Synopsis
Based on original animation and selected iconographies throughout art history, this series of twenty episodes tells the Greek myths. An all-picture creation, which features the fascinating destinies of gods, heroes, and great figures of mythology.
Episodes
The Great Myths: Season 1
Zeus and the Conquest of Power
To earn the title of Master of Olympus, Zeus took many important steps, and overcame many challenges. His story is one of an incredible conquest of power, dating back to time immemorial, when the world began. Born from Chaos, Gaia - Mother Earth - mated with Uranus, the sky.
Zeus in Love
His first wife was Metis. His second, who was known as his wife on Olympus, was the jealous Hera. But there was also Themis, the goddess of Justice, with whom he produced the Hours, the Fates and the Mnemosyne - meaning "memory" - who gave birth to nine Muses. In order to achieve his aims, Zeus metamorphosed. He was an expert at changing shape and form.
Prometheus, The Rebel of Olympus
Taking revenge against Prometheus, Zeus created the first woman - the beautiful Pandora. He gave her a manipulative and deceptive character, and subjected Prometheus to terrible torture. But although Zeus and Prometheus both shared a shrewd and cunning nature, they clashed fiercely. Prometheus wanted to be of help to mankind, and managed to convince Zeus to give them fire.
Hades, A Reluctant King
Having become organizer of the world, Zeus entrusted the world of the sea to his brother Poseidon, and the underworld, or the kingdom of the dead, to Hades. Alone, in a place he had not chosen himself, Hades reigned over the people of the shadows and over the grimacing creatures that surrounded him.
Athena, Armed Wisdom
The Goddess of War Athena was the wisest, most level headed and rational deity. She was born out of Zeus' skull, wearing a helmet and holding a spear. She was the protector of heroes, the State, and mankind, to whom she passed on many inventions.
Apollo, Shadow and Light
Although they were the son and daughter of Zeus, Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were born under threats from the goddess Hera. Zeus' wife Hera never forgave the twins' mother - the nymph Leto - for her union with the King of Mount Olympus, and she forced Leto into exile.
Aphrodite, Dictated by Desire
Kronos revolted against his father Uranus. He severed his father's genitals, and threw them into the sea, where they mingled with the foam and gave birth to Aphrodite. Aphrodite was born from this highly unusual union. She inspired romantic love and physical attraction in equal measure.
Dionysus, An Outsider in the City
Zeus had a reputation for being a seducer of women. One day he lay with a mortal - Semele, the daughter of the king of Thebes. Their son Dionysos was brought up by nymphs. One day he discovered the vine, and decided to travel the world teaching mankind the art of making wine out of it.
Hermes, The Impenetrable Messenger
Hermes was the youngest of the Gods of Olympus. Right from birth, he was an insolent, thieving, trickster God. While still a baby, he escaped from the cave in which his mother Maia gave birth to him, and stole Apollo's herd.
Tartarus, The Damned of the Earth
Tartarus, situated in the deepest part of the earth, is the prison of the Underworld. It is there that we find the fallen gods and the heroes banished ...
Psyche, Beauty and the Beast
In this myth, many versions of which have been passed down through the ages, Psyche is the Beauty. Concerned that his daughter did not have a suitor, Psyche's father consulted Pythia, who announced grave news: Psyche's father must leave her on a hilltop, from where a monster would come take her away.
Perseus, The Look of Death
Perseus should never have come into the world. For fear of a prediction that made his grandson his assassin, King Acrisios locked up his daughter Danaë in a tower in the shape of a fortress ..
Orpheus, A Hymn of Impossible Love
On certain evenings, the constellation of Lyra is visible in the skies. Following Orpheus' death, Zeus placed the constellation in the sky, as a tribute to the greatest poet and musician in Greek mythology. Watched over by the muses from birth, Orpheus' talent enchanted nature, both trees and animals alike. A brave young man, Orpheus left on board the Argo, to conquer the Golden Fleece.
