The Titans were a race of godlike giants in Greek mythology, who ruled the Earth before they were overthrown by the Olympians. The Titans were determined by generations. The first generation of Titans were the twelve children of Gaia and Uranus. each was believed to personify the forces of nature. The six sons and six daughters included: Cronus and Rhea, Iapetus and Themis, Oceanus and Tethys, Hyperion andTheia, Crius and Mnemosyne, and Coeus and Phoebe. The first generation were the aunts, uncles, and parents of Zeus (Cronus and Rhea) and the other Olympian Gods.
2) Are the any interesting motifs you see frequently appearing (Eg. Lightning bolts)? How do you interpret their meaning? Can you name a modern version, of this motif, used today?
Lightening/Lightening Bolt – There is a thunder storm raging with lightening the night that Perseus' mother was murdered and he was thrown from a cliff in a box with her body with the intention of death. He was found this stormy night by the fisherman who associates the storm with their union, however it appears to represent the rage of Zeus at the attempted murder of his son. A fierce lightening storm also occurs when a child is about to be born to the fisherman family. This could represent Perseus' own feelings towards the child as he believes that he will be excluded as he is not born from them but found and does not feel like their son. This shows the link between Perseus and his real father, Zeus. The same thunder storm occurs the night before Perseus and his earth family discover the statue of Zeus (who is holding a lightening bold in his hand, his body in an attack-ready stance) which is being torn down by the army of Argos. Lightening also reappears throughout the movie whenever Zeus appears or disappears, or wherever his power is present or being transferred i.e drawn into the Perseus' sword that was gifted upon him by Zeus.
The lightening bolt represent the enormity of Zeus' power and strength. Lightening is unpredictable and can strike fear within many in a large radius. We are at the mercy of lightening in a thunderstorm, it has the power to destroy our homes and take lives in an instant. In this way it also represents speed and agility. The AFL football team 'Port Power' use the lightening bolt within their team emblem. It is held within a strong fist that mimics the image of Zeus.
Another frequent motif was the presence of wings. Many winged creatures featured in the movie; creatures from the Underworld and the godly Pegasus – winged horses most commonly white but the most dominant and fierce of the Pegasus was black. It was sent to watch over Perseus and to aid him in his quest, a sign from the Gods, they're watching over him. Another winged creature was the eagle-like bird that is perched upon Zeus' throne. Zeus actually transforms into this bird when he disguises himself on earth. The feature of many fantastical winged creatures, and the transformation of Zeus himself implies that wings (that also feature on the King of Argos' throne and the silver armour of Zeus) represent a godly power.
"The eagle is a symbol for power, action, speed and perception, it has powers of intuition, creativity and can balance power with grace all these because the eagle has sharp vision which gives it the ability to see hidden truths and spiritual principles." – http://www.animal-symbols.com/eagle-symbol.html
The lightening bolt represent the enormity of Zeus' power and strength. Lightening is unpredictable and can strike fear within many in a large radius. We are at the mercy of lightening in a thunderstorm, it has the power to destroy our homes and take lives in an instant. In this way it also represents speed and agility. The AFL football team 'Port Power' use the lightening bolt within their team emblem. It is held within a strong fist that mimics the image of Zeus.
Another frequent motif was the presence of wings. Many winged creatures featured in the movie; creatures from the Underworld and the godly Pegasus – winged horses most commonly white but the most dominant and fierce of the Pegasus was black. It was sent to watch over Perseus and to aid him in his quest, a sign from the Gods, they're watching over him. Another winged creature was the eagle-like bird that is perched upon Zeus' throne. Zeus actually transforms into this bird when he disguises himself on earth. The feature of many fantastical winged creatures, and the transformation of Zeus himself implies that wings (that also feature on the King of Argos' throne and the silver armour of Zeus) represent a godly power.
