Lore Olympus: Volume One

Demeter raised Persephone in an overprotective, stifling environment in the mortal realm, away from the other Olympians. Consequently, she had little contact with peers, except for occasional visits from gods like Hermes. When she makes her debut in Olympus, other gods either help her or take advantage of her naivety. Artemis, in particular, takes an interest in Persephone’s social well-being. To this end, Artemis gives Persephone an old cellphone of hers. Though the screen is cracked, Persephone declares it to be perfect: It is a symbol of her newfound freedom and ability to communicate with whom she wants, when she wants. The cellphone represents her freedom of expression and ability to become her own person, outside of the “greenhouse” Demeter trapped her in. However, in Volume One, Persephone’s phone only has two contacts: Artemis and Hades. Consequently, the cellphone also represents the conflict between what is expected of her as a future vestal virgin and her blossoming feelings for Hades.

Hades and Persephone exchange business cards as a means of introduction. Though it is a short scene, the cards represent the business-like nature of some relationships between the gods in Lore Olympus. Hades’s card introduces him as the God of the Dead and God of Wealth, and it lists his other names and epithets, including Aidoneus, Dark Zeus, Dis, Plouton, and Pluto (Episode 8, Page 9). His card has a clean, elegant design, in the primary colors of the Underworld (black, white, and light-blue). Persephone’s card, by contrast, looks cutesy and innocent, merely introducing her as Kore, Goddess of Spring in red cursive font on a pink background (Episode 8, Page 10). Hades teases her due to the discrepancy with her name and the fact that the card is made by hand. The epithets on their cards are indicative of various cult names for gods in Greek mythology. Because there was no canonical or codified religion in Ancient Greece, gods were often worshipped under different names. Kore, meaning “daughter” or “maiden,” usually signifies Persephone’s name before she becomes Queen of the Underworld. “Aidoneus” is another name for Hades, and in Episode 25, it is revealed that it is his childhood name. The exchange of cards bearing their various or previous names increases the degree of intimacy in what should be the formal establishment of acquaintance; Smythe suggests this meeting will lead to much more.