Post by antelope on Mar 3, 2005 16:16:17 GMT -5
After reading some post at some other sites and giving some thought prior to reading these post on the apparant similarities between characters in BSG and the Greek gods, heros, and mythical mortals I am starting to come down on the side of those that say Ron Moore's Battlestar Galactica is a retelling of many of the aspects of the history of the Greek myths. I also think if you see the relationship between the various characters and their Greek myth counterparts their roles and the show becomes clearer. It may even be of some guidance where Ron Moore is taking things. The 12 cylon models, 12 Lords of Kobol, and 12 gods of the Greek pantheon may all be one and the same.
Zeus: Commander Adama. He is the supreme power and maintainer of law. Notice how he kept the law under control during the sabotauge inquiry. Zeus led the revolt against his parents and then took control which if Commander Adama is a cylon is exactly what he did by setting the stage to install himself as military commander of humanity. People notice the lack of dead on Caprica. This makes sense since Zeus banished not executed the vanquished Titans. Peter Zarek refers to Commander Adama as Zeus during the Bastille Day episode.
Apollo: Lee Adama. The most obvious one as the call sign is self-evident. Son of Zeus. Man of truth. His relationship with President Roslin is interesting as it may pattern Apollo's relationship with a mortal named Cassandra who gains the gift of prophecy with Apollo's help (Chip in head after EMP strike initiated by Apollo on Colonial One when everyone went unconscious in the mini?).
Cassandra: President Roslin. If you look at the initial holocaust as a Trojan Horse attack then you could assume that President Adar would be analagous to the King of Troy, Priam. Priam's daughter, Cassandra would be far down the line of succession. Cassandra is given the gift of prophecy by Apollo who falls for her charming ways. Later Cassandra spurns Apollo and Apollo denounces her prophecies even though he knows they are true. This may be foreshadowing to future episodes or themes, maybe even in season 2.
Artemis: Kara Thrace. She is the daughter of Zeus. Commander Adama refers to her as a daughter even though there is no blood relationship. She is the sister of Apollo. This is especially interesting that in mythology she is born first and then helps to deliver Apollo all while in a crisis. This would be analogous to Kara Thrace's rescue of Lee Adama during the Battle of Ragnar and bringing him back to his father in the Galactica. She is the god of the hunt, which as best warrior she fulfills. She is the tamer of wild horses, which is analogous to the episode where she tames the Raider to return her to the Galactica. She has a quick temper for those that disobey her wishes. One story which is analagous to the Olympic Carrier incident has Artemes and Apollo teaming up to put to death the children of Niobe with bows and arrows for some act.
Callisto: Calli: She was one of Artemis's nymphs. As such her role in fixing Kara Thace's viper is analogous to keeping Artemis's horse and chariot. Calli's involvement in the attempted rape on the Bastille Day episode has similarities to the Callisto rape story in mythology.
Aphrodite: Cylon 6: Goddess of love and seduction. Aphrodite is a very jealous god. Cylon 6 has issues we see already with Boomer and she will have issues in future episodes which I won't mention now but pattern the Greek myths in this area.
Hephaestus: Tyrol: Tyrol is the chief mechanic but not an officer in the military. This is very similar to Hephaestus who is a blacksmith and patron god of those who work with their hands. He was looked down upon by the other gods because of what he did (manual labor) and was also considered foolish. Many a poster comments on the seeming foolishness of Chief Tyrol not to see the obvious.
Dionysos: Baltar: Dionysus was torn to shreds by one of the gods but was "reborn" with only his original heart. He is called "twice born". Much of the speculation about how Baltar "survived" the nuclear blast hiding behind the skirt of Cylon 6 seems to be analogous to this story. Dionysos was known for seeking physical pleasure and is the patron of wine and parties. He is also known for madness. Much of what Baltar appears to do to those outside him do seem crazy. He was also known to move to a city, come into the government, be resisted but ultimately able to vanquish his opponents.
Athena: Boomer: She was the god of wisdom and justice and the most important god to many Greeks. I think it interesting that she is associated with those seeking refuge. This aspect seems to run with her role on Caprica with Helo. She is also known to travel with an owl, which is analogous to her being the pilot of a "raptor". In a hint to her true nature in this area she also has a variety of things in her TNS background that runs similar to the TOS character Athena to include assuming the parent role to Boxey and both characters being of Asian-Pacific descent.
Hermes: Loeben: Hermes was the messenger of the gods. Thus far Loeben has brought messenges to Commander Adama, Kara Thrace, and President Roslin. Hermes is also the bringer of dreams to mortals, a role he did this week with President Roslin.
Ares: Doral. He is the god of war. Doral is always around to egg on conflict. In the mini he was there to press Lee Adama to take command against the pacifist Roslin. He was there to see Cylon 6 beat up Caprica Boomer. He blew himself up on the Galactica.
Poseidon: Zarek. Poseidon is the moody god of the oceans. Zarek is extremely moody and thinks he is on an equal footing with the other command players. He runs his own ship now with his own men. It was his men under his command that provided the water that the fleet needed.
That's where I am at for now. I am still considering Colonel Tigh, Gaeta, Duella, and Billy. Colonel Tigh may be analagous to Hades and Gaeta may be one of his minions such as Charon. If Colonel Tigh is Hades it may well be that the gone and now back nature of Colonel Tigh's wife introduced tomorrow night will be analagous to Hades love Persephene, who he can only keep on a seasonal basis. If this is true then the real powers in the show may be Commander Adama, Colonel Tigh, and Zarek.
