Ares, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus: the jock, the prom queen, and the nerd in modern popular culture
As society and the way we live change, particular attributes of Greek gods remain relevant to this day. People today are able to relate to the actions and characteristics of gods in greek literature such as the love affair between Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus. While there are many roles that gods may fit in, Ares, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus specifically resemble a jock, prom queen, and nerd.
Ares (the god of war and son of Zeus), can closely resemble to what we call today, a jock. The gods’ appearance, actions, and personality contribute to the significant factors to what make a jock, a jock. In modern pop culture, a jock can be defined as a macho and rebellious male who is also usually humiliated by the protagonist of the story. The jock as well plays a role of a bully and enjoys inflicting pain on weaker beings for their self interest. In this case, Ares exhibits all of these characteristics. To begin, his appearance truly defines him as a jock and god of war. In greek literature, Ares is represented as a fierce bearded warrior, with symbols that include a helmet and a spear. Atsma states, “In ancient Greek art he was depicted as either a mature, bearded warrior armed for battle, or a nude, beardless youth with a helm and spear” (Theio p.1). This description illustrates a fierce and lionhearted god who can compare to a jock in the aspect of having masculine features. Ares is also known for battlelust and disobedience to the law which causes him to be hated by the gods. Author of Genealogical Guide to Greek Mythology, Carlos Parada, states, “And since Ares "regards no law"—barely distinguishing between fighting camps, and caring nothing for any of them—he is hated, not only by men, but also by the gods” (Maicar, p.3). Just like jocks, Ares is rebellious in a manner that he does not obey the rules. For example, Andrew Clark in the movie “She’s All That” (1999), gets sent into trouble numerous of times for his reckless decisions and disobedience. Ares as well as jocks are commonly found humiliated by the protagonist of the story or legend. In a popular legend, Ares is found caught in a trap made by Hephaestus while making love to Aphrodite. In Homer, Odyssey, it states, “And when Hephaestus heard the grievous tale, he went his way to his smithy, pondering evil in the deep of his heart, and set on the anvil block the great anvil and forged bonds [275] which might not be broken or loosed, that the lovers might bide fast where they were” (Hom. Od. 8.250). The text shows Hephaestus discovering the news of the adultery and therefore builds a trap to ensnare Ares, which later would be successful. A jock could be seen humiliated in the first Spider-Man movie. Peter Parker (a nerdy shy high school student) stands up to Flash Thompson, who was a football jock that decided to pick a fight with him. Flash would soon be humiliated when Peter knocks him to the ground in front of a crowd of students at school. The last similarity that Ares and a jock share is how they both inflict pain on weaker beings for self interest. The fact that Ares enjoys murder of men can be shown in this text by Carlos Parada, “ But to assist the coming madness of man, his brutality, and his bloodthirst, came Ares, so that also wretches who delight in murder would not be altogether without consolation” (Maicar, Ares). As to an extent not as extreme, a jock can also be seen inflicting pain on a weaker being for self interest in the movie Breakfast Club. While changing after wrestling, Andrew sees a weak kid and decides to pin him down and tape him up simply because he does not tolerate weakness. The examples shown here prove why Ares, the god of war, can be compared to a jock in our world today.
While Greek gods can be compared to many different roles in our current society, there is a strong resemblance between Aphrodite and a prom queen. A prom queen holds the title of being popular and loved by everyone thus being able to receive that title and in most cases has to be exceptionally good looking. Aphrodite, being the god of love, is desired and wanted by gods as well as mortals. This could be proved when a Greek author named Parada states, Ares, Hermes and Dionysus 2 are the gods who loved Aphrodite. But she was also loved by mortal men. One of them was Anchises 1, king of Dardania, a region near the city of Troy” (Maicar, Aphrodite). Her lovers cover a wide spectrum including gods, men and (once mentioned in a Greek myth), even females. Besides sharing the trait of being loved by all, both Aphrodite and a prom queen is usually exceptionally beautiful. On the website “Greek Mythological Link”, Parada states, “and appeared before him with the looks and height of a maiden, but still wearing a robe of gold enriched with all kinds of needlework, twisted brooches, earrings in the form of flowers and several necklaces round her throat. When Anchises 1 saw this marvel, he understood that he was contemplating a goddess” (Maicar, Anchises). Before the Anchises even knew Aphrodite was a goddess, he suspected it because of her divine nature and “marvel” appearance. The appearance of a prom queen may not appear to be of equivalence to goddess, but is the same in the fact that she catches the eyes of people around her at prom for being attractive. We see this in the movie “A Cinderella Story”, when the soon to be prom queen (Hilary Duff) descends from the staircase, attendants at the venue stop in their tracks to admire her beauty. Even though the times they existed are drastically far apart, Aphrodite and a prom queen share significant aspects.
In modern time, a person who is characterized as a nerd consist the traits of being unattractive and an expert in a particular skill. Different Greek Myths involving Hephaestus portray the god possessing these traits. First of all, Hephaestus was casted out of olympus by his ashamed mother for being ugly and crippled. This is true according to Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, where it states, “Being ugly, and lame in both feet, his mother was ashamed of him, and threw him from Olympus into the ocean, where he was taken up by Eurynomé and Thetis and concealed in a subterranean cavern” (Peck, Classical Antiquities). Subsequently being casted off of olympus, Hephaestus mastered the skill of craftsmanship and created extraordinary constructions. He crafted items and objects that would assist gods in their daily life and war. For example, Hephaestus built Achilles new armor that would later be used in the war of Troy. This same armor then saved Achilles by preventing Axius from attacking him. This is shown in Greek Mythology Link when it states, “ he also made Achilles' new armour, when he laid aside his wrath and decided to return to the fight at Troy. And when Achilles killed Asteropaeus, grandson of the river Axius, the river god rushed at him, but Hephaestus dried up his streams with a powerful flame” (Parada, Hephaestus). The actions and appearance of Hephaestus that could be seen in Greek myths contribute to his likeness of a nerd.
Even though the creation of Greek Myths are hundreds of years before our time, greek gods and the way they act could be compared to the idiosyncrasy of people we see today. Since emotions and human nature are universal, we can compare Ares, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus to a jock, prom queen, and a nerd. As their mannerisms can still be seen today, we ponder if this will remain true in the future.