greek mythology in modern movies

Greek Mythology in Greek Mythology in Modern MoviesModern Movies

Greek Mythology in Greek Mythology in Modern MoviesModern Movies

By Neil ShahdadpuriBy Neil ShahdadpuriBy Neil ShahdadpuriBy Neil Shahdadpuri

ObjectiveObjectiveObjectiveObjective

Over the last few decades, many Hollywood Over the last few decades, many Hollywood

movies have relied heavily on the influence of movies have relied heavily on the influence of

Greek mythology. These myths have made an Greek mythology. These myths have made an

impact on modern culture and continue to have impact on modern culture and continue to have

a powerful impact in Hollywood today. The a powerful impact in Hollywood today. The

following presentation demonstrates how Greek following presentation demonstrates how Greek

mythology is still incorporated into modern mythology is still incorporated into modern

movies through direct and indirect movies through direct and indirect

relationships.relationships.

Direct and Indirect RelationshipsDirect and Indirect RelationshipsDirect and Indirect RelationshipsDirect and Indirect Relationships

Direct Relationships: The examples of Direct Relationships: The examples of “Hercules” and “Clash of the Titans” portray the “Hercules” and “Clash of the Titans” portray the Greek Gods as themselves, incorporating the Greek Gods as themselves, incorporating the Gods’ real names and prominent characteristics Gods’ real names and prominent characteristics into the plots. into the plots.

Indirect Relationships: The examples of the Indirect Relationships: The examples of the “Little Mermaid” and “The Lion King” create “Little Mermaid” and “The Lion King” create their characters relying on Greek influence but their characters relying on Greek influence but don’t necessarily make references to Greek don’t necessarily make references to Greek mythology.mythology.

Direct Relationships - HerculesDirect Relationships - HerculesDirect Relationships - HerculesDirect Relationships - Hercules

““Hercules” (1997): Ron Clements and John Hercules” (1997): Ron Clements and John MuskerMusker

Plot: The son of Zeus, Hercules, is turned into Plot: The son of Zeus, Hercules, is turned into half-god and half-mortal by Hades, God of the half-god and half-mortal by Hades, God of the Underworld, who plans to overthrow Zeus. Underworld, who plans to overthrow Zeus. Hercules is raised as a human on Earth, but he Hercules is raised as a human on Earth, but he retains his God-like strength; however, when retains his God-like strength; however, when he discovers his immortal heritage, Zeus tells he discovers his immortal heritage, Zeus tells Hercules that in order to return to Mount Hercules that in order to return to Mount Olympus he must become a true hero. Olympus he must become a true hero. Hercules becomes this true hero with the help Hercules becomes this true hero with the help of his friend Pegasus and his personal trainer, of his friend Pegasus and his personal trainer, Phil, the satyr. Hercules battles monsters, Phil, the satyr. Hercules battles monsters, Hades, and the Titans, but he sacrifices himself Hades, and the Titans, but he sacrifices himself to rescue his one true love, Meg.to rescue his one true love, Meg.

Direct Relationships - HerculesDirect Relationships - HerculesDirect Relationships - HerculesDirect Relationships - Hercules

Greek Mythology: “Hercules” is based on the Greek hero, Greek Mythology: “Hercules” is based on the Greek hero, Heracles, who is known as the strongest of mortals and the Heracles, who is known as the strongest of mortals and the only man born of a mortal woman that became a God upon only man born of a mortal woman that became a God upon his death. Heracles was known as a “muscle bound buffoon,” his death. Heracles was known as a “muscle bound buffoon,” with his pride easily offended. He wasn’t very intelligent and with his pride easily offended. He wasn’t very intelligent and got into trouble frequently since he was an emotional man, got into trouble frequently since he was an emotional man, which are prominent characteristics of Hercules. Heracles which are prominent characteristics of Hercules. Heracles was his harshest critic, and during his self-inflicted was his harshest critic, and during his self-inflicted punishments, he learned patience, fortitude, and endurance punishments, he learned patience, fortitude, and endurance that are all considered heroic qualities just as his strength. that are all considered heroic qualities just as his strength. Terrible things happen to Heracles because of Hera's hatred, Terrible things happen to Heracles because of Hera's hatred, a hatred that he was not responsible for, which is similar to a hatred that he was not responsible for, which is similar to the hatred of Hercules by Hades in the movie.the hatred of Hercules by Hades in the movie.

