Percy Jackson & The Olympianswas one of the early, child-friendly novel series that brought Greek mythology retellings into popular culture.Plenty of aspects of Greek mythology differ strongly from contemporary morality and sensibilities,and books likePercy Jacksonhave made them accessible and relatable to larger audiences. This ensures the stories aren’t lost to time and encourages readers to draw their own conclusions about the legacy of the tales. While there aresome ways thePercy Jacksonbooks haven’t aged well, the way the myths and legends of the past were recreated for the books is usually pretty good.
Percy JacksonisRick Riordan’s best book seriesand has stood the test of time because it draws from such enduring parts of Greek mythology. As a middle-grade series, there was no question that Riordan had to lessen the brutality and graphic nature of many of the most famous Greek myths. However, Riordan was an expert at toning them down while also adhering to the moral and thematic lessons at the heart of these tales. Additionally, one thingPercy Jacksonconsistently excelled at was combining different parts of stories to create an original adventure for Percy and his friends.
10The Gods Are Absent Parents
Percy Jackson uses this fact to examine parent-child relationships
Percy and all the other demigods in the series consistently grapple with their complicated relationships with their godly parents. It was common in Greek myths for gods to descend from Olympus, sire a baby, and then leave the growing child to their own devices to fail or succeed as a hero. While they might sometimes appear in visions or during quests,the heroes of mythology were on their own for much of their livesand rarely had the same amazing abilities as the half-bloods inPercy Jackson.
Luke feels abandoned and betrayed by his father, Hermes, which leads him to join Kronos and turn against the gods.
If anything, Percy sees more of Poseidon than most other kids, asthe gods' refusal to intervene in the harsh lives of their children is one of the central motivating factors of the warinPercy Jackson & The Olympians. Luke feels abandoned and betrayed by his father, Hermes, which leads him to join Kronos and turn against the gods. Additionally, many of the children at Camp Half-Blood remain unclaimed throughout the original five books, which is in line with the neglect of the gods in mythology.
9The Sea Of Monsters Features Many Tales From The Odyssey
Though Percy is searching for the Golden Fleece, the second book parallels the Odyssey
Percy Jacksonseason 2 will have audiences worriedfor Percy and his friends, as the stakes are raised in the second novel that the show is adapting. At the start of the story, Percy and his friends embark on an unauthorized quest to find the Golden Fleece to protect Camp Half-Blood. Though the Golden Fleece is fromJason and the Argonauts, notThe Odyssey,The Sea of Monstersintertwines Percy’s story with that of the fabled hero, Odysseus.
The Odysseyis one of the most famous works of Greek mythology, chronicling the tale of Odysseus as he attempts to return home after he fights in the Trojan War. Along the way, he’s sidetracked by the monsters in the Mediterranean Sea, the witch Circe, the sirens, and the Cyclops Polyphemus.Percy encounters all of these traps and enemies during his search for the fleece,ending up on Polyphemus' island. Annabeth even uses her invisibility cap to trick Polyphemus and call herself Nobody, as Odysseus does in his story.
I’m So Glad Percy Jackson Season 2 Isn’t Leaning Away From The Best Part Of The Books
Rick ‘Riordan’s Percy Jackson books brought me joy with their epic hero, and I’m so glad that the show will continue to adapt the best bits of them.
8Chiron Is A Teacher Of Heroes
The leader of Camp Half-Blood is a legendary educator
Training the likes of Jason, Hercules, and Achilles, Chiron is an expert instructor of heroesin Greek mythology, so it’s only right that Riordan would make him the leader at Camp Half-Blood. The reader is first introduced to Chiron inThe Lightning Thief, as he comes personally to Percy’s school masquerading as the human teacher, Mr. Brunner, to determine if Percy is a child of the Big Three. As Percy develops into a hero similar to the greats that Chrion taught, the centaur imparts all the wisdom he can.
