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General => Report & Review => Topic started by: Macruran on May 16, 2021, 05:10:51

Title: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on May 16, 2021, 05:10:51
ΩΕΛϹΟΜΕ ΤΟ ΘΙΣ ΤΟΠΙϹ!

Ι ὁπε υου ενηου ιτ!

It occurred to me we need more discussion of the fantastic Greek Gods series! So here is a thread for reviewing and discussing them! I will take a look at each god one at a time. IMPORTANT: this thread is also open for other people to review and discuss the sets! Please join in!

Note that this is only for the gods, we will do the other Greek mythology sets separately!

(https://i.postimg.cc/Nj5KQXyQ/IMG-20210515-214545707.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/k2PJcBFH)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: drbatesy on May 16, 2021, 23:06:08
They are a great series and have, I believe, a lot of potential to integrate into any existing Playmobil play. Their caprice can generate a lot of plot points! I'm reminded of the 1963 film, Jason and the Argonauts, where you really get to see the Olympians manipulating human affairs, and that line in Lear, "As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; They kill us for their sport."

Steve.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on May 16, 2021, 23:17:38
One fun aspect of the theme is that it is in fact TWO themes. All you have to do is rename the gods and they function perfectly well as ROMAN gods. Zeus is Jupiter, Hera is Juno, etc. Two themes for the price of one!  :roman:
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Hadoque on May 17, 2021, 02:27:25
Nothing divine and rather off-topic, but without your picture I might have forgotten where the inspiration for 18th-century men´s wigs came from.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: drbatesy on May 18, 2021, 11:52:37
I've managed to avoid buying the Greek gods - so far - but I would love to see the muses. I'd get my wallet out for Clio!  :lol:
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on May 23, 2021, 18:44:06
So you're thinking "Okay, where's the content?" Here comes some! Of course we have to start with Zeus!

(https://i.postimg.cc/mg3n7grj/IMG-20210523-110745556.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qNRQT0y6)

I have to say, they knocked it out of the park. If I had been asked to imagine a Playmobil Zeus, this is pretty much what I would have come up with. White clothing with gold trim, white beard, lightning, staff, eagle. Really can't go wrong!

(https://i.postimg.cc/j2g7pNvc/IMG-20210523-113640617.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K3TjL163)

The Roman cape is done in a rich wine colour, new to this set, which suits the Z-man and the Greek theme overall - "wine dark sea" and all that. Matches his little seat too.

(https://i.postimg.cc/hGp33ZT7/IMG-20210523-111317491.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rdRJDJh8)

If I were to nitpick I'd say that I'm pretty sure the bald eagle is not native to the eastern Mediterranean. Would it have killed them to make the eagle all brown? They've done it before: 30 66 4780 - Eagle, wings folded (https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-66-4780). I think I'm going to replace it.

With the Olympus Palace set you actually get a SECOND Zeus, in a blue outfit.

(https://i.postimg.cc/ZqTMHzBS/IMG-20210523-111456367.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/21KGjJ7c)

Wreath is the duller gold. Lightning is translucent orangey-pink. No neck detailing, and the hem detailing is different from the white Zeus's. I like to think of this guy as Zeus in his winter blues, and the other one as him in his summer whites. Alternatively, Zeus can literally be in two places at once! Winter lightning is probably a different colour, hence his unusually hued thunderbolts!

(https://i.postimg.cc/PxJFGbQV/IMG-20210523-111806383.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wyKkLmPD)

They issued the Blue Zeus with an identical wine-coloured cape as the Summer Zeus has. I feel this was a misstep. The blue and the wine clash to my eye. A missed opportunity to do the Roman cape in white, which is a serious need! I've chosen to give him a black cape instead. Red might work too, I haven't settled yet.

Anyway that is our first god, and what a great figure he is!

(https://i.postimg.cc/L5dW6zn9/IMG-20210523-112213109.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Bonus: here is a version of Zeus by the blog Mad On Playmobil. Pretty similar in concept, but note they got the eagle right!

(https://i.postimg.cc/Nfgg623Z/ZEUS.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K4HSFjv5)

Next up: Hera!
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: tahra on May 23, 2021, 19:51:31
Great review :D
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: StJohn on May 23, 2021, 23:44:58
Nice! Thank you, Macruran. You're right that a Roman cape in white is a desideratum.

Your Mount Olympus is looking really good! I much admire the fine sticker application skills on display there. :cloud9: I haven't opened mine yet, probably because I dread to discharge that job.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on May 24, 2021, 07:34:03
Your Mount Olympus is looking really good! I much admire the fine sticker application skills on display there. :cloud9: I haven't opened mine yet, probably because I dread to discharge that job.

I kept putting it off for exactly that reason! I finally mustered (and ketchup) the courage to do it and concentrated very hard as I was applying the stickers. Also I have found that a pair of fine point tweezers comes in very handy!

