In Greek mythology who is the daughter of both Ares, the god of war, and of Otrera, the founder of the Amazons, a tribe of warrior women. However, the mythological Hippolyta is not as powerful a warrior as she might seem.
Hippolyta's mother, Otrera, is the daughter of one of the ancient Greek wind gods, or Anemoi, which makes Hippolyta a descendant of gods on both her mother's and her father's side of the family. Both of these divine lineages are generally related in some way to strength, and in particular, to war. Despite her divine blood, however, Hippolyta (like most characters in Greek mythology) wasn't always able to take advantage of her good fortune. Her own exploits are rarely the subject of stories in Greek mythology. In fact, she is mostly known for her involvement with one of Greek mythology's most famous demigods, Heracles.
As a part of his twelve labors, Heracles was tasked with stealing Hippolyta's girdle, which was a gift from her father, Ares, the god of war. Instead of putting up a fight against Heracles, she simply agrees to give him her girdle after seeing how amazing he is. Ultimately, however, a war breaks out and Heracles kills Hippolyta, but this war is more the result of trickery on the part of Hera (Heracles' mortal enemy and stepmother) than it is the result of any strength of Hippolyta.
Hippolyta's Connection To The Show Explained
The mythological Hippolyta was rarely the subject of stories in Greek mythology and was instead usually a side character. She was a strong woman descended from gods and no doubt accomplished great feats. She succeeds her mother in becoming the queen of the Amazons but is ultimately killed by Heracles as a part of his story. From a certain perspective, this is almost the exact opposite of what happens to Hippolyta in Lovecraft Country.
In the show, Hippolyta is not originally the main character in the story of her marriage to George. Instead, she is in some ways his sidekick, despite her having just as many, if not more, skills and strengths than he does. After George dies, Hippolyta feels lost, and when she discovers that Atticus (Jonathan Majors) has lied to her, she essentially sets out to find herself, which ultimately makes her the protagonist in her own story rather than a secondary character in someone else's. Although her name is a strong one, it also destines her to play a ing role instead of a leading one. In episode 7, when I Am asks Hippolyta to name herself, she is unable to do so. It is only until she explores what she could be, that she is able to break from the implications of her name.
Hippolyta doesn't want to be a secondary character; she wants to be the main character. She essentially tells this to Courtney B Vance's George in the show's first episode when she asks him to let her go on her own trips for the Guide. The fact that she even has to ask