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How authentic are the mythological references in Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief?


This question asks if mythological references in the movie Percy Jackson and the lightening thief are authentic or not. Though there are many references in the movie the main questions asked are, what does the lotus flower have to do with Greek Mythology? How do Athena and Poseidon connect? Why do Athena and Medusa hate each other? All of which are important questions in Greek mythology as well as the film.

In Greek mythology, the lotus-eaters, also referred to as the lotophagi were a race of people from an island near North Africa dominated by lotus plants. The lotus fruits and flowers were the primary food of the island and were narcotic and addictive, causing the people to sleep in peaceful apathy.

In the film the lotus eaters are casino workers and they do all they can to keep people (including the main characters.) in their casino, this is done by feeding people the lotus flower a type of cake, it dulls the sense’s almost like a drug and is extremely addictive making who ever consumes it want to stay. This is some what different to the description because in the film it does not make consumer “sleep in peaceful apathy” also the workers do not look African in any way. Over all though the lotus eater and flower reference is very authentic, they have stuck to most all information and what has been changed has been done so, so as to fit into the 21ST Century society.

Athena is the God of wisdom and battle strategy and Poseidon is God of the sea and storms. They connect because they are both part of the big 12 of Greek gods “The Olympians” also because both Athena and Poseidon wanted to be patron deity of Athens. To prove her worthiness for the honour, Athena caused an olive tree to spring up on the citadel of Athens, the Acropolis. Poseidon sought to outdo her by striking the ground with his trident and causing a spring of water to gush forth. But as he was god of the sea, the water was salty. Athena's gift to the Athenians was considered to be more useful, so she became the city's patron deity.

In the film it is mention a couple of times that Athena and Poseidon hate each other, the reason given is proven above, that the both compete for patron god of Athens and when Athena won Poseidon never got over his grudge. In the film though they also connect because Athena’s daughter Anna Beth and Poseidon’s son Percy are friends and allies in the movie (and both demi gods). The authenticity of Athena and Poseidon’s connection in the film is very real to that mentioned in Greek myths.

In Greek Mythology Athena and Medusa hate each other because Athena was behind turning Medusa’s hair to stone the legend says that Medusa was always extremely vain and eventually Athena got sick of it and confronted her about it. Medusa tried to point out that her beauty was an inspiration to those around her and that she made their lives better by simply looking so lovely, but Athena silenced her. “Nonsense,” Athena retorted, “Beauty fades swiftly in all mortals. It does not comfort the sick, teach the unskilled or feed the hungry. And by my powers, your loveliness shall be stripped away completely. Your fate shall serve as a reminder to others to control their pride.” And with those words Medusa’s face changed to that of a hideous monster. Her hair twisted and thickened into horrible snakes that hissed and fought each other atop her head. “Medusa, for your pride this has been done. Your face is now so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it will turn a man to stone,” proclaimed the goddess, “Even you, Medusa, should you seek your reflection, shall turn to rock the instant you see your face.” And with that, Athena sent Medusa with her hair of snakes to live with the blind monsters -- the gorgon sisters -- at the ends of the earth, so that no innocents would be accidentally turned to stone at the sight of her. In the legend Perseus keeps it in a bag because it can still turn you to stone - I'm pretty sure he used it against his enemies.

In the film this myth is mention when the main characters come face to face with Medusa. On seeing Anna Beth she says to her “Daughter of Athena. You have such a beautiful hair. I used to have like that before. I was courted, desired by many. But that all changed, because of your mother-who cursed me, who turned me into this monster.” Although in the film Percy Jackson the main character kills Medusa which in Greek mythology as stated above does not happen, another Demi god Perseus kills Medusa. Though this could be taken as Perseus is Percy Jackson although Perseus lived in ancient time, the film however could have taken the demi god Perseus and altered so as to fit the film. Also Medusa is said to have been sent to the end of the earth to live, but in the film the main characters find her in the middle of America. Though for the sake of the film plot to run smoothly America is seen as the end of the earth, as the place that they find her in a Statues and Figurines shop which all the statues and figurines found there are people that Medusa has turned to stone. There fore Medusa’s looks and powers are authentic in the film as well as the fact that Athena cursed her and turned her hair into snakes, but the fact that Percy kills her is not and her location is also not authentic to original Greek mythology.

Through the analysis of the film Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief and the many aspects of Greek mythology mention through out the film. I have come to the conclusion that the mythological references in the movie Percy Jackson and the lightening thief are authentic, although there is some unauthenticity it is mostly done so the film can fit into the 21ST Century world that we live in and so the plot can run smoothly and quickly.