Persephone will help out Psyche.
- If the story stays true to Greek myth, then Psyche will travel to the underworld on Venus's behalf and Kore will help her out there.
Dionysus will be born at some point during the comic's run
- Semele has already been introduced as Zeus's current mortal lover, and she is his mother in some versions of Dionysus's origin story, so it's possible that Semele will get pregnant during the course of the comic and be born. The story may or may not play out similarly, considering that Psyche didn't seem to get hurt in any way by viewing Eros, and the fact that Hera seems to be a much more sympathetic character in this story.
- Considering Semele is considered a Cute and Psycho character and Dionysus is the god of madness, it seems likely. Though Dionysus may be toned down a bit for this tale.
- Confirmed as of chapter 243. Welcome, Dionysus!
Hera was coerced into marriage with Zeus
- It certainly explains why they got together in the first place, as they’re so obviously incompatible. Zeus does tell Hades to basically force her into marriage, saying that “She might be upset in the beginning, but she’d get used to it.”
- The hairstyle that Persephone wears also makes her look very similar to Hera.
- And overall, that would explain not only Hestia making the Goddesses of Eternal Maidenhood a thing, but also Demeter's overprotectiveness of Persephone - they are scared of seeing a repeat of what happened to their sister.
Eros hit Apollo with a lead arrow
- In episode 98, we see Eros shoot and graze Apollo’s cheek with an arrow, one that is shown to be black and have an odd shape, looking more like a dart than an arrow. While he doesn’t hit him subsequently, most likely because of Apollo’s domain including archery, that arrow that hit him still drew blood. This arrow is most likely a lead arrow, ones that aren’t talked about much in Eros’ lore, but are notable for his ability to jilt the heart of lovers. Given to him by Athena, these arrows cause a lover to have mixed feelings about their significant other, or outright run from them. This is the straw that finally forced Apollo to leave Persephone alone. In addition, there is mythological notations of Eros firing an arrow upon Phoebus Apollo, in Ovid’s Metamorphosis. Here, he fired a golden arrow at Apollo and a leaden arrow at Daphne, resulting in the two never to be a couple. While earlier in the comic it is noted that he and Aphrodite cannot meddle in the gods’ love lives, this isn’t the first time Eros has broken the rules, is it?
- Jossed. Ampelus shoots Apollo later, in Episode 169.
Artemis and Apollo are Zeus' unacknowledged illegitimate children
- The comic has stated that they are not his children, but Rachel Smythe has also said that 'family tree questions will be answered as the story unfolds'.
And although Hecate reminds Demeter that Zeus has only sired two sons (Ares and Hephaestus) neither of whom would be likely to join forces with a fertility goddess to overthrow him, the comic immediately cuts to a grinning Apollo...- All but confirmed at this point. Heavily foreshadowed by the start of Episode 58, the ends of Ep. 145 and Ep. 160, the panel with side-by-side profiles of Zeus and Apollo in Ep. 126, and most obviously, the fact that Apollo and Artemis are the same color as Zeus, which the comic frequently uses for characters related by blood. Presumably also has something to do with Leto and Hera's falling-out (Ep. 147).
- Mythologically speaking, Hera did tell Leto that she couldn't give birth on anywhere considered land and she was impregnated by Zeus in that myth so....
Mortals can recognize fertility goddesses on sight.
- In Episode 57, dead mortals in Acherôn instantly peg Persephone for a fertility goddess. They don’t show any fear of her, which suggests they don’t know her and weren’t present for her Act of Wrath. It’s possible humans in this setting can implicitly see a god’s abilities or qualities, in a way other beings can’t. Might also be why Psyche instantly recognized Eros when she saw his wings, despite her picture of him bearing little resemblance.
Prometheus was Always Someone Better to Zeus.
- While Zeus is The Bully in general, nearly everyone seems quietly horrified by what he did to Prometheus. Mythologically, Prometheus is known for giving mortals fire and conning Zeus into accepting animal bones and fat as an offering to the Gods so that mortals will be able to feed themselves good meat. Zeus retaliated by having him chained to a mountain while an eagle rips out and eats his liver which, being a Titan, regrows at the end of each day to allow the eagle to do it endlessly. In their backstory, when Hades mentioned Prometheus is figuring out something called "pants" and it's going to be HUGE one day, Zeus makes a face that can only be described as "THIS guy again." Given how Zeus tends to react to being corrected, it's not a stretch to say he got tired of Prometheus being right about everything and everyone pointing it out.
Persephone took the pomegranate from the tree in Tartarus.
- We're given a two panel focus on the tree when she and Hades were leaving and the fruit is plainly missing, the following panels have Persephone asking multiple very pointed questions about how she would become Hades' Queen and if it would require eating the pomegranate. Hades indulges her, thinking this is still in the hypothetical, and confirms her suspicions, because if she simply married him the citizens of the Underworld would respect her, but the land itself would not.
Dionysus will be adopted by Hades and Persephone.
- There are many connections between these three characters within the original mythology and many of the plot points in the current story lines seem to be hinting towards these connections.
