Theseus Myths

Classical mythology is the study of myths and their importance to Ancient Greece and Rome. These myths have existed for over 3000 years and explore the basis of all beliefs and ideals of ancient and modern society. There are many types of myths such as divine myths which focuses on supernatural beings, legends which are based on heroes, and folktales which involve ordinary people and animals. Legends are typically the most well-known and modernized myths because of their high-action and fast-paced themes. The movie Immortals is a modern interpretation of the legend of Theseus that contains some truth, but also has missing parts or modified scenes. The purpose of this paper will be to explore the contemporary adaptation of Theseus and evaluate …show more content…
The modern interpretations first difference is noticed with Theseus’ mother Aethra, who is said to be a peasant, but is actually a princess in the original myth. Secondly, Theseus is never trained by any man or god in the original; he is said to have received his powers from his divine father Poseidon. Theseus also lifts a rock and finds the gifts from Aegeus; whereas, in the movie he smashes the rock and finds the Bow of Epirus. The Bow of Epirus itself is a falsehood because there is never a mention of any bow in the stories of Theseus, this could possibly be referring to Hercules’ bow. The movie also depicts that the Titans are held in Mt. Tartarus when in the myth Tartarus is in the underworld. One of the most terrible modifications of this movie was the Minotaur. The Minotaur in the movie is just a large man who wears a bull helmet with barbed wire, whereas in the myth it is half man half bull. The things done throughout the labyrinth scenes are also a little off. Theseus cuts his leg and uses his blood to find his way out of the labyrinth instead of string and he kills the Minotaur with the Bow of Epirus instead of his sword. The labyrinth is also a tomb in the case of the movie instead of being a real labyrinth. However, the two most deceiving parts of the entire movie are Hyperion and Phaedra as character in this movie. Hyperion is rarely mentioned in any myths and never in the legend of Theseus. Ariadne is the woman that helps him defeat the Minotaur and falls in love with Theseus; Phaedra is the sister of Ariadne and later becomes Theseus’ lover. Finally, Theseus is not killed by poison from the Minotaur, but instead is pushed off a cliff as an old man. Some similarities are that Theseus does have a child named Acamas with Phaedra, Theseus does kill the Minotaur, and Theseus’ does become very famous after his