Lyrical Themes: Greek Mythology

Whew. The big child custody trial is finally over. The judge took it under advisement, so I won't know the results for some time. But at least it's over.

Let's get back into things.

Today's post is inspired by Greek mythology. I've been on a kick lately since I got God of War 3 with the PS3 that my fiancee gave me for my birthday last month. Metal, being a genre with a wide range of lyrical themes, has found a fountain for lyrical content in Greek mythology. And it's not just the Greek bands either. Let's look at some examples. There are tons more than the ones I want to look at obviously.

ROTTING CHRIST: "GAIA TELLUS"
Well, we'll start with a Greek band anyway. This song is about the pre-Titan deity Gaia, Mother Earth, who bore much of the world and its inhabitants prior to the Titans, including the cyclopes.

ROTTING CHRIST: "HELIOS HYPERION"
Helios is the God of the Sun. He was originally a Titan however. Hyperion was another name for the being, as the Lord of Light.

ROTTING CHRIST: "THRENODY"
This song references the River Styx, upon which the dead souls travel to the Underworld, and Charon, the boatman across the River.

KAWIR
The Greek band references several Greek deities on its Ophiolatreia album, with song titles such as "Rhea" (mother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, etc.), "Poseidon" (God of the Sea), "Ares" (God of War), "To Pallas" (references Athena), and "Hephaestus" (God of the Forge).

LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR: "BEHEAD THE GORGON"
This is a discussion of the decapitation of Medusa by Perseus.

LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR: "THE HYDRA COILS UPON THIS WICKED MOUNTAIN"
The hydra was a nine-headed serpent that was killed by Jason in order to acquire the Golden Fleece.

LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR: "HADES UNLEASHED"
Referring to the God of the Underworld.

SYMPHONY X
The American progressive metal band did an entire album centered around the adventures of Odysseus in trying to return to Ithaca, including run-ins with the Sirens, Circe, Scylla and Charybdis, and the army of suitors taking up residence in his home when he returned.

TRIVIUM: "TORN BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS"
A reference to The Odyssey. Scylla was a sea monster and Charybdis was a whirlpool that Odysseus had to navigate through as part of his journey. Similar to the saying "caught between a rock and a hard place."

TRIVIUM: "HE WHO SPAWNED THE FURIES"
This song refers to the Titan Cronos, who ate his children, including Zeus, to avoid his prophesied doom to his children. His wife Rhea fed him a stone instead of Zeus who was then raised in secret until he rose up against his father and freed his siblings.

TRIVIUM: "OF PROMETHEUS AND THE CRUCIFIX"
Referring to Prometheus, the Titan who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the mortals. He was doomed by being tied to a rock and having an eagle eat his liver each day. Each day it would grow back.

TRIVIUM: "LIKE CALLISTO TO A STAR IN HEAVEN"
The nymph of Artemis, Callisto was transformed into a bear and placed among the stars after being raped by Zeus.

IRON MAIDEN: "FLIGHT OF ICARUS"
Icarus and his father Daedalus, the architect of the Labyrinth, attempted to escape from Crete by creating wings out of wax and feathers. Surprisingly, the wings worked, but Icarus flew too high and the sun's heat melted the wax holding the wings together, causing him to fall.

SEPTICFLESH: "NARCISSUS"
We'll finish with another Greek band. Narcissus fell in love with his reflection and could never look away from the pond he saw it in. He was cursed and turned into a plant.