Did you know? World Famous Logos Inspired by Greek Mythology
Greek myths are still, in modern times, after thousands of years, conveying their messages.
Greek mythology inspired these five prestigious companies to choose unique logos which would boost their sales in the best possible way.
- Nike – American multinational corporation, manufacturing footwear, clothing, sports equipment and accessories – theNike ‘Swoosh’ logo
The company, originally ‘Blue Ribbon Sports’, founded in 1964, officially became Nike, Inc. in 1971.
The ‘swoosh’ logo, adorning all Nike clothing and footwear was inspired by the wings of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
After reading below, about who Nike was, you’ll easily understand why the company chose her name for their logo.
Nike, in Greek pronounced ‘Neeki’ is both the word for victory and the name of the goddess of victory.
In Greek Mythology the winged goddess Nike, the go-between amongst gods and men, faithful companion to Zeus, leader of all Greek gods, was associated with warfare speed, strength and victory.
No a battle, nor personal struggle, however insignificant, was faced in ancient Greece, without first offering a prayer or sacrifice to the goddess.
Nike is usually shown as a beautiful woman with a lyre, to celebrate victory, a laurel wreath, with which to crown the victor and a bowl and cup with which to honour the gods.
- NBC
The National Broadcasting Company – an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network
The NBC Peacock logo, the colourful peacock, is attributed to the Greek myth of Hera, goddess of women, marriage, children and family.
Hera, married to Zeus (Jupiter), (who also happened to be her brother), king of the gods of Mount Olympus, is often depicted with her sacred animals, the cow, the lion and the peacock.
Legend has it that Hera had one hundred all seeing eyes, symbolized by peacock feathers, which she used to keep track of her husband Zeus, rather the man about town, a bit of a playboy, who liked nothing more than to leave Mount Olympus to visit Earth, where he consorted with mortal women.
A fitting logo for a news broadcasting company, which needs to know the what, when and where, right here and now!
- Versace – the well known Italian luxury fashion brand
The founder of Versace, the Italian luxury fashion brand founded in 1978, Gianni Versace, grew up in Calabria, southern Italy, a region much influenced by Greek culture after Greek colonization during the 8th – 6th centuries BC.
Versace was inspired to use the head of Medusa as the logo for his company.
In Greek mythology, Medusa is a monstrous gorgon with living poisonous snakes instead of hair and anyone who looked into her eyes would be turned to stone.
Once upon a time, Medusa was a beautiful, headstrong woman. Medusa’s beauty enchanted Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, so much, that he could not control his desire and he raped her.
Athena, goddess of wisdom, then turned Medusa into a grotesque gorgon and as if that was not enough, she later has her head cut off by the Greek hero Perseus, the founder of Mycenae and the Perseid dynasty, who, for a while, used her head, which had maintained its ability to turn people to stone, as a weapon against his enemies before presenting it to Athena, who placed it on her shield.
Versace was inspired, not by the monster Medusa but by her former self, the beauty who symbolized power and strength and with his chosen logo, he was making a statement about his iconic designs, they mirrored Medusa in that their style was dominant, strong, and seductive.
- Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company – American multinational tire manufacturing company founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling
Goodyear Tire Company logo of the wiged sandal of Hermes, messenger to the Greek gods
In Greek mythology, as Hermes, is known for his strength and speed and as protector of roads, there could be no better logo than that of his winged sandal, to represent the quality of Goodyear tires.
With the help of his winged sandals, made of palm and myrtle branches, said to be beautiful, golden and immortal, Hermes was the only one, able move with the speed of wind, between the world of the living and the dead.
- Mobil – American oil company that merged with Exxon in 1999 to form the parent company ExxonMobil.
The Mobil symbol of a winged red horse, Pegasus, which has been a company trademark since its affiliation with Magnolia Petroleum Company in the 1930s.
Mobil was previously one of the Seven Sisters that dominated the global petroleum industry from the mid-1940s until the 1970s.
Today, Mobil is still a major brand name within the combined company, as well as a gas station.
After the break-up of Standard Oil in 1911, the Standard Oil Company of New York was founded, along with 33 other successor companies.
In 1920, the company registered the name “Mobiloil” as a trademark and since its affiliation with Magnolia Petroleum Company in the 1930s, the Mobil logo has been the winged horse of Greek mythology, Pegasus.
By 1931 growth of the automobile industry expanded the Vacuum Oil product lineup to include Pegasus Spirits and Mobilgas, later simplified to Mobil.
Pegasus, the immortal, mythical winged horse, one of the most recognized creatures in Greek mythology, is the offspring of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon and Medusa.
When Medusa, also the logo of Versace, the Italian fashion house, was beheaded by Perseus, Pegasus and his brother, Chrysaor, sprang forth from her neck.
Wild and rebellious, Pegasus, with the help of the goddess Athena’s charmed bridle, was finally caught and tamed, near the fountain Peirene, in Ancient Corinth, by Bellerophon, a hero of Greek mythology.
Source and photo credit: greekerthanthegreeks.com
