There is already much material on this site on the topic of mythology (especially, Gods and Goddesses and The Stories of the Ancient Greeks). In Myth Mondays I attempt to bring up an element of mythology that is either timely or less well known.
I read (with a smile) that youngsters reading the books by Rick Riordan that form the basis for the movie, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, are absorbing the Greek myths gladly and effortlessly. Without having seen the movie -- because it opens later this week -- I can only speculate that it actually does adhere to standard myths, based on the previews and the useful teacher's guide to Rick Riordan's books. Despite my suspicion that the author was consistent and careful, in this week's Myth Monday, I'm bringing up two points that would be inaccurate -- or, at least, deviating far from the standard -- if this movie were simply a re-telling of the ancient Perseus myth, which, of course, it's not.
Parents of Perseus
Percy of the title role sounds as though it may very well be a modern nickname for Perseus, the legendary hero, demi-god, and son of Zeus and Danae. In addition to a possible connection by name, Percy is connected with the deadly Medusa head, with which the Greek hero is also closely associated. In the fiction/movie, though, Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, not Zeus, suggesting only a loose connection between Perseus and Percy. (Incidentally, Wikipedia's entry on Perseus (accessed Feb. 6, 2010) calls Poseidon Perseus' father.) The Theoi project lists the following sources for the parents of Perseus being Zeus and Danae:
- Homer Iliad 14.319,
- Pindar Pythian 12. 16,
- Apollodorus 2.34,
- Strabo 10.5.10,
- Herodotus 6.53 & 7.61,
- Diodorus Siculus 4.9.1,
- Hyginus Fabulae 63 & 155,
- Ovid Metamorphoses 4.607,
- Nonnus Dionysiaca 2.286,
- et al.
Birth Story of Perseus
The familiar story of the birth of Perseus is that Danae's father, King Acrisius of Argos, having learned that he would be killed by his grandson, locked up his daughter Danae to prevent her from becoming pregnant. Undeterred by sheer confinement, Zeus impregnated her as a shower of gold. When the child was born, Acrisius again locked the mother up, this time with her child, in a wooden box, and set it to sea. It washed up on the island of Seriphos, where the king's brother Dictys (or the satyrs and silenoi) opened it. It was Dictys, with the help of his wife, Klymene, who brought up the young demi-god.
Cheiron - Educator of Heroes
Many of the great Greek demi-god heroes, including Achilles, Asclepius, and Jason, learned the necessary skills of hunting, weaponry, medicine, horse-riding, Greek virtues, manners, truthfulness, and reverence for the gods, from the oldest and wisest of the centaurs, Cheiron (Kheiron/Chiron), a healer, prophet, and teacher, as well as an exemplary father, son, and husband (Robbins). Perseus, as just stated, was reared by Dictys, or perhaps the satyrs, but not the centaur Cheiron. Cheiron is, however, played by one of the stars in the Percy Jackson movie, Pierce Brosnan (a younger Albus Dumbledore-type, one can hope). I presume young Percy learns his most important lessons from Cheiron.
Did you notice any points of divergence from standard Greek mythology in the Percy books or movie? Please post in the comments. If you have an ancient reference from literature or art where Cheiron educated Perseus or Poseidon was his father, please list it.
Other References and Suggested Reading:
- Emmet Robbins.
- "Jason and Cheiron: The Myth of Pindar's Fourth Pythian." Phoenix, Vol. 29, No. 3 (Autumn, 1975), pp. 205-213.
- "Cyrene and Cheiron: The Myth of Pindar's Ninth Pythian." Phoenix, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Summer, 1978), pp. 91-104.
- "Apollo's First Love: Pindar, Pyth. 9.26 ff.," by Leonard Woodbury. Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, Vol. 103 (1972), pp. 561-573.
- "Mythological Innovation in the Iliad," by Bruce Karl Braswell. The Classical Quarterly, New Series, Vol. 21, No. 1 (May, 1971), pp. 16-26.
- Labors of Hercules and Cheiron's Immortality
- Cheiron
- Silenus
Statue of Perseus Holding Medusa's Head, by Benvenuto Cellini. Photo CC storem at Flickr.com
Comments
As a classicist, I’m enthused that our favorite topic is getting a public airing. I’m not concerned about the public erring in their knowlegde. (ha ha!) Those that are really interested will learn that every myth has variations.
As a bibliophile; I was appalled by the writing! I hope the screenplay is better than the book.
Thanks for finding the right thread, Bill. I messed it up in the newsletter by posting the URLs to both Percy threads. The other one, which was more prominent in the newsletter, is: http://ancienthistory.about.com/b/2010/02/04/percy-jackson-and-the-olympians-the-lightning-thief.htm
I just heard a rather discouraging review of the movie on NPR. The film making is supposedly pedestrian and banal. Too bad . . . but, then, my own kids loved the movie Clash of the Titans. When it was released in 1981, I remember the Boston Globe reviewer writing about how Laurence Olivier “led the gods of acting” in that claymation film.
My favorite scene from that much watched movie occurred just after Perseus, played by Harry Hamlin, killed the Medusa. Hamlin collapsed against a wall in exhaustion which is a realistic depiction of what a man who had just accomplished such an epic and risky deed would do.
It’s interesting that differences are being pointed out when they are differences for a reason. Percy’s mother named him AFTER Perseus hoping that he would gain some of the hero’s luck! Additionally, they are books for children, they are not going to be written to the standard of Homer. I think as long as it gets kids reading and ASKING questions about the stories, that is the best kind of beginning.
I don’t understand the point of this post at all. You even acknowledge that the Percy Jackson books are not a retelling of the classic Perseus myth. Yes, it contains elements of it, such as his slaying of Medusa, but the two are quite different. So, why go to all of the trouble to day “this and this are inaccurate?”
As Miranda has already pointed out, Percy’s mother named him for the hero Perseus (which is pointed out very clearly in the books) because Perseus was a hero who had a happy ending. If you think about it, it makes complete sense that his mother would name him for a Greek hero considering his lineage and especially for one who lived happily considering the fate of many demi-gods. Also, Percy is a fairly modern name, so the character can still have the uncommon name, but fit in by having the modern nickname. It would have been weird if he’d been named Heracles or Odysseus.
I found the books to be fairly accurate myself. Obviously, some poetic license was taken. I’m pretty sure Athena never had children, but the myths referenced seemed to keep their bases. I think they’re a great way to introduce kids to Greek Mythology. I thought the books were great myself though not without their flaws.