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Posts:
332
From:
Earth
Registered:
6/22/08
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(1 of 60)
Aug 5, 2009 11:35 AM
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an okay start with Zeus.
hope they expand further than just the Greek gods, I did see a shot of Thor at the end. but alot of people know about the Greek and Norse gods. How about some Japanese gods? African gods? Native American gods? ect...
an episode about Inari and one about Amaterasu would be interesting (some gods still worshiped today).
Also I really hope they don't end just about every episode with making it sound like Jesus personally climbed Mt. Olympus and had a throw down with the gods like they did with Zeus. While as the dominant god it made sense to show how his religion was overshadowed by Christianity.
Was a bit disapointed they didn't tell about Athena springing fully grown from his head. One of my favorite stories about Zeus.
but the confused tone was a bit odd, one moment its like "myth, fake," and the next "oh and here are some sites and object attributed to the story" while a Christian, Jewish, or Muslim special doing the same thing usually sounds like they are saying, "and here is physical proof of the story" instead.
but on the note of gods I would like to see a special about other than those seen in the end, which by the way Medusa isn't a god.
Athena
Aphrodite
Thor
Odin
Coyote
Quitzilcoatle
Amaterasu
Inari
Kali
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Posts:
197
From:
NYC
Registered:
1/2/09
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(2 of 60)
Aug 5, 2009 11:40 AM
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Thanks for posting this. I was about to start a thread myself. I am really thankful for you telling me the end as I missed the last part.
I thought it was a good program. I share your hopes about the other god's.
I actually think the "proof" the program shows is a nice shot at current religion and their "proof". Who knows, that may have caused some converts.
--
"A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for... is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
-- John Stuart Mill
"Is god willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is god able but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is god both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is god neither able nor willing? Then why call him god?"
-- Epicurus
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Posts:
2
From:
Philly
Registered:
8/7/09
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(3 of 60)
Aug 7, 2009 11:05 AM
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As was I about to make a thread...
this is an interesting show and I agree entirely with Rhuen on what to do.
hope they do this
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Posts:
1
Registered:
8/10/09
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(4 of 60)
Aug 10, 2009 8:56 PM
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I was wondering why the Zeus character appeared to not resemble statues of Zeus on the series
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Posts:
332
From:
Earth
Registered:
6/22/08
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(5 of 60)
Aug 11, 2009 7:51 PM
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Hercules: Okay History channel if you're going to skip over important details than don't bother. Just Drop the show and do a re-enactment line for line from the myths that go on for multiple episodes.
If you persist to ignore important parts of the myth than you're not educating anyone properly.
The Hercules funeral pyre is a prime example, my mythology books say he did this to escape a horrific pain he was in from a shirt or robe given to him soaked in Hydra venom, he couldn't die only endure the agonizing pain. but burning to death would allow him to escape it.
Also you should have mentioned that he took Cerberus back to the underworld after the trial.
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Posts:
1
From:
Las Vegas, NV
Registered:
8/12/09
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(6 of 60)
Aug 12, 2009 10:52 AM
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That's an interesting topic... how do you properly display history without biased or misinformation (whether it was intentional or not)? I don't think we can to its fullest.
There will always be "what ifs", "could put this in", "could take that out", etc. Everyone has a viewpoint, or a perspective. I'm curious to see where they take the show.
--
Mytheon Action RPG
http://www.petroglyphgames.com
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Posts:
40
Registered:
8/12/09
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(7 of 60)
Aug 13, 2009 12:16 AM
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I think that it would be impossible to cover everything that has been claimed about any one mythological figure in a 45-minute episode, especially when there are varying and often contrary versions of the myths. For example, try to find (or make) a definitive list of the Argo crew. Some Argonauts are left out of some accounts and even the total number is disputed.
I think the Zeus episode was done very well though, both in detail (I would guess that Athena's birth will be covered in her own episode) and visual presentation. The visuals were quite stunning, in fact, and presented a revised look for characters thousands of years old--not easily accomplished. In all, it served as a good introduction to those new to Greek mythology and even though I am familiar with a great deal of it--though far from an expert--I managed to learn a few things.
I do agree, however, that the series should expand beyond only Greek/Roman mythology. I realize that it has special fascination for people because of its relationship with classic Western literature and the sciences like astronomy, but mythology is a vast field too often fully explored. I, for example, know a great deal about the ancient deities of Greece, but next to nothing about Native American deities--even though it is my domestic mythological tradition. There is so little information about the Native American religions on television and I think that's a shame. It truly is our American history and we should all know more about it.
