Greek mythology has been a widely studied topic for eras. The huge body of stories of gods and heroes make up a fascinating glimpse into the past of Greece. Many see the inherent storytelling value of the myths and take to adapting them. In recent years, we’ve seen more modern retellings than ever. So, let’s take a look at a few of them and see what our fellow students think.

Percy Jackson on Disney+

The Percy Jackson books, written by Rick Riordan,  have been a staple in young adult novels ever since their first release in 2005. The story stars a young boy with dyslexia, who discovers he is the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the ocean, and joins a world of gods and heroes. While the books had an overwhelming amount of success, the movie adaptions did not. Many fans of the series were disappointed with how the films turned out. Even Riordan himself has said he did not like how his stories were adapted. Luckily, a few months ago, Disney announced that the books would be getting a TV series adaption on their streaming service, Disney Plus. 

An interview with Natalie McLaren.

What did you think of the book series? I loved it. The writing was nice, the idea was clean and well-executed, and the characters were deeper than just surface level. The plot had twists and turns, many of which I did not expect, and the world-building was superb. The author, Rick Riordan, did a wonderful job of preparing himself for the world of Greek Myth because every character was well backed up with real facts about the myths themselves. The story was interesting while captivating, enjoyable, and also thrilling. Overall, probably one of my all-time favorite series. I definitely need to reread it, just to get the experience again.

How did you feel about the movies? I actually liked the movies a lot as well. No, they were nothing like the books, but the casting was amazing, and the characterization fits quite well. I felt as if they made some errors plot-wise on which characters they emphasized and which they did not, for example, Ares daughter, Clarisse, I would’ve loved to see more of her. I thought she was spunky, but I guess Hollywood thought otherwise. Never judge a series by its movies, but these movies, I could watch again and again and again if I didn’t compare them to the books as much. There’s no comparison from books to movies, books are always better, but these movies were good enough for me.

What are your feelings about the new adaption? The TV series will be a must-watch for me. I don’t really care about how bad they come out because I want to see how Disney + does with them. Disney + did alright with other seasons like the Mandalorian, so I’d be really curious to see what they do with Percy Jackson. I would hope that they didn’t mess it up too bad, just because the original was so good. The more authentic that Disney + stays with the series, the happier I’ll be, but I will have my judgment glasses on when I watch the series. I am glad though that somebody is doing something screen-related with the series just because of how much I enjoyed it and how much I liked the visual aspect of things on that series.

Would you recommend this series to other students and why? There’s not a doubt within my mind that I would recommend the series. Like I said before, the writing is spectacular and is so unique, that it’s incomparable to anything else. I think kids should be required to read this series in fact because this is a really good example for younger kids to see how Greek Mythology works more simply before they delve deeper into books such as the Odyssey and works such as those. I like Greek Myth, and to be perfectly honest, I wish I read more of it. However, whenever and if ever the opportunity presents itself, among the other series such as Harry Potter, Divergent, and the Selection, Percy Jackson will be among the legendary book hall of fame.

Hades

Hades is a video game that was released by Supergiant Games. In the game, you play as Zagreus, a son of Hades, who is trying to escape from his home in the Underworld. The dungeon crawler, RPG gameplay lends itself well to the body of myths that the game covers. It mostly focuses on Hades and his underworld, but also throws in characters like Orpheus, Sisyphus, Achilles, and of course, most of the Greek pantheon. The story is a refreshing take on many popular myths and the gameplay will keep you hooked as soon as you start playing.

The Blood of Zeus

The Blood of Zeus is a new Netflix original anime series about a demigod son of Zeus, who is shot into the world of gods and heroes to fight the newly emerged demons. The Blood of Zeus is a relatively accurate story set in Ancient Greece. Packed with intense characters, action, and tied together with great writing and stunning visuals, this anime series is a fantastic blend for fans of Greek myths and anime.

Hadestown

Hadestown is a musical retelling of the two myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone, narrated by The Fates and Hermes, and set in an economic depression. The show started as a concept album by Anaiis Mitchell in 2010 and has evolved to be an award-winning Broadway musical. The music style takes inspiration from New Orleans jazz and blues, to Americana, to classical Greek compositions. Orpheus is a young musician, whose song can bring back the spring. He and a young girl named Eurydice fall in love, but after Eurydice goes to the Underworld, Orpheus travels there to rescue her. This musical is a wonderful interpretation of two of the most influential love stories in Greek myth.

Circe and The Song of Achilles 

Circe and Song of Achilles are both novels by Madeline Miller, retelling Greek myths. The novel Circe is from the perspective of the sorceress and daughter of Helios, Circe. She appears in many stories most notably being The Odyssey. Circe is prominently a witch or enchanter, who casts spells on men who encounter her. The Song of Achilles is a retelling of the Homeric epic poem, The Iliad, that paints it as a love story between Achilles and Patroclus, the two protagonists. Both of these novels put a modern twist on ancient stories, while still being set in Ancient Greece.

Lore Olympus

Lore Olympus is a popular webcomic, written by Rachel Smythe, that can be read on Webtoons. The comic is an adaptation of the myth of Hades, the god of the Underworld, and Persephone, the goddess of Spring. It has an interesting take on their love story and how it affects the rest of the mythos, as well as a wonderful, modern take on the characters and beautiful artwork. If you are a fan of romances and Greek mythology, then Lore Olympus is a great read!

An interview with Victoria Arifin.

Have you read Lore Olympus? Yes, I have.

How do you feel about Smythe’s take on the myth of Hades and Persephone? I feel like Smythe took on an interesting perspective of the myth. Typically, when people hear god or goddess, they think of someone perfect and all-knowing. However, the comic displays their flaws, untold truths, and stories, as if humans and mortals can connect with them through experiences or the stunning artwork provided by the author. Rachel did an amazing job showing that everyone has flaws and imperfections, and it’s good to let readers know that a lot of people go through these things and that they’re not alone. The comedy, jokes, and romance throughout the story are amazing and entertaining, and adding a hint of modernness just gives it a little twist that makes the story even more intriguing. Persephone and Hades in the story have such a relationship that is also common in the real world, and seeing that it is how it is in the myth adds a somewhat “human” aspect to Persephone and Hades, I suppose.

Would you recommend this comic to other students and why? I had never been so invested in Greek Mythology until Lore Olympus came along. I would recommend this comic to any students interested in learning about culture or myths with a twist of modern technology. It truly is a wonderful comic, one that people should know about, including comedy, romance, and a bit of a slice of life. The comedy along the way is delightful and the romance between Hades and Persephone is just adorable. I enjoyed reading every single panel.

Writing about Greek mythology isn’t a new thing. Even the Greeks did it to themselves! But it is nice to see all these adaptations offering fresh takes on the stories that we know and love. So go check these out!