cosmonadarovicarts

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Odypen sketch yay yay yippee wahoo

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Some robins designs so they’re not just “kid with a mask and curtain bangs”

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WIPS of big daddy thunder-bringer! i hate him :)

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Amphion and Zethus, two of the most underrated Greek heroes… partially bc their first big deed was killing abusive slave owners to avenge their mother lol.

I didn’t have much to go with for their designs, Greek heroes and gods tend to have physical traits that makes them from the rest, Perseus had the flying sandals and helm of Hades combo, Athena had her Gorgon aegis, even Odysseus is usually depicted wearing a Pileus, which was a common hat but it was still SOMETHING. So I did a little digging, and found that according to Hyginus Fabulae “all those of the dragon’s progeny have a mark on their bodies” and by dragon’s progeny it likely means Spartoi, the “mark” isn’t really described but I chose to interpret it as serpentine scales. I was also inspired to make them really tan based on a Roman fresco.

There’s also the topic of how exactly Antiope was able to recognize them when they first met, so I like to think she saw their markings and quickly knew.

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A lot of people don't know that Robert Graves already wrote popular Greek myth perceptions before PJ - with some has everlasting damages for the worst.

the idea of a Triple Goddesses being universal in every myth? Nope, not a thing; he invented it.

Greece was originally matriarchal before it turned to patriarchy? He didn't invented it, but he popularized it (just look up his White Goddess thesis).

Medusa was actually a goddess and her being raped by Poseidon is a symbol of patriarchy? Also popularized it.

the gods attempt to overthrow Zeus, and Hera, Apollo, Poseidon were punished afterward? Well Graves mixed up a lot of confusing sources into one.

Hestia giving up her Olympian seat to Dionysus? He invented it.

Ares the jock to Hephaestus the nerd? He did that earlier.

Hestia the most kindest and peaceful goddess? He beat you all already.

Hera was forced to marry Zeus and hated the marriage?

Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades drawing lots on who get to rule which domain?

Amphitrite being a jealous wife like Hera?

His ideas baby.

And that's not even getting into the other whacky stuff he conjured up.

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Steph puts a lot of thought into her gifts.

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I DID IT HAHAHAHAHAHA

I FOUND THE PASSAGE OF ARES DANCING AT HIS DAUGHTER'S WEDDING AAAAAH-

HONESTLY IS WAY CUTER THAN I EXPECTED AWWWW

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Not even the gods can help you with that, brother

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my very heart is not my own. they have taken from me even that.

Hiii this is part of a style study assignment for one of my classes :) Helen of Sparta oh how I adore you

Inspired by a lot of Mycenaean frescoes and also @/flaroh's work ^^

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he was hardly monstrous then

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thanatos picks zagreus up after death by natural causes challenge

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So Madeline Miller is writing a Persephone retelling. So let's make our bets about the book.

The winners will win this picture of a brick.

So let's make a bet.

A.) She will potray Demeter as an abusive mother, whaile the kidnapping will be ereased, and Hades will be baby boyfied.

B.) Hades will be potrayd as eveil incarnate, and Demeter will be potrayd as a poor poor blorbo (similar to how she potrayd Circe)

C.) Both will be potrayd as the worst. Demeter, and Hades will be potrayd as abusive, and Persephone will be potrayd as a poor poor girl who always has to suffer.

My bet is that it will be C.).

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On the hundredth day after the new year the heralds come to the doors of the city, announcing the arrival of the Golden Caravan at the farthest stop of its route ; like every year, citizens and travellers will surely gather at the western door to see it come to pass.

Right behind the banners as customary are the sculptor priests, foremost of the stonemason orders, bringing in this year's votive masterwork for the festivities. The black and white steppe oxen precede the arrival of the head guild architect, charged with the safekeeping of the citizens' sacred geometry. The graduating apprentices and newly welcomed novices walk besides the draftsroom carriage, bearing the icons of the Citizen Architects Guild : ardor and patience. Out of the kilns of the imperial workshops come delicate masterwork sought after the world over ; the sister-ceramists are selected from various key regions of the trade system and bring their local styles to the imperial production. Those workshops are the northernmost stop on the caravan's route.

Behind the masons, the torchbearers announce the arrival of the metalworkers' guilds, chief of which the head goldsmith on a palanquin of her own design. The braseros and forges are continuously tended by guild kindlers as to remain lit throughout the entire voyage of the caravan. Second to last comes the host of the manticore, behind the braseros of the master kindlers. It is believed that the creature requires her caretakers to be pure of heart and most diligent ; the honour is bestowed only on the highest performing apprentices of the smithing guilds. On the last day finally, behind the last of the apprentices, the crones of the chain count the days left to craft, keeping misfortune at work away, and, some even say, Death itself.

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These two jerks.

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Greek myth retellings: The cracks are finally showing

So, here we are, years into the trend of "feminist" Greek myth retellings, and the shine is finally wearing off.

Hypocrisy in the Name of Feminism

Many of these retellings claim to be empowering, but is it really empowering to flatten every female character into the same tragic, trauma-filled archetype? Trauma becomes the only defining trait. And while trauma is real and valid, it's often used in these books for shock value, not to explore depth or growth. Meanwhile, all men (gods or mortals) are reduced to villains, as if that's the only way to make a woman "strong." It’s lazy writing hiding behind a moral statement.

Cultural erasure as progressiveness

A lot of these stories don’t feel like they’re written to honor Greek culture, they feel like they’re using it. Ancient Greece becomes a vague backdrop for a modern Western agenda. Gods and customs are rewritten with no respect for how they actually worked in Greek myth or history.

Exploited system

What’s especially frustrating is how these overrated retellings are constantly pushed by publishers, book clubs, social media, and influencers. Meanwhile, actual thoughtful or culturally grounded myth-inspired works get buried.

Quantity over quality

Writers often rely on assault, death, and betrayal to generate emotion instead of building complex characters. Women are traumatized. Men are evil. Repeat. And when people call it out, the defense is always: "Well, ancient Greece was brutal!" Sure, it was, but life wasn't black and white and myths weren’t only brutal. They were poetic, symbolic, layered. There was tragedy, comedy, redemption, catharsis. That all gets lost.

Exploiting Greek culture for clout

Here’s the harsh truth: Greek myths are trending because they sell. But instead of uplifting Greek voices or engaging with the myths respectfully, publishers just push the same formulaic trauma story with a different goddess slapped on the cover. It’s aesthetic colonization with a pastel palette.

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The curse of Cadmus family

Pentheus' Death

The Tragedy of Oedipus

Eteocles vs Polynices (Theban wars)

Antigone and Ismene

After Cadmus killed Ares sacred beast to save Harmonia, in his anger the god cursed his bloodline to suffer.