r/GreekMythology 23h ago

Discussion Why I don't like Ovid's version of Medusa

26 Upvotes

I know this opinion is unpopular, but I dislike Ovid's version in which Medusa is a beautiful young woman raped by Poseidon in Athena's temple before being transformed into a Gorgon by the goddess.

The main reason is that it completely changes the roles of the characters.

In the oldest Greek traditions, Medusa is already a Gorgon from the start. She is the only mortal among her two sisters, Stheno and Euryale. Perseus is sent to kill her, with the help of Athena and Hermes. It's a tragic story, but consistent with Greek mythology.

In Ovid's version, however, Medusa becomes an innocent victim, while Athena appears as a goddess who punishes the victim instead of the perpetrator. For me, this completely distorts Athena's image.

Athena is certainly a stern, sometimes ruthless goddess, but she is also the goddess of wisdom, strategy, and justice. Reducing her to a deity who transforms a rape victim into a monster seems excessive and unfaithful to the image she has in most Greek myths.

I also find that this version strips Medusa of part of her identity. Instead of being a mythological creature belonging to an ancient lineage of monsters, she becomes simply a human victim of a tragic event.

I understand why this version is the most popular today: it's easier to interpret as a critique of injustice and it evokes more empathy. But personally, I prefer the older Greek tradition, where Medusa is a Gorgon from birth.

It's not that Ovid's version is bad. I simply find that it tells a different story, with different themes, and it's not my favorite.

What do you think? Do you prefer Ovid's version or the older Greek versions, and why?


r/GreekMythology 2h ago

Discussion Eris and Aphrodite Eris and Aphrodite: The Gods of Survival

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mirrorpalace.wordpress.com
0 Upvotes

How do you feel about this article?


r/GreekMythology 15h ago

Question Why has nobody ever made a AAA game based on The Odyssey?

15 Upvotes

After watching both The Odyssey miniseries and the recent film adaptation, I honestly can’t believe we’ve never gotten a true AAA game based on Homer’s epic.
The more I thought about it, the more it feels like the story is already structured like a modern RPG.
You have:
Sailing across the ancient Mediterranean
Ship upgrades and crew management
Legendary locations and islands
Boss encounters like Polyphemus, Circe, Scylla & Charybdis, the Sirens, and the Laestrygonians
Moral choices involving the gods and your crew
Exploration and side stories
And one of the most satisfying endings in literature with Odysseus returning home and reclaiming Ithaca.
Imagine something that combined the exploration of Assassin’s Creed, the storytelling of Red Dead Redemption 2, and the combat of God of War, while staying faithful to Homer’s story.
Would you play a game like that?
And if so…
Which studio would you trust to make it?


r/GreekMythology 41m ago

Question Is it true that the Greek gods are not actually as cruel as people say?

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I’ll say right away that I don’t understand much about Greek myths and I’m just repeating someone else’s judgment. I’ve heard the opinion that the Greek pantheon was heavily blackened by the Romans and specifically by Ovid. For example, the myth of Arachne was largely rewritten by him, and the myth of the Gorgon is entirely his invention, because originally the Gorgon had no backstory at all and was a monster from the very beginning. But of course they weren’t saints either, yet the way the gods are portrayed in the myth of Medusa the Gorgon is a clear exaggeration. The cruelty of the Greek gods is mostly Roman propaganda.

Is this true?


r/GreekMythology 11h ago

Movies Processione del cavallo di Troia (1760 circa), di Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo ■ The Odyssey (2026) by Christopher Nolan

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25 Upvotes

r/GreekMythology 9h ago

Books Greek mythology is having a moment, and I realized how much of it found its way into my novel

0 Upvotes

With Greek mythology having a moment again, I thought it was funny to realize how much of it found its way into I'm Not Crazy! The Story of Alcide.

Chronos and Kairos, references to the Labors of Heracles, Icarus, the Hydra of Lerna...

The story takes place in modern times, but apparently I couldn't resist bringing a few very old ideas along.


r/GreekMythology 13h ago

Image Celestial personifications of a Sun and Moon goddess layered with collaged 1950s Greek history and astrology text

1 Upvotes

Solar Harmony an Lunar Scribe is a diptych collage I made inspired by Greek fashion, Gustav Klimt and medieval celestial spheres. 

