Algunos mitos griegos explicados desde el minimalismo animado

La mitología griega siempre ha sido una rama fascinante de la cultura occidental, bien por la gran cantidad de historias que engloba o bien por todas las adaptaciones y referencias que se han tomado de ella a lo largo de los años. Suelen ser historias complejas que acaban con una moraleja final, de tal manera que le lector aprenda una lección a través de ella.


Recientemente, el diseñador irlandés Stephen Kelleher junto con el animador Chris Guyot han presentado Mythos, un breve corto de animación donde pretenden explicar, de manera muy concisa y con los mínimos recursos disponibles, algunos de estos mitos griegos.

Pese al minimalismo que reina en las animaciones, los resultados son más que eficientes y queda perfectamente claro a qué se refiere cada una de las historias. Por si no fuera suficiente, el propio Kelleher se encarga de explicar cada uno de ellos.



Sisyphus:

After numerous transgressions, Zeus decided to punish the deceitful king Sisyphus once and for all by forcing him to push a huge enchanted boulder up a steep hill. As soon as he reached the top, the boulder would roll back down to the base of the hill, condemning Sisyphus to an eternity of frustrated labor.

Icarus:

King Minos imprisoned Icarus in a tower alongside his father, the master craftsman Daedalus. As a means of escape Daedalus created a set of wings made of feathers and wax for his son but warned him not to fly too close to the sun. Icarus did not however heed his father’s advice. His wings dissolved and Icarus fell into the sea below and drowned.

Persephone:

The daughter of Zeus and Demeter, Persephone was abducted by the god of the underworld Hades. Although Zeus intervened and brought her back to the land of the living, Persephone was bound to Hades for four months of each year. In her grief, Demeter would make the soils barren thereby creating winter while Persephone’s return would mark the start of the spring.

Narcissus:

As punishment for mortal Narcissus’ cruel treatment of the nymph Echo, he was cursed by Nemesis, the goddess of revenge. She led him to a pool where upon seeing his own reflection, he became besotted with his image and was unable to leave. Fixated, starving and in despair, he fell into the pool and drowned.

Midas:

Having done a great service for the god Dionysus, King Midas was granted one wish of his choosing. He wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. Upon turning food, water and even his own daughter to gold however, he soon realized his foolishness and prayed to Dionysus to undo his wish. Dionysus took pity on King Midas and duly undid the wish.

Theseus:

A Greek hero of many adventures, Theseus is best known for his defeat of the Minotaur. Under the decree of King Minos, every year fourteen young Atheneans were sacrificed to the Minotaur - a monstrous half bull, half man who resided deep within the Labyrinth. Not only was Theseus able to slay the Minotaur but he also successfully escaped the complex Labyrinth, solidifying his legend.

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