As with all top-down sets Theros Beyond Death aim for a flavorful gameplay and draws its flavor greek mythology so it time for us to gather and see what stores, myths and characters get translated into magic.
I will only update this when the english cards is spoiled (no leaks) since the names and flavor text might also be a reference but will talk non-English and/or leaks below if it comes up for those who want to see the references but don't want to see leaks.
Individual card and on off references
Elspeth Sun's Nemesis and the other Escape cards
A common theme in greek mythology was for character to journey into escape from the underworld, escape from death and/or the underworld such as in the tales of Orpheus, Psyche, Heracles, Sisyphus and others. While heroes who hadn't died often could escape, those who truly died always met their fate in the underworld.
Ashiok, Nightmare Muse
Often when making a top down set, creative will try to flavor walkers into the themes and tropes of that world. With Ashiok they are comparing them to the muses of greek myth who were goddess of the arts who would inspire artists into making great works, a twisted version of what Ashiok does themself.
The Akroan War
This saga is a magic reenactment of the Trojan war. After dealing with some gods, Paris of Troy asks for the most beautiful woman to be his bride. Unfortunately this turned out to be Helen who was already married to King Menelaus of Sparta. Helen was stolen away to Troy (the first chapter of the card), which lead to Sparta and Troy going to war (second chapter) where may died those some survived (last chapter).
Heliod’s Punishment
For the ending of this set Heliod is beaten by Elspeth and imprisoned by Erebos in the underworld under a huge rock. This echoes the fate of the titan Atlas who was forced to hold up the sky and its effect references stories where gods were stripped of their divinity and forced to complete tasks.
Alirios, Entrapped
Alirios is a top down design of Narcissus. A beautiful, proud and cruel youth Narcissus spurred women and men horribly causing the god of revenge Nemesis to step in. She cause Narcissus to follow in love with his own reflection. Some versions have Narcissus waste way watching himself, some say he drowns trying to be with his reflection or sudice from realizing he could never touch his reflection.
Final Death
A grim twist on the real myth of what would happen to those in the underworld. Most people who are neither extremely good or evil would end up in the Asphodel Meadows and be forced to drink from the river Lethe losing their indienty. While this is the fate of the return of theros the underworld gets a notch up by having all but those who end up in Ilysia to fade into crumbing statues.
Fruit of Tizerus
Fruit of Tizerus is a nod to the story of Persephone who was kidnapped by Hades to be his queen in the underworld and sealed her fate when she was tricked into eating pomegranate seeds which had been grown in the underworld and thus forcing her to stay there. Tizerus also seems to be a nod to Tartarus the most hellish place of the underworld where the worst of being are trapped and punished.
Gravebreaker Lamia
In myths Lamia was a beautiful woman who had an affair with Zeus. When Hera found out she either killed Lamias kids or drove Lamia made so she would do it herself. This caused the woman to transform into a boogy man like figure who hunts children. Later depictions of Lamia started to pick up serpent and dragon imagery.
Impending Doom
Impending Doom is a nod to the sword of damocles. a moral anecdote that compares those who are in power to having a sword or weapon hanging a hair above them as a symbol of the responsibility and danger positions of great power carry.
Ox of Agonas
I believe the Ox of Agonas is a nod to the story of the Cretan Bull who was the father of the minotaur and set in motion the war that would result in the sacrifice of youths to the labryth. Later on it was both bested by Heracles and killed by Theseus.
The First Iroan Games
This saga is a fun nod to the olympic games which still run to this day. We have in chapter 1 an athlete, in chapter 2 we see them training up, chapter 3 has them competing with both strength and smarts and chapter 4 we end with our gold metal.
Nessian Boar
The Nessian Boar is based on the Calydonian Boar which was a beast sent by Artemis to punish the region Calydon and took a group of hero of the age to team up to hunt and take down the beast.
Voracious Typhon
Typhon was considered one of the most powerful and deadliest monsters, born from Gaia and Tartarus and fought the gods before being imprisoned. Typhon as also the mate of Echidna and thus the father of many monsters and creatures from greek myth. He appeared as giant being with hundred fire breathing snake heads some even said his arms and legs were also made of hundreds of monster snakes and sometimes with wings.