By the way I discovered while researching Greek gods that the sort of square S pattern on Zeus, the palace, and so many other Greek things is called a "meander" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meander_(art)  :sherlock:
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: PMatt on May 24, 2021, 08:04:10
Nice review – looking forward to the next installments!  :)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on May 26, 2021, 05:20:42
Almost forgot! Here's the printing difference between Tropical Zeus and Arctic Zeus!

(https://i.postimg.cc/bwZFGYYw/IMG-20210525-204411244.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Don't forget that other pictures and opinions are welcome in this thread!
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on June 01, 2021, 06:07:05
Next up: Hera, Queen of the Gods! (NB: If you bought the Roman version of this klicky, she is named Juno! :D)

(https://i.postimg.cc/y8JXStkc/IMG-20210531-222119562.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/87Sr2ydz)

I've never really had a firm image of what Hera would look like, but this klicky strikes me as a very good take on her! She really does look like a queen of the gods, with gold all over, a fancy crown, and a staff of royalty, like Zeus has but different. Her totem animal is nice peacock, and the fruit she holds is - note well! - a pomegranate, NOT an apple!  :apple: :whip:

(https://i.postimg.cc/dV1Zxxd3/IMG-20210531-222156887.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Nice little detailing on her crown.

(https://i.postimg.cc/rpR08RfL/IMG-20210531-224607139.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

A sensible, dignified hairdo.

(https://i.postimg.cc/RFTcBzD5/IMG-20210531-222640846.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/r0Kd17TQ)

Her dress underneath her cloak is a good looking Greek/Roman dress that would work perfectly for a civilian custom!

Given so much gold, I'm mildly surprised they didn't give her gold shoes, but the brown ones are fine.

So there we have it!

(https://i.postimg.cc/HL6yZtcd/IMG-20210531-222555422.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/p9nryzJ6)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on June 01, 2021, 06:07:26
While we're here, I'd like to discuss Hera's cloak thing.

(https://i.postimg.cc/908ZDY2L/IMG-20210531-222824363.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kRSBZ8BS)

This item has appeared in several different colors and on a number of klickies - on playmodb they're listed under the term Sari:

https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/textsearch.pl?sortby=description&page=1&text=sari&lang=en&pics=on

which is appropriate because I think its first appearance was with the Hindu princess in Fi?ures Series 3 - k5244e - Indian Woman (https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=k5244e)

This item can be worn in either direction, over the left or the right shoulder, but note that there is a difference between the two sides:

(https://i.postimg.cc/0yLGGnw3/IMG-20210531-222928056.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nXGQpvTY)(https://i.postimg.cc/FK3yTSbK/IMG-20210531-223008842.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R3CJFNDr)

You can see that when worn over the right shoulder, the vertical part goes OVER the sash part, while when worn over the left shoulder the vertical part goes UNDER the sash. To me it makes more sense to have the sash going OVER the vertical over the front of the body. Also, the vertical part that goes over is LONGER than the vertical part that goes under.

(https://i.postimg.cc/nV0vSpmq/IMG-20210531-223120917.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LhgYndNs)

It makes more sense to me that the long vertical part would be worn at the BACK. Taking these observations together with the fact that such sashes, togas, saris etc. are usually worn so that the right arm has greater freedom (people being mostly right-handed), it seems to me certain that the proper way to wear this sari is over the LEFT shoulder.

However two points militate against my understanding. One is that the "correct" front often has mold marks visible from the manufacturing process, which are something you want to hide away, not put at the front:

(https://i.postimg.cc/yYx0wtht/IMG-20210531-223205655.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/svFBWnN4)

The second point is that, although the first two klickies to wear this sari - the Hindu princess and the second Roman family woman (6493 - Roman Family (https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showinv.pl?setnum=6493)) - wore it over the left shoulder, several klickies since then have worn it over their right shoulder! Namely k5461c - South American Woman (https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=k5461c), one of the 9497 - Three Wise Kings (https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showinv.pl?setnum=9497), Hera, Demeter and Hestia. Whereas Athena and the Joseph in 5588 - Nativity Stable with Manger (https://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showinv.pl?setnum=5588) wear it over their left shoulder.

Anyway all that is to say that I, personally, have decided I like it over the left shoulder only, so with Hera here, and going forward with the rest of the goddesses, I will be dressing them that way and NOT the way depicted on the box art! This is my bold choice.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: drbatesy on June 01, 2021, 23:01:59
I just wanted to acknowledge how much I'm enjoying your reviews (and cartoons), Macruran! Keep them coming!

