Achilles in the age of steel: Greek Myth in modern popular music

Abstract

From the Sixties until today, the presence of Greek Mythology in so-called “popular music” appears to be far more frequent and significant than one could imagine. Nevertheless, at the beginning such references are rather generic, loose and even ironical; on the other side, in the Eighties and afterwards, particularly in the framework of certain music genres, entire concept albums are inspired to the deeds of Achilles and Odysseus, or by the tragic vicissitudes of the house of Atreus. Special attention is dedicated to the character of Achilles, who, as a prototype of the modern “super hero”, is somehow close to the sensibility and the expectations of contemporary youth cultures and their associated media.