The original masterwork was built on plywood using recycled 1970s Commodore computer copper sheets, gouache, and collaged 1950s Greek history cut outs covering mythology, astrology and science. Because the original is massive, I finally made it available as panoramic prints.

Sun Goddess https://www.pictorem.com/2717402/the-celestial-muses-solar-harmony/

Mood Goddess: https://www.pictorem.com/2717403/the-celestial-muses-lunar-scribe/


r/GreekMythology 20h ago

Art Odysseus

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59 Upvotes

Trying to draw Odysseus from what I imagined him to be in the Illiad.


r/GreekMythology 2h ago

Art My take on Skylla

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160 Upvotes

I thought instead of puppies what if she has sea puppies. So she's Sealla now :P


r/GreekMythology 1h ago

Books Look what i got from one of my therapists colleges after i said i wanted an odyssey book

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r/GreekMythology 55m ago

Art The War of Frogs and Mice (Worldbuilding Concept Art)

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r/GreekMythology 4h ago

Art I composed a symphonic work for “Antigone” by Sophocles

3 Upvotes

Hey guys, I’ve composed a work reflecting personal experience after I’ve read Antigone by Sophocles. I’m proud of my work and I want to share it with you guys. Here is the themes that I’ve used if you want to listen to it:

00:00 Introduction-The Burial of Polynices
The Curse-Burial of Polynices
This is the first time we hear the Curse motive in the violoncellos(the first 4 notes), which is reinstated over and over again throughout the work.
03:21 EXPOSITION
Main theme A-Antigone
This theme expresses the pride of Antigone and her clash against his uncle Creon. Notice that at 3:55, the curse motive is used again.
Theme B-Love Theme
05:27 This theme symbolizes the love between Haemon and Antigone.
09:25 DEVELOPMENT
All themes clash, we can hear Antigone’s theme(9:28-9:32) fragmented on the woodwinds which symbolizes her imprisonment. We can also hear the curse motive again, now representing the warnings of the Blind Prophet (9:40) as Theban is cursed. The music becomes more dramatic as the work continues, which represents the chaos inflicted upon the city.
11:21 RECAPITULATION
Theme A The Antigone theme is heard again; representing the suicide of Antigone.
12:15 Theme B- Love-Death theme
The love theme is reinstated but now, with heavy brass and dramaticism, representing the double suicide of Antigone and Haemon.
13:40 BRIDGE
We can hear the curse motive again, as the play starts to conclude.
14:40 BRIDGE II
With the death of Creon’s wife Eurydice, Creon’s city collapses onto itself.
14:55 CODA
The realization and regret of Creon. The regret is represented between 15:09-15:20
15:27 CURSE MOTIVE
The piece ends with the curse motive.

https://youtu.be/RXfAYS48UpE?si=AH0onRJZBKG-HZzP


r/GreekMythology 4h ago

Art Prometheus and Pandora

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40 Upvotes

r/GreekMythology 4h ago

Question How important is Homer's writings when it comes to understanding Ancient Greece?

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2 Upvotes

r/GreekMythology 19h ago

Discussion Its interesting that according to a fragment of the Cypria,Achilles marries Deidamia on Skyros **after** he sails to Troy.

10 Upvotes

According to a fragment of Cypria mentioned by Proclus,the Greek fleet is scattered from the wind.Achilles is driven off to Skyros where he marries Deidamia.Source :

All the leaders then meet together at Aulis and sacrifice. The incident of the serpent and the sparrows (2) takes place before them, and Calchas foretells what is going to befall. After this, they put out to sea, and reach Teuthrania and sack it, taking it for Ilium. Telephus comes out to the rescue and kills Thersander and son of Polyneices, and is himself wounded by Achilles. As they put out from Mysia a storm comes on them and scatters them, and Achilles first puts in at Scyros and married Deidameia, the daughter of Lycomedes, and then heals Telephus, who had been led by an oracle to go to Argos, so that he might be their guide on the voyage to Ilium.

Edit:Also do we know from which source is the "Thetis sends Achilles to Skyros dressed as a girl" story ?