Steve.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on June 02, 2021, 05:19:30
Thanks, sorry the pics are rubbish, next time I need to work on making them all the same size so they fit properly in the page.  :camera:
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: GrahamB on June 03, 2021, 13:59:04
Great detail on the sari, Macruran. I hadn't realised it could be worn two ways. I am a left-shouldrian like you, but its a shame about those moulding marks.  :(
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: tahra on June 03, 2021, 15:25:10
Thanks for another detailed review :)

However two points militate against my understanding. One is that the "correct" front often has mold marks visible from the manufacturing process, which are something you want to hide away, not put at the front:

It does not surprise. At all.  ::)

I am a left-shouldrian like you, but its a shame about those moulding marks.  :(

:lmao: :lmao:
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: drbatesy on June 03, 2021, 21:01:40
Here is a three-minute video from the University of Leicester endorsing your position on togas, Macruran!  :wow:

https://youtu.be/0EyStjkII-Y (https://youtu.be/0EyStjkII-Y)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on June 04, 2021, 07:26:38
Here is a three-minute video from the University of Leicester endorsing your position on togas, Macruran!  :wow:

https://youtu.be/0EyStjkII-Y (https://youtu.be/0EyStjkII-Y)

 :(o):

Great detail on the sari, Macruran. I hadn't realised it could be worn two ways. I am a left-shouldrian like you, but its a shame about those moulding marks.  :(

The Gnome responsible for that should issue a public apology. He or she should come out and say clearly, "I am very sari for what I did"
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: tahra on June 04, 2021, 07:35:24
The Gnome responsible for that should issue a public apology. He or she should come out and say clearly, "I am very sari for what I did"

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

(ok, in truth, the situation is NOT funny.. but..)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on July 19, 2021, 05:08:45
Next we have Poseidon! (known on the Italian peninsula as Neptune!)

(https://i.postimg.cc/BvcXHksb/IMG-20210718-213917935.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XZqj02r6)

Not a lot to say about this guy, because apart from the different colored beard and hair, and the toga in place of the cape, Poseidon here is IDENTICAL with the Zeus klicky. Now I understand the intention of emphasizing the close relationship between these two, but it seems to me a slight variation wouldn't have gone amiss. How about a curved meander at the tunic hem, to represent the sea and contrast with the square meander that Zeus has? To be fair it is a strong design that clearly says "high ranking Greek god", so I can't be too harsh, but...

(https://i.postimg.cc/cHFC53vN/IMG-20210718-214006411.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/phnPmpQ0)

Another similarity with Zeus is that some of Poseidon's totem animals appear to be inaccurate. The red fish is (I am assured by a fishknower) a butterflyfish, of the Chaetodontidae, and the blue one is an angelfish of the Pomacanthidae. As far as my research reveals these tropical fish are like the bald eagle FOREIGN to the eastern Mediterranean, barring some very recent immigrants who have found their way through the Suez Canal. Obviously this canal didn't exist during classical Greek times  - even its name indicates this, being "Zeus" backwards! So these fish could not have been associated with Poseidon at that time. Really PM, how could you get this wrong? He does get a clam and a seahorse but why not a dolphin in place of the fish? The dolphin was much more strongly associated with Poseidon than any other fish I can think of.  Anyway I am ordering a dolphin right now to correct this grave oversight, as I have corrected the eagle oversight with Zeus. HARRUMPH  :no:

Minor note: my klicky had a manufacturing defect on his left wrist:

(https://i.postimg.cc/mDLhwj2w/IMG-20210718-213934525.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

That's it for this good-looking but slightly disappointing god!

(https://i.postimg.cc/BbtbWvFP/IMG-20210718-215304252.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/q6V4y4jp)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: GrahamB on July 19, 2021, 08:04:52
Great review, Maccy! I especially liked the Clash of the Tritons at the end! :lol:

Heirs-apparent in France were known as Dolphins for many years.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Redmao on July 19, 2021, 09:40:35
The sets just came out on the Canadian website and I'm very pleased with how they turned out.
Such a great theme that still has a lot of untapped potential like mythical creatures and many more characters.
Perseus vs the Gorgon anyone?
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: drbatesy on July 20, 2021, 09:19:58
Heirs-apparent in France were known as Dolphins for many years.

Ba-da-dum, ching!  :lol:
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on September 20, 2021, 04:49:41
And now: Demeter! Known as Ceres in Rome, and in America as Deyard, this goddess presided over the harvest and agriculture, grains and fertility.

(https://i.postimg.cc/bvyRV9nD/IMG-20210919-202422842.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VJhMdMDm)

I have to say I think this is an absolutely SMASHING klicky :inlove: The bold combination of scarlet and pale yellow is striking and attractive. The gold trim is unique, and looks to me like an authentic ancient design.