Allure of the Unknown
Allure of the Unknown is a top down design of the story of Pandora. When the titan prometheus gave humans fire, Zeus decided we should be punished too. He and the other gods made the first woman pandora and give her gifts such as beauty and wisdom. Zeus however gave her a huge drive of curiosity and then later a jar (later versions a box) and told her to never to open it. Well her curiosity got the best of her and Pandora opened the jar and unleashed all the evils on the world as well as hope.
Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders and Wings of Hubris
Dalakos and Wings of Hubris are based on the tale of the inventor Daedalus in related the myth he shares with his son Icarus. Forced to work for King Minos Daedalus built wings so that he and his son could escape. Warning his son to keep balance in between the raging sea and the sun, Daedalus saw his son instead get consumed with pride and flying too close to the sun the heat melted the wax holding the wings together and Icarus fell into the waters below.
Bronzehide Lion
Like its cousin Fleecemane Lion this card is based on the Nemean Lion who was a lion with a unpierceable hide, which forced Heracles to strangle it or to attack the inside of its mouth. This card play into another aspect of the tale where Heracles skinns the beast to make an armor cloak of the hide.
Haktos the Unscarred
Haktos is based on the story of Achillies. As a child, Achilles was made indistruble by his mother after she had submerged him in the river styx except for around his heel from where she had held him. This weakness would later used to kill the Hero when Paris shoot his heel with an arrow during the Trojan war.
Siona, Captain of the Pyleas
Siona while visually looks like an amazon, a tribe of female warriors, Siona also has elements of the hero Jason as a leader of a ship and seeming capturing a golden sheep (her full art makes the golden sheep clearer).
Gods
This time around (most of) the gods get epithets reflecting the Greek gods many epithets.
Heliod, Sun-Crowned
The W god the sun Heliod is made up from elements of the sky god Zeus, the family goddess Hera, the sun god Apollo and his name from the titan of the sun Helios.
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
Thassa is the U god of the sea is mostly based on the sea god Poseidon and other sea gods with her name coming from the sea deity Thalassa and her being the god of sea beasts taking inspiron from Ceto. Thassa as a blue god also has some domain over knowledge which drawn from Athena. Also of note is her new weapon which was picked out and designed by the artist for the set version as a type of fishing spear.
Erebos, Bleak Hearted
Erebos is the B god of the underworld who is based on the greek god of the same domain Hades, with his name being named on the primordial of darkness Erebus.
Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded
Purphoros is the R god of the forge and mostly based on the forge god Hephaestus as well as some minor elements of Aphrodite and the muses since he is also a god of passion on Theros.
Nylea, Keen-Eyed
Nylea is the G god of the Hunt of Theros and is based mostly on the greek hunt and nature goddess Artmist, with elements of Dememter and Persphone as Nylea is a nature and in charge of the seasons.
Klothys, God of Destiny
Our new/old RG god of destiny Klothys seems mostly based on the fates. In many indo european religious the fates are seen often as trio of women who often use weaving to decide the fate of both mortals and gods, making them something even the gods would fear. Klothys weaving and having masks on either side of her face reflects her inspersion. Due to her being trapped in the underworld Klothys also seems to draw on elements of Persephone and Hecate the later of which also has been depicted as a triple goddess.
Athreos, Shroud-Veiled
The WB god of passing Athreos is based on Charon and both gods are the ferryman for the dead to cross into the underworld and works under Erebos/ Hades.
Ephara
Ephara is the WU god of the polis and based on Athena in her role as the goddess of the city of Athens as well as liking owls it seems.
Phenax
Phenax is the UB God of Deception based on Hermes. Hermes was (among other things) the god of secrets, thieves and travel in which Phenax takes these traits to the most negative. A fun twist as the god of travel Hermes would often escort the dead to the underworld while Phenax showed the path the dead could travel to escape as returned on Theros. The name Phenax is grek for cheat or impostor.
Keranos
Keranos is the UR God of storms takes the elements of Zeus (god of lighting) and Apollo (god or oracles and prophecy) that didn’t go into Heliod.
Mogis
Mogis is the BR God of Slaughter that looks like a minotaur and is based on Ares the war god who focused more on the bloody and “evil” sides of war with elements of Ares sons Deimos (dread) and Phobos (fear).
Pharika
Pharika Is the BG God of Affliction based on the tales of how if blood is taken from a gorgons right side had such powerful healing it could bring back the dead while blood from the left side was instantly fatal, playing with Pharika being the mother of gorgons on Theros and being both a god of poison and medicine.