Medea, Murderous Love
On his quest to find the Golden Fleece, Jason asked the cruel King of Colchis and his daughter Medea, a powerful sorceress, for help. Medea fell in love with Jason, helped him to find the precious Fleece, and fled with him.
Bellerophon, The Man Who Wanted to be a God
Bellerophon, the grandson of Sisyphus, one of the Greek world's worst criminals, dreamt of becoming a hero, of being equal to the Gods. But his plans got off to a bad start with the accidental murder of his brother. Forced into exile, he took refuge in Tyrins.
Theseus, The Ravages of Oversight
Theseus was the fruit of dual paternity: Aegeus King of Athens slept with Aethra when she had just been raped by Poseidon, God of the Sea. Theseus, who grew into a strong, brave young man, therefore had a double lineage - both divine and royal. But Theseus' great courage did not stop him from neglecting his duties. Carried along by his victory, he committed a few irreversible oversights.
Dedalus and Icarus, A Shattered Dream
Dedalus, a prominent Greek inventor, settled in Crete among King Minos' court. Queen Pasiphaë, who had an all-consuming passion for a white bull, called upon his services. Dedalus found a way to allow Pasiphaë to mate with the bull, and Minos locked Daedalus and his son, Icarus, away for their betrayal. Dedalus found a way to escape - but his method put his own son's life in peril.
Heracles, The Man Who Became a God
We all know about Heracles' unequalled strength, and the twelve labors he had to carry out, but we know a great deal less about the way in which his life was turned upside down by a series of terrible curses.
Oedipus, The Riddle Solver
No mortal endured more terrible a tragedy than Oedipus. He was the son of King Laius, King of Thebes. The Gods forbade him to have offspring, and decreed that if Laius gave birth to a son, that son would kill him. Laius removed Oedipus from Thebes, and he grew up far away from the city, without knowing his true identity or the curse that weighed upon on him.
Antigone, The Woman Who Said No
Antigone was one of Oedipus' four children. She had two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, as well as a sister, Ismene. One day, her sister informed her that her two brothers, who were heirs to the throne of Thebes, were fighting each other for power. They had agreed to take power alternately, but when the time came for Eteocles to hand his crown over to Polynices, he refused. An war ensued.
The Great Myths: Season 2
The Apple of Discord
Paris gives the apple to Aphrodite who, in exchange, promises that he will have the love of the fairest mortal woman of them all. A few days later, Paris is invited to the house of Menelaus, the king of Sparta, where he falls in love with the king's wife, Helen. The two of them run away back to Troy under Aphrodite's spell. Filled with rage, Menelaus goes to see his brother, Agamemnon, the most powerful of all the Greek kings. At first, he is tempted to be wise and prudent, but then he is manipulated by Hera and Athena, who still harbour a grudge against Paris for not choosing them. Agamemnon finally summons all the kings of Greece to go and wage war on Troy.
Time for Sacrifice
It is Achilles' mother, the sea nymph Thetis, who inadvertently causes him to change his mind. She tells him that his fate lies in his hands. He can fight and become a hero who will be remembered forever but die young, or he can live a long life, surrounded by his loved ones, and be consigned to oblivion. Achilles does not hesitate and goes off to join the Greek forces. Meanwhile, the seer Calchas reveals that, offended by Agamemnon, the goddess Artemis is preventing ships from leaving port. Agamemnon agrees to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia so he can assemble the largest fleet ever in order to attack Troy.
The Wrath of Achilles
But Paris loves Helen and will hear nothing of it. In the Greek camp, a mysterious plague has been raging for several days. Calchas the seer tells the assembled kings that Apollo sent it as revenge for Agamemnon enslaving the beautiful Chryseis, the daughter of a priest who complained to the god. Achilles demands that Agamemnon return the girl to her father. Agamemnon finally accepts but says that Achilles must give him his protégée, Briseis, as compensation. Seething with rage, Achilles swears that he will fight no more and goes into isolation. His mother, Thetis, goes to Zeus and asks him to defend Achilles. Remembering who he once loved, the mighty Olympian god decides to take the side of the Trojans and sends a dream to Agamemnon to set a trap for him.
