Gladiator II hit theatres a couple of years ago, but it was only one film in a long list that have drawn from ancient civilizations. Roman and Greek cultures and myths have survived in part because they deal with themes people still connect with: power, revenge, loyalty, fate, ambition; and in part because of the larger than life characters and adventurous imagery. In film video games, and online casinos, Greek and Roman mythology offers the colourful, dramatic settings that translate perfectly into movies and games.
Ancient myths
Centuries before cinemas and games consoles existed, myths stories were passed down generations through theatre, poetry, and oral stories. Characters like Zeus, Hades, Athena, and Achilles are all prevalent in today’s fiction; audiences don’t need half an hour of exposition to understand the stakes when gods interfere in human lives or heroes face seemingly impossible odds. We know gods are powerful; we recognise many of the images; and many of us have seen characters like Hercules and Zeus in films for as long as we can remember – whether from films of the ‘50s, ’60s, or a ‘90s Disney update. Or we’ve seen characters inspired by ancient mythology without realising it – Beauty and the Beast was largely inspired by the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche.
These myths carry strong visuals: the ancient temples, giant creatures, gladiator arenas, and weapons create settings perfect for action.
Film
Clash of the Titans (1981) featured giant scorpions, Medusa, and Pegasus with practical effects that were memorable for fantasy fans (the film has been called “goofy” in retrospect, but Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion techniques are now considered “charmingly archaic”). The 2010 remake used more modern CGI to create a larger scale version of the same mythological story.
Immortals (2011) was based on the ancient Greek Twelve Olympians myth, and took a darker and more stylised approach, using the conflict between gods and humans to create a visually striking film – but one that had mixed success. The critic Roger Elbert summed up the positives and negatives by saying it was undoubtedly “the best-looking awful movie you will ever see”. The film changed parts of the original myths, but it kept the themes of destiny, vengeance, and divine power.
Troy (2004) focused more on war and human conflict than supernatural themes, using the emotional weight of Homer’s legendary story. Achilles is one of mythology’s most enduring heroes because his story combined success (he slayed the prince Hector during the Trojan War) with vulnerability. His story has survived in part due to the expression “Achilles’ heel”, which refers to a weakness (in Achilles’ case, it was his actual heel – the only part of his body not dipped in the magic river Styx).
Roman influence is of course seen in the Gladiator and Gladiator II movies; these draw from the spectacle and brutality associated with ancient Rome. Russell Crowe and the producers reportedly extensively researched beliefs about the afterlife for the sequel. It has been noted that the films’ portrayal of gladiators being branded, or marked, is a common myth (and not in the ancient sense): gladiators were not, in actual fact, marked to signify they were fighters; that only happened to slaves trying to flee their masters. Even without many references to gods or monsters, the Gladiator films use the same themes found in classical myths, including honour, revenge, corruption, and the fight for legacy.
PlayStation and Xbox games
Video games are suited to mythological storytelling because myths naturally revolve around quests, battles, and powerful enemies. The God of War series mixes adventure and hack-and-slack action with an emotional story based on ancient gods and prophecy. Earlier games focused on Greek mythology, with Kratos battling Zeus, Ares, and Poseidon. The original (2005) was one of the most critically acclaimed PlayStation 2 games.
Hades (2020), in which players control Zagreus (son of Hades), showed how mythology can be applied in more character-driven games. Its version of the Greek underworld introduced players to familiar gods through sharp writing (courtesy of Greg Kasavin, previously executive editor at GameSpot), and combat. The game worked partly because it treated ancient characters as real personalities rather than vague legends.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2019) recreated Ancient Greece on a huge scale, and featured the statue of Zeus at Olympia, Lesbos, the Agora of Athens, and characters like Sokrates.
Mythology in iGaming
Ancient mythology has become one of the most recognisable themes in online casino gaming for its dramatic imagery. Gods like Zeus are easy to market because players already associate them with larger-than-life personalities.
Many slot players will be familiar with Gates of Olympus, developed by Pragmatic Play, one of the biggest iGaming providers. The Gates of Olympus slot at 10bet shows the game’s widespread popularity – it’s on a South African site while also being hugely popular in Europe and the States. The game uses familiar Greek imagery, including Zeus, temples, and glowing symbols, to create an ancient and cinematic atmosphere.
Its popularity reflects a trend in slots, where Roman and Greek themes are some of the most widely seen, along with adventure themes, jungle themes, film and TV-inspired slots, and the classic fruit symbols (among a long list of others).
Roman and Greek mythology continues to inspire. There’s heartbreak, struggle, redemption, and power – and whether in a movie or on a games console, these ancient legends still offer the entertainment they did centuries ago.
