The Greek myths are some of the most iconic and well-known stories in all of human history. They have inspired countless works of art, literature, and music over the millennia, and their influence can still be felt in modern culture. Many popular songs have been written about Greek mythology, often drawing on the dramatic and tragic tales for inspiration.
In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the best songs about Greek mythology. These songs come from different genres, including rock, pop, and hip-hop. Whether you’re a fan of the classics or you’re looking for something a little more modern, there’s sure to be a song on this list that you’ll enjoy.
Contents
- 1. “Zeus In The Architecture” by Art versus Science
- 2. “Venus” by Lady Gaga
- 3. “God of Thunder” by KISS
- 4. “Zeus” by Eminem
- 5. “Flight of Icarus” by Iron Maiden
- 6. “Ulysses” by Franz Ferdinand
- 7. “Venus” by Frankie Avalon
- 8. “Orpheus” by Sara Bareilles
- 9. “Cassandra” by ABBA
- 10. “Isis” by Bob Dylan
- 11. “Daedalus” by Thrice
- 12. “Faust, Midas, and Myself” by Switchfoot
- 13. “Mother Of Muses” by Bob Dylan
- 14. “Tales of Brave Ulysses” by Cream
- 15. “Midas Shadow” by Al Stewart
- 16. “Ataegina” by Moonspell
- 17. “Sisyphus Parts 1-4” by Pink Floyd
- 18. “Medusa” by Anthrax
- 19. “Pandora’s Box” by Procol Harum
- 20. “Achilles Last Stand” by Led Zeppelin
- Final Thoughts
1. “Zeus In The Architecture” by Art versus Science
The first song on our list is “Zeus In The Architecture” by Art versus Science. This song is a synth-pop track that draws heavily on Greek mythology for its lyrical inspiration.
The song is based around the idea of Zeus, the king of the gods, hiding in plain sight within the architecture of modern buildings. It was released in 2019 for their Zeus in The Architecture album.
2. “Venus” by Lady Gaga
The next song is “Venus” by Lady Gaga. This track is a haunting ballad that tells the story of the goddess Aphrodite and her love for the mortal Adonis.
The song was released in 2013 as part of Gaga’s ARTPOP album. This song is a great example of how Greek mythology can be used to create a modern pop song.
3. “God of Thunder” by KISS
“God of Thunder” is a song by the American rock band Kiss, released on their 1976 album Destroyer. The song was written by Gene Simmons and contains references to various Greek mythology figures. It is one of their most popular tracks with over 2 million views on Youtube so go check it out.
4. “Zeus” by Eminem
Eminem’s “Zeus” is a song from his 2020 album Music to Be Murdered By. The track finds the rapper reflecting on his career and life while making several references to Greek mythology.
It was released in 2020 for their Music to Be Murdered By album. If you’re a rap fan, this is worth a listen. You can stream it on all music platforms out there.
5. “Flight of Icarus” by Iron Maiden
Next on the list is Iron Maiden’s “Flight of Icarus”. This song is from their 1983 album Piece of Mind and was written by bassist Steve Harris.
The track tells the story of the Greek mythological character Icarus and his tragic tale of flying too close to the sun with wings made of feathers and wax. It’s a great metal song and one of Iron Maiden’s most popular tracks.
6. “Ulysses” by Franz Ferdinand
“Ulysses” is a song by the Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand. It was released as the lead single from their third studio album, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.
The song is named after the Greek mythical hero Ulysses and contains several references to his story. The track was a commercial success, reaching over 12 million views on Youtube.
7. “Venus” by Frankie Avalon
The next song is about the goddess of love, Venus. In Greek mythology, she was the daughter of Zeus and Dione. She was also the Roman equivalent of the goddess Aphrodite.
It was released in 2009 as part of the Tonight: Franz Ferdinand album and is also one of their most popular tracks with over 3 million views on Youtube.
8. “Orpheus” by Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles’ “Orpheus” is a song related to the famous musician from Greek mythology. Orpheus was able to charm anyone with his music, even animals.
The lyrics talk about how the love of her life should not be like Orpheus because he eventually lost his wife, Eurydice. You can find it on the album Amidst the Chaos.
