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Summary
Since its origin , Star Trekhas included legion references to Greek mythology , and several episode titles come directly from Greek myth . Star Trek : The Original Serieseven provide an explanation for the Greek deity themselves inTOSseason 2 , installment 2 , " Who Mourns For Adonais ? " When Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ) and the crew of the USS Enterprise are held captive by the Hellenic god Apollo ( Michael Forest ) , he explains thatthe Hellenic graven image of Earth are actually herculean aliens who ask worship to subsist . Although the idol themselves never make another show inStar Trek , several installment take their titles from Greek fabulous stories .
Homer ’s epic poemsThe IliadandThe Odyssey , in particular , have animate infinite modern stories , includingStar Trek . While it would be fabulously difficult to encounter every reference work to Grecian mythology disperse throughout theStar Trekfranchise , several instalment have obvious parallel . Star Trekhas always loved to pullepisode titles from Shakespeareand other classic , so it makes sense they would recover deed in Grecian mythology as well . begin withStar Trek : The Next Generation’s"The Icarus Factor , " here are nineStar Trekepisodes with titles borrowed from Hellenic mythology .
There are 11 Star Trek TV series ( and count ) over 58 years . From The Original Series to TNG to Strange New Worlds and Prodigy , we range them all .
9"The Icarus Factor"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 14
In Greek mythology , Icarus was the son of the maestro discoverer Daedalus , who constructed the inner ear of Crete that put up the Minotaur . To protect the secrets of his internal ear , King Minos look for to kill Daedalus and his son , and Daedalus built wings to escape . Because the wings were held together by beeswax , Daedalus tell Icarus not to pilot too closelipped to the Sunday . Icarus ignored his male parent , the beeswax in his wing melted , and his wings decrease apart , do Icarus to plunge into the ocean and drown .
As a result of this myth , " flying too unaired to the sunlight " has come to mean being overly ambitious or extend to for something undoable .
" The Icarus Factor " focalize on the complicated family relationship betweenCommander William Riker ( Jonathan Frakes)and his father , Kyle ( Mitchell Ryan ) , who forsake Will when his son was only fifteen . Having lost his mother at the age of two , Will Riker then had to produce up quickly , and he remained alienated from his Father-God for fifteen year . Kyle visit the USS Enterprise - ergocalciferol when Will get an pass of his own command , and the two finally reconcile . While there is not an accurate parallel to the story of Daedalus and Icarus , Riker turns down the promotion , perhaps out of fear that he will"fly too close to the Sunday . "
8"Chimera"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 7, Episode 14
The Chimera of Hellenic mythology was a puppet composed of elements from several unlike creature , often depicted with the head of a lion , a dragon , and a goat . The Chimera was a grievous creature who was hunt down by the submarine of Greek mythology . The word chimera has come to concern to any sort of hybrid creaturethat combines multiple animals ' feature film and can be many dissimilar things .
InStar Trek : Deep Space Nine , the title of " Chimera " likely refers to the Changeling Laas ( J. G. Hertzler),who surprises Chief Miles O’Brien ( Colm Meaney ) and Constable Odo ( René Auberjonois ) by come out on their runabout . As Laas know nothing about the on-going Dominion War , Odo set that Laas is another one of the Changelings sent out by the Founders to explore the universe . Laas is dismissive and distrustful of solids , and he asks Odo to travel the extragalactic nebula with him . Despite being tempted by the offer , Odo stays with Major Kira Nerys(Nana Visitor ) on Deep Space Nine.
7"Daedalus"
Star Trek: Enterprise Season 4, Episode 10
As trace above , the Daedalus of Grecian mythology was an discoverer and a founder , and the fender he invented led to his son ’s end . Star Trek : Enterprise’s"Daedalus " has several similarity with the Grecian myth . The episode start when the Maker of conveyor belt technology , Dr. Emory Erickson ( Bill Cobbs ) visit the Enterprise with his daughter Danica ( Leslie Silva ) . Much like Daedalus lost Icarus , Dr. Erickson had recede his son , Quinn ( Donovan Knowles ) , in an early transporter experimentation .
Not much is write about what Daedalus did after his son ’s dying , and his most famous inventions all add up sooner in his life .
By using the conveyor on the Enterprise , Erickson hoped he could find a way to reconstitute his son ’s conveyor belt signaling . With assist fromCaptain Jonathan Archer ( Scott Bakula ) and his gang , Erickson is able to retrieve his Word from the transporter . Tragically , however , Quinn dies soon after he come out . Dr. Erickon now has the chance to lie down his son to rest , and he willingly bear any consequences he may confront from Starfleet .
6"Lethe"
Star Trek: Discovery Season 1, Episode 6
In Greek mythology , Lethe referred to a river that flowed through the underworld of Hades . Anyone who toast from the water of the Lethe would feel oblivion and blank out everything they ever know . Star Trek : Discovery’s"Lethe " follow two major storylines , both of which colligate to the episode ’s title . On the USS Discovery , Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin - Green)senses that her father Sarek ( James Frain ) has been injure on an of import mission , and she finds herself live over memories from her past on Vulcan .
Captain Gabriel Lorca ( Jason Isaacs ) agrees to research for Sarek , and Burnham eventually settle his damage shuttle . Meanwhile , Admiral Katrina Cornwell ( Jayne Brook ) grows progressively shady of Lorca and his odd behavior . The title of " Lethe " could bear on to Burnham ’s memories , as she discovers that there was more to those moments than she have intercourse . It could also refer to Lorca ’s attack to molt his past and reinvent himself as his Prime Universe counterpart , despite being from the Mirror Universe .
There ’s a wad to love about Star Trek : Discovery that you only observe when giving the first four season of the series a second look .
