stacy benedict

Don’t you love it when two things you love collide? Like, peanut butter and chocolate, breakfast and lunch, Greek mythology and an Amazonian princess.

Diana Prince, aka Diana of Themyscira, aka Wonder Woman, is the first child born on Paradise Island to Queen Hippolyta. She is one of the most famous and beloved superheroes on the planet. I’ve been a fan for years and have a collection of action figures.  I was so excited that she finally got her own movie! It was about time.

One of the things I especially love about her is connection to my other love, mythology.  Here are a few of the ways:

Amazons: Like in Greek mythology, Diana is an Amazon warrior. In myth, the Amazons were a race of female warriors. In the comics, the goddess created the Amazons from the souls of all women who were murdered by men.

Gods & Goddesses: Diana was molded from clay from the shores of Paradise Island by Hippolyta into the form of a baby girl. Her soul was given gifts by Greek goddesses. Demeter gave her immense strength. Athena provided her wisdom and courage. Aphrodite bequeathed her beauty and a loving heart. Artemis donated to her a hunter’s heart and the ability to communicate with animals. Hermes blessed her with speed and the power of flight. Hestia passed on to her sisterhood with fire.

Weapons Forged by the Gods: Diana’s Lasso of Truth was made by Hephaestus the god of fire, volcanoes, metal working, masonry, sculpture and forges. Hermes—the god of herds and flocks, travelers and hospitality, roads and trade, thievery and cunning, heralds and diplomacy, language and writing, athletic contests and gymnasiums, astronomy and astrology—gave her his sandals so she could travel large distances in seconds.

Monsters: Over the decades Diana has fought many ancient monsters, including the Hydra, Echidna, Medusa, Scylla, Cottus (one of the Hekatoncheires—a hundred handed giant), Minotaur, and Euryale and Stheno (gorgons) to name a few.

Titans: Along with fighting monsters she also took on a few Titans as well, including Cronus and his children Arch, Disdain, Harrier, Oblivion, Slaughter and Titan. During the Godwar, Cronus managed to defeat both the Greek and Hindu pantheons. However, Wonder Woman restored the gods and ambushed Cronus and his children as they attacked Heaven. Cronus attempted to summon enough power to kill the gods, but it resulted in his own death.

Bonus!

Heracles: In the comics, Heracles—the demigod son of Zeus—was turned to stone and imprisoned under Paradise Island for thousands of years. Diana and Hippolyta freed him.

Who is your favorite superhero?

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