Perhaps the producers are planning to extend to other cultures (Indian, Persian, Norse, Japanese, Chinese, African, Polynesian, Aztec, Mayan, Cherokee, Lakota, Navajo, etc.) in later seasons of the show, but it might not hurt to switch it up more within seasons to keep it fresh and give the viewers some sense of surprise about who will be featured next. It is my greatest hope that the series will continue on long enough to cover all of those I have listed and more, but with the current invasion of reality TV, I am fearful. That, too, is a shame, because this series is actually about history--and important history at that--and not just a film crew following 2-5 people around as they perform some niche job. I can get that elsewhere (sometimes it seems like everywhere). When I turn on the History Channel, I want history! So thank you, History Channel, for continuing to give that to me, even if it is in smaller doses than before.
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Posts:
332
From:
Earth
Registered:
6/22/08
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(8 of 60)
Aug 18, 2009 9:38 PM
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I like that the show shows real places and physical things that were part of the stories. Interesting that Hercules may be based on a real person.
Although one reason I'd like to see some from still existing religions like Inari, Amaterasu, Shiva, Kali, and others is so they can't do that ending where it sounds like Jesus went after the gods with a baseball bat.
Although i do like that the episode pointed out something a good number of people in my life don't believe me about, that there are christian accounts that mention other gods. But its the way they word it that bothers me "zeus faced something even he couldn't resist". or Hades being bested.
Although the Zeus episode should have pointed out that the Hundred handers and others came from the blood of Uranus...which come to think of it, did the show make a mistake?
Did it say in the Zeus episode that the rivalry between Zeus and Chronus STARTED the issues between fathers and sons? I think, if I am remembering correctly that it did...but it didn't. Before Zeus vs Chronus there was Chronus overthrowing his own father Uranus.
Speaking of which the Hades episode made no mention of Thanotos (the essence of death), Styx (who created the underworld and who the river was named after), also a god can be forced to tell the truth or stick to a promise by promising on the river Styx.
some episodes about these primordial gods would be nice, or one regarding the Greek creation story starting with Chaos, Nyx, Erebus. and include even Eurynome and Ophion before the Gaia and Uranus story.
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Posts:
40
Registered:
8/12/09
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(9 of 60)
Aug 25, 2009 2:07 AM
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> Although one reason I'd like to see some from still
> existing religions like Inari, Amaterasu, Shiva,
> Kali, and others is so they can't do that ending
> where it sounds like Jesus went after the gods with a
> baseball bat.
>
> Although i do like that the episode pointed out
> something a good number of people in my life don't
> believe me about, that there are christian accounts
> that mention other gods. But its the way they word it
> that bothers me "zeus faced something even he
> couldn't resist". or Hades being bested.
I thought the same thing. Several of the episodes make Jesus sound like Kratos from the video game God of War. I suppose that's partially because they might attract a crowd that way, to bring an interest from groups not typically interested in mythology.
The other reason, as you seem to have insinuated, seems to be avoiding stepping on anyone's toes--in this case, Chistians'.
That's why I fear I might never see an episode or season on Native American religions, because it might be considered a topic too controversial for the network (as would Hindu deities). I hope I'm wrong about that. I would truly love to see more than just "dead" mythological traditions explored. After all, this should be a show that is an educational one, one to help us all to learn about the faiths of other traditions and find similarities with our own (notice they omitted mentioning the similarity between Orpheus' escape out of Hades and the story of Lot's wife? That might have been an interesting point to make.).
I think the show could easily approach the subject deftly enough not to offend anyone. Sadly, if anyone seems to be drawing a line in the sand about the better, stronger and more valid tradition, it appears to be the show's producers themselves.
--
"The high minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think."- Aristotle
"I consider myself a pretty good judge of people. That’s how come I don’t like none of them." -Roseanne Barr
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Posts:
40
Registered:
8/12/09
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(10 of 60)
Aug 25, 2009 3:36 AM
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Probably artistic license. It's less of a classical representation, but I like it. It's probably similar to the way Jesus is represented differently in contemporary films and paintings than he's historically depicted (and even those vary by culture).