(https://i.postimg.cc/SRMLYZB5/IMG-20210919-202537310.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XBnBTg7c)

The curly bits would've looked good on Poseidon. The scarlet might have been a deliberate choice; according to wikipedia Demeter was strongly associated with the poppy, so the color might come from that flower.

Sadly the arms are slightly lighter, and the back is blank.

(https://i.postimg.cc/bJMHJXBk/IMG-20210919-202545965.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JDNB6Fmz)

Visible there are the three holes in the hair, that together make a kind of scary face!  :o
They are for mounting a big gold headdress. In my view this is the only weak point of the character.

(https://i.postimg.cc/1t4rsRJy/IMG-20210919-202455217.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ftn9vNGP)

It is simultaneously too big and not visible enough (from the front). It looks wrong to me and going forward my Demeter shall not be wearing it. She does need a headdress of some sort so I will think about it, perhaps I can come up with something that will fit on that hair, or find a different hair in the same pale colour.

Her accoutrements include a small golden scythe, for reaping grain, and representatives of the four food groups.

(https://i.postimg.cc/s2T4kGPn/IMG-20210919-202615770.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


Highly attuned as I am to anachronisms in this theme I was all prepared to denounce those watermelons as wrong, because I assumed that watermelons are New World plants that were unknown to the ancient Greeks. Well color me incorrect! because I looked it up and watermelons were originally cultivated in ancient Egypt and North Africa, and were thus known to the Greeks! Indeed, if my ten seconds of googling can be relied on, modern Greece is the sixth largest watermelon exporter in the world!

So all told it's full marks for this beautiful klicky (minus the headdress), who, if you propitiate her correctly, will surely bless your crops!

(https://i.postimg.cc/sXXPJfht/IMG-20210919-212139245-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TyzWd6Q9)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: GrahamB on September 20, 2021, 11:48:30
Another great review, thanks Macruran!
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Tiermann on September 20, 2021, 20:08:25
Great reviews so far, it's a wonderful series. I have most but haven't gone for the Olympus set yet.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on October 18, 2021, 04:18:54
And now we have Hermes, aka Mercury! The only god in the world named after both an element and a French high fashion brand, Hermes is sort of a grab-bag god who is in charge of things like commerce, messengers, magic, thieves, wit, travelling, shepherds - pretty much all the leftover stuff the main gods didn't handle!

(https://i.postimg.cc/zvGsJZ6K/IMG-20211017-192338520.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qhWbLYkv)

He carries a snakestaff and a big sack, and is accompanied by two doves - who are oddly not listed as symbolic animals of his in any account I've seen.

(https://i.postimg.cc/KY7wB8yt/IMG-20211017-192416069.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kV4Td9G5)upload an image (https://postimages.org/)

The snakestaff is a VERY rough approximation of a caduceus, a stick with wings and two snakes. (Note that this is different from the medical symbol, which is a stick with only one snake!) I guess they weren't doing new parts for this series; if they had done, a caduceus would have been an absolute must. As it is - it's really not even close.

(https://i.postimg.cc/j5m1rw60/IMG-20211017-192436206.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/mz3jYr68)

His headgear is an attempt to simulate a winged helmet. Nice effort but a little odd looking.

He's got matching winglets on his sandals.

(https://i.postimg.cc/jSS4ZqNz/IMG-20211017-192534142.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/yk2RNHLd)

I have to say that, although the overall white toga look is very on-brand for Greek gods, it seems to me that Hermes, who clearly does a lot of flying and running, should be wearing a short tunic. It can't be easy to run in a toga. And since we've already had two white toga'ed gods, they could have tried a different approach.

(https://i.postimg.cc/ZnJdnjxr/IMG-20211017-192553247.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CB616Gt1)

The rubric on playmobil.gr states that "In June 2018, after studies and with the valuable contribution of archaeologists and educators, the first collectible six of the twelve gods of Olympus will be completed. The creation of the collectible figures required long-term research and preparation, so that the result is as representative as possible, according to historical data." Based on real research it seems, so maybe I'm wrong in my criticisms. Be that as it may I can't help regarding Hermes - given the lack of proper caduceus, the ad hoc headgear, the doves, and the clothing unsuited to running - as less successful than some of the other gods in the series.


Hermes Disrobed:

(https://i.postimg.cc/kX07yGLH/IMG-20211017-192625709.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4m1Cfffv)

(https://i.postimg.cc/P51TVhj5/IMG-20211017-192641234.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XrNRXRqR)

And that's all for a nice but somewhat underwhelming god!

(https://i.postimg.cc/DzBVRwYn/sdfsdfsdg.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/94RN7Chn)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: GrahamB on October 18, 2021, 07:05:31
He ... is accompanied by two doves - who are oddly not listed as symbolic animals of his in any account I've seen.

Perhaps they are pigeons, also well-known winged messengers!
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on October 23, 2021, 00:45:46
Perhaps they are pigeons, also well-known winged messengers!