- As mentioned in one of the above theories the character of Semele is the mother of Dionysus in one of the more common myths about him. In that myth Semele is tricked by Hera into having Zeus reveal his true godly form to her, killing her but sparing the unborn Dionysus. The myth then goes on to have Zeus sew the unborn Dionysus into his leg so he can finish growing. After he is born Dionysus is sent away to be raised in secret so he can be safe from Hera. It's unlikely that Semele's death will be the same or Hera's desire to kill Dionysus will be present in the comic it is important to note that one of the most common versions of the myth have Persephone as the one who raises him.
- Another aspect to consider is the mythological ties between Dionysus and the underworld. Older version of Dionysus such as older the Mycenaean version and the later Orphic version worshipped by the Orphism religion.
- Mycenaean Dionysus had strong connections the underworlds due to dying and being reborn as well as having strong connections to nature having been abandoned and raised by nature.
- Orphic Dionysus had much stronger connections to the underworld, being viewed more as a death and rebirth god as well as having the ability to enter and leave the underworld whenever he likes.
- He was also the son of Zeus and Persephone.
- His strongest connection however is that he was often equated with Zagreus, with his name being sometimes used as epithet for Orphic Dionysus, Dionysus Zagreus.
- Zagreus as a separate entity is often described as the son of Hades and Persephone.
- Zagreus is underworld god as well as a death and rebirth god and is also called "highest of the gods" in one reference. It is this quote that ties into comic Dementer's theory of fertility gods empowering other gods, as Orphic Dionysus is supposed to inherit Zeus's titles as king of the gods and since Orphic Dionysus and Zagreus are often equated it makes the "highest of all gods" quote make sense.
- Persephone's role as mother or adoptive mother of Dionysus in some stories, Hades' infertility in the comic as well as their mythological son Zagreus being equated with Dionysus helps to connect the three together.
- Persephone's power as a fertility god could play a role in Dionysus's rebirth. For example if Semele is killed before Dionysus is born, rather than being sewn into Zeus's leg Persephone could use her powers to restore him to life as we have already seen that her powers can be used to overcome death, growing a tree in the underworld where nothing is supposed to be able to grow.
- Dionysus has been born as of Chapter 243. Persephone delivered him and according to Zeus, Hera wasn't involved in Semele's death. Though Hera may still take exception to Dionysus' existence.
Adonis will show up in-story.
- Canonically he's one of Aphrodite's many crushes/lovers and the foster son of Persephone. In-story, Aphrodite and Persephone have a bit of a one-sided Sitcom Arch-Nemesis thing going on...
Why Zeus punished Prometheus so harshly.
- As Ares points out, Zeus is trying to hold onto power by avoiding war... and ensuring no one gets a hold of a fertility goddess. Zeus is also very paranoid and not very good at dealing with paranoia. He also doesn't take being embarrassed very well either. Prometheus is known for outsmarting Zeus and even Hades noted he was a great inventor (PAAAAANTS). Zeus probably didn't see his ideas and cleverness as attempts to better others' lives but threats to his rule.
Why Leto is pushing for Apollo to become King of the Gods
- This actually goes into the WMG directly above, if we assume that Zeus punished Prometheus pretty much for embarrassing him. My theory is that Prometheus and Leto were friends, maybe even lovers. Furious that Prometheus was heavily punished for a minor offense, Leto decides Zeus HAS to go. She hatches a long game, even sacrificing her friendship with Hera for its success. Once she has her perfect successor (powerful, nigh-identical to Zeus and MALE), she begins shoring up Apollo's PR with Olympus and other beings while keeping an eye out for the next fertility goddess. And she might have even succeeded if Apollo wasn't such a narcissistic idiot.
Echo died during the decade Time Skip
- If you know the story of Echo, then you know that she distracted Hera while Zeus was off banging who knows what and Hera cursed her to repeat other people's words as a result. After meeting Narcissus and despairing of being unable to communicate with him, Echo dies of despair and her body fades into nothingness leaving just her voice behind. During the time skip, Zeus would definitely cheat more often if only to be around someone who wouldn't remind him of his mistakes constantly. He also wouldn't have any problem pulling rank to get people to comply and Echo already owes her job to him. Echo obviously wouldn't want to be involved but she'd also like to not be barbecued. And Hera... well, she definitely doesn't barbecue Echo.
- Narcissus gets involved thanks to Apollo, as he hasn't forgotten how Echo tried to block him from speaking to Hera. He has Narcissus seduce and murder the poor, now much-abused Echo.
- Hera eventually calms down and goes looking for Echo to remove the curse and maybe apologize. She doesn't take Echo's death very well.
- She curses Narcissus to fall in love with his reflection because she can't harm Zeus or Apollo due to bad publicity and then officially separates from Zeus.
- Jossed: She shows up again in Episode 269.