--
"The high minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think."- Aristotle
"I consider myself a pretty good judge of people. That’s how come I don’t like none of them." -Roseanne Barr
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Posts:
40
Registered:
8/12/09
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(11 of 60)
Aug 25, 2009 3:46 AM
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Why isn't this thread in the main TV shows category instead of "Other programs on The History Channel?" It has to air more than The History of the Joke. Is there a way to move it?
--
"The high minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think."- Aristotle
"I consider myself a pretty good judge of people. That’s how come I don’t like none of them." -Roseanne Barr
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Posts:
15
From:
Barry, Texas USA
Registered:
8/12/09
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(12 of 60)
Sep 1, 2009 12:20 PM
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Why did they ignore Heracles' true death (the centaur Nessus, his poisonous blood, and Heracles' jealous wife Deiniera) and Perseus' slaying of the sea monster in Joppa and winning the hand of Andromeda?
Also, Perseus killed his grandfather Acrisius with a thrown discus during a series of games in Argos. Acrisius never even knew that he was his grandson!
I know that the experts and scholars on this show know these things. Why are they not addressed and included on the show?
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Posts:
332
From:
Earth
Registered:
6/22/08
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(13 of 60)
Sep 2, 2009 11:51 AM
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> Why did they ignore Heracles' true death (the centaur
> Nessus, his poisonous blood, and Heracles' jealous
> wife Deiniera) and Perseus' slaying of the sea
> monster in Joppa and winning the hand of Andromeda?
>
> Also, Perseus killed his grandfather Acrisius with a
> thrown discus during a series of games in Argos.
> Acrisius never even knew that he was his grandson!
>
> I know that the experts and scholars on this show
> know these things. Why are they not addressed and
> included on the show?
The show fails to bring up a crucial point about the myths, they are religious stories, and much like the stories of the Bible multiple versions would float around, they seem insistent upon using the most gruesome ones, or ommiting details.
For instance in another version of the Medusa story, Medusa challenges Athena to a beauty contest, and for her pride has her beauty taken away.
on this same Medusa point, the meaning behind the transformation they stated made Athena sound evil, the very same goddess we have a hundred foot statue of (Statue of Liberty), Athena isn't just the goddess of war but also wisdom and democracy.
The meaning of the myths like the meaning of bible stories can be interrprited in many ways. Another way of looking at the Medusa story from Athena's point of view could be not as a puishment, but as a means to prevent her property from being violated again, or as a means of protecting a girl who was meant to stay virginal and away from other people.
Medusa despite her beauty never gave in to any man, despite many advances, her beauty would come out as a curse to this virginal priestess as it was so great that Poseiden raped her. Now Athena can't do anything against her uncle, who is a higher ranked god. But she can prevent her priestess (her property) from being violated again. So she simply removes her beauty and changes her into a form where she can stay alone to her deuties to Athena with out the risk of being violated again (as a virginal goddess would you it).
Medusa (the guardian) is then placed in a temple like structure (brings to some minds a solitary monistary kind of deal, hermit monk/priestess).
Which then later makes Perseus less of a hero in this case and more of a murderer. Everyone turned to stone had gone to kill her. Greek heroes were never "Superman" morals were a little less than perfect.
and yeah on the Perseus story, I never read the version where his father was turned to stone. Did they use an obscure version for the show?
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Posts:
15
From:
Barry, Texas USA
Registered:
8/12/09
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(14 of 60)
Sep 2, 2009 11:59 AM
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I do understand that myths are intepretive. Some say that Aphrodite came from the foam of the sea created by severed manhood of Ouranos (Uranus), and others that she was the daughter of Zeus and Dione.
However, Perseus' rescue of Andromeda and Heracles' death don't change from myth to myth. Those accounts pretty much stay the same, and the show left them out.
They also don't mention Pegasus and Chrysaor springing from the severed neck of Medusa following her death. Not crucial, but still an interesting point of the story.
I think we'll continue to get half the story with Clash of the Gods for as long as it's aired.
Thanks for the reply.
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Posts:
4
Registered:
9/1/09
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(15 of 60)
Sep 3, 2009 9:51 AM
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I agree with most of the criticism leveled at the program. I'm hoping that they do cover more mythologies in addition to Athena, Apollo, Hermes, Hekate, and Dionysos.
The visuals are wonderful, but I feel that a lot is left out and some of the interpretation is questionable at best.
In regards to the Christian bias, I've been in contact with the production company and no hidden agenda is claimed, but I don't buy it.
I do want to see more documentaries and programming on ancient beliefs, but I don't think this is the program.
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