This article contains mentions of rape and suicide.
Spoilers for Netflix’s Kaos are ahead!
Netflix’sKaosputs a spin on the Greek myths of Eurydice, Ariadne, and Caeneus, incorporating essential parts of the story while fitting it into a contemporary context. The dark comedy, created by Charlie Covell, follows three mortals who are destined to bring down the gods by makingZeus’ cryptic prophecycome true.Kaosfeels like Into the Woods, except for Greek mythology instead of classic fairytales. The show mashed together beloved stories that fell into the same genre.
Rather than creating entirely new mortals to go up against the god of thunder, Covell chose three mythological figures to fill that role– Eurydice (Riddy), Ariadne (Ari), and Caeneus. Since they have such a crucial role in the Netflix show, viewers might wonder how their stories stack up to the original myths. After all, of the three, Eurydice is the only widely known character.Kaosmaintains character traits and emotional truths from Greek mythology while giving the stories a modern spin.
Who Eurydice Is In Greek Mythology
Eurydice Is Part Of A Tragic Love Story
One of the maincharacters inKaosis Riddy, the show’s version of Eurydice. The show offers a very different version of the story than what appears in mythology. As with all Greek myths, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice has been told so many times that there are various interpretations. The basic story goes as follows.Eurydice was a nymph, either an Auloniad or Dryad, who fell in love with the famous musician Orpheus.In some retellings, she is also the daughter of Apollo. She and Orpheus married – though a few myths say her death was before the wedding.
While her voice was already minimized before her death, her perspective becomes virtually non-existent afterward.
On her wedding day, a man named Aristaeus wants to take Eurydice for himself, so he chases her. When fleeing him, she steps on either a snake or a snake’s nest, causing a deadly asp to bite her. This moment is referenced through an Easter egg when Riddy dies in Kaos. While her voice was already minimized before her death, her perspective becomes virtually non-existent afterward. Orpheus travels to the Underworld, charming everyone with his voice and lyre.
Kaos Ending Explained
Netflix’s Kaos, led by Jeff Goldblum, is a fast-paced retelling of Ancient Greek mythology, culminating a shocking and meaningful ending.
Hades agrees to let Eurydice go with him under the condition that Orpheus walks in front, she walks behind, and he can’t turn around to look at her until they are both back on Earth. Unfortunately, at the last moment,he turns to look at her, causing her to go back to the Underworld forever.The reason for his turning around varies from myth to myth, with some saying he turned to celebrate reaching the light of Earth and others saying she tripped. In either case,Kaosdeviates from the ending by having Riddy return to Earth.
Who Caeneus Is In Greek Mythology
Caeneus Is A Trans Hero In Greek Myths
Another human destined to make Zeus’ prophecy come true is Caeneus, a young man working with a Cerberus dog to sniff out humans without coins afterhis stolen gold coin trapped him in theKaos’ Underworld. Caeneus is an underrated hero in Greek mythology who only appears in a small number of retellings by authors Ovid, Apollodorus, Hyginus, Plutarch, and Acusilaus. There is still a decent amount of variation between these versions, though. Nowadays, he’s widely regarded as one of the oldest written stories about a transgender character. Caeneus may become a hero and possibly a king, but his origin is disturbing.
Caeneus is the child, assigned female at birth, of Hippea and Elatus. He is widely regarded for his beauty, catching the attention of suitors, including Poseidon. The god of the seas decides to rape Caeneus, granting him a wish for pleasuring him. He wishes to become a man so that he can never be harmed in that way again. Poseidon grants the wish, giving him impenetrable skin in the process.
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After his transition, he leans into his masculinity and aggression.He becomes a Greek hero, hunting the Calydonian boar and fighting in the Centauromachy.In some myths, he becomes a king of the Lapiths, though that’s not across the board. Ultimately, he dies in the Centauromachy when the centaurs bury him alive after they figure out that their spears aren’t effective against him. In some versions, he turns into a bird and flies away, though.Kaosperfectly fixed the horrifying myth of Caeneusby modernizing his story and removing the rape origin.
Who Ariadne Is In Greek Mythology
Ariadne Is Tied To The Myth Of The Minotaur
In bothKaosand the myths, Ariadne is the daughter of Pasiphae and King Minos. In the mythological versions of the story, she plays a crucial role in Theseus defeating the Minotaur. Though he’s married to her sister, Ariadne and Theseus fall in love when he arrives in Crete.She gives him a weapon and a red thread that helps him find the way out of the Labyrinth.Because she assists Theseus, she flees alongside him to the island of Naxos.
Given that Dionysus and Ari are both main characters inKaos, it’s possible the two will eventually start a relationship like in the myths.
What happens next in the myth widely differs depending on which version of the myth a person reads.Theseus leaves Ariadne on the isle of Naxos, a consistent part of the story, but his reasoning varies. Some versions say he left of his own free will out of hubris and egotism, while others say he was forced to leave. In response, Ariadne either writes a letter raging at him, dies by suicide, gets sick while sailing back to Athens, dies while giving birth to Theseus' twins, gets killed by Artemis, or marries Dionysus.
Suicide is never the answer. If you are experiencing suicidal ideation, please call the National Crisis and Suicide Hotline at 988, visitthehotline.org(US) orFindAHelpline.com(international).
In the version where she and Dionysus marry, they have between one and six children; the number differs between sources. He later makes her immortal either by bringing her back from the Underworld or by turning her crown into the Corona Borealis constellation. Given that Dionysus and Ari are both main characters inKaos, it’s possible the two will eventually start a relationship like in the myths.
Riddy, Caeneus & Ari’s Roles In Kaos Explained: How It Changes Character Mythology
The Three Main Human Characters In Kaos Get A More Active Role In Their Stories
Kaos’ interpretation of Greek mythologycaptures the spirit of the characters while changing parts of the myths to support the narrative. The show also modernizes elements that were outdated. Rather than making Riddy a passive character in her own story,Kaosgives her a voice, a personality, and many opinions.She isn’t happy in her relationship with Orpheus, and she doesn’t want to come back to life. When it comes to Caeneus, very little of the original character is maintained because the original story is deeply problematic, implying that he is only trans because he is raped.
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Ariadne’s story inKaoskeeps many of the familial relationships from the mythology while deviating narratively. She’s the daughter of Minos and Pasiphae. The Minotaur is her brother in both versions, though it’s her human twin inKaosand a half-man/half-bull in the original myth. The show even implies that she has feelings for Theseus. However, the events of the Minotaur’s defeat are entirely different, with her father killing her brother and her killing Minos in response. By changing the stories,Kaoscreates a fresh take on the beloved Greek myths that are relatable and fun to watch.