Similarly to the legend of Chiron, he’s markedly different from the other centaurs on Earth, who prefer to roam freely and aren’t as concerned with learning and the training of heroes.
Chiron is a wise and caring figure throughout thePercy Jacksonbooks,and since the series splits off slightly from the myths, he becomes a father figure for Percy and the other campers. Similarly to the legend of Chiron, he’s markedly different from the other centaurs on Earth, who prefer to roam freely and aren’t as concerned with learning and the training of heroes. This becomes clear when the Party Ponies, a herd of centaurs, come to Percy’s aid throughout the series and bear no resemblance to Chiron in personality.
7The Gods Are Constantly In Competition
Their petty wars and jealousies are often played out through their children
From the moment that Percy sets foot in Camp Half-Blood, he already has a long list of enemies. Even though Poseidon hasn’t claimed him yet, the other demigods can tell that he’s powerful, andeach child is fiercely loyal to their parents and jealous of anyone who shines as a hero.The rivalry between gods bleeds into the dynamic between their children, and one of the earliest examples of this is how Clarisse, a daughter of Ares, is immediately mistrustful of Percy.
In mythology, these animosities run deep, and gods can hold grudges for a long time.The tensions between the Big Three, Poseidon, Hades, and Zeus, is something that Percy grapples withthroughout the books, as their parents have long histories of betraying and usurping each other. Additionally, whenever Percy and his friends witness the gods on Mount Olympus, they bicker or have all-out fights in front of the demigods, which is similar to how they behave in the myths.
6The Rivalry Between Athena And Poseidon
This long-standing hatred effects the budding relationship between Percy and Annabeth
As a daughter of Athena, Annabeth knows she should have a natural hatred for Percy, as sinceAthens chose Athena as the patron of the city over Poseidon,the two gods have never gotten along. This resulted in tricks and traps for each other that only made the tension between them worse. However, when Percy meets Annabeth, he’s unaware of this history and can’t understand why she won’t trust him and commit to their quest. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long for them to put aside their parent’s animosity.
Riordan uses these existing tensions to raise the stakes for the young love between Annabeth and Percy, making their connection seem all the more special.
Though Annabeth and Percy grow closer, they’re still frequently at oddswhen it comes to deciding on the right path and outcome of a quest. Additionally, when Percy eventually meets Athena, she isn’t cruel, but she holds him at arm’s length, as she’s angry at his father and protective of her daughter. Riordan uses these existing tensions to raise the stakes for the young love between Annabeth and Percy, making their connection seem all the more special.
5The Oracle Of Delphi Is Consulted For Wisdom
The famed prophet is a key part of the Percy Jackson books
While there were plenty of oracles in Greek mythology, the most famous was the Oracle of Delphi,which is present in thePercy Jacksonbooks through an interesting twist. Heroes, kings, and common people sought out the Oracle to predict their futures, believing that she spoke with the knowledge of Apollo, the god of prophecy. This connection to Apollo holds true inPercy Jackson, as he appears when the spirit of the Oracle is able to transfer to another person.
When Percy first encounters the Oracle, there’s a curse put on her that prevents the spirit from entering a new host. Later, it becomes clear thatRachel Elizabeth Dare is the next mortal vessel for the Oracle,and she successfully lets it enter her, helping Percy save the world. The campers rely heavily on the Oracle to give them prophecies for their quests, similar to how people revered the Oracle in ancient times.
4The Furies Serve Hades In The Lightning Thief
Like other denizens of the underworld, the Furies are ruled by Hades
Hades is not a villain inPercy Jackson, but he does play an antagonistic role inThe Lightning Thief, as he believes that Percy is the one who stole the master bolt. This incites him to send his furies after Percy and his friends. One of them,Alecto, poses as a math teacher at Percy’s school, transforming into a furywhen she realizes that Percy is a demigod and believes that he holds the lightning bolt. Though she’s a monster, she doesn’t act only out of chaos and violence, as she serves Hades.
