Hades (2020): The Myths Behind the Game

10/22/24 • 39 min

Part 3 of of Underworld themed episodes! Hades is one of the best games of the decade so far, but is a game based on Greek Mythology accurate? Did Supergiant really do their homework? Today we're looking at the many layers of the Hades video game!
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References:
The Oresteia on audible
Also available on BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03pd7kv
The episode of In Our Time which discusses the Oresteia: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003k9fk
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zagreus

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orphic-religion

https://www.loebclassics.com/view/aeschylus-attributed_fragments/2009/pb_LCL505.237.xml

https://poets.org/poem/iliad-book-i-lines-1-15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpLDi4_dRL8
The Iliad/ The Odyssey- Emily Wilson translations
Greek Myths That Shape the Way We Think- Richard Buxton

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orphic-religion

https://www.loebclassics.com/view/aeschylus-attributed_fragments/2009/pb_LCL505.237.xml

https://poets.org/poem/iliad-book-i-lines-1-15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpLDi4_dRL8
The Iliad/ The Odyssey- Emily Wilson translations
Greek Myths That Shape the Way We Think- Richard Buxton

Previous Episode

Hades and Persephone: Romance or Horror?

The myth of Hades and Persephone has been fascinating to romance writers and readers alike, but their foundational Greek myth is more of a tale of kidnap and grief than it is anything romantic. How could Hades and Persphone end up being one of the most frequently retold romantic stories? Today we're going to look at the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Hesiod, and discuss why their story might be a compelling romance.

Bibliography

https://fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-our-collection/highlights/context/stories-and-histories/eleusis-myth-and-mysteries#:~:text=The%20temple%20of%20Demeter%20at,made%20to%20Demeter%20at%20Eleusis.

https://www.theoi.com/Cult/DemeterTitles.html

https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20111010143853768#:~:text=Epithets%20which%20euphemistically%20address%20his,Pluton%20('Wealth').

https://chs.harvard.edu/primary-source/homeric-hymn-to-demeter-sb/
Mystery Cults in the Ancient World- novel
Girl, Goddess, Queen- Bea Fitzgerald
https://www.theoi.com/image/R14.1Haides.jpg

Next Episode

Percy Jackson and the Underworld

In this episode we'll be exploring the Underworld of Percy Jackson in the first book series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, as well as the TV show on Disney Plus and yes... I will be joining Rick in giving the first movie a thorough roasting.
How does the Underworld in Percy Jackson compare to the ancient myths? Does it ring true or not?
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Greeks and Geeks - Hades (2020): The Myths Behind the Game

Transcript

Greeks and Geeks Season 3 Episode 3

Hello and welcome to Greeks and Geeks, the podcast where I take us on a persnickity yet fun journey deep diving into the lore of our favourite stories. I’m your host Sabrina and this is the third episode of series 3, which is underworld themed, in celebration of spooky season. If you haven’t listened to the previous two episodes- all about the Underworld itself, and the interpretations of Hades and Persephone, go have a listen to those. Then come b