Possible, but did you know that doves and pigeons are the same species? The English words dove and pigeon are not precise denotations but rather just conventions.

Also I searched for pigeons as a mascot for Hermes and came up empty handed. It's not impossible they were one of his animals but if so they were not popular enough to make it into any lists accessible by me in a few minutes searching - so they may be out there but I didn't find them.

In the course of doing this I wondered when messenger pigeoning started, and it turns out it began in Ancient Egypt, so the Greeks definitely would have heard of them. Yet the connection with Hermes seems not to have been made.

Finally, it's possible that gods' symbolic animals were chosen for reasons opaque to us. We think it's obvious that a messenger god would have pigeons as a totem, but the Greeks thought a tortoise suitable to represent a fleet-footed messenger! So there may be another logic at work!
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on February 27, 2022, 06:18:14
And now, it's the one and only Aphrodite! Goddess of lurve! In her Roman aspect as Venus, she is notable as the only pagan divinity to have appeared in an eighties hit single by Bananarama! (It was a cover, but that's another story.)

(https://i.postimg.cc/4xs7NNvK/c3c88bf80094e8bb0f5ca082d2e1240da35e4731-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

She's resplendent in a shiny purple dress which matches her eyes, and some sort of armband! Also note that this woman is totally barefoot!

(https://i.postimg.cc/G2cqFC19/343382b463ad69584d9e2649e087dba136c227b8-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bGBxP4rj)

(https://i.postimg.cc/nVS0DgSc/IMG-20220226-211759999.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

The dress has some sort of striations on it but they look like manufacturing artefacts and not an intended pattern

(https://i.postimg.cc/7hR9rJJT/IMG-20220226-211823771.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Fancy hair ornament visible from behind.

(https://i.postimg.cc/hvvsY1vB/IMG-20220226-211529905.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N2hR9TRJ)

Interestingly the neckpiece is not split at the back, and is thus impossible to remove without cutting, or popping.

Overall I must say that although I do not favor unbendable klickies or schminki-pinki faces with detailed eyes, this is one character they actually work well on! So I am going to give her a thumbs up.

Her accessories are a basic kit that you or I might bring along for a night of romance:

(https://i.postimg.cc/jqgV882L/b42bea0868825eb459c227b5f22640d4be8bcb18-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Okay! Although I give her overall approval, there is one feature of this klicky that seems like a mistake! She has EXACTLY THE SAME HAIRSTYLE as Demeter!

(https://i.postimg.cc/VvJTt8jn/IMG-20220226-213202394.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

This is OUTRAGEOUS. The queen of looking hot would NEVER be caught DEAD in the same ANYTHING as another goddess - especially one so, ahem, DOMESTIC as DEMETER! I mean, she bakes BREAD!

So this is a terrible oversight by PM, one which I will be fixing. I see Affy in longer hair, and slightly darker blonde - I am open to suggestions for an appropriate hairstyle!

So that's it, a fine figure overall, marred slightly by the curse of MATCHY-MATCHY

(https://i.postimg.cc/BbQ0jk6G/9aa00135d8335ec1a077d43ba99c49e13e0ad8c2-1.jpg)





 (https://postimg.cc/JDgggTZT)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Ismene on February 27, 2022, 07:03:44
I've never envisioned Aphrodite dressed so modestly. I'm not expecting a nude klicky, but Hera is showing more cleavage.

I agree about the hair. Demeter is my favorite of the series (that red dress!), but Aphrodite can't show up a year later with the exact same hair.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: GrahamB on February 27, 2022, 10:06:21
...In her Roman aspect as Venus, she is notable as the only pagan divinity to have appeared in an eighties hit single by Bananarama!

Strangely, I haven't heard Bananarama lyrics quoted as a source for research into ancient deities before!  8}
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Eplay on February 28, 2022, 05:37:07
Not the same hairdo  :o
Perhaps long wavy blond hair?? As in the famous painting?
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on March 14, 2022, 00:52:15
I've never envisioned Aphrodite dressed so modestly. I'm not expecting a nude klicky, but Hera is showing more cleavage.

Interesting point. Perhaps the Greeks had different ideas about what was more provocative dress? I mean they did gymnastics in their birthday suits, maybe showing more skin wasn't such a big deal to them. Maybe the bare feet + dress look set them off! :D

Strangely, I haven't heard Bananarama lyrics quoted as a source for research into ancient deities before!  8}

This is exactly the sort of exclusive content you can expect here on Playmofriends!  :rudy:

Not the same hairdo  :o
Perhaps long wavy blond hair?? As in the famous painting?

Good idea, a "hair down" look seems much more suitable for her, as it says "party time", whereas the "hair up" look that the other goddesses are rocking says "business".