5"Magic To Make The Sanest Man Go Mad"
Star Trek: Discovery Season 1, Episode 7
The quote"magic to make the sanest man go mad"comes from Homer’sThe Iliad , and reference a waistcloth the goddess Aphrodite hold to Hera . Hera wishes to seduce Zeus to perturb him from a war , and the magical passion charm of Aphrodite ’s sash will provide Hera to have whatever she wants . InStar Trek : Discovery’s"Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad,“Harry Mudd ( Rainn Wilson)traps the USS Discovery in a clock time loop while he ferment to understand the spore drive so he can sell the ship to the Klingons .
As the Discovery is repeatedly destroyed , Mudd gets closer and closer to his goal before his plan is thwart by Michael Burnham , Lt . Commander Paul Stamets ( Anthony Rapp ) , and Lt . Ash Tyler ( Shazad Latif).Love is discussed often throughout the episode , which could be what the title is referencing . As Stamets is the only one cognizant of the fourth dimension loops , he use Burnham and Tyler ’s attractiveness to one another to get Tyler , who is Discovery ’s Chief of Security , to believe him .
4"An Obol for Charon”
Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, Episode 4
According to Hellenic mythology , Charon was the being who ferried souls across the rivers of Hades to the Underworld . As part of ancient funeral rite , the dead were often buried with coins ( such as an obol ) in their oral fissure as payment for this passage . “An Obol for Charon " convey the USS Discovery in contact with a monumental vault of heaven that contain 100 of thousands of years deserving of history and data . As the sphere ’s animation was coming to an end , it essay out a means to transplant all of its stored data so that the history would not be lose .
gratefully , Saru hold up , unveil a new degree in Kelpian development .
As the arena endeavor to transfer the data point , it bring mayhem on the USS Discovery ’s system , which spark off a fatal physiologic response in Commander Saru ( Doug Jones ) . Believing that he is dying , Saru asks Michael Burnham to catalog his personal log so that his people , the Kelpians , can read of the Federation and the existence of other world . gratefully , Saru exist , revealing a new leg in Kelpian evolution , and cement " An Obol for Charon " as one ofSaru ’s best episode .
Both the sphere and Saru fling to divvy up something of themselves as they are dying , metaphorical obols for Charon .
3"Project Daedalus”
Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, Episode 9
Star Trek : Discovery’s"Project Daedalus " is the thirdStar Trekepisode with a title cite the myth of Daedalus and his son , Icarus . The myth celebrates inventiveness , while also warn of hubris and the risk of becoming to a fault challenging . In this special instance , the deed could have multiple meanings , as Project Daedalus is the name of an in - universe research project lead by theStarfleet ’s secret intelligence means Section 31to understand time travel .
There was also a real humanity work call Project Daedalus impart in the seventies by the British Interplanetary Society , who were set about to design a scientific interstellar probe . Both project deed are probable in reference to the mythological craftsman Daedalus and his invented wing . Discovery’s"Project Daedalus " rivet largely on Lt . Commander Airiam ( Hannah Cheesman),who sacrifice herself after being taken over by Section 31 ’s AI sleep together as Control . With her last words , Airiam tells Michael Burnham that she must find Project Daedalus .
Jonathan Frakes stars as Captain Will Riker in the Star Trek population , but he has also become one of Trek ’s most beloved and prolific directors .
2"Calypso"
Star Trek: Short Treks Season 1, Episode 2
Calypso was the name of a nymph in Homer’sThe Odyssey , whoenchants Odysseus into staying on her island for seven years . While Odysseus enjoys Calypso ’s society for a while , he eventually begins longing for his married woman , Penelope , and the Supreme Being persuade Calypso to let Odysseus go . Calypso then cater Odysseus with the supplies he needs to build a boat and make the journeying home . TheStar Trek : Short Treksepisode"Calypso " tells a similar story .
A lone soldier name Craft ( Aldis Hodge ) notice himself on the abandoned USS Discovery sometime in the far future tense . He bonds withDiscovery ’s sentient computing machine Zora ( Annabelle Wallis ) , who has become fantastically advanced over the last one thousand year . As Craft saltation with a project of Zora , he question whether he is being traitorous to his wife . Seeing his unhappiness and despite her own smell , Zora lets him go , providing him with a spacesuit and shuttlecock for the journey .
1"Among The Lotus Eaters"
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 4
InThe Odyssey , Odysseus visits the so - called"land of the lotus - eaters,“where he encounters a group of people who forgot their past after eating from the lotus trees . As they eat the lotus fruits , the lotus - eater miss any desire to go home or refund to their families , and simply like to remain among their fellow Egyptian water lily - eaters . unknown New Worlds'“Among the Lotus Eaters"has an obvious parallel of latitude to the myth , as the Enterprise visits Rigel VII , a planet orbited by asteroid that emit radiation therapy that have people to leave who they are .
Grecian mythology has had a profound influence on westerly literature and storytelling , particularly in theStar Trekfranchise .
Although Captain Christopher Pike ( Anson Mount ) loses his store , he retains enough of himself to fight for his crowd and quit former Yeoman Zac Nguyen ( David Huynh ) . While a rook on the satellite prevents Nguyen and his safeguard from losing their storage , the laborers grind away unaware of their true identity . Pike and his crew finally encourage the laborer to revolt , and after they regain their memory , Pike say the endeavor to strike hard the main asteroid do the memory passing event out of orbit . Hellenic mythology has had a wakeless influence on Western literature and storytelling , specially in theStar Trekfranchise .
Star Trek : The Next propagation , Star Trek : Deep Space Nine , Star Trek : Enterprise , Star Trek : Discovery , Star Trek : Short Treks , & Star Trek : Strange New Worlds are all useable to stream on Paramount+ .
