Reading Response #4: The Blood of Olympus

The Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II split up into two groups in order to complete two different quests. The larger group has to defeat the earth mother, Gaea, before the Feast of Spes, which is when she plans to wake. Her giants have risen, stronger than ever, to assist her in her efforts. This group of demigods, with some help, hope to persevere against Gaea’s army of powerful giants.

In order to stop the war between the Greek and Roman camps, the other demigods are on a quest to retrieve the Athena Parthenos. This forty foot statue of the goddess of Olympus will hopefully bring peace.

The Athena Parthenos compared to an adult male

 

In the book, the demigods meet many lesser known minor gods. One of my favorites is Asclepius, the god of medicine. He is kept under guard at the temple of Epidaurus so “he doesn’t go running around the world resurrecting people” (321). Asclepius is basically a super doctor that can take one look at you and know everything about your health. He looks like a typical doctor, but also has a black staff with a live green python coiled around it. Ascelpius stated,

 

“People are always confusing my staff with the staff of Hermes, which has two snakes, obviously. Over the centuries, people have called Hermes’s staff the symbol of medicine, when of course it should be my staff” (346).  

Greek mythology often relates back to modern time. In The Blood of Olympus, I learned the many different ways that we connect back to our Greek roots.

 

 I have enjoyed this book just as much as I have enjoyed following the Percy Jackson series. It’s sad that this will be that last one, but at the same time I feel that it was an amazing ending to an amazing series.