This series tells the stories of the Greek gods and heroes, vividly narrated by one of today’s greatest storytellers, Sir Peter Ustinov. Filmed in Greece at Mount Olympus, Athens, Delphi, Olympia, and on the islands of Delos and Samathras, these programs retrace the origins of Greek mythology and explain the rivalries between the gods. The programs explore the human search for meaning in the chaotic forces of nature and the universe above, and remind contemporary audiences of the relevance of myths and legends for our own time.
Zeus: King of the Gods
In the beginning was Chaos. And Eurynome divided the seas from the sky, set the wind in motion, and released the forces of nature. Out of the Universal Egg emerged the sun and moon, the planets, the stars, the earth, and all living things. This program tells that story, and that of the first family: Gaea, Uranus, and Cronus. It then moves on to Zeus: his birth on Crete, the trick by which he was saved, and how he dethroned his father. Also discussed are Zeus’s marriage to Hera, and his amorous adventures with Alcmene and Leda. The latter affair ultimately produced Helen, over whom the Trojan War was fought, and Europa, mother of King Minos. (26 minutes) MsSVig