Why Lore Olympus Matters
With over 6 billion reads, Lore Olympus is the most-read webtoon in history and has introduced more people to Greek mythology than any other modern work. Rachel Smythe's retelling focuses on the romance between Hades and Persephone — but takes enormous creative liberties.
Hades — The Romantic Lead
In the webtoon: Hades is a brooding, misunderstood CEO-type who genuinely loves Persephone. In mythology: Hades abducted Persephone — either with Zeus's permission or by force, depending on the version. The "romantic Hades" is entirely modern.
That said, some scholars argue the original myth was less about abduction and more about an arranged marriage (normal in ancient Greece). Smythe's interpretation isn't baseless — she's just reading the myth through a modern romantic lens.
Persephone — From Maiden to Queen
In the webtoon: Persephone starts naive and grows into a powerful queen who embraces her darkness. In mythology: Persephone's transformation is similar — she goes from Kore (maiden) to the dread Queen of the Underworld. Smythe actually captures this arc well.
Apollo — The Villain
In the webtoon: Apollo is a manipulative predator. In mythology: Apollo was the golden boy of Olympus — god of light, music, and prophecy. He had problematic moments (like pursuing Daphne), but he wasn't a villain. This is Smythe's biggest departure from the myths.
The Color System
Smythe assigns each god a signature color — Hades is blue, Persephone is pink, Apollo is purple. This has no basis in mythology but is brilliant visual storytelling that helps readers track the large cast.
What Smythe Gets Right
The family dynamics are solid. Zeus's infidelity, Hera's anger, Demeter's overprotectiveness, the political tensions between Olympians — these all ring true to the myths. The webtoon is an interpretation, not a translation, and it's one of the most compelling modern retellings we have.