Direct Relationships - Clash of the Direct Relationships - Clash of the TitansTitans


““Clash of the Titans” (2010): Louis LeterrierClash of the Titans” (2010): Louis Leterrier

Plot: Princess Andromeda, daughter of King Plot: Princess Andromeda, daughter of King Cepheus, gained a victory against the Cepheus, gained a victory against the Gods, but the vengeful God of the Gods, but the vengeful God of the Underworld, Hades, demands that Underworld, Hades, demands that Andromeda must be offered as a sacrifice. Andromeda must be offered as a sacrifice. Otherwise, he will unleash the Kraken Otherwise, he will unleash the Kraken against Argos. A desperate King Cepheus against Argos. A desperate King Cepheus asks Perseus, a demi-god, to find a way to asks Perseus, a demi-god, to find a way to defeat the Kraken. Perseus accepts the defeat the Kraken. Perseus accepts the challenge primarily because Hades was challenge primarily because Hades was responsible for his family's death. He responsible for his family's death. He discovers that the way to kill the Kraken is discovers that the way to kill the Kraken is by getting the head of the Gorgon Medusa.by getting the head of the Gorgon Medusa.

Greek Mythology: “Clash of the Titans” is based on the Greek Mythology: “Clash of the Titans” is based on the story of Perseus. Perseus was the son of Zeus and story of Perseus. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae. Danae's father, King Acrisius, sent Danae and Danae. Danae's father, King Acrisius, sent Danae and her son adrift on the sea because of a prophecy that her son adrift on the sea because of a prophecy that Perseus would kill him. The two were taken in by Perseus would kill him. The two were taken in by Polydectes, the king of Seriphus. Polydectes later fell in Polydectes, the king of Seriphus. Polydectes later fell in love with Danae, but was unable to force his attentions love with Danae, but was unable to force his attentions on her because Perseus had grown to be her protector. on her because Perseus had grown to be her protector. To get rid of Perseus, Polydectes sent him on a quest to To get rid of Perseus, Polydectes sent him on a quest to bring back the head of the Gorgon Medusa, a snake-bring back the head of the Gorgon Medusa, a snake-haired maiden who turned all who saw her into stone, haired maiden who turned all who saw her into stone, which was portrayed in the “Clash of the Titans”. He got which was portrayed in the “Clash of the Titans”. He got her head and turned Polydectes into stone.her head and turned Polydectes into stone.



Indirect Relationships - The Little Indirect Relationships - The Little MermaidMermaid


““The Little Mermaid” (1989): Ron The Little Mermaid” (1989): Ron Clements and John MuskerClements and John Musker

Plot: Ariel, the youngest daughter of Plot: Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, is dissatisfied with her life King Triton, is dissatisfied with her life in the sea. She yearns to be with the in the sea. She yearns to be with the humans above the surface and is often humans above the surface and is often caught in arguments with her father caught in arguments with her father over the humans, whom are also over the humans, whom are also known as the "barbaric fish-eaters". known as the "barbaric fish-eaters". Ariel falls in love with Prince Eric, a Ariel falls in love with Prince Eric, a human. She meets with Ursula, the human. She meets with Ursula, the Sea Witch, to strike a deal so she can Sea Witch, to strike a deal so she can be with Eric, but Ursula tries to meddle be with Eric, but Ursula tries to meddle in Ariel’s love life. In the end, Ariel and in Ariel’s love life. In the end, Ariel and Eric find their happy ending together.Eric find their happy ending together.



Greek Mythology: In “The Little Mermaid”, Ursula is like Greek Mythology: In “The Little Mermaid”, Ursula is like

the Greek Goddess Medusa because Medusa is the Greek Goddess Medusa because Medusa is

portrayed as the evil enemy in many Greek myths. portrayed as the evil enemy in many Greek myths.