The furies are especially interesting because they don’t attack Percy merely because he’s a demigod; they have an objective because of their loyalties.
This is the same role that the furies hold in Greek Mythology, as in the stories, it’s frequently dangerous to get on the wrong side of any god, especially Hades.Percy has bad luck when it comes to pleasing the gods,and Hades isn’t the last immortal that he has to outrun before the series is over. However, the furies are especially interesting because they don’t attack Percy merely because he’s a demigod; they have an objective because of their loyalties.
3The River Styx Makes Percy Invulnerable Like Achilles In The Last Olympian
In the last book in the original series, Percy makes a dangerous gamble
The legend of Achilles states that his mother dipped him in the River Styx,the water that runs through the Underworld, to make him invulnerable. This was because of the prophecy that foretold his death. However, since she held him by his heel, this part of him remained weak and was his downfall. InPercy Jackson, other demigods follow in his footsteps, understanding that the cost might be their lives. However, the evils that they face are too strong to battle alone.
About to enter into battle with Kronos, Percy realizes how outmatched he is and decides to risk being killed by the Styx to gain this invincibility. However,like Achilles, Percy cannot be wholly invulnerable, and a part of him is still weak,tethering him to the real world and preventing him from dying in the river. In a touching moment, Percy shares where his weak spot is with Annabeth, showing how much he trusts her.
2The Solstices Are Important Moments Throughout The Books
Many quests have a deadline that falls on the solstice
Almost every quest or major event falls on the solstice inPercy Jackson, as these dates signify the end of one season and the beginning of another. Most of the books take place over the summer months, making the summer solstice a recurring plot point in the books, but the winter solstice plays a large role inThe Titan’s Curse. In Greek mythology,the solstices are moments of celebration and honoring the gods to ensure a good harvest and a safe year.
ThePercy Jacksoncharacters placing great importance on the solstice is a vital connection to the Greek myths.
Since every quest must have a deadline, it makes sense that Riordan would choose the solstices, as this often gave Percy and his friends about a month to complete their journey and save the day.In Greek stories, the solstice was a time of revelry,and while the events leading up to the date are fraught inPercy Jackson, the characters usually get a moment to relax after they’ve prevented the end of the world. ThePercy Jacksoncharacters placing great importance on the solstice is a vital connection to the Greek myths.
9 Percy Jackson Book Characters Missing From Season 1 (Who Need To Appear In Season 2)
Although many vital book characters are included in Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1, some missing ones should appear in season 2.
1Icarus And Daedalus’ Story In The Battle Of The Labyrinth
The well-known cautionary tale remains the same in Percy Jackson
The fourth book in the series,The Battle of the Labyrinth, revolves around the ancient maze the inventor Daedalus created for King Minos of Crete to house the Minotaur. Throughout the book, Percy has visions of Daedalus and his son, Icarus, centuries ago being trapped in the labyrinth and forced to work for Minos against their will. Eventually, Percy realizes that he’s seeing Daedalus’ real history play out, up through the terrible day whenDaedalus and Icarus try to escape their prison with wings; Icarus flies too close to the sun and drowns.
The account inPercy Jackson & The Olympiansis almost exactly in line with the Greek myth, and the tragedy makes the reader feel for Daedalus. When the audience meets him alongside Percy, he’s still grieving for his son and plagued by the guilt of creating the labyrinth. However, it’s an effective turning point in the series, as the last two books see Percy’s story get darker and more complex as he prepares for his showdown with Kronos.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians
A young demigod named Percy Jackson learns about his divine heritage and must navigate a world where Greek mythology intersects with modern life. Alongside friends from Camp Half-Blood, he faces mythical creatures, uncovers family secrets, and undertakes perilous quests to thwart ancient prophecies. The series intricately weaves classical mythology with contemporary challenges, exploring themes of bravery, loyalty, and self-discovery, captivating audiences with its rich blend of adventure and timeless legends.
