Live From Mount Olympus is a podcast by the Onassis Foundation that combines contemporary theater with the storytelling of Greek mythology.
The first season retells the story of Perseus, who makes a vow to save his mother from the tyrannical King Polydectes by slaying the Gorgon Medusa and bringing back her head. Assisting Perseus on his quest are the gods Athena and Hermes, the latter played by André De Shields of Hadestown fame. But while the gods can offer advice and assistance, Perseus must ultimately do things himself as he comes into his own as a hero.
The second season retells the myth of Persephone's abduction by Hades. Tired of literally following in her mother's footsteps, young Persephone chances a picnic with her friends, only to be stolen away to the Underworld. As Persephone grapples with being on her own for the first time, Demeter, furious and heartbroken over her daughter's disappearance, threatens the safety of the entire world as she refuses to make anything grow.
The third season retells the myth of Atalanta, who was raised by bears since infancy and possessed great speed and skill at the hunt. As she grows into womanhood, she often finds herself at odds with the strange world of humans, especially everyone wanting her to get married. Meanwhile, the prince Meleager calls together a hunt for the Calydonian boar, and Atalanta would be a worthy asset—if they can convince the party of men to allow her to join.
The fourth season retells the Titanomachy and the story of Prometheus, the Titan who could see the future and turned against Kronos to join the gods. His friendship with Zeus brings power and crucial alliances, but they have different ideas on how to restore the world, and he's ultimately punished for giving fire to mankind.
The whole series can be listened to here
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This podcast contains examples of:
- Adaptation Deviation: Rather than visiting King Atlas and turning him into stone for refusal of hospitality, Perseus visits the Titan Atlas and offers to turn him into stone to ease his burden of holding the sky, but Atlas refuses.
- Adaptation Expansion: Persephone's time in the Underworld was expanded to include a meeting with Styx, the goddess of the river bearing her name, as well as Persephone helping a shade drink from the pool of memory to remember her daughter's name.
- Adaptational Badass: In contrast to the myth, where she was a standard Damsel in Distress, Andromeda helps Perseus fight Cetus with rocks and is instrumental in distracting him.
- And Now You Must Marry Me: The plot kicks off when Polydectes attempts to force Danae to marry him unless Perseus can bring back Medusa's head.
- Ascended Extra: Hermes had a sparing role in the original Perseus myth and only stopped to lend his winged sandals, and Athena acted as Perseus's main helper. In the podcast he's frequently alongside her and helps Perseus much more, helping him learn to fly and spiriting him to far-off places. He also narrates the tale.
- Cain and Abel: Dictys is the good brother who got all the positive traits, while Polydectes is the evil brother who got all the power.
- Can't Get Away with Nuthin': Persephone is tired of merely trailing behind Demeter and painting flowers. When she breaks free from her mother's gaze to join Artemis and Athena for a picnic, of course, she's kidnapped.
- Chekhov's Skill: Perseus uses his superb fishing skills to snare Cetus in a net, letting him cut off the monster's head safely.
- A Day in the Limelight: The bonus episode focuses on Hermes and how he became one of the 12 major Olympians, retelling the story of how he stole Apollo's cows and created the first lyre.
- Disc-One Final Boss: While she's the subject of Perseus's quest and the reason he goes on his adventure, Medusa is killed halfway through the story. The final monster Perseus battles is Cetus.
- Fertile Feet: Flowers blooming at a goddess's feet mean she's ready to be married off, with Persephone's friends alternately happy and concerned for her.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Hermes is the flighty, carefree sibling who thinks politics are boring, while Athena is more grounded and levelheaded.
- Heroic BSoD: After accidentally killing his grandpa Perseus is devastated, especially when he learns the event was fated. It takes pep talks from Danae, Andromeda, Hermes, and Athena to help him.
- I Am Who?: Perseus is shocked, to say the least, to learn he's a son of Zeus.
- In the End, You Are on Your Own: The gods can assist Perseus by giving equipment and advice, but cannot aid him directly—ultimately, this is Perseus's quest, and he must complete it on his own.
- Lemony Narrator:
- In the first episode, Hermes cuts in to tell the audience that Polydectes is just as bad as Dictys says, if not worse.
- The second season begins with Hermes and Hecate arguing over the weather on the day Persephone was kidnapped, and Hermes giving Hecate narration duties since she was actually there.
- Mr. Exposition: Hermes narrates the tales and introduces the cast (and some spoilers on occasion), while Atlas tells Perseus about the Titanomachy and the downfall of Cronus.
- Parents as People: Demeter is somewhat overprotective of Persephone, but means well and sees only the best in her daughter.
- Seers: Prometheus can see the future, though his visions are sometimes unclear and why things happen as they do remain unknown.
- The Talk: Upon hearing Perseus doesn't have a father, Hermes retorts that everyone does and asks if he has to start at the beginning, singing a short song about the mythological birds and the bees.When a gooood loves a womaaan...
- We Used to Be Friends: The tragedy of Prometheus is amplified by the fact that he and Zeus used to be friends and their differences became too wide to overcome.
- "Where Are They Now?" Epilogue: After the main story is complete, Hermes and Athena narrate the rest of Perseus's life up to his death and enshrinement in the stars.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Demeter chides Persephone for comparing herself to her friends, saying her daughter is beautiful, creative, has an artist's soul, and wishes she could make her see it for herself.
- You Can't Fight Fate: Perseus accidentally kills his grandfather, just as the Fates prophesied.
