Mythos – The Greek Myths Retold- Stephen Fry

Title: Mythos – The Greek Myths Retold
Author: Stephen Fry
Edition: Paperback
Publication: November 2, 2017 by Michael Joseph
Genre: Mythology, Nonfiction, Audiobook, History, Greek Mythology, Classics, Historical, Retellings, Short Stories, Greece

My Review

If you love and are keen to know more about Greek Gods, Mythos – The Greek Myths Retold – by Stephen Fry is the best book to read.

Stephen Fry has a unique style that would make the readers enjoy every page of the book.

About the Author

Mythos written by British author Stephen Fry, published in 2017. It is a retelling of a number of Ancient Greek myths selected by Fry. Stephen Fry is an English Actor, comedian, writer, broad-caster and director. Man with so many talents. He and Hugh Laurie are the comic double act Fry and Laurie, who starred in A Bit of Fry Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster.

My Thoughts

I always have a keen interest in mythologies. As being an Indian, Indian mythological books like Mahabharata, Ramayan and Bhagwata Gita have always fascinated me since my childhood. Maybe this is the reason, the Greek and Egyptian mythological books also capture my interest.

From a very young age, I am always astonished by the magical powers of the Gods in India. The all mighty Lord Shiv Shankar, Lord Vishu and many more made me think that our world has many wonderful and magical histories.

Maybe this was the reason that I got more attracted to Greek and other mythologies in the world. Reading about them has always overwhelmed me.

Greek Mythology

Greek mythology is one of the oldest and most fascinating mythologies. There are many stories and myths of Gods and demigods in Greece. The book Mythos- The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry shares stories and myths of different regions of Greece. We can still find many monuments all over Greece which captures the interest of tourists all over the world. You can still find people worshipping the old Gods, and carry their traditional culture. Greek mythology has an extensive influence on the culture, arts and literature of western civilization and remains a part of their heritage and language.

Greece

Greece, a place rich in beauty, culture, art and literature and many more. An exotic holiday destination for many tourists and honeymoon couples. Anyone would just fall in love with Greece. I have never been to Greece, but I only imagined and enjoyed Greece in images and wallpapers. Still I skip a breath and smile, whenever I see it. Greece is the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, Western literature, historiography, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, Western drama and the Olympic Games.

Gods and Demigods of Greece

When we talk about Greek mythology, every god and demigod has an equally astonishing and mesmerizing story. You are taken to a journey which is out of this world. The story of passionate love, extreme rage, hate and betrayal, heart-breaks, rafts of the Gods and many other emotions just like us humans. Their powers, gifts, and true and heart-warming love stories with humans and other Gods, has created many histories and changed the course of history. I would like to share a few thoughts about them that have captured my imagination while reading the novel Mythos-The Greek Myths Retold-Stephen Fry.

Zeus

The most supreme and powerful amongst all the Gods; Zeus the God of thunder. I found him to be the most amazing of all the Gods. I always saw him as a “hot supermodel” who can get any girl he wants. God with many lovers. His lovers were not only Goddesses but also humans. He loved them all. We all know his sons Perseus and Hercules who had super human powers and were also known as Demigods. They are many stories written in their glory.

What made Zeus the most powerful God?

Zeus battled his father Cronos with the help of his other two brothers Poseidon and Hades. He won the battle and became the God of Olympus. He married Hera, the most powerful Goddess of Olympus. She was of a jealous type, but why shouldn’t she be? Zeus wasn’t the innocent type either!!!

Poseidon

The God of Seas, Oceans (water elements), earthquakes and horses. His carries a weapon called “the Trident”, symbolized as a fish spear. The Trident is considered to be the most powerful weapon of Poseidon. It is said that all horses obeyed Poseidon, best known of which was the winged horse Pegagus.

The tragic tale of Medusa

The story also goes that Poseidon was mesmerized by the beauty of Medusa. So, to conquer Medusa, Poseidon raped her in front of Athena’s statue. Athena is so annoyed, that she curses Medusa for eternity, which turns Medusa into a hideous beast and she will be loved by no one. Her long luscious hair and her beautiful body turns into a snake. No woman is ever allowed in the temple again. Her single glaze would turn any men into stones.Perseus ending Medusa’s misery

When I first read about Medusa’s story, I was filled with anger. Why would Gods do such a thing? Why did Gods treat her this way? As it is said, every coin has two sides. They were more to the story.

Perseus, the demigod, son of Zeus, slays Medusa to save Andromeda’s life for being scarified to the sea monster Cetus. Even after Medusa’s head is off, still her glaze turns Cetus to stone. The Gods have a reason for everything. They created a beast to save one’s life.What fascinates me about Greek mythology is that, all stories are connected somehow. Even events, creatures, birth and death have a reason.

Hades

Hades, the God of the dead and the King of the Underworld. He is often portrayed with his three-headed dog name Cerberus. Apart from Zeus and Poseidon or any other Gods, I find Hades to be more decent. In Greek mythology he is always portrayed as passive and not evil. His role is often maintaining relative balance. As being the King of Underworld, I find him to be more humble. He has the greatest love story than any of the Gods.

Hades and Persephone’s love story

The love story of Hades and Persephone has changed our entire world. Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. Persephone was beautiful and innocent in nature which made Demeter worry about her daughter. She always locked Persephone away from the world, to protect her from all the odds. But one day, Hades saw she playing with the butterflies; Hades kidnapped her and took her to the underworld.

He was good and humble with Persephone. Hades never forced himself on her. But Demeter is the Goddess of Harvest, because she is angry and worried about her missing daughter, the fields started dying. Hades brought Persephone to Demeter, but before leaving the underworld, Persephone ate 6 pomegranate pieces brought to her from Hades garden and she had to marry Hades and now we have seasons in the world. To know more details, please click the link “Hades and Persephone love story”.

What I like about their love story is that Hades loves Persephone so much that he never laid an eye on any other women or creatures. Unlike his brothers, he was true to Persephone for eternity. True love can change the world forever.

About the Novel

No one loves and quarrels, desires and deceives as boldly or brilliantly as Greek Gods and Goddesses.In Stephen Fry’s vivid retelling we gaze in wonder as wise Athena is born from the cracking open of the great head of Zeus and follow doomed Persephone into the dark and lonely realm of the Underworld. We shiver when Pandora opens her jar of evil torments and watches with joy as the legendary love affair between Eros and Psyche unfolds.

Mythos captures these extraordinary myths for our modern age in all their dazzling human relevance.

Happy Reading!!!

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