Okay, so we’ve seen Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief as well as a remake of the 1981 Clash of the Titans in just a matter of two months. They are indirectly linked as Gods and Heroes in Greek Mythology is almost similar to our “sejarah dan kisah melayu” but just way cooler and helluva more creative then a kancil kicking dogs into the Selat Melaka.
Remember the scene where Percy Jackson was in the Ancient Greek Museum when Chiron asked him to name a demigod, he looked up as the ancient Greek writing jumbled up to form the word “Perseus”. Who is Perseus ? Is he Hercules cousin? Why did Persephone give them back the thunder bolt? How did Medusa get a head full of snakes? (If you watched the movies then you know what im talkin about, if not, GO WATCH !)
Questions eh?
Well, before the breakdown on who’s who. I just wanna say on a more personal-self-preference note, I thought Percy Jackson was thought up in a more realistic way and true to Greek Mythology unlike the Clash of the Titans, who sadly didn’t even follow the 1981 remake (how can a remake be so unremade?). Percy Jackson was more kiddish and definitely a fun watch as compared to the Clash of the Titans where there were monsters, scorpions and fight scenes. It was definitely digital special effects put to good use (not so much on Medusa sadly, she looked so cartoony it was stupid!). But in all honesty, both were a real disappointment to me. I think it’s just because I indulge myself too much in these Greek Myth books that I can call a bluff when I see one.
Okay, so not to confuse you on who ’s who and God knows how I can get carried away if asked to name all. So im merely stating the names of the characters featured in both Percy Jackson and Clash of the Titans. No extra names here and there for comprehension sake.
Gods – The Olympians
(Kept as simple and brief as possible, coz I could go on forever on this subject)
Zeus –He was the ruler of the skies and the leader to all the other Gods and Goddesses. His siblings are Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia and Demeter. His weapon is the thunderbolt and is the most powerful weapon on earth and of this world. Zeus was a flirt who had fathered many children with goddesses and mortal women. His animal is the Eagle which he transforms into and visits the mortals.
Poseidon – Brother of Zeus and Hades. He is the ruler of the sea and all the creatures and nymphs in it. His weapon is the trident which looks like a gigantic fork. Poseidon, like Zeus has also fathered a few children both with goddesses and mortals. Poseidon was the one who crafted the horse in his affections for Demeter.
Hades – The brother who got stuck with the underworld and task of ruling the dead. Hades is not an evil person but he does have his grudge against Zeus for tricking him into taking the underworld. Unlike his two brothers, Hades doesn’t have any offsprings. But he does have a queen and that is Persephone, daughter of Demeter.
Athena – Daughter of Zeus. Her birth was a peculiar one as Zeus swallowed Metis when she was pregnant with Athene. Zeus then started having unbearable headaches and called for Hepheastus (son of Hera, crippled, blacksmith to the Gods in a volcano) to crack open his head. Out sprung Athene, fully grown and in armor. She is the God of battle strategy and intellect.
Hermes – Son of Zeus. He is the messenger of the Gods as well as an escort to those who pass on to the Underworld. He has winged sandals and carries a staff which he tricked Apollo into handing it over. Hermes was a trickster and loves to set cruel games on the Gods and mortals.
Persephone – She was the flower child of Demeter who was kidnapped by Hades one day as she was picking wild flowers. She hates Hades and despises the underworld. Demeter made an agreement with Zeus and Hades that her daughter shall return to her for half the year and stay in the underworld for the other half. Hence we get the 4 season. Spring and summer when Persephone is home with her mother and autumn and winter when she is in the underworld.
Perseus – The son of Zeus and Princess Danae of Argos. He was the demigod who was tricked into seeking the head of Medusa as a present to the King so he could rid Perseus and wed his mother. He went to seek the Stygian Sisters who led him to the Nymphs of the West who gave him a shield and sword and pointed him in the directions of Medusa lair. Perseus used the shield to see the monsters reflection and used it to kill her. Her reflection burned her image into the shield.
Medusa – She was a nymph so beautiful that Poseidon came up from the ocean for her. He showered her with affections only to be turned down. He then raped her in the temple of Athene as a sign of disrespect to his niece who he isn’t on good terms with. Medusa prayed for Athene to help her, but the Goddess didn’t but instead felt disgust. She then turned Medusa into a creature and made sure that no man will ever lay eyes on her again. For if they did, they were turned into stone.
Charon – The ferrymen who brings the dead across the River Styx. The Greeks place a coin or 2 on the dead as a fare to the ferrymen. This coin is either placed on the eyes or under the tongue. Those who cannot pay must remain on the other side of the river. Some even go back to haunt the people who didn’t give them coins for the afterlife.
The Stygian Sisters – Three sisters sharing one eye. They see and tell of prophecies and of the future. They know all the answers to all the questions in this world. Each question must be paid with a sacrifice.
The Kraken – A monster who sits in Tartarus and was one of the creatures who helped Zeus overthrow Cronos, his father in seizing the throne to Olympus. He lives behind bars made of Adamant, the strongest elements in the world and can only be summoned by Zeus and Poseidon. He comes only when he is needed and every city he attacks is wiped off the face of the earth.
Pegasus – Medusa was raped by Poseidon before she was turned into a Gorgon by Athene who ignored her prayers for protection. Pegasus was Poseidon’s child who grew and remained in her until Perseus beheaded Medusa, freeing Pegasus into the world.
Io – A nymph who Zeus showed his affections for but wasn’t returned the favor.
Saytyr – Pan, the Goat God, half man, half goat. The saytyr was a notorious mischievous creature who was always chasing nymphs. They would always reject him so he took up the musical instruments to lure them which did not work. He would run and chase and whenever he was near those around would feel a rush of anxiety hence the word “Panic” was formed.
So there you go, a quick simple summary on who’s who as seen in movies, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and the latest blockbuster Clash of the Titans starring Avatar’s Sam Worthington. This isn’t a detailed description but good enough for one to know and follow the story. It is very frustrating to watch a movie when you know what’s wrong with but yet can’t do or tell anyone better.
Anyways, here is what I noticed was wrong with the movie Clash of the Titans, 2010.
1. 1. King Acrisius did not become Calibos and it was his daughter Danae who bore Perseus, not his wife.
2. 2. The Kraken was not made and controlled by Hades but instead Zeus and Poseidon.
3. 3. Io was just a nymph and played no role in Perseus’s odyssey.
4. 4. Charon is a old wrinkly hooded ferryman, not skeleton
5. 5. There are no Djinns and scorpions in the dessert in Greece.
6. 6. Pegasus was not black !
7. 7. The Kraken didn’t and never did attack Argos
8. 8. Perseus wasn’t a fisherman, the Argonian Queen did offend Aphrodite
9. 9. Perseus got his weapons from Athena and the Nymphs of the West, not Zeus.
It is all soooo confusing and mind boggling with all the different stories here and there. But what’s for sure is that I will keep reading and hopefully one day set the stories strait. Just like the Bible and old History books, there are many sides to a story but the most commonly told and most artifactually backed up must be the right one.
Don’t mess with the Greek Geek! Over and out. Greek 101!
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