The Blood of the Goddess
But just as Menelaus is about to kill Paris, Aphrodite plucks him from the battlefield. Zeus is furious to see the gods interfering in this war, but he cannot prevent it. Athena returns to the battle and grants the young king Diomedes great fury and the ability to distinguish gods from men. He attacks the goddess Aphrodite, who is there to defend her son Aeneas, injuring her on the hand. Then he takes on Ares, the god of war, who is there to defend Aphrodite's honour. As the battle rages, Achilles sits indifferently playing the lyre in his tent.
The Sword and the Scales
Hector, the king of Troy's eldest son, is confident. His sister, Cassandra, is much less so. She has always known that Paris would bring misfortune to the Trojans, and she forces her mother, Hecuba, to admit it. The battle resumes, and when Poseidon gets involved, so too does Zeus, weighing the two sides' fates and favouring the Trojans. The Greeks know that victory is impossible for them without Achilles their great hero. Agamemnon agrees to send a delegation to ask him to return to combat. But will Achilles accept their appeals?
Hera's Plan
The wall built by the Greeks threatens to collapse. Angry about not being able to intervene, Hera concocts a plan and seduces her husband Zeus using Aphrodite's magic girdle. While he is sleeping, she rushes to warn Poseidon, who is also riled by having to obey orders from the god of Olympus. He rallies the Greek troops who retake the upper hand. Ajax takes on Hector, the eldest son of the king of Troy, and injures him. When Zeus wakes up, he is horrified to discover that Hector is dying.
Patroclus and the Myrmidons
Achilles refuses but agrees to let Patroclus wear his armour and lead the Myrmidons to save the Greeks. Believing they have seen Achilles, the Trojans beat a retreat. After killing Sarpedon, Zeus's son, Patroclus is filled with confidence and marches on Troy. First he is pushed back by Apollo, then he is killed by Hector, the eldest son of King Priam. Upon hearing this news, Achilles breaks down and vows to avenge the death of his friend. His mother Thetis promises to return the following morning with new armour and weapons for him.
Achilles' Revenge
Hector's wife Andromache knows that the return of Achilles threatens her husband, and she begs him not to fight. But Hector leaves to face his fate. Meanwhile, Achilles has become uncontrollable. The gods decide to re-enter the battlefield, so each of them can defend their side. Achilles has reached the River Scamander and it flows red with the blood of slain Trojan warriors. The river god Scamander then turns against Achilles, sweeping him away in the current. Hera panics and asks Hephaestus to save Achilles. Will he reach him in time?
Vanquish or Die
Mount Olympus no longer resembles Mount Olympus. On the battlefield, Hector takes fright when he sees Achilles advancing towards him. When the duel between the two heroes finally takes place, Hector launches his spear at Achilles but the goddess Athena diverts its flight. Achilles then kills Hector, ties the dead body to his chariot and drags it around the city walls. When night falls, King Priam implores Achilles to hand over his son's body. Moved by the old king's request, Achilles agrees. That evening, Odysseus finally comes up with a plan that could give victory to the Greeks.
Trojan Horse
When the Trojans assume that the horse must be an offering to Athena, Priam has it brought into the city. At nightfall, the Greeks climb out of the horse, opening the gates of the city to the rest of their army, and start to massacre the Trojans. Menelaus is reunited with Helen. Paris fires an arrow into the heel of Achilles, who collapses to the ground. Zeus watches on helplessly and realises that men will no longer be able to believe in the gods after such a slaughter. With the city still burning, Odysseus sails away with his comrades, without any sense of triumph. Ten years of fighting. But who will remember the Trojan War?
The Great Myths: Season 3
Episode 1
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Episode 2
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Episode 3
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Episode 4
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Episode 5
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Episode 6
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Episode 7
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Episode 8
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Episode 9
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Episode 10
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