Great Greek Myths S1:E4

Zeus and the Conquest of Power

To earn the title of Master of Olympus, Zeus took many important steps, and overcame many challenges. His story is one of an incredible conquest of power, dating back to time immemorial, when the world began. Born from Chaos, Gaia - Mother Earth - mated with Uranus, the sky.

Zeus in Love

His first wife was Metis. His second, who was known as his wife on Olympus, was the jealous Hera. But there was also Themis, the goddess of Justice, with whom he produced the Hours, the Fates and the Mnemosyne - meaning "memory" - who gave birth to nine Muses. In order to achieve his aims, Zeus metamorphosed. He was an expert at changing shape and form.

Prometheus, The Rebel of Olympus

Taking revenge against Prometheus, Zeus created the first woman - the beautiful Pandora. He gave her a manipulative and deceptive character, and subjected Prometheus to terrible torture. But although Zeus and Prometheus both shared a shrewd and cunning nature, they clashed fiercely. Prometheus wanted to be of help to mankind, and managed to convince Zeus to give them fire.

Athena, Armed Wisdom

The Goddess of War Athena was the wisest, most level headed and rational deity. She was born out of Zeus' skull, wearing a helmet and holding a spear. She was the protector of heroes, the State, and mankind, to whom she passed on many inventions.

Apollo, Shadow and Light

Although they were the son and daughter of Zeus, Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were born under threats from the goddess Hera. Zeus' wife Hera never forgave the twins' mother - the nymph Leto - for her union with the King of Mount Olympus, and she forced Leto into exile.

Aphrodite, Dictated by Desire

Kronos revolted against his father Uranus. He severed his father's genitals, and threw them into the sea, where they mingled with the foam and gave birth to Aphrodite. Aphrodite was born from this highly unusual union. She inspired romantic love and physical attraction in equal measure.

Dionysus, An Outsider in the City

Zeus had a reputation for being a seducer of women. One day he lay with a mortal - Semele, the daughter of the king of Thebes. Their son Dionysos was brought up by nymphs. One day he discovered the vine, and decided to travel the world teaching mankind the art of making wine out of it.

Hermes, The Impenetrable Messenger

Hermes was the youngest of the Gods of Olympus. Right from birth, he was an insolent, thieving, trickster God. While still a baby, he escaped from the cave in which his mother Maia gave birth to him, and stole Apollo's herd.

Tartarus, The Damned of the Earth

Tartarus, situated in the deepest part of the earth, is the prison of the Underworld. It is there that we find the fallen gods and the heroes banished ...

Psyche, Beauty and the Beast

In this myth, many versions of which have been passed down through the ages, Psyche is the Beauty. Concerned that his daughter did not have a suitor, Psyche's father consulted Pythia, who announced grave news: Psyche's father must leave her on a hilltop, from where a monster would come take her away.

Perseus, The Look of Death

Perseus should never have come into the world. For fear of a prediction that made his grandson his assassin, King Acrisios locked up his daughter Danaë in a tower in the shape of a fortress ..

Orpheus, A Hymn of Impossible Love

On certain evenings, the constellation of Lyra is visible in the skies. Following Orpheus' death, Zeus placed the constellation in the sky, as a tribute to the greatest poet and musician in Greek mythology. Watched over by the muses from birth, Orpheus' talent enchanted nature, both trees and animals alike. A brave young man, Orpheus left on board the Argo, to conquer the Golden Fleece.

Medea, Murderous Love

On his quest to find the Golden Fleece, Jason asked the cruel King of Colchis and his daughter Medea, a powerful sorceress, for help. Medea fell in love with Jason, helped him to find the precious Fleece, and fled with him.

Bellerophon, The Man Who Wanted to be a God

Bellerophon, the grandson of Sisyphus, one of the Greek world's worst criminals, dreamt of becoming a hero, of being equal to the Gods. But his plans got off to a bad start with the accidental murder of his brother. Forced into exile, he took refuge in Tyrins.

Theseus, The Ravages of Oversight

Theseus was the fruit of dual paternity: Aegeus King of Athens slept with Aethra when she had just been raped by Poseidon, God of the Sea. Theseus, who grew into a strong, brave young man, therefore had a double lineage - both divine and royal. But Theseus' great courage did not stop him from neglecting his duties. Carried along by his victory, he committed a few irreversible oversights.

Dedalus and Icarus, A Shattered Dream

Dedalus, a prominent Greek inventor, settled in Crete among King Minos' court. Queen Pasiphaë, who had an all-consuming passion for a white bull, called upon his services. Dedalus found a way to allow Pasiphaë to mate with the bull, and Minos locked Daedalus and his son, Icarus, away for their betrayal. Dedalus found a way to escape - but his method put his own son's life in peril.

Heracles, The Man Who Became a God

We all know about Heracles' unequalled strength, and the twelve labors he had to carry out, but we know a great deal less about the way in which his life was turned upside down by a series of terrible curses.

Oedipus, The Riddle Solver

No mortal endured more terrible a tragedy than Oedipus. He was the son of King Laius, King of Thebes. The Gods forbade him to have offspring, and decreed that if Laius gave birth to a son, that son would kill him. Laius removed Oedipus from Thebes, and he grew up far away from the city, without knowing his true identity or the curse that weighed upon on him.

Antigone, The Woman Who Said No

Antigone was one of Oedipus' four children. She had two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, as well as a sister, Ismene. One day, her sister informed her that her two brothers, who were heirs to the throne of Thebes, were fighting each other for power. They had agreed to take power alternately, but when the time came for Eteocles to hand his crown over to Polynices, he refused. An war ensued.