Parallels between Greek and Indian mythology- coincidence or not?

 

Trade and the exchange of knowledge during ancient times are sometimes considered the beginning of global connections and modernization. Among routes that were used by thousands of travelers, traders and philosophers, it’s not surprising that a lot of cultures in several areas are interconnected. The connection between Greece and India is a wonderful example of mythological similarities and parallels. They have had trade relations from over 300 years ago, and have exchanged invaluable knowledge about astronomy, industrial techniques and mathematics. The Greek philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras was also influenced by Indians, which is evident in the Pythagoras theorem. The great school of Gandhara sculpture was also built by the Greeks.

                Greek and Indian mythologies, two very intricate and detailed collections of epics like the Iliad, by Homer or the Ramayana, by Valmiki. Obviously, both of these mythical worlds have huge differences, whether it’s the Gods, the heroes or the monsters. But there’s no denying that we can draw various parallels between the two. As a start, the Gods in Greek stories reside on top of Mount Olympus, while Indians depict the Gods living on Mount Kailasa. The concept of Amrit, an elixir that grants immortality to whoever consumes it, has a very similar counterpart in Greek mythology, known as Ambrosia. There are a few creatures, like Cerberus, a hound that guards the entrance to the underworld, that resembles the dogs Sharvara and Shyama who protect the entrance to the palace of Yama. Yama is also, in fact, very similar to Hades, both of them being Gods of the dead.

             It’s not just bits and pieces that have resemblances, but also entire stories. The tale of Icarus and Daedalus, for example, where Daedalus creates wings and the two of them fly out of their prison. Icarus, however, flies too close to the sun and the wax in his wings melts, resulting in his fatal fall. Jatayu and Sampati also share a very analogous experience, in which Sampati saves Jatayu from flying too close to the sun but ends up losing his own wings in the process.

            The great war in the Ramayana was waged by Rama to rescue his wife, Sita, a woman well known for her beauty. This can be compared to the Trojan war that was waged by Menelaus to win back Helen of Troy. Both of the wars also included certain demigods prophesized for glory, like Karna and Achilles. Hercules has several corresponding moments with Bhima, from the Mahabharata. Even the concept of fate and destiny is prevalent in both traditions, as seen in the Greek Morai and Hindu concept of Karma.

            Many have theorized that Greek mythology and Indian mythology are two sides of the same coin. Their correlations highlight the beauty of oral lore, repeated and retold numerous times, to eventually have many variations and versions of the same story. These myths could have been found the same way. At present, India and Greece enjoy close relations. Maybe the likenesses of our ancestries could have played a role in our present-day terms.