"The eagle is a symbol for power, action, speed and perception, it has powers of intuition, creativity and can balance power with grace all these because the eagle has sharp vision which gives it the ability to see hidden truths and spiritual principles." – http://www.animal-symbols.com/eagle-symbol.html
The eagle is associated by the Greeks as the sacred emblem of Zeus. The eagle serves as Zeus' messenger and he has the ability to take this form as previously mentioned. It is also associated to a free spirit due to it's ability to fly to the mountaintops and silently into valleys. The eagle doesn't fear thunder and lightening (associated with Zeus), and is therefore seen as a symbol of spiritual power and courage. The eagle is still used today as the emblem of the United States of America. It was chosen for its long life, great strength and majestic looks, and represents freedom.
3) Is your Greek character in the movie? If so, does the film's interpretation match your research?
Aphrodite is not featured in the movie. She was mentioned, however, when the Queen of Argos proclaims her daughter to be of more beauty than Aphrodite herself. This sparks the first arrival of Hades, and alerts the people of Argos to their mistake of declaring war against the gods and dared to mock them.
4) Are any of the characters, in the movie, related (Eg. a mother or father, wife or husband, brother or sister) to your Greek myth? If so, how?
There were no relations of Aphrodite featured in this film. Some stories told of Zeus being the father of Aphrodite. My research does not support this relation as Aphrodite was born from the sea from the castrated parts of the God Uranus.
5) Is their a constellation of stars named after your Greek character?
There is no constellation that is named specifically after Aphrodite, but there is, however, one which represents her and her son Eros – Pisces. The Pisces constellation depicts two fish, a large fish and a small fish. The large fish ("the great mother") symbolises Aphrodite, and the smaller fish her son Eros. The story tells of Aphrodite transforming both her and her son into fish within the Euphrates River to escape the great monstrous fish, Typhon. Another version of this story claims that Pisces represents the fish that carried Aphrodite and Eros to safety.
6) How is Medusa killed? Does your Greek character have a weakness?
Medusa does not die, but is weakened. Perseus uses the reflection of his shield to locate Medusa as her power to turn men into stone does not work unless the eye contact is made specifically eye to eye and not reflected off a surface. Perseus uses this weakness to his advantage and beheads Medusa leaving her body to wander disorientated into the fiery depths below, incinerating her body in an explosion of flames. Her power remains as her head is used to defeat the Kraken at the end of the film.
Aphrodite's weakness included vanity, bad temper, jealousy and unfaithfulness.
7) Sketch at least 3 ideas for your logo and add them to this post.
Bibliography:
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/titans.html
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/gg/titan.html
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/religionmyth/g/Titans.htm
http://www.animal-symbols.com/eagle-symbol.html
http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle9.html
http://astrologywithdrz.com/pisces/piscesconstellation.htm
http://www.topastronomer.com/StarCharts/Constellations/Pisces.php
http://www.goddess-guide.com/greek-goddess-aphrodite.html
6) How is Medusa killed? Does your Greek character have a weakness?
Medusa does not die, but is weakened. Perseus uses the reflection of his shield to locate Medusa as her power to turn men into stone does not work unless the eye contact is made specifically eye to eye and not reflected off a surface. Perseus uses this weakness to his advantage and beheads Medusa leaving her body to wander disorientated into the fiery depths below, incinerating her body in an explosion of flames. Her power remains as her head is used to defeat the Kraken at the end of the film.
Aphrodite's weakness included vanity, bad temper, jealousy and unfaithfulness.
7) Sketch at least 3 ideas for your logo and add them to this post.
Bibliography:
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/titans.html
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/gg/titan.html
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/religionmyth/g/Titans.htm
http://www.animal-symbols.com/eagle-symbol.html
http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle9.html
http://astrologywithdrz.com/pisces/piscesconstellation.htm
http://www.topastronomer.com/StarCharts/Constellations/Pisces.php
http://www.goddess-guide.com/greek-goddess-aphrodite.html
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