Blood of Zeus' Greek Mythology & All Characters Explained

Summary Blood of Zeus offers a fresh take on Greek mythology, blending classic characters with new additions like Heron and Seraphim.

The show elevates the stakes of Greek myth by highlighting stories like Hera's wrath towards Zeus and the giants' battle for dominance.

Characters like Zeus, Hera, and Hermes stay true to their mythological origins, while added figures like Ares bring new conflict and depth.

The animated Netflix show Blood of Zeus delivers a fresh but faithful take on Greek mythology, mixing characters from classic Greek myths with some new creations. Created by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides, the series follows Heron, a young man shunned from his village for being illegitimate, who discovers that he is actually the son of the god Zeus. As discord between the gods escalates and demons threaten the safety of the mortal realm, Heron must work to save it all from destruction.

Many well known characters make appearances, from the centaur Chiron to the three Fates. Blood of Zeus features many stories from Greek myth that are heightened to raise the stakes of the series, such as Hera’s anger towards Zeus for his infidelity, or the role of the giants that fought against the gods for dominance after the fall of the Titans. Some of the Blood of Zeus characters, such as Heron and Seraphim, do not have direct counterparts in Greek myth. However, they all have ties back to a concept or story, and blend seamlessly into the world of the series.

Blood of Zeus Character Voice Actor Heron Derek Phillips Seraphim Elias Toufexis Zeus Jason O'Mara Hera Claudia Christian Alexia Jessica Henwick Chiron David Shaughnessy Evios Chris Diamantopoulous Kofi Adetokumboh M'Cormack Hermes Matthew Mercer Electra Mamie Gummer Hades Fred Tatasciore Ares Matt Lowe Persephone Laura Pulver Gaia Jean Gilpin Typhon TBA

Related Blood of Zeus: Every God Shown Within The Series So Far Netflix's Blood of Zeus tells a new story within Greek Myth. Here is every god shown within the series and a little bit of info about them.

Heron

Voiced By Derek Phillips

As the main character in Blood of Zeus, it is interesting that Heron does not appear anywhere in Greek myth. This actually works in the series’ favor, as it allows for a little more freedom of movement in terms of storytelling. While Heron himself doesn’t appear in Greek myth, his story is very common. Zeus is known for his enormous number of affairs, often resulting in children that were other gods of the Greek pantheon, or heroes like Hercules.

Heron proves himself to be truly in touch with his divine abilities.

Because Heron’s mother is a mortal, he is a demigod. He possesses great power (as seen in the season 1 finale), but he's not quite on par with the gods of Olympus. Zeus helps him to hone his powers, and by the time the final battle arrives, Heron proves himself to be truly in touch with his divine abilities.

Seraphim

Voiced By Elias Toufexis

Seraphim, like Heron, does not appear in Greek myth, and he actually strays the furthest from real mythical roots. Though evil demons (called cacodemons) do exist in Greek mythology, they bear no relationship to the giants like the demons in Blood of Zeus do. Seraphim’s tragic origins also do not seem to appear anywhere in Greek mythology, making him more of a creative offshoot than other characters in the show.

His significance, though, is still great, given that he is Heron’s half brother (the two share their mother, Electra) and an important foil to Heron. Seraphim is the son of Electra’s husband, King Periander, and was nearly drowned by his uncle who wished to take the throne for himself after Periander’s death. Seraphim faced great adversity as he grew up, and later became a demon after discovering his signature bident in the back of a giant, whose remains he eats. His anger is similar to Heron’s but his inability to let go of it leads to his eventual downfall.

Zeus

Voiced By Jason O'Mara

Zeus is one of the most famous figures in Greek mythology, the King of the gods of Olympus and wielder of lightning. Son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, he is married to Hera, but is famous for fathering a great many illegitimate children. The Blood of Zeus character shares many commonalities with his counterpart in Greek myth, but the anime series depicts a kinder and more gentle-hearted Zeus. Though Zeus, in Greek myth, can be quite violent with mortals, he endeavors to save them in Blood of Zeus and shows a great deal of concern for his children and lovers, especially when compared with his relative callousness in Greek myth.

Depicting Zeus as flawed, but ultimately good, makes him a much more compelling character.

In Blood of Zeus, his affair with Electra is born out of love rather than hedonism, and he routinely appears to Heron and Electra as the human Elias, showing them kindness when they are shunned and helping to provide them with food and other resources. Zeus also appears to Heron in his true form and helps to train him on Olympus, even going as far to admit his shortcomings as a father when Heron becomes frustrated with him. This is a sensible change for the series to make, as depicting Zeus as flawed, but ultimately good, makes him a much more compelling character.

