Heroes Invoking Religion and Myth

[fangirljen]

OMG! *bounce* I haven't been this excited about a literary connection since eriksavatar realized that St. Joseph's Hospital, the hospital where Nathan is recovering, is not to reference Joseph, as in Jesus's father, but Joseph as in Joseph of Culpertino, the Patron Saint of air travellers, astronauts, people with mental handicaps, and test takers. Thanks to willowpolson for bringing him to our attention. He's a really interesting Saint so you you need to check him out.

But this one, this connection, is all mine. :D

The Petrellis and their schemes and controlling tendencies, they are the Greek Gods Zeus and Hera. I'm definitely not up on my Greek myth, but I came to this conclusion when I found that Daphne is Hermes. She is the messenger. And one of Hermes' symbols? The tortoise. I'm also intrigued by how the Caduceus, the warring snakes, resembles the Pinehearst double helix.

I wish I had more to say this, but I'm really curious to hear what other people say. So, speak out! :D

Comments

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

Considering that Zeus boinked everything in sight... oh dear. More Petrelli brothers? *g*

One of my most beloved books is Tvål, a book on soap operas that among other things claim that the same archetypes show up in soaps and in old Greek myths. And since Heroes has definitely entered the cracky soap stage, I think you're right. :-) Now we only have to figure out who everyone is!

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

Okay, having thought some more about this: Hera did kick a baby out just like Angela did, but I can't think of any other similarities (and Sylar is definitely not Hephaestus). Arthur has some potential similarities to Cronus, who ate his children and was slayed by his son Zeus.

My initial thought on Peter was Apollos, the doctor/musician, for some reason, but I can also think of him and Nathan as Kastor and Polydeukes/Pollux - the immortal and mortal brothers, where the immortal shares his immortality with the mortal.

Mohinder's current storyline has a lot in common with both Prometheus and Pandora, with the lethal curiosity. And I think the show in general tends towards the tragic irony (especially in regards to the Cheerleader storyline and Isaac's paintings), where you meet your fate by trying to avoid it. Am thinking for instance of the abandonments of Perseus and Oedipus - which could mean interesting things for Sylar, I suppose.

That's all I have right now, I'll keep thinking!

[the-beth-way.livejournal.com]

and Sylar is definitely not Hephaestus

Really? Because I definitely think an argument could be made for some parallels between the smith god/master builder and the guy who knows how everything works...

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

I may be biased - I like Hephaestus. :-) Worst thing he ever did was catch his two-timing wife in a net. So yeah, I can see your point, but just... ugh.

[the-beth-way.livejournal.com]

but just... ugh.

Well, I bow out there. Can't really build upon that logic.

[kaylamds.livejournal.com]

I maybe buy the Daphne as Hermes thing, but that's about it. Hera was a bitch who always tried to best Zeus, and Zeus was a womanizer to the extreme. Though they do all act like big babies, so maybe there's something. Mohinder would so be Hephaestus, who makes weapons and things and is crippled. Does that make Claire Aphrodite though?

*loves Greek mythology, lol*

[the-beth-way.livejournal.com]

I'm curious to see how Aphrodite resonates with Claire (besides the very obvious OMFGGORGEOUS factor, of course). In Greek mythology I think Claire has the most in common with Achilles (immortal/indestructible but for one weakness: in Achilles' case it's the heel, in Claire's it's her fragile psyche)

[pavaneofstars.livejournal.com]

Hey, you're onto something! Makes sense to me! :D

[the-beth-way.livejournal.com]

On a more Christian note, I've just recently learned for Mormons there is an interesting perception of the angel Gabriel and Biblical Noah:

Latter-Day Saint view
In Latter-day Saint theology, Gabriel lived in this mortal life as the patriarch Noah. Gabriel and Noah are regarded as the same individual; Noah being his mortal name and Gabriel being his heavenly name.
-Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel#Latter-Day_Saint_view)

[fangirljen.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! That's really cool. So Gabriel is how Bennet could be, perhaps if he didn't have Claire. Hehe. I like that. Thanks for the link and the info! :D

[roguedemonhunte.livejournal.com]

Kring is/was LDS too.

[petrellilover.livejournal.com]

I have been trying to figure out what Heroes would be the 12 Olympian gods for a little bit now. I need to study everyone more. I think Peter = Zeus/Nathan = Neptune/Sylar = Hades