The missing Fertility Goddess
- At this point, we've all heard of the story's four fertility goddesses and how there's usually one born every generation or millennia. The Primordials had Gaia, the Titans had Rhea and Metis and the Olympians have Persephone... who was born within the last three decades in-story. The Olympians who are, with the exception of Persephone, a millennia old at the youngest and nearly two millennia at the oldest. Persephone, who in terms of age, would actually be closer with Hebe and Aphrodite's younger children. As the Fertility Temple hinted at, there HAD to be another Fertility Goddess before Persephone and Zeus successfully blocked her from history. Possible candidates so far are:
- Eileithyia: daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of childbirth. Fertility Goddesses so far are associated with either plant growth or motherhood and she fits. Plus, as his daughter, Zeus would already be invested in people keeping their mitts off of her.
- Despoina: daughter of Poseidon and Demeter, sister of Arion, the horse, goddess of no one really knows. In some myths, she and Kore are sisters, in other myths, they’re one and the same. It would also fit the narrative of why Demeter is trying so desperately to separate Persephone and Hades: she’s seen how badly this could go for her daughter already.
- HERA, herself: She’s goddess of marriage, family and women. One of the reasons she’s so desperate to help Persephone is she too was once a young goddess with boundless potential. Who’s to say that that potential didn’t come from being her generation’s Fertility Goddess? And losing that potential to become Zeus’ Golden Traitor? She’s definitely mad about it.
- Confirmed. Persephone re-awakens Hera’s Fertility Goddess powers in Episode 273 and she goes on to fight Kronos.
- Demeter. In Ancient Greece she wasn't just *a* Fertility Goddess she was *the* Fertility Goddess. It would also serve to explain her overprotectiveness over Persephone. She herself would have had to deal with various gods trying to use her, and wouldn't want that for her own daughter.
- Supporting this theory is the fact that historically, cults worshipped Persephone and Demeter together, believing them to hold a dual function.
- The unidentifiednote god Kronos is using as leverage over Hera.
- They've been named as Episode 252. While it's possible Melinoe might be a Fertility Goddess in-comic, historically, she isn't.
- Aphrodite. Goddess of love, beauty and sex. Has a lot of children. She and Eros are responsible for mortals making babies. Love may be useless in a straightforward fight but is definitely one of the most empowering traits of all, which keeps with the theme of fertility goddesses being kingmakers. Plus, it'd be funny if Ares was looking for a fertility goddess all this time and had NO IDEA that his ex-girlfriend is one.
- In Episode 264, the harpy indicates that the fertility goddess of the Titanomachy generation was "used up" without anyone realizing she existed at all. So it's unlikely to be a name you're familiar with unless you're really into mystery cults and the Deep Weird of Greek myth alongside the likes of Zagreus, Melinoe, and Demophöon. Perhaps that's how Erebos and/or Tartarus gained enough power to contain Kronos and everything else that's imprisoned down there.
- But then again, if her powers were "used up" without killing her, perhaps she's hanging around right under everyone's noses after all.
Kassandra isn’t cursed.
Like her mythological counterpart, Kassandra has the gift of prophecy. Her purple eyes imply such. However, the reason this adaptation of the character is distrusted isn’t due to a supernatural curse, but rather due to Apollo running a smear campaign against her, undermining her credibility in a mundane way. Eros is Pansexual.
It's unlikely to come up in the comic, but it contradicts nothing that's appeared on screen, and would absolutely jive with his nature as God of Physical Love. There will be a second major Time Skip in the comic.
This one being about 1-2 decades. Most of the Trojan War will be glossed over, focusing more on the events of The Iliad. This will also be done to streamline the stories of Achilles and Dionysus, rather than waiting forever for them to be grown. Zeus will be possessed.
- Calling it now, Ouranos will possess Zeus the same way that Kronos possessed Hades. Several reasons for this:
- First, it would be thematically fitting: the King in the sky possessing the Sky King, just as the King in the Underworld possessed the Underworld King.
- Second, Zeus' main flaw is that while he does care about people, he lacks empathy. So, now he's going to find out what it's like to deal with someone ELSE who's lacking empathy.
- Third, and probably the most important reason, is that Hera, Poseidon and Athena plot a coup against Zeus at some point in the myths. For all that they don't like what he does, the three of them are too otherwise sensible to do such a thing against Zeus in-story. Zeus being possessed and crazy would force their hands for the benefit of their Kingdoms.
- Ouranos? More likely Kronos will posses Zeus, as some sort of Plan B. He'll likely use it to get closer to Hera, too.
- BOTH theories jossed . Ouranos possesses APOLLO in Episode 278.
Apollo harnesses Eros' powers to break up Aphrodite and Hephaestus' marriage.
- At this point, Apollo's trying to turn as much public opinion against Persephone and Hades as possible and trying to divert as many scandals onto his relatives. Eros is one of Persephone's closest friends and pretty much Eros' entire family is allied with her. Apollo is already keeping Eros and Psyche prisoner. A love or hate arrow fired at Aphrodite, Ares or Hephaestus would ensure that what once was a surprisingly stable marriage would end painfully for that entire family. Also, knowing Apollo, he probably wants to get back at Hephaestus for telling him off over his treatment of Persephone.
- Jossed. Apollo tries to use the arrow to make Persephone fall in Love with him. Completely fails because she stabs him with it instead and he has a Villainous BSoD in Episode 277.