Hera

Voiced By Claudia Christian

Hera is Zeus’ wife and Queen of the Heavens, a famous example of the scorned woman trope. In Greek myth, Hera is often depicted as vengeful towards all of Zeus’s lovers and their children, often fighting with gods and mortals, but rarely with Zeus himself. Blood of Zeus elevates Hera’s rage, allowing her to turn it towards the actual cause of her grief. Hera’s anger is born not only out of jealousy, but also a sense of betrayal.

She feels humiliated by Zeus’s actions, and even reminds him that she was Queen of the Heavens before he came along (which is true both in the anime series and in Greek myth). Zeus’s affairs not only hurt Hera, but also humiliate her: they undermine her sense of pride and authority. Her anger towards Zeus is much more well-rounded and though it ultimately spirals out of control, it is deeply understandable and indicative of real-world issues of gender and power.

Alexia And Chiron

Voiced By Jessica Henwick And David Shaughnessy

While Alexia herself does not appear in Greek mythology, she comes from a race of warrior women who do: the Amazons. In Greek myth, the Amazons were warrior women; skilled fighters who were concerned chiefly with war. Alexia dedicates herself to tracking and defeating demons, and thus protects her fellow mortals — interestingly, the Greek name Alexia means “defender.”

Chiron, though he betrays Alexia to Seraphim, is able to give Alexia the map leading to the giant remains, which is instrumental in the saving of Olympus and the mortal realm.

Alexia is mentored by another Blood of Zeus character from Greek myth: Chiron, a wise centaur. In Greek myth, he is best known for his facility with medicine, but he serves an important, albeit different, role in Blood of Zeus. Chiron, though he betrays Alexia to Seraphim, is able to give Alexia the map leading to the giant remains, which is instrumental in the saving of Olympus and the mortal realm.

Evios And Kofi

Voiced By Chris Diamantopoulos And Adetokumboh M'Cormack

Evios and Kofi do not appear in Greek myth, but are important characters in Blood of Zeus. They befriend Heron when they all meet while imprisoned by Seraphim and the other demons. Helping Heron to escape, they become loyal allies and provide some much-needed levity to an otherwise intense show.

The two men are former smugglers, but seek redemption by fighting alongside Heron in the battle against Hera and the giants. Evios and Kofi reveal in the final episode of Blood of Zeus season 1 that they sold giant remains to the demons that Alexia was tracking. However, they regret their actions and dedicate themselves to saving mortals and gods alike, and share a bond that is truly delightful to watch on screen.

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Hermes

Voiced By Matthew Mercer

Hermes plays a significant, if smaller, role in Blood of Zeus that is faithful to his origins in Greek mythology. A god of Olympus and, like Heron, illegitimate son of Zeus, Hermes is the messenger god, famous for his winged sandals. As in Greek mythology, Hermes guides the souls of the departed to the underworld and is seen, in Blood of Zeus, escorting Heron’s mother, Electra, to the afterlife.

Hermes has the added gift of super speed afforded to him by his winged sandals, allowing him to fight skillfully for his father Zeus

In Blood of Zeus, Hermes has the added gift of super speed afforded to him by his winged sandals, allowing him to fight skillfully for his father Zeus, to whom he is loyal throughout the show. Because he is not Hera’s child, he shares Heron’s experience of her scorn, and welcomes Heron the most openly of his brothers. He is also the father of Alexia, one of the main protagonists in the series, though since she did not exist in Greek myth herself this is a detail that the Netflix series added.

Electra

Voiced By Mamie Gummer

Though Electra, Heron’s mother in Blood of Zeus, is not present in Greek mythology, she shares ties to some other mythical women. Her story is similar to that of Hercules’s mother Alcmene in that Zeus pretended to be each woman’s husband. Though with Alcmene, this only lasted a few days, Blood of Zeus tells a story in which Zeus masquerades as a kind version of Electra’s abusive husband, King Periander.

Electra calls Zeus on his bluff, but is still in love with him, as he has spent a great deal of time wooing her and treating her with kindness. Less significantly, Electra shares her name with the Greek mythical figure, Electra, the titular character in a famous play by Sophocles. However, other than their shared name and tragic status, the similarities between the two women end there.

Hades

Voiced By Fred Tatasciore

Hades is noticeably absent from Blood of Zeus until the season 1 finale, “War for Olympus.” Like his mythic counterpart, Hades is King of the Underworld, guarding the souls of the dead. It isn’t until Seraphim awakes near the river Styx that Hades reveals his malevolent intentions. He discloses that he is the true owner of Seraphim’s bident and demands that Seraphim kneel to him in exchange for salvation from eternal suffering.

Hades became a major villain in Blood of Zeus season 2, seeking to take over Olympus using the Eleusinian Stone.