Here's a hairpiece I grabbed off of a Grace (about which more later), I'm not entirely satisfied with it as the sort of pony tail in the back looks too modern to me, but it is defintely an improvement on "the Demeter" and will do for now.

(https://i.postimg.cc/xCJhrtLq/Attachment.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/G8RqGP71)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Ismene on March 14, 2022, 05:55:29
Interesting point. Perhaps the Greeks had different ideas about what was more provocative dress? I mean they did gymnastics in their birthday suits, maybe showing more skin wasn't such a big deal to them. Maybe the bare feet + dress look set them off! :D


AFAIK the naked gymnasts were men.
I'm not sure the Ancient Greeks had that style of dress, where the shoulder seam goes all the way from the base of the neck to the shoulder. They didn't have spandex, and there were fewer options for clothing closures. I realize Demeter also has a long shoulder seam, but they suggested flowy-ness with the sleeves and sari. I was expecting something more chiton-y for Aphrodite.

It's too bad PM doesn't have hairpieces that reflect the really impressive ancient hairdos.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on March 14, 2022, 07:06:14
AFAIK the naked gymnasts were men.

Sure but my point was if they were bouncing around with their johnsons casually out, they clearly had a relationship to nudity different from ours. On the other hand, I just looked up "ancient depictions of Aphrodite", and it seems she was mostly depicted in HER birthday suit. So PM had to make a choice!  :deco:
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Ismene on March 14, 2022, 07:39:58
On the other hand, I just looked up "ancient depictions of Aphrodite", and it seems she was mostly depicted in HER birthday suit. So PM had to made a choice!  :deco:

Yeah, Aphrodite isn't known for wearing much in the way of clothes. A nude klicky would hardly be risqué, but it's no surprise PM didn't want to go there.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on March 20, 2022, 05:54:55
So now: ARES! The god of war! Right off the bat we need to dismiss rumors that he was named after an astrological sign, or in his Roman variant after a candy bar! Those are false rumors!

Important note: it is a total coincidence that I am doing this god at this moment in history. I laid out the order in which I was going to do them many moons ago. I am not trying to be topical!

(https://i.postimg.cc/bwCVczrX/IMG-20220319-210142497.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Kitted out in full panoply (that is the technically correct word! https://www.etymonline.com/word/panoply#etymonline_v_3079 ), Ares here would do equally well as a regular Greek warrior, if you're building an army or something. His armor and weapons are all in a nice dark bronze color, which I think was a good choice - it seems more warlike to me.

He appears to be the only god who has nothing to put on top of his altar (the dog doesn't fit, I tried).

(https://i.postimg.cc/zBtT3Bm5/IMG-20220319-221534069.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qhKN5pMZ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/J0sZXLmX/IMG-20220319-221541035.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YLwvcTv2)

My only complaints are minor: the belt I think could have been black or brown, and the shorts in my view should have been red or black - blue combines with red and white to give a slightly "super hero" look to the figure. It's not as military as it might have been. Overall though these are minor quibbles.

That design on the front of his shorts in closeup:

(https://i.postimg.cc/mZnQstNy/IMG-20220319-222418130.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/T3MgKFsy/IMG-20220319-221808903.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ykjk5QsB)

The sword ought to have a narrower hilt, but PM doesn't have any proper Greek swords. I might give him a Roman sword if I can find it in the bronze.

The shield has a complex design:

(https://i.postimg.cc/d3gdmxtx/IMG-20220319-221840163.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

No idea if it's based on an authentic design or not. I reckon they could have got away with a plainer shield, or one with a scary monster on it.

His war hound has brown eyes and nose:

(https://i.postimg.cc/8PrLPNZQ/IMG-20220319-221858713.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8jN7ZQ8t)

From some brief research this pup does seem to resemble some of the dogs depicted in ancient Greek art, so that's nice.

That's Ares! An all round decent figure!

(https://i.postimg.cc/SK217wrW/IMG-20220319-224657315.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)



Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on March 28, 2022, 03:17:49
Bonus Ares comedy panel:

(https://i.postimg.cc/Hkpt4nDj/IMG-20220327-195625305.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: tahra on March 28, 2022, 07:40:54
Clearly, you need more dogs.

Just sayin'
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on April 11, 2022, 03:57:24
Finally, it's Athena! Called Minerva by some, this goddess of wisdom and war (among other portfolios - she is multiply talented) was one of the first two Greek gods to come out, and like Zeus she's a winner! Here in the first photo-

"Ahem, Maccy, haven't you forgotten something?"

Er, what's that I hear? A complaint from the peanut gallery?

"You've forgotten something. You told us that Venus was the only pagan deity to be featured in an 80s hit single - namely Bananarama's 'Venus' which was released on 19 May 1986 and which hit number one in multiple countries."

Yes, and?