Iroas
Iroas is theRW god of victory and fun fact is not a true centaur as his bottom half is that of a bull to contrast his twin Mogis. He take elements of Athena as the “good” god of tactical war as well as Nike the goddess of victory.
Xenagos
Xenagos was a satyr planeswalker who tried and briefly became the RG god of Reveles. He is a blend of the wine, party and madness god Dionysus and the nature god Pan who looked like a satyr and often joined Dionysus. It is also commonly thought Pan had died similar to Xenagos being the only known killed Theros god.
Karametra
Karametra is the GW god of the Harvest and is a blend of the goddesses Demeter who was goddess of agriculture and Hestia goddess of hearth and home.
Kruphix
Kruphix is the GU god of the Horizon and has no clear cut based in greek myth but rather a blending of different concepts such as the primordial deities, the dawn/horizon god Eos and might also have touches of the mystery cults of greek culture where the god and worship was kept secret to the worshippers.
Demigods
In greek mythology demigods are the children of gods and mortals who ended up more mortal then god but still had skills and abilities above normal people. Many heroes in greek myth are demigod or similar thought many where not demigods. As the gods of Theros are said not to have biological children the demigods play more into the heroic aspect being raised humans who were picked by the gods to be their champions in the war.
Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea
Referenced back in Theros 1 Callaphe is a very twisty version of Odysseus. Odysseus tale is mostly told in the Odyssey of a greek hero and sailor who after fighting in the trojan war was sent on a long sea voyage home after getting on the bad side of Poseidon the sea god. Here we have a female sailor hero with Callaphe who tales are found in Callapheia.
Anax, Hardened in the Forge
King Anax (and his wife Queen Cymede) who rules are based on Leonidas and Gorgo, rulers of Sparta and similar are/where rulers of the Theros version of Sparta, Akros.
Renata, Called to Hunt
Renata smees to be based on the few greek heroines Atlanta, who among other tales was noted to have been raised by bears and have been on the hunt for the Calydonian Boar and is noted for the the first hero to draw blood from the beast.
Giants/ Titans
The giants of theros draw from a few different figures from greek mythology, though they seem to have three big sources. First greek myth giants were children of gaea who were made to overthrow the gods in a war called the Gigantomachy. Magic has also made their version of the titan, elder gods and the generation of deities before the olympians, as giant in theros as well. Finally the Hundred handed ones also known as Hecatoncheires where large being who had 100 hands and 100 heads and where the siblings to the titans. The giants of Theros are being of the land.
With Theros Beyond Death we see Theros of the titans which are elder giants of natural forces on Theros which have elements of the eldest gods in greek myth the primordials the parents of the titans. Uro seems to be referencing both gaea the primordial of the earth and primal sea gods such as Oceanus, Pontus and Thalassa with his name being drawn from the primordial of the sky Uranus.
Races
Centaurs
Centaurs exists on Theros and follow in the greek myth by having two kinds. Some centaurs take on mentor roles or bardic story tells while others are more wild and delight in revling, many of whom joined up in Xenagos worship.
Nymphs
Nymphs are greeky mythology are very minor goddess or female spirit of nature. In Theros to reflect the five colors we have alseid, naiads, lampad, oreads and dryads.
Tritons
The merfolk of Theros make their names from the son of the sea god Poseidon who takes the form of a classic merperson but with two tails instead of one, which also seem also work with the two legged, tail like legs magics merfolk have.
Satyrs
In greek myth Satyr where male nature spirits who looked like half men half goat had high sex drives and would often join in the parties and drunken worships of Dionysus.
Archons
While not a real thing in greek mythology, archon was a title for a ruler or high member of a government body. To help feel more top-down greek myth magic replaced angels with their version of archon, two bodies, one soul beings, who are the harsher side of white.
Monsters
Many monsters in greek mythology where legendary one of a kind beasts but on Theros many of these monsters are full species
Cerberus (and Orthrus)
In greek mythology the god Hades has a three headed hound named Cerberus whose job it is to guard the underworld. Cerberus also had a lesser known brother named Orthrus who was a two headed hound. Both dogs were children of Echidna the mother of monster. On Theros Cerberi are also related to the underworld.
