The Great Myths
Season 1
Tales of love, sex, power, betrayal, heinous crimes, unbearable separations, atrocious revenge, and metamorphoses - the poetic force of the myths has crossed the centuries.
20 Episodes
- Zeus and the Conquest of Power
E1Zeus and the Conquest of PowerTo 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
E2Zeus in LoveHis 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
E3Prometheus, The Rebel of OlympusTaking 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
E4Hades, A Reluctant KingHaving 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. - Apollo, Shadow and Light
E6Apollo, Shadow and LightAlthough 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
E7Aphrodite, Dictated by DesireKronos 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
E8Dionysus, An Outsider in the CityZeus 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. - Psyche, Beauty and the Beast
E11Psyche, Beauty and the BeastIn 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. - Orpheus, A Hymn of Impossible Love
E13Orpheus, A Hymn of Impossible LoveOn 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. - Bellerophon, The Man Who Wanted to be a God
E15Bellerophon, The Man Who Wanted to be a GodBellerophon, 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
E16Theseus, The Ravages of OversightTheseus 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
E17Dedalus and Icarus, A Shattered DreamDedalus, 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. - Oedipus, The Riddle Solver
E19Oedipus, The Riddle SolverNo 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
E20Antigone, The Woman Who Said NoAntigone 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.