Although the show seems based on the Greek myths they are not twins and it does not mean everything has to turn out the same. This does however give insight to the story beneath the story and maybe what's going on inside the head of the characters or the head of Ron Moore.
Zeus: Commander Adama. He is the supreme power and maintainer of law. Notice how he kept the law under control during the sabotauge inquiry. Zeus led the revolt against his parents and then took control which if Commander Adama is a cylon is exactly what he did by setting the stage to install himself as military commander of humanity. People notice the lack of dead on Caprica. This makes sense since Zeus banished not executed the vanquished Titans. Peter Zarek refers to Commander Adama as Zeus during the Bastille Day episode.
Apollo: Lee Adama. The most obvious one as the call sign is self-evident. Son of Zeus. Man of truth. His relationship with President Roslin is interesting as it may pattern Apollo's relationship with a mortal named Cassandra who gains the gift of prophecy with Apollo's help (Chip in head after EMP strike initiated by Apollo on Colonial One when everyone went unconscious in the mini?).
Cassandra: President Roslin. If you look at the initial holocaust as a Trojan Horse attack then you could assume that President Adar would be analagous to the King of Troy, Priam. Priam's daughter, Cassandra would be far down the line of succession. Cassandra is given the gift of prophecy by Apollo who falls for her charming ways. Later Cassandra spurns Apollo and Apollo denounces her prophecies even though he knows they are true. This may be foreshadowing to future episodes or themes, maybe even in season 2.
Artemis: Kara Thrace. She is the daughter of Zeus. Commander Adama refers to her as a daughter even though there is no blood relationship. She is the sister of Apollo. This is especially interesting that in mythology she is born first and then helps to deliver Apollo all while in a crisis. This would be analogous to Kara Thrace's rescue of Lee Adama during the Battle of Ragnar and bringing him back to his father in the Galactica. She is the god of the hunt, which as best warrior she fulfills. She is the tamer of wild horses, which is analogous to the episode where she tames the Raider to return her to the Galactica. She has a quick temper for those that disobey her wishes. One story which is analagous to the Olympic Carrier incident has Artemes and Apollo teaming up to put to death the children of Niobe with bows and arrows for some act.
Callisto: Calli: She was one of Artemis's nymphs. As such her role in fixing Kara Thace's viper is analogous to keeping Artemis's horse and chariot. Calli's involvement in the attempted rape on the Bastille Day episode has similarities to the Callisto rape story in mythology.
Aphrodite: Cylon 6: Goddess of love and seduction. Aphrodite is a very jealous god. Cylon 6 has issues we see already with Boomer and she will have issues in future episodes which I won't mention now but pattern the Greek myths in this area.
Hephaestus: Tyrol: Tyrol is the chief mechanic but not an officer in the military. This is very similar to Hephaestus who is a blacksmith and patron god of those who work with their hands. He was looked down upon by the other gods because of what he did (manual labor) and was also considered foolish. Many a poster comments on the seeming foolishness of Chief Tyrol not to see the obvious.
Dionysos: Baltar: Dionysus was torn to shreds by one of the gods but was "reborn" with only his original heart. He is called "twice born". Much of the speculation about how Baltar "survived" the nuclear blast hiding behind the skirt of Cylon 6 seems to be analogous to this story. Dionysos was known for seeking physical pleasure and is the patron of wine and parties. He is also known for madness. Much of what Baltar appears to do to those outside him do seem crazy. He was also known to move to a city, come into the government, be resisted but ultimately able to vanquish his opponents.
Athena: Boomer: She was the god of wisdom and justice and the most important god to many Greeks. I think it interesting that she is associated with those seeking refuge. This aspect seems to run with her role on Caprica with Helo. She is also known to travel with an owl, which is analogous to her being the pilot of a "raptor". In a hint to her true nature in this area she also has a variety of things in her TNS background that runs similar to the TOS character Athena to include assuming the parent role to Boxey and both characters being of Asian-Pacific descent.
Hermes: Loeben: Hermes was the messenger of the gods. Thus far Loeben has brought messenges to Commander Adama, Kara Thrace, and President Roslin. Hermes is also the bringer of dreams to mortals, a role he did this week with President Roslin.
Ares: Doral. He is the god of war. Doral is always around to egg on conflict. In the mini he was there to press Lee Adama to take command against the pacifist Roslin. He was there to see Cylon 6 beat up Caprica Boomer. He blew himself up on the Galactica.
Poseidon: Zarek. Poseidon is the moody god of the oceans. Zarek is extremely moody and thinks he is on an equal footing with the other command players. He runs his own ship now with his own men. It was his men under his command that provided the water that the fleet needed.
That's where I am at for now. I am still considering Colonel Tigh, Gaeta, Duella, and Billy. Colonel Tigh may be analagous to Hades and Gaeta may be one of his minions such as Charon. If Colonel Tigh is Hades it may well be that the gone and now back nature of Colonel Tigh's wife introduced tomorrow night will be analagous to Hades love Persephene, who he can only keep on a seasonal basis. If this is true then the real powers in the show may be Commander Adama, Colonel Tigh, and Zarek.
Although the show seems based on the Greek myths they are not twins and it does not mean everything has to turn out the same. This does however give insight to the story beneath the story and maybe what's going on inside the head of the characters or the head of Ron Moore.
