Theseus

Why the Greek Myths Matter

Modern moral discourse increasingly treats recognition as action. We are taught that naming injustice is equivalent to refusing its benefits, that acknowledgment absolves participation, that awareness substitutes for consequence. This error is not new. It is ancient. Billie Eilish brought this pattern into focus during the 2026 Grammy Awards, when she declared, “No one isContinue reading “Why the Greek Myths Matter”

Katabasis

Neil Gaiman’s Sandman recasts Orpheus as the son of the Dream King, but otherwise leaves the ancient tragedy intact. In the television adaptation, Orpheus survives as an immortal, severed head, speaking calmly, prophetically, and with the explicit wish for death. He is neither alive nor dead, suspended between worlds. Gaiman uses this image to exploreContinue reading “Katabasis”

Theseus enters the world where the gods themselves have failed to agree. Athens belongs to Athena by decree, but not by consent. She gives the city the olive; Poseidon strikes the rock and leaves salt, horses, and tremor behind. The contest is decided, yet unresolved. The city will bear Athena’s name, but Poseidon does notContinue reading “Theseus”