Greek Influence On Xena

When I was young I used to adore watching the television series Xena: Warrior Princess with my grandfather. While I’m sure my childish crush on a young Lucy Lawless may have had something to do with it, I was also enamored with world the show presented; an ancient world of gods, warlords, and kings, and the story of a princess forged in battle who changed that world. Now I’m sure my paraphrase of cheesy 90s narration is not quite accurate, after all Xena first aired in 1995, and that seems like a lifetime ago now. Either way, Xena was a show with Greek mythology firmly rooted into its lore, and from that show came my love of the warrior women known as the Amazons. Strong, powerful, and intimidating, I thought they were captivating when I was younger. Not long after that, I discovered the Amazonian Princess Diana, better known as Wonder Woman, and I was once again captivated. My adoration of Greek mythology and the Amazons is certainly rooted in these experience when I was younger. So when we were tasked with finding mythology in contemporary society, I couldn’t help myself from revisiting this concept.

The Greek influence is certainly prevalent throughout Wonder Woman comics; the gods, warrior women, epic quests, and magical items are all present, but the tone, the purpose, is entirely contemporary. Wonder Woman has held her own against the best heroes the DC Universe has had to offer, she has been a rival, a companion, a friend, but most importantly, regardless of the capacity, she is a respected individual within the DC mythos. Diana is a modern day mythological hero, though she is so much more than her classical contemporaries. Her motivations are not found within the glory seeking ways of many classic Greek heroes, rather her motives are fueled by love, compassion, and a fiery sense of