiom of the myths of ancient Greece, we are referring to blind chance, luck.

Panic fear

This is another idiom that we use almost every day.Ban in mythology - the god of flocks and shepherds.Ban the person is able to instill such fear that he will run headlong into the wide world, not even thinking about the fact that the road will lead to imminent death.Hence the expression, which means a sudden, irrational fear, which covers human rights.