Category: Greek Mythology

What do you do when you accidentally murder your entire family? Well, when Heracles went to the Oracle of Delphi to ask that very same question, he was instructed to go to his relative, King Eurystheus of Mycenae, and complete a series of terrible tasks. This episode covers the first 6 Labours of Heracles. 

– Slaying the Nemean Lion

– Killing the multi-headed Hydra

– Capturing the Cerynitian Hind, a large magical deer

– Trapping the Erymanthian Boar

– Scaring away the Stymphalian Birds

– Cleaning the poop-filled Stables of Augeus

This episode begins a multi-parter on the Greek hero Herakles, and this first part deals with the hero’s legendary origins. First, I cover the adventures of the less well-known hero Amphitryon, his exile from his homeland, and the series of quests he goes on to marry his love. That ends with Zeus’s seduction of the beautiful Alkmene and the birth of two hero twins. In Herakles’ early years, his exploits hint at a dangerous rage hiding below the surface, and a divine enemy in the form of Hera. Both of those came together in Heracles’s tragic murder of his own family.

Minos of Crete was a powerful king in Greek mythology. He was sometimes considered the first king to build a navy, and used this fleet to make himself master of the sea. Minos ruled according to the will of Zeus and listened to him when making laws, meaning he was a favourite of Zeus and a man who honoured the gods. But maybe, perhaps just like the king of the universe, the king of Crete was sometimes viewed as a tyrant. Some of his myths – such as the most famous one involving the Minotaur – show him in that way.

Bellerophon or Bellerophontes as he was also known, was one of the most celebrated heroes in Greek myth. He was a son of the god Poseidon and a human woman named Eurynome. He is the famous Greek hero who rides the winged horse Pegasus. On first glance, he is a classic hero – he rides a magic horse and is most famous for slaying a monster. But there are some deeper darker layers to Bellerophon that hint at a more nuanced heroism.

The focus of this episode is the Gorgon Perseus killed two episodes back. In that story, the Gorgon Medusa was presented as a threatening monster. In this episode I drill down a bit more into the mythology of Medusa and how conceptions of the Gorgons changed over time, discussing what’s said in different literary sources and appearances in art. 

Last episode the hero Perseus travelled to a faraway land to kill the Gorgon Medusa. With that complete, he wasn’t ready to return to Greece just yet. With Hermes’ winged sandals still in his possession, Perseus was free to go on some more adventures. The most important of these was when he travelled to Aethiopia and rescued the princess Andromeda from a sea serpent. I also cover how Perseus was considered a legendary founding figure and how he fulfilled a deadly prophecy. 

One mark of a hero is being born under mysterious circumstances. One of the strangest examples is Perseus who was born when drops of liquid gold fell on his imprisoned mother Danae. Several years later, Perseus was grown up, and a cruel king tricked him into undertaking an impossible task – to bring back the severed head of a terrible monster living. To be successful, Perseus would need a little help from the gods Hermes and Athena, and some divine treasures. 

This episode covers the dark and chilling tales of the Greek hero Pelops. First I cover his father Tantalus, how he dared to challenge the gods and how a father’s embrace turned deadly. Afterwards, I explore an adult Pelops’ challenges as a suitor for the beautiful Hippodamia, and the thrilling chariot race that determined her fate. But did the cunning hero use only his skill, or did some trickery grant him the upper hand?

What happens when two cunning Greek tricksters cross paths and become entwined in each other’s tales? In this episode I cover Sisyphus and Autolycus (and also a third troublemaker named Erysichthon). These two are considered heroes due to their descent from gods. But they sure aren’t “good guys”, often relying on lies and tricks to get what they want. Even if that means trying to cheat death itself. 

In this episode I continue the discussion on the city-state of Thebes in Greek mythology, focusing on the kings who succeeded Cadmus. The most dramatic story is about the princess Antiope and her twin sons, Amphion and Zethus. These heroes were credited with building the magnificent walls and seven gates of Thebes. But their triumphs were also ruined bythe gods’ wrath, which led to the tragic end of their families.

Throughout, I provide historical and cultural context for Thebes, including its significance as a powerful kingdom in ancient times. The episode includes a lot of names and genealogy, so I’ve made a family tree available on the podcast website.