Hydra
Another child of Echidna the hydra was a draconic monster who spit poison and could regrew two new heads if one was cut off, though cauterizing the neck would keep the heads from regrowing. The Hydra was killed by Heracles in one of his labors. OnTheros hydras are the most feared monster found on land.
Chimera
Another child of Echidna, the chimera was a mix of a lion, goat and serpent able to breath fire. It was killed by Bellerophon who shoved a piece of lead in ts mouths before it breathed its flame, having the metal melt and choke the beast. Chimera in modern terms refers to many being that is a mix of many different beings and this is reflected on Theros with chimeras showing up as a mix of different animal combinations.
Dragon
While not the traditional European like dragon magic has, greek mythology did have a number of dragonic and serpentine like monsters such as typhon, landon and the hydra. On Theros dragons are the child of what seems to be a typhon like being and are the most feared monsters found in the skies.
Minotaur and Labyrinth of Skophos
After the king of Crete angered the gods, they made his wife fall in love with a bull and have a half man half bull monster called the minotaur. The monster was then used in a sacerical like manner to kill a group of youths who were locked in a large labyrinth with the beast until Theseus kill it. On Theros Minotaur are barley sapient, savage, flesh eating monster who worship Mogis.
Sphinx
Another child of Echidna, the sphinx was in the story of Oedipus. Guarding the gates of the city of Thebes, it would kill anyone who couldn’t answer its riddle. Finally Oedipus figured it and the sphinx threw herself into rocks and killed herself.
Sea Monster
Greeky mythology often has story of sea travel with many facing sea monsters along the way. On Theros we see these beasts in the forms of karkens, leviathans, octopuses and sea serpents among many other nasty beasts. Sea monsters on Theros act similar with the karkens (who funny enough are some from norse myth) being the most feared of the sea beasts.
Pegasusi
A winged horse born from Medusa and Poseidon after the hero Perseus cut off Medusa head and was the steed of the hero Bellerophon.
Hippocampi
Right as it says on the type line Hippocamp where half horse half fish sea creatures in greek mythology who would show up to aid those blessed by the gods of the sea and oceans with the most prominent being Posidon.
Sirens
Sirens in greek mythology everywhere half bird half women who had alluring voices that they would used to cause sailors to shipwreck their ships into rocks or sailors to drown trying to reach them.
Unicorns
While not found in greek mythology, any greeks believed unicorns were thought to be real animals and recorded in greek natural history.
Harpies
Harpies are another half bird half woman female monster who often were used to torment those who have displeased the gods.
Catoblepas
An ox or wildebeest like monster who was said to have a poisonous breath that could kill or turn the victims into stone.
Gorgons and Mirror Shield
The story of the gorgon comes from the story of Medusa. Medusa was a priestess of Athena who had sex (some myths willing most myths not) with posident in the temple. As a virgin goddess Athena cursed Medusa and her two sisters into snake haired monsters with Medusa cursed father with a gaze that turn lookers into stone. Later Medusa was killed by Perseus by using his shield as a mirror to not directly look at her.
Manticores
Similar to the krakens manticore are not greek in origin but persian. Could be a nod to how greece and persia had history together or that the manticore blending of human. Lion and scorpions in the way it does is very fitting with other greek mothers.
Cyclopi
Two kinds of cyclopi are found in greek myth. First are the siblings of the titans who were great forge masters and joined the gods in over throwing their siblings. Second are the more monstrous kind that are children of the original as well as some being children of gods and nature spirits such as Poseidon.
Phoenixes
Phoenixes are mostly the same in the greek myth are they are in modern understanding as a bird that can be reborn from its ashes after combusing at the end of its life. I guess Theros Phoenixes are different since it looks like they can be sent to the underworld instead of being reborn, or maybe showing it was slain before it could rebirth itself.
Arasta of the Endless Web and the Spider monsters
Arasta and what seems to be her children are based on Arachne. Arachne was a prideful woman who was caught by Athena on how she could weave better than the craft goddess. They both weaved a tamperistery and when Atehan saw Arachne work, which displayed embarrassing stories of the gods and some myth say was better than the goddesses work, Athena cursed Arachne into the first spider so her and her children could weave forever.