"But what about The Who's lead single off their album It's Hard, entitled 'Athena' and released on 4 September 1982 - it hit the top 40 in the US and UK. Surely that rates as a second pagan deity 80s hit?"

If you go back and read what I actually wrote, you'll see I clearly said "the only pagan divinity to have appeared in an eighties hit single by Bananarama" - I specified the group. Just because one other band happened to -

"And what of 'Fred vom Jupiter' by Andreas Dorau & die Marinas, which came out on 1 March 1982? It reached number -"

OK OK SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE 80S HIT SINGLES NAMED AFTER PAGAN DEITIES. Happy?

"Yes.  ;D"

Ahem, as I was saying, here is Athena:

(https://i.postimg.cc/wMFzXnSF/5cee6dacde8906b4a8370a3b43d5c40c2575530d-1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xNkBYpjb)

Resplendent in her gold panoply, she is accompanied by her owl of wisdom and her snake of, er...other wisdom. Her sari is a nice saffron color that works well with the gold.

Stripped of her finery, she appeareth thus:

(https://i.postimg.cc/JhsNz8rG/IMG-20220410-201323396.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GB18XZsC)

Note that she is barefoot, like Aphrodite!

(https://i.postimg.cc/xdBKkZ8g/IMG-20220410-201400273.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zLSL60nR)

A closeup of the detailing on her dress. Looks great!

(https://i.postimg.cc/t4Cd8P8d/IMG-20220410-201447573.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

She's got a nice set of gear, with her helmet and spear in that bright new gold.

(https://i.postimg.cc/gkKqM4tk/IMG-20220410-201010714.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

And the shield too! Enough can't be said about it. Historical yet fun, it is a triumph of the Playmodesigner's art!

(https://i.postimg.cc/rFTNC7JP/IMG-20220410-201056630.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

That's Athena! Like Zeus she was done pretty much perfectly. An absolute knockout of a klicky. Thank you PM!


(https://i.postimg.cc/DwjQh0K9/hgfds.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/NKX27gFD)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: tahra on April 11, 2022, 08:20:25
:lmao:

Touchy deity, like all of them...
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: GrahamB on April 12, 2022, 18:22:44
Yay! Another reference to Bananananarama! This is a really cultured forum. Please could we have a mention of Showadaddydaddy soon?

Another great review, Maccy. It's a shame there aren't any more Gods....
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Basie10 on April 13, 2022, 07:28:32
You might also interested in the New Zealand, underground, minor dance hit 'Oh my Zeus' by the legendary Coco Solid.  Possibly the only hip hop, dance rap jam with references to Zeus, Pegasus, the golden fleece and Hercules 8-) :love:
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on June 27, 2022, 19:16:57
You might also interested in the New Zealand, underground, minor dance hit 'Oh my Zeus' by the legendary Coco Solid.  Possibly the only hip hop, dance rap jam with references to Zeus, Pegasus, the golden fleece and Hercules 8-) :love:

That's a cool track! Never heard of it, thanks for the recommendation! Re-doing an ancient myth in the form of a modern telephone call is a great idea.

Yay! Another reference to Bananananarama! This is a really cultured forum. Please could we have a mention of Showadaddydaddy soon?

As a USAese personage, I am bound by Constitutional law to refer only to Shananananana, not Showadaddydaddydaddy.

Quote
Another great review, Maccy. It's a shame there aren't any more Gods....

Yes, it's a shame there are no more Gods to review...
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on June 27, 2022, 19:18:01
...OR ARE THERE

YES HERE ARE TWO MORE GODS

That's right we're doing a double today, the brother sister team of Apollo and Diana. Why both at once? Well...

(https://i.postimg.cc/CK6jrqXR/IMG-20220627-110437143.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

...They are my least favorites of the PM gods, and I want to get them out of the way. I mean, I appreciate that they wanted to break away from the stereotypical white toga look, but...

(https://i.postimg.cc/TwLnzPvC/IMG-20220627-113956110.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

...what exactly are these costumes supposed to be? What is that thing across Apollo's chest? Some sort of ribbon? It doesn't look like anything in the real world or in Greek myth that I know of. And Artemis - what on earth? Is she wearing a vine across her chest? Or is that supposed to be a printed garment? It looks very silly to me. And why is she in shorts? She's never depicted like that - she should be got up more like Atalanta (about whom more in a future thread). And gold sandals? For running through the forest? BAH!  >:(

(https://i.postimg.cc/qRP24dk0/IMG-20220627-114012521.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

To be fair red and gold suits Apollo. But purple seems off for Artemis. She's supposed to be a silvery moon goddess! Her flowery crown is nice though.

