The story of Hercules is one part gritty, serious tragedy and two parts over-the-top monster fights. This week, in the origin story of one of the greatest mythological heroes of the western world, we get to see the human side of the demigod before the story goes completely off-the-rails and it's just one big monster fight topping the next. But don't worry, there are also monster fights this episode.
We'll see that Zeus is essentially the Don Draper of the Greek pantheon, only without all that pesky introspection or likability, and that if your husband cheats on you, you should bring down horrible punishments on everyone but him.
On the creature of the week, it's a grotesque little piggy that just needs a hug.
e-mail: Jason@mythpodcast.com
Music:
"Shipwreck in the Pacific Ocean" by Rolemusic
"Scientology and the Masses" by statusq
"Fine without you (Remix)" by Steve Combs
"Something Elated" by Broke for Free
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The Ancient Greeks believed in something called “miasma” which translates to “pollution”. It was thought that this pollution came from dead bodies and could be transferred to the families of the deceased (they had extensive funeral practices involving cleansing themselves of this miasma) or more specifically — to murderers from their victims. Someone that had committed such a crime would desire purification from this miasma if this crime was accidental manslaughter (as ruled by the judicial system), some god-involved murder that the gods resolved them of, or if they had demonstrated remorse and reform as deduced by the judicial system. Rulers, gods, and religious figures could conduct this purification ritual or there were effects in the Underworld that the souls of these murderers would face. City-wide plagues in Ancient Greece were often thought to be a result of this miasma brought upon the city. I believe the closest thing we have in the modern world would be Catholicism’s confession.
Wow that’d sad
For some possible reasoning behind Hercules’ purification, look into the story of Orestes and what happened after he murdered his mother.