Medusa is known for having snakes as her hair that Medusa is known for having snakes as her hair that

turn people into stone. In the Little Mermaid, Ursula is turn people into stone. In the Little Mermaid, Ursula is

represented as an octopus, with eight tentacles that represented as an octopus, with eight tentacles that

are snake-like. Among other similarities, King Triton is are snake-like. Among other similarities, King Triton is

the God of the Sea in the Little Mermaid, and Poseidon the God of the Sea in the Little Mermaid, and Poseidon

is the God of the Sea in Greek mythology. Both use a is the God of the Sea in Greek mythology. Both use a

trident as their weapon of choice, and they have the trident as their weapon of choice, and they have the

similar physical characteristics, such as their white similar physical characteristics, such as their white

beard.beard.

Indirect Relationships - The Lion KingIndirect Relationships - The Lion KingIndirect Relationships - The Lion KingIndirect Relationships - The Lion King

““The Lion King” (1994): Roger Allers and Rob The Lion King” (1994): Roger Allers and Rob MinkoffMinkoff

Plot: A young lion prince, Simba, is born in Plot: A young lion prince, Simba, is born in Africa, thus making his uncle, Scar, the second Africa, thus making his uncle, Scar, the second in line to the throne. Scar plots with his in line to the throne. Scar plots with his “friends”, the hyenas, to kill King Mufasa and “friends”, the hyenas, to kill King Mufasa and Prince Simba, so he can finally make himself Prince Simba, so he can finally make himself King. Mufasa is killed. Simba is now led to King. Mufasa is killed. Simba is now led to believe that he was to blame for his father’s believe that he was to blame for his father’s death by Scar, and he flees the Kingdom in death by Scar, and he flees the Kingdom in shame. Scar becomes the new King of Pride shame. Scar becomes the new King of Pride Rock. After years of exile, Simba is persuaded Rock. After years of exile, Simba is persuaded to return home to overthrow Scar and claim to return home to overthrow Scar and claim the kingdom as his own to complete the the kingdom as his own to complete the "Circle of Life"."Circle of Life".

Indirect Relationships - The Lion KingIndirect Relationships - The Lion KingIndirect Relationships - The Lion KingIndirect Relationships - The Lion King

Greek Mythology: “The Lion King” shows the Greek Mythology: “The Lion King” shows the

succession of the family throne from father to son. succession of the family throne from father to son.

When Mufasa dies, Simba comes back to rule over the When Mufasa dies, Simba comes back to rule over the

Kingdom just like his father. The Greek Gods also Kingdom just like his father. The Greek Gods also

exhibit such a family succession in a few myths. For exhibit such a family succession in a few myths. For

example, when Cronus is killed by his son, Zeus, Zeus example, when Cronus is killed by his son, Zeus, Zeus

becomes the King of the Olympians, effectively taking becomes the King of the Olympians, effectively taking

over Cronus’ position. Though both, Mufasa and over Cronus’ position. Though both, Mufasa and

Cronus, have different causes of death, they were both Cronus, have different causes of death, they were both

succeeded by their sons, Simba and Zeus, serving as succeeded by their sons, Simba and Zeus, serving as

the new Kings in their respectful Kingdoms.the new Kings in their respectful Kingdoms.

ClosingClosingClosingClosing

As portrayed in the direct and indirect relationships As portrayed in the direct and indirect relationships

in this presentation, Greek mythology has a strong in this presentation, Greek mythology has a strong

influence in many modern movies. The Greek influence in many modern movies. The Greek

Gods and their stories were adventurous and Gods and their stories were adventurous and

sometimes outrageous, but the myths always sometimes outrageous, but the myths always

related back to an aspect of Greek life that related back to an aspect of Greek life that

explained more about the symbols and the culture. explained more about the symbols and the culture.

What other ideas can you think of in which Greek What other ideas can you think of in which Greek

mythology relates to our present day lives?mythology relates to our present day lives?

CITATIONSCITATIONSCITATIONSCITATIONShttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119282/plotsummary

http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Heracles/heracles.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800320/plotsummary

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/gg/titan.html

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hades.html

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/perseus.html


http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Poseidon/poseidon.html

http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Zeus/zeus.html

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/perseus/p/Perseus.htm

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097757/synopsis

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/plotsummaryhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/plotsummary


http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Heroes/Heracles/heracles.html


http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/gg/titan.html

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hades.html

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/perseus.html


http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Poseidon/poseidon.html




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