Even Heroes Need a Hug
"Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes" was Rick Riordan's modern retelling of the tales of demigods and their heroic deeds. And it was bordering on satire. It shouldn't be surprising to fans that this book was better than the "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" pentalogy. The Texan author already had a preexisting material, which only needed modifications. And critics wouldn't mind. After all, a classic has universal appeal.
It wouldn't be a waste of time to turn the cover. And those who read Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" must not have second thoughts. Riordan was aware of this definitive material on Greek mythology, but young readers would get bored easily. Entertainment could spice up an old tale, and the author didn't fall short on this aspect. Let's have a look at a few samples:
Otrera finds a good reason to tie a kingdom together. You must have an extensive knowledge in Greek mythology to know Otrera. She was the first Queen of the Amazons, a race of women warriors. But some historians have doubts. (They believed the earliest Amazons existed before Otrera's time.) Riordan saw Otrera as an inspiration for modern-day feminists. Some women might shuddered at the idea, as Otrera didn't find other ways to deal with her rage. Her husband should have seen it coming. (Her tale reminded film enthusiasts of "Thelma and Louise".) The author poked fun at Periclean Athens, as democracy, their greatest legacy to the modern world, wouldn't be possible without the slaves and womenfolk who were confined in the household. Spartan women may have seen better days, but the rigid system meant their days were numbered. Otrera became an inspiration to other women who were fed up of being second-class citizens in their own community. They marched to the other side of the Black Sea and became the first Amazons. No need to argue about the facts, but it won't be for the politically-correct readers.
Orpheus loved himself so much. The son of Calliope could be compared to Justin Bieber. It shouldn't be shocking at all, as there were similarities between the two. (Both could be full of themselves at times, only to be redeemed with their true passion on music.) In fact, it wasn't hard to imagine Orpheus composing a lyrical version of "What Do You Mean?", which he would dedicate to Eurydice. He loved her so much, such that he couldn't live without her. He descended into the netherworld, without resistance. (Even Hades blushed on Orpheus, reminding the god of the Underworld of his abduction of Persephone.) If Orpheus were around, he could have detractors. They would bully him online, but he cared no one else.
How Apollo fell for Cyrene. Artemis would snort at the thought. Cyrene, the daughter of Hypseus, was the fiercest huntress in Lapith. She kept the valley safe from creatures, until a lion came along. Their duel attracted the Olympians. Apollo was more than interested, as he abducted her and took her to Africa. Cyrenaica, located in modern-day Libya, was her realm. What Apollo did was the least expected from a self-indulgent deity, but the heart knew what the mind couldn't understand.
