Mon Sep 16 15:38:58 UTC 2024: ## Netflix’s “Kaos” Gets a Mythological Makeover: Expert Explains Where the Show Diverges from Ancient Lore
While Netflix’s dark comedy “Kaos” is a thrilling and clever reimagining of Greek mythology, some viewers might be left wondering where the show deviates from the ancient tales. Emily Hauser, a Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of Exeter, breaks down five key elements of “Kaos” and explains how they relate (or don’t!) to the original myths.
**Bees, not a Hera Specialty:** While Hera famously transformed Io into a cow in punishment for Zeus’s transgressions, the bees in “Kaos” are a twist based on the myth of Eurydice (Riddy in the show). Eurydice was said to have died from a snakebite while fleeing a beekeeper’s advances, leading to the beekeeper’s bees being killed as punishment. This shared theme of bees, rape, death, and revenge likely inspired the show’s beekeeping Hera.
**Dionysus’s Fluffy Friend:** Although Dionysus is known for his association with panthers and leopards in ancient mythology, “Kaos” introduces a new companion for the god: a kitten named Dennis. The name itself is a clever easter egg, as it translates to “follower of Dionysus,” making the fluffy feline the god’s first disciple.
**Zeus’s Daddy Issues: A Familiar Theme:** The show’s exploration of Zeus’s paranoia about being overthrown is deeply rooted in Greek myth. The cycle of destruction, starting with Chaos and ending with Zeus’s own potential fall, is a recurring theme. “Kaos” takes this concept a step further, introducing the Frame as a new mechanism for harvesting souls and threatening Zeus’s immortality.
**Reincarnation: A Reimagined Concept:** While “Kaos” introduces the Frame as a new concept, the idea of the transmigration of souls has its roots in ancient Greek philosophy and religion. Virgil’s Aeneid describes a journey to the Underworld, similar to Orpheus’s journey in the show, where souls await reincarnation.
**Zeus’s Cupbearer Gets a Makeover:** “Kaos” depicts Zeus’s cupbearers as ballboys, a modern twist on the ancient myth of Ganymede, a beautiful Trojan youth snatched away by Zeus to serve as his cupbearer on Mount Olympus. While Ganymede was granted immortality in the myth, “Kaos” takes a more comedic approach, incorporating a darkly humorous rifle-shooting scene that wouldn’t have been possible in the original tale.
“Kaos” offers a captivating and insightful take on Greek mythology, cleverly weaving in elements of the original stories while introducing its own imaginative twists. For those wanting to explore the connections between the show and the ancient myths, Emily Hauser’s analysis provides a helpful guide, highlighting both the similarities and the creative liberties taken by the show’s creators.
First Piper 