(https://i.postimg.cc/4ypV3Fdc/IMG-20220627-114108344.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Accessories are all right. I was about to jump on Apollo's silver bow for being wrong - he should have one of burning gold, right? - but it turns out
"silver-bowed" is one of his ancient epithets, so it gets a pass. Artemis's should definitely be silver though. And they should both have short bows, not long ones - especially Artemis , who would trip over this long one while traipsing through the underbrush. I do like Artemis's sacred deer, it looks properly mystical.

OK that's it for these two. Thumbs mostly down, though that's of course relative - I'm overjoyed to have these klickies, all things considered.

(https://i.postimg.cc/ydTxD4K0/IMG-20220627-121057913.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Pynedor on June 27, 2022, 22:47:08
:lol: I'd have to agree. These are not the best figures. The silver bow, quiver, and arrows are the best parts of these sets.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: playmovictorian on June 28, 2022, 03:37:07
Your pictures are stunning  :love:

Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Eplay on June 28, 2022, 06:36:38
Thanks for the review and the pictures. Apollo an Artemis are not the best figures, but Athena is stunning.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: tahra on June 28, 2022, 07:56:27
Thank you for the review!

I always thought she should be in browns or greens - foresty like colors..

I still have hope to round up enough of her legs for a legion though... :P
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on June 29, 2022, 04:55:05
A foresty coloured Artemis is a good idea! As is a purple legion  :roman:
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Ismene on June 30, 2022, 08:10:22
Those are Artemis' kickboxing clothes.  ::)

Apollo must have been challenging. He's generally depicted stark naked with a bit of cloth, covering not much. :lol: I don't hate what they did, but it would look more suitable if the top and the bottom were the same color (as if it's a continuous piece of cloth, rather than him wearing a skirt and a tank top). The giant trim could be toned down. I would have made the laurels green (since they come from a myth where someone turns into a laurel tree).

It would have been interesting to have them as a coordinating pair: Artemis in a silvery short tunic and Apollo in gold.

The deer is lovely, and it's a nice change to have the bow and arrows in silver. It's a shame Apollo didn't come with an animal.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on October 10, 2022, 02:27:35
Those are Artemis' kickboxing clothes.  ::)

 :lol:

Quote
Apollo must have been challenging. He's generally depicted stark naked with a bit of cloth, covering not much. :lol: I don't hate what they did, but it would look more suitable if the top and the bottom were the same color (as if it's a continuous piece of cloth, rather than him wearing a skirt and a tank top). The giant trim could be toned down. I would have made the laurels green (since they come from a myth where someone turns into a laurel tree).

It would have been interesting to have them as a coordinating pair: Artemis in a silvery short tunic and Apollo in gold.

The deer is lovely, and it's a nice change to have the bow and arrows in silver. It's a shame Apollo didn't come with an animal.

Excellent points! I especially like the idea of making them a gold/silver pair. Maybe next time!
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on October 10, 2022, 02:27:54
Without further ado - HḖPHAISTOS

We have here the Greek god of blacksmithery and associated concepts. Known to the Romans as "Vulcan", he is thus the only classical god named after a Star Trek planet!

(https://i.postimg.cc/g2QnsM09/IMG-20221009-174458953.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Resplendent in his apron, and outfitted with a panoply of tools, he looks every inch the forger! Not sure about those leathern greaves though

(https://i.postimg.cc/fLhknJXB/IMG-20221009-174725119.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/BvFtVx8j/IMG-20221009-174519203.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/T3pKr8fq/IMG-20221009-174817537-cr.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

I'm going to give this fellow, intended to portray the blacksmith god, a solid 5 out of ten, because while he is very strongly a BLACKSMITH, he is not at all a GOD. There's not a single goddy thing about him. Tools, apron, beard...you could drop him in a medieval dio and he'd fit right in. Nice, but not what the Greek gods theme calls for.

(https://i.postimg.cc/fbMTB6hr/Untitled.png) (https://postimages.org/)

Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Basie10 on October 10, 2022, 08:34:17
He looks like the kind of guy that would ask his mates out to the pub to listen to some Cold Chisel, or possibly Nine Inch Nails, and then get hammered ;D
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: klickyklack on October 10, 2022, 11:19:47
 :lol: this thread..  I'm loving the commentary & photos.

I don't have ANY of the Greek gods, but dammit, Demeter & Athena are so lovely.  My wallet is crying something about going to crows  ???
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Tiermann on October 10, 2022, 17:48:30
That's a great figure, but yes he could have had a Greek Key detail on the apron or something to make him stand out a bit. Maybe a helmet. At this point I would say a version of the Invincibus helmet would be great for him. I don't think that mold existed when the figure was created.
Title: Re: Ye Gods! An Olympian Appreciation
Post by: Macruran on October 10, 2022, 18:04:37
Forgot a criticism: the shield he's working on doesn't even look Greek. Missed opportunity to add another cool Greek shield design!