9. “Cassandra” by ABBA
Next on the list is “Cassandra” by ABBA. In Greek mythology, Cassandra was a Trojan princess who was blessed with the gift of prophecy.
However, she was cursed so that nobody would believe her predictions. The lyrics of the song talk about how the protagonist is in love with someone who does not believe in their relationship.
10. “Isis” by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s “Isis” is a song about a woman who is named after the Egyptian goddess Isis. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is in love with Isis and Dylan uses the myth of Isis and Osiris to explore the themes of love and betrayal. It was released in 1976 as part of the album, Desire. You can stream it on all music platforms out there.
11. “Daedalus” by Thrice
The next song is “Daedalus” by Thrice. The song is named after the Greek mythological figure, Daedalus. In the song, the character is struggling with his own sense of self-worth and identity.
He feels like he is not good enough and compares himself to the great achievements of Daedalus. The song was released in 2007 as part of the album, The Alchemy Index Vols. I & II.
12. “Faust, Midas, and Myself” by Switchfoot
Switchfoot’s “Faust, Midas, and Myself” is a song about the dangers of greed and wanting more than what you have. The lyrics tell the story of a man who makes a deal with the devil for wealth and power.
He gets what he wants, but it comes at a great cost. The song was released in 2006 as part of the album Oh! Gravity.
13. “Mother Of Muses” by Bob Dylan
Another song about the muses, this time from the perspective of one of them. This song is less about a specific myth and more about the idea of creativity and inspiration.
It was released in 2020 as part of the Rough and Rowdy Ways album. You can find it on all music platforms out there.
14. “Tales of Brave Ulysses” by Cream
“Tales of Brave Ulysses” is a song by the British rock band Cream. It was released in 1967 as part of the Disraeli Gears album.
The song is about the Greek hero Ulysses and his journey home after the Trojan War. This now has over 1.5 million views on Youtube and can be streamed on all music platforms out there.
15. “Midas Shadow” by Al Stewart
Next on the list is a song about the Greek myth of King Midas and his Golden Touch. This song is from the perspective of Midas himself and tells the story of how he got his power and what happened after.
It was released in 1976 as part of the Year of the Cat album. This only has 9k views on Youtube so be sure to check it out.
16. “Ataegina” by Moonspell
Moonspell’s “Ataegina” is a song about the Greek goddess Athena. It tells the story of her birth and how she became the goddess of war and wisdom. This song was released in 1996 as part of the Irreligious album.
You can find it on all music platforms out there. It’s a Portugese metal band so if you want to discover more metal songs about Greek mythology this is a good place to start.
17. “Sisyphus Parts 1-4” by Pink Floyd
This next song is a 4-part suite about the Greek myth of Sisyphus. It’s from the perspective of Sisyphus himself and tells the story of his punishment in Tartarus. This song was released in 1971 as part of the Ummagumma album. You can listen to it on Youtube.
18. “Medusa” by Anthrax
Anthrax’s song “Medusa” is about the Greek mythological figure of the same name. The song tells the story of Medusa’s transformation from a beautiful woman to a monstrous beast, and her eventual death at the hands of Perseus. It was released in 1985 as part of the album Spreading the Disease.
19. “Pandora’s Box” by Procol Harum
Next on the list is Procol Harum’s “Pandora’s Box.” This song is about the Greek myth of Pandora, who was tasked with guarding a box that contained all of the world’s evils.
She eventually opened the box, unleashing those evils upon the world. The song was released in 1967 on the album Procol Harum.
20. “Achilles Last Stand” by Led Zeppelin
Finishing off the list is Led Zeppelin’s “Achilles Last Stand.” This song is about the Greek hero Achilles, who was invulnerable everywhere except for his heel.
He was eventually killed by an arrow to that heel, as told in Homer’s Iliad. The song was released in 1976 on the album Presence. You can find it on all music platforms out there.
Final Thoughts
These are just some of the songs about Greek mythology that are out there. If you’re a fan of mythology, or if you’re just looking for some good music to listen to, be sure to check out these songs, you might just find a new favorite. Thanks for reading!