Given that Seraphim discovered his bident plunged into the back of a giant, it seems likely that Hades has had some hand in the rise of demons in the mortal realm, and even that he may have been interfering with the giants, too. Hades became a major villain in Blood of Zeus season 2, seeking to take over Olympus using the Eleusinian Stone. Some Greek myths have implied that Hades was bitter about being relegated to the underworld, and based on the way the series elevated Hera’s resentment of Zeus, it seems likely that Hades, too, will turn his wrath against the gods of Olympus.

Ares

Voiced By Matt Lowe

Image via Netflix

Ares, the Greek god of War, served as a secondary antagonist in Blood of Zeus season 1, though had a diminished role in season 2. Voiced by Matt Lowe, Ares was depicted as a fierce warrior, and was the firstborn son of Zeus and Hera. Of all the gods present in Blood of Zeus, Ares was among those who had a significant issue with Zeus interfering in the lives of mortals, and especially with the existence of his illegimate demigod children like Heron.

Ares sides with Hera during the civil war in Blood of Zeus season 1, and one of his most notable moments is fighting with Apollo. In Blood of Zeus season 2, Ares competes with Heron to inherit Zeus's ring. He later appears at Zeus's farewell ceremony, and while he definitely shows Heron animosity throughout his appearances in the second season, he's no longer positions as an antagonist.

Persephone

Voiced By Laura Pulver

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Persephone was perhaps the most significant new character introduced in Blood of Zeus season 2, and played a pivotal role when it came to the new antagonist, Hades. The Goddess of Spring, Persephone is Hades' devoted wife, living with him in the Underworld (against the wishes of her mother, Demeter). She is a daughter of Zeus, making her a half-sister of Heron, though this doesn't factor much into the plot of the show.

Persephone was instrumental in using Seraphim to help Hades' plans come to fruition, and is exceptionally cunning and intelligent.

Hades and Persephone have a surprisingly committed relationship and dote on one-another. They have two children, Zagreus and Melinoe, who are the god and goddess of rebirth and ghosts, respectively. The genuine nature of her feelings was evident when she had to leave them in the Underworld to return to Olympus, with their farewell being incredibly tearful. Persephone was instrumental in using Seraphim to help Hades' plans come to fruition, and is exceptionally cunning and intelligent.

Gaia

Voiced By Jean Gilpin

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Gaia, like Persephone, was introduced in Blood of Zeus season 2, and is one of the most powerful deities seen in the show so far. She is a primordial goddess, and the grandmother of Zeus, Hades, and the rest of their siblings. Her role in the show is interesting to say the least, as she enters the show as a somewhat balanced presence who seeks little but peace and forgiveness to flourish between the previously-warring Olympian gods. However, this changes by the season 2 finale.

Due to many of the acts carried out by various Gods in Blood of Zeus season's 1 and 2, most notably Hera and, later Hades, Gaia completely loses faith in them and decides things need to begin anew. This causes her to release Typhon in the season 2 finale, setting up the events of Blood of Zeus season 3.

Typhon

Yet To Be Cast

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Typhon didn't fully appear until the end of Blood of Zeus season 2, but the series spent the entire batch of episodes setting him up as a major antagonist. Perhaps one of the few beings universally feared by the gods, Typhon is an elemental being with the power to destroy the entire pantheon and end the current age, which is precisely why his mother, Gaia, chooses to release him. The Eleusinian Stone, which grants the right to rule Olympus, contains Typhon's power. Once it was shattered by Gaia this enabled not only Typhon, but also the feared Titans, to return.

It's clear that Typhon will be the major antagonist in Blood of Zeus season 3, and is a greater threat than anything faced by Heron and the other heroes so far.

It's clear that Typhon will be the major antagonist in Blood of Zeus season 3, and is a greater threat than anything faced by Heron and the other heroes so far. Last time Typhon roamed the earth it took the power of all the gods to stop him, and even then, imprisoning him in Mount Etna took such a toll that they feared to even speak his name afterward.

Poseidon, Hephaestus, and Other Gods

Voice By Various Cast Members

Other central figures from Greek mythology, such as Poseidon, Hephaestus, Apollo, and the Fates appear in Blood of Zeus in smaller roles. Their portrayals, while not extensively fleshed out, are true to their roots in Greek myth, and could potentially be expanded in future seasons. Other gods, like Dionysus and Athena, appear in the background or in crowd scenes, but are never specifically named or featured.

Clearly, character designs have been made for some gods without major roles, and they too could appear in any upcoming seasons of the anime series. Blood of Zeus provides a fresh but loyal take on Greek mythology, and has many exciting possibilities for future seasons.