Ancient Greek Mythology Explained
Audio Brief
Show transcript
This episode delves into the 1981 film Clash of the Titans, comparing its narrative and characters against their ancient Greek mythological origins.
There are four key insights from this discussion. First, Clash of the Titans is a creative reimagining, prioritizing cinematic spectacle over mythological accuracy. Second, the film invents characters and plot points, freely borrows from other mythologies, and reorders key events to serve its story. Third, understanding original myths, especially Perseus's birth, enriches the viewing experience and reveals creative choices. Fourth, despite its many inaccuracies, the film remains a charming and enjoyable piece of entertainment, thanks to Ray Harryhausen's iconic pre-CGI special effects.
The film consistently prioritizes its own narrative and visual spectacle over strict adherence to Greek mythology. Key characters like the antagonist Calibos are entirely invented, and the creature Cetus is replaced by the Scandinavian Kraken, demonstrating a willingness to adapt sources freely.
Significant plot points and characters are cinematic inventions, not found in ancient Greek texts. For instance, the film misplaces Pegasus chronologically, having Perseus encounter the winged horse before Medusa's beheading, when mythology states Pegasus was born from Medusa's blood.
Knowing the original myths provides vital context. Perseus's unique birth, involving Zeus's divine intervention and a prophecy against King Acrisius, is crucial to understanding the film's opening premise and the hero's destiny. The classic theme of hubris and divine punishment, where Queen Cassiopeia's boast angers the gods, directly drives the plot's demand for Andromeda's sacrifice.
Despite its many departures from the source material, Clash of the Titans remains a beloved and charming film. Its entertainment value is significantly enhanced by Ray Harryhausen's iconic stop-motion special effects, which set a benchmark for pre-CGI filmmaking and continue to captivate audiences.
Ultimately, Clash of the Titans succeeds as an entertaining cinematic experience, a testament to creative storytelling and groundbreaking effects, regardless of its mythological liberties.
Episode Overview
- An in-depth analysis of the 1981 film Clash of the Titans, comparing its narrative and characters to their origins in ancient Greek mythology.
- A detailed breakdown of the film's major creative liberties, including the complete invention of the antagonist Calibos and the chronological misplacement of Pegasus.
- An exploration of how the film alters key mythological details, such as replacing the sea monster Cetus with the Scandinavian Kraken.
- A final verdict that celebrates the film's entertainment value and charming special effects, despite its significant departures from the source material.
Key Concepts
- Mythological Accuracy vs. Cinematic Invention: The central theme is the contrast between the film's plot and the original Greek myths. The analysis highlights numerous invented elements (Calibos, Bubo), altered creature origins (Pegasus), and character swaps (Perseus riding Pegasus instead of Bellerophon).
- The Backstory of Perseus: The summary explains the crucial mythological context of Perseus's birth, including the prophecy given to his grandfather King Acrisius and the divine intervention of Zeus, which is necessary to understand the film's opening scene.
- Hubris and Divine Punishment: The classic Greek theme of mortals angering the gods is a key plot driver. Queen Cassiopeia's boast leads to divine retribution, demanding the sacrifice of her daughter Andromeda, which is a core element retained from the myth.
- Creature and Character Origins: The analysis clarifies the correct mythological origins for creatures like Pegasus (born from Medusa's blood) and identifies the film's "Stygian Witches" as an adaptation of the Graeae from Greek legend.
Quotes
- At 0:39 - "Calibos is an invention... this whole part of the film seems to be based on on nothing ancient that I can identify." - Dunn pointing out that the film's main antagonist was created for the movie.
- At 3:59 - "What Acrisius hadn't counted on was the fact that Zeus... was really, I think we should say, sexually incontinent." - Dunn humorously describing Zeus's character and his role in Perseus's conception.
- At 27:00 - "Pegasus in Greek myth was actually born... out of the blood spilt by the Gorgon Medusa when she was decapitated by Perseus. And yet, we have Perseus here witnessing the horse... and yet we haven't seen any decapitation of Medusa taking place yet." - Highlighting a major chronological error in the film's plot regarding the origin of Pegasus.
- At 37:05 - "I'm going to exchange Kraken for Cetus, the sea monster, because in the traditional Greek myth, you do find Andromeda being chained to a rock and being terrorized by the Cetus." - Correcting the film's use of a Scandinavian monster instead of the proper one from Greek mythology.
- At 58:38 - "I have actually really enjoyed watching this film. It departs from the Greek myths on quite a lot of different fronts, but I'm not particularly uncomfortable with that." - Concluding that the film's entertainment value and creativity supersede its mythological inaccuracies.
Takeaways
- Clash of the Titans is a creative reimagining, not a faithful adaptation, that prioritizes cinematic spectacle over mythological accuracy.
- The film invents major characters and plot points, freely borrows from other mythologies, and reorders key events to serve its story.
- Understanding the original myths, particularly the backstory of Perseus's birth, enriches the viewing experience and reveals the filmmakers' creative choices.
- Despite its many inaccuracies, the film stands as a charming and enjoyable piece of entertainment, largely thanks to Ray Harryhausen's iconic pre-CGI special effects.