“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
I gotta say I do like the use of repeated tropes and myth with new card designs. While i do want to seethe drawing from new sources each visit I did enjoy seeing how different sets could use the tropes or source over in new ways and helps keep the set from fully running out of ideas. Similar new vs returning planes I think a nice balance is perfect.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
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I will only update this when the english cards is spoiled (no leaks) since the names and flavor text might also be a reference but will talk non-English and/or leaks below if it comes up for those who want to see the references but don't want to see leaks.
Individual card and on off references
Elspeth Sun's Nemesis and the other Escape cards
A common theme in greek mythology was for character to journey into escape from the underworld, escape from death and/or the underworld such as in the tales of Orpheus, Psyche, Heracles, Sisyphus and others. While heroes who hadn't died often could escape, those who truly died always met their fate in the underworld.
Ashiok, Nightmare Muse
Often when making a top down set, creative will try to flavor walkers into the themes and tropes of that world. With Ashiok they are comparing them to the muses of greek myth who were goddess of the arts who would inspire artists into making great works, a twisted version of what Ashiok does themself.
The Akroan War
This saga is a magic reenactment of the Trojan war. After dealing with some gods, Paris of Troy asks for the most beautiful woman to be his bride. Unfortunately this turned out to be Helen who was already married to King Menelaus of Sparta. Helen was stolen away to Troy (the first chapter of the card), which lead to Sparta and Troy going to war (second chapter) where may died those some survived (last chapter).
Heliod’s Punishment
For the ending of this set Heliod is beaten by Elspeth and imprisoned by Erebos in the underworld under a huge rock. This echoes the fate of the titan Atlas who was forced to hold up the sky and its effect references stories where gods were stripped of their divinity and forced to complete tasks.
Alirios, Entrapped
Alirios is a top down design of Narcissus. A beautiful, proud and cruel youth Narcissus spurred women and men horribly causing the god of revenge Nemesis to step in. She cause Narcissus to follow in love with his own reflection. Some versions have Narcissus waste way watching himself, some say he drowns trying to be with his reflection or sudice from realizing he could never touch his reflection.
Final Death
A grim twist on the real myth of what would happen to those in the underworld. Most people who are neither extremely good or evil would end up in the Asphodel Meadows and be forced to drink from the river Lethe losing their indienty. While this is the fate of the return of theros the underworld gets a notch up by having all but those who end up in Ilysia to fade into crumbing statues.
Fruit of Tizerus
Fruit of Tizerus is a nod to the story of Persephone who was kidnapped by Hades to be his queen in the underworld and sealed her fate when she was tricked into eating pomegranate seeds which had been grown in the underworld and thus forcing her to stay there. Tizerus also seems to be a nod to Tartarus the most hellish place of the underworld where the worst of being are trapped and punished.
Gravebreaker Lamia
In myths Lamia was a beautiful woman who had an affair with Zeus. When Hera found out she either killed Lamias kids or drove Lamia made so she would do it herself. This caused the woman to transform into a boogy man like figure who hunts children. Later depictions of Lamia started to pick up serpent and dragon imagery.
Impending Doom
Impending Doom is a nod to the sword of damocles. a moral anecdote that compares those who are in power to having a sword or weapon hanging a hair above them as a symbol of the responsibility and danger positions of great power carry.
Ox of Agonas
I believe the Ox of Agonas is a nod to the story of the Cretan Bull who was the father of the minotaur and set in motion the war that would result in the sacrifice of youths to the labryth. Later on it was both bested by Heracles and killed by Theseus.
The First Iroan Games
This saga is a fun nod to the olympic games which still run to this day. We have in chapter 1 an athlete, in chapter 2 we see them training up, chapter 3 has them competing with both strength and smarts and chapter 4 we end with our gold metal.
Nessian Boar
The Nessian Boar is based on the Calydonian Boar which was a beast sent by Artemis to punish the region Calydon and took a group of hero of the age to team up to hunt and take down the beast.
Voracious Typhon
Typhon was considered one of the most powerful and deadliest monsters, born from Gaia and Tartarus and fought the gods before being imprisoned. Typhon as also the mate of Echidna and thus the father of many monsters and creatures from greek myth. He appeared as giant being with hundred fire breathing snake heads some even said his arms and legs were also made of hundreds of monster snakes and sometimes with wings.
Allure of the Unknown
Allure of the Unknown is a top down design of the story of Pandora. When the titan prometheus gave humans fire, Zeus decided we should be punished too. He and the other gods made the first woman pandora and give her gifts such as beauty and wisdom. Zeus however gave her a huge drive of curiosity and then later a jar (later versions a box) and told her to never to open it. Well her curiosity got the best of her and Pandora opened the jar and unleashed all the evils on the world as well as hope.
Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders and Wings of Hubris
Dalakos and Wings of Hubris are based on the tale of the inventor Daedalus in related the myth he shares with his son Icarus. Forced to work for King Minos Daedalus built wings so that he and his son could escape. Warning his son to keep balance in between the raging sea and the sun, Daedalus saw his son instead get consumed with pride and flying too close to the sun the heat melted the wax holding the wings together and Icarus fell into the waters below.
Bronzehide Lion
Like its cousin Fleecemane Lion this card is based on the Nemean Lion who was a lion with a unpierceable hide, which forced Heracles to strangle it or to attack the inside of its mouth. This card play into another aspect of the tale where Heracles skinns the beast to make an armor cloak of the hide.
Haktos the Unscarred
Haktos is based on the story of Achillies. As a child, Achilles was made indistruble by his mother after she had submerged him in the river styx except for around his heel from where she had held him. This weakness would later used to kill the Hero when Paris shoot his heel with an arrow during the Trojan war.
Siona, Captain of the Pyleas
Siona while visually looks like an amazon, a tribe of female warriors, Siona also has elements of the hero Jason as a leader of a ship and seeming capturing a golden sheep (her full art makes the golden sheep clearer).
Gods
This time around (most of) the gods get epithets reflecting the Greek gods many epithets.
Heliod, Sun-Crowned
The W god the sun Heliod is made up from elements of the sky god Zeus, the family goddess Hera, the sun god Apollo and his name from the titan of the sun Helios.
Thassa, Deep-Dwelling
Thassa is the U god of the sea is mostly based on the sea god Poseidon and other sea gods with her name coming from the sea deity Thalassa and her being the god of sea beasts taking inspiron from Ceto. Thassa as a blue god also has some domain over knowledge which drawn from Athena. Also of note is her new weapon which was picked out and designed by the artist for the set version as a type of fishing spear.
Erebos, Bleak Hearted
Erebos is the B god of the underworld who is based on the greek god of the same domain Hades, with his name being named on the primordial of darkness Erebus.
Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded
Purphoros is the R god of the forge and mostly based on the forge god Hephaestus as well as some minor elements of Aphrodite and the muses since he is also a god of passion on Theros.
Nylea, Keen-Eyed
Nylea is the G god of the Hunt of Theros and is based mostly on the greek hunt and nature goddess Artmist, with elements of Dememter and Persphone as Nylea is a nature and in charge of the seasons.
Klothys, God of Destiny
Our new/old RG god of destiny Klothys seems mostly based on the fates. In many indo european religious the fates are seen often as trio of women who often use weaving to decide the fate of both mortals and gods, making them something even the gods would fear. Klothys weaving and having masks on either side of her face reflects her inspersion. Due to her being trapped in the underworld Klothys also seems to draw on elements of Persephone and Hecate the later of which also has been depicted as a triple goddess.
Athreos, Shroud-Veiled
The WB god of passing Athreos is based on Charon and both gods are the ferryman for the dead to cross into the underworld and works under Erebos/ Hades.
Ephara
Ephara is the WU god of the polis and based on Athena in her role as the goddess of the city of Athens as well as liking owls it seems.
Phenax
Phenax is the UB God of Deception based on Hermes. Hermes was (among other things) the god of secrets, thieves and travel in which Phenax takes these traits to the most negative. A fun twist as the god of travel Hermes would often escort the dead to the underworld while Phenax showed the path the dead could travel to escape as returned on Theros. The name Phenax is grek for cheat or impostor.
Keranos
Keranos is the UR God of storms takes the elements of Zeus (god of lighting) and Apollo (god or oracles and prophecy) that didn’t go into Heliod.
Mogis
Mogis is the BR God of Slaughter that looks like a minotaur and is based on Ares the war god who focused more on the bloody and “evil” sides of war with elements of Ares sons Deimos (dread) and Phobos (fear).
Pharika
Pharika Is the BG God of Affliction based on the tales of how if blood is taken from a gorgons right side had such powerful healing it could bring back the dead while blood from the left side was instantly fatal, playing with Pharika being the mother of gorgons on Theros and being both a god of poison and medicine.
