Documentary: 'Greece: Quest for the Gods'

I love documentaries. A lot. I have pretty much seen every single documentary on netflix save for wildlife documentaries (sorry, I can only see a lion hunt so many times), and pro-cannabis documentaries (awesome if that is your thing, but as a child of addicts, I'd prefer not to hear hw awesome drugs are). So, every once in a while, I will share a documentary with you I found interesting or just plain beautiful. Today's documentary is a combination of both. It's a slightly older documentary but I love the premise: what do the ancient Hellenic Gods offer us today? 'Greece: Quest for the Gods' has the following description:

"This time we embark on a great odyssey in Greece, land of the Gods. From the amber of ancient times to the present, the Western world has basked in the glorious inspiration of the Greek myths. These strangely magnificent stories are deeply embedded in our culture and even our collective unconscious. On this trip we seek to discover the relevance and meaning the great gods of Olympus might have for us today.

 

To help us in our quest for understanding we meet up with author, Agapi Stassinopolous, who has written several books on Greek gods and goddesses.

 

According to Agapi, “The Gods of the Pantheon are still alive. They are alive in all of us and they are alive in everything you see in Greece. They are the archetypes and they are everywhere—in the land, in the tavernas, in the people talking.” As they tour the country Richard and Agapi search for manifestations of the gods in today’s Greeks, not just in the ruins and temples along the way but in modern life as well.

 

We begin in Athens, side-trip to Poseidon’s Temple at Cape Sounion and then head to Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games. Their quest takes them on to the island of Ithaca, to the site of mystical oracles at Delphi and finishes at the home of the gods, Mt. Olympus."

I have found the documentary respectful, beautifully made, and of course we all know that the ancient Hellenic Gods have a lasting and beautiful influence on modern life. The beauty of this documentary? Pretty much everyone interviewed agrees, including the host, Richard Bangs. And on top of it, who can resist these beautiful shots of the ancient temples and monuments? It filled me with longing, and that is why I wanted to share it with you.

Of course, you might not agree with everything: information about the Theoi is generalized and minimized for easy consumption, and there are strong philosophical influences in the opinions of the experts. It still has a lot to teach you, and to inspire in you--so enjoy.