Magic Thursday: Representation of Gods in Myth with Efthalia!

 

I want to talk about the Hades and Persephone myth that has become in recent years very popular, and overtly romanticized into a type of beauty and the beast fetish. I was saying on a podcast a few weeks ago that Greek myths in the simplest terminology, are rather unpleasant. In the Hades and Persephone myth, 

• he kidnaps her 
• rapes her
• holds her against her will
• forces her into marriage

There is nothing consensual or romantic in this myth. Modern retellings try to play down the rape motif, which is a recurring theme in Greek mythology. I wholeheartedly commend the authors that have used the myth and gods in this way, but I could not do that. They are gods, and while everyone puts Ancient Greek Religion in the myth basket, the truth is that the Greek gods were part of a religious structure that was the nexus of polis (city) life. People built temples to the gods, venerated, dedicated, and celebrated them. To mock the gods in ancient Greek thought was offensive, and to a degree, horrific, as you could bring down their wrath. Which brings me back to, how do I represent them?

Well basically, as gods. That is where it begins, and that is where it ends. As a classics student, my ideas of the Greek gods have been shaped by my studies, so my representation is always going to reflect the body of work I have completed over the years. So, should we over-romanticize myths? That’s definitely in the hands of the author, and there is no right or wrong in this business, only what works and works well for the author. 

Phoenix: The Rise

Book 3, Phi Athanatoi

She wants justice. He wants to make things official. But for a demi-god and vampire there are bigger battles.

Demi-god Carissa Alkippes has fought her equal share of demons and Olympian gods, when one battle ends another begins. Only this one may destroy the thin veil between supernatural creatures, gods and humans. To make things worse Zeus offers her a ‘get in and out of Olympus’ card, which paints a dangerous target on her back. Now she must get a handle on her power.

With new enemies hunting her down, Carissa must use everything she knows to protect those she loves from being collateral damage.

Xen Lyson, has seen much in his immortal life and walking Carissa down the aisle is at the top of his vampire list, but when an ancient libation bowl turns up, so does Discord and Death.

Now they have fight not only to protect humanity, but themselves too. Will they defeat their enemies in time to tie-the-knot?

ThePhi Athanatoi is a paranormal, fantasy romance series featuring; vampires, werewolves, witches and Greek gods. If you love stories with strong heroines, adrenaline-filled drama, prophecies, Greek mythology and immortal warriors, then you'll love the Phi Athanatoi.

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Efthalia

A few particulars about my demographic abode. I live in the beautiful city of Sydney, Australia with my husband and two children who keep me immersed in all things family.

My passion for writing was cultivated by the stories my mother told me as a child. At school I often day-dreamt of exciting new worlds where the heroine had super powers and would save the day. My English teachers told me on a regular basis that I should stop making up my own words. Well, that flaw is now my super power. Making up words, characters and worlds is all part of fiction writing and something I love doing.

I have an MA in Writing and am currently studying the Classics and Archaeology at Sydney University.​

You can find met at my website.

Magic Thursday: The Greek Gods and Intervention

by Efthalia

The gods of Olympus are, controlling, devious, and at times frolicsome and by no means trustworthy. Mortals are mere chess pieces that get tossed about for entertainment and pleasure brought on by gods desire to intervene with humanity. The gods play their relative roles of obstruction from the beginning to end in one of the most widely read classics, Homer’s Iliad.

The thing that sparks the whole controversy in the Iliad, is the utmost accountable goddess of meddling – Eris a.k.a Strife. For she fills men’s hearts with violence and hatred. It is easy to cast blame on her or redirect her actions as unstoppable sequences of events that have dire consequences. It is Eris who propels the first action toward the Trojan War, as you all know, by throwing the apple labelled ‘to the fairest’ amongst the goddesses, Hera, Aphrodite and Athena at the wedding of Thetis and Peleus’ (Achilles parents). Paris is then called upon by the goddesses to judge which goddess should own the title of the fairest. Naturally, the poor fool picks Aphrodite, because she offers him the most beautiful woman – Helen, hence the start of the most famous Trojan War. Why does she do it? The simple answer, her willingness to bring about mayhem is her birthright. She exists to bring discord whether to mortals or gods. Eris is essentially the spark that ignites trouble.

Another way in which the gods intervene through supernatural means is via dreams or thoughts that are specifically placed in one’s mind. Divination goes back to Ancient Egypt, the survival of New Kingdom documents (Book of the Dead) inform us of the possibility that dreams were a mode of divine communication, although divine discourse had always been the prerogative of the Pharaoh – who was seen as semi-divine. Dreams for many cultures were portals to the gods. I use divination in both my books and for my characters they work as a mechanism in legitimizing the choices and actions the characters take. For example, it propels them into action but not always. In Phantasma which is book 1 in my series, the dreams are a constant in my heroine’s life. She dreams of her hero but also of Hera. Hera gives her the gift of a child through her dream. It is important to remember that dreams for the ancients were a powerful transmission and not to be taken lightly. Dreams nevertheless were only one way in which the ancient Greek gods intervened with mere mortals.

The gods themselves were not without fault. They manipulated situations to their opportunistic advantage, they told lies, mourned their losses, cheated and had an array of human characteristics, thus they were compatible to the fundamental functioning of society and life within the Greek domain. Greek religion was not about the complete and ‘only’ worship of the gods. The gods were in fact, an everyday part of life, the pinnacle to religious sacrifice and participation. For the ancient Greeks, it was purely about the physical contribution with the gods.

I play with the theme of ancient religion vs modern in book 2. It was something I felt that my characters needed to address, but also something I wanted the reader to understand from a characterisation perspective. Particularly with the heroine, Carissa. The opening scene in book 2 kicks off in a church. Xen, a vampire and, head of the Phi Athanatoi has no reservation about stepping into a church. He understands his place in the here and now as well as, in his parallel world that resides alongside Carissa’s. He has lived through pagan worship to modern and comprehends the evolution of it. My heroine, however, is still coming to terms with the knowledge that the Olympian gods are very much present and intervening and that she is the daughter of Ares. She gets more than a good dose of the gods.

What we can learn from the intervention of gods is that they help in all spheres of human activity but sometimes it comes at a price. The gods were a significant catalyst to the fundamental functioning of the polis. It is therefore not surprising that Homer et al had them intervening in human affairs. 

PHANTASIA 
“A Bad Day on Olympus,” Book 2 in the Phi Athanatoi Series


What is it about?
A codex, a key and a missing tray of Baklava.


Blurb
When ex-cop-now-demi-god Carissa Alkippes steps over the threshold of the Olympian gates with her bad boy father, she has only one objective – justice. But Zeus shifts the goal post, nothing is straight forward with the Gods. Now she must step up and do as he has requested. With time against her, will she succeed?

Xen Lyson, immortal vampire and head of the Phi Athanatoi has his hands full with the evil that preys on humankind. To make matters worse he is troubled that Carissa is on Olympus and that he has no way of protecting her. His frustration is amplified when she re-appears and brings with her a colossal sized problem.


Release Date: 30th July 2019
Links for pre-order to follow soon.



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