Iroas
Iroas is theRW god of victory and fun fact is not a true centaur as his bottom half is that of a bull to contrast his twin Mogis. He take elements of Athena as the “good” god of tactical war as well as Nike the goddess of victory.
Xenagos
Xenagos was a satyr planeswalker who tried and briefly became the RG god of Reveles. He is a blend of the wine, party and madness god Dionysus and the nature god Pan who looked like a satyr and often joined Dionysus. It is also commonly thought Pan had died similar to Xenagos being the only known killed Theros god.
Karametra
Karametra is the GW god of the Harvest and is a blend of the goddesses Demeter who was goddess of agriculture and Hestia goddess of hearth and home.
Kruphix
Kruphix is the GU god of the Horizon and has no clear cut based in greek myth but rather a blending of different concepts such as the primordial deities, the dawn/horizon god Eos and might also have touches of the mystery cults of greek culture where the god and worship was kept secret to the worshippers.
Demigods
In greek mythology demigods are the children of gods and mortals who ended up more mortal then god but still had skills and abilities above normal people. Many heroes in greek myth are demigod or similar thought many where not demigods. As the gods of Theros are said not to have biological children the demigods play more into the heroic aspect being raised humans who were picked by the gods to be their champions in the war.
Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea
Referenced back in Theros 1 Callaphe is a very twisty version of Odysseus. Odysseus tale is mostly told in the Odyssey of a greek hero and sailor who after fighting in the trojan war was sent on a long sea voyage home after getting on the bad side of Poseidon the sea god. Here we have a female sailor hero with Callaphe who tales are found in Callapheia.
Anax, Hardened in the Forge
King Anax (and his wife Queen Cymede) who rules are based on Leonidas and Gorgo, rulers of Sparta and similar are/where rulers of the Theros version of Sparta, Akros.
Renata, Called to Hunt
Renata smees to be based on the few greek heroines Atlanta, who among other tales was noted to have been raised by bears and have been on the hunt for the Calydonian Boar and is noted for the the first hero to draw blood from the beast.
Giants/ Titans
The giants of theros draw from a few different figures from greek mythology, though they seem to have three big sources. First greek myth giants were children of gaea who were made to overthrow the gods in a war called the Gigantomachy. Magic has also made their version of the titan, elder gods and the generation of deities before the olympians, as giant in theros as well. Finally the Hundred handed ones also known as Hecatoncheires where large being who had 100 hands and 100 heads and where the siblings to the titans. The giants of Theros are being of the land.
With Theros Beyond Death we see Theros of the titans which are elder giants of natural forces on Theros which have elements of the eldest gods in greek myth the primordials the parents of the titans. Uro seems to be referencing both gaea the primordial of the earth and primal sea gods such as Oceanus, Pontus and Thalassa with his name being drawn from the primordial of the sky Uranus.
Races
Centaurs
Centaurs exists on Theros and follow in the greek myth by having two kinds. Some centaurs take on mentor roles or bardic story tells while others are more wild and delight in revling, many of whom joined up in Xenagos worship.
Nymphs
Nymphs are greeky mythology are very minor goddess or female spirit of nature. In Theros to reflect the five colors we have alseid, naiads, lampad, oreads and dryads.
Tritons
The merfolk of Theros make their names from the son of the sea god Poseidon who takes the form of a classic merperson but with two tails instead of one, which also seem also work with the two legged, tail like legs magics merfolk have.
Satyrs
In greek myth Satyr where male nature spirits who looked like half men half goat had high sex drives and would often join in the parties and drunken worships of Dionysus.
Archons
While not a real thing in greek mythology, archon was a title for a ruler or high member of a government body. To help feel more top-down greek myth magic replaced angels with their version of archon, two bodies, one soul beings, who are the harsher side of white.
Monsters
Many monsters in greek mythology where legendary one of a kind beasts but on Theros many of these monsters are full species
Cerberus (and Orthrus)
In greek mythology the god Hades has a three headed hound named Cerberus whose job it is to guard the underworld. Cerberus also had a lesser known brother named Orthrus who was a two headed hound. Both dogs were children of Echidna the mother of monster. On Theros Cerberi are also related to the underworld.
Hydra
Another child of Echidna the hydra was a draconic monster who spit poison and could regrew two new heads if one was cut off, though cauterizing the neck would keep the heads from regrowing. The Hydra was killed by Heracles in one of his labors. OnTheros hydras are the most feared monster found on land.
Chimera
Another child of Echidna, the chimera was a mix of a lion, goat and serpent able to breath fire. It was killed by Bellerophon who shoved a piece of lead in ts mouths before it breathed its flame, having the metal melt and choke the beast. Chimera in modern terms refers to many being that is a mix of many different beings and this is reflected on Theros with chimeras showing up as a mix of different animal combinations.
Dragon
While not the traditional European like dragon magic has, greek mythology did have a number of dragonic and serpentine like monsters such as typhon, landon and the hydra. On Theros dragons are the child of what seems to be a typhon like being and are the most feared monsters found in the skies.
Minotaur and Labyrinth of Skophos
After the king of Crete angered the gods, they made his wife fall in love with a bull and have a half man half bull monster called the minotaur. The monster was then used in a sacerical like manner to kill a group of youths who were locked in a large labyrinth with the beast until Theseus kill it. On Theros Minotaur are barley sapient, savage, flesh eating monster who worship Mogis.
Sphinx
Another child of Echidna, the sphinx was in the story of Oedipus. Guarding the gates of the city of Thebes, it would kill anyone who couldn’t answer its riddle. Finally Oedipus figured it and the sphinx threw herself into rocks and killed herself.
Sea Monster
Greeky mythology often has story of sea travel with many facing sea monsters along the way. On Theros we see these beasts in the forms of karkens, leviathans, octopuses and sea serpents among many other nasty beasts. Sea monsters on Theros act similar with the karkens (who funny enough are some from norse myth) being the most feared of the sea beasts.
Pegasusi
A winged horse born from Medusa and Poseidon after the hero Perseus cut off Medusa head and was the steed of the hero Bellerophon.
Hippocampi
Right as it says on the type line Hippocamp where half horse half fish sea creatures in greek mythology who would show up to aid those blessed by the gods of the sea and oceans with the most prominent being Posidon.
Sirens
Sirens in greek mythology everywhere half bird half women who had alluring voices that they would used to cause sailors to shipwreck their ships into rocks or sailors to drown trying to reach them.
Unicorns
While not found in greek mythology, any greeks believed unicorns were thought to be real animals and recorded in greek natural history.
Harpies
Harpies are another half bird half woman female monster who often were used to torment those who have displeased the gods.
Catoblepas
An ox or wildebeest like monster who was said to have a poisonous breath that could kill or turn the victims into stone.
Gorgons and Mirror Shield
The story of the gorgon comes from the story of Medusa. Medusa was a priestess of Athena who had sex (some myths willing most myths not) with posident in the temple. As a virgin goddess Athena cursed Medusa and her two sisters into snake haired monsters with Medusa cursed father with a gaze that turn lookers into stone. Later Medusa was killed by Perseus by using his shield as a mirror to not directly look at her.
Manticores
Similar to the krakens manticore are not greek in origin but persian. Could be a nod to how greece and persia had history together or that the manticore blending of human. Lion and scorpions in the way it does is very fitting with other greek mothers.
Cyclopi
Two kinds of cyclopi are found in greek myth. First are the siblings of the titans who were great forge masters and joined the gods in over throwing their siblings. Second are the more monstrous kind that are children of the original as well as some being children of gods and nature spirits such as Poseidon.
Phoenixes
Phoenixes are mostly the same in the greek myth are they are in modern understanding as a bird that can be reborn from its ashes after combusing at the end of its life. I guess Theros Phoenixes are different since it looks like they can be sent to the underworld instead of being reborn, or maybe showing it was slain before it could rebirth itself.
Arasta of the Endless Web and the Spider monsters
Arasta and what seems to be her children are based on Arachne. Arachne was a prideful woman who was caught by Athena on how she could weave better than the craft goddess. They both weaved a tamperistery and when Atehan saw Arachne work, which displayed embarrassing stories of the gods and some myth say was better than the goddesses work, Athena cursed Arachne into the first spider so her and her children could weave forever.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
I gotta say I do like the use of repeated tropes and myth with new card designs. While i do want to seethe drawing from new sources each visit I did enjoy seeing how different sets could use the tropes or source over in new ways and helps keep the set from fully running out of ideas. Similar new vs returning planes I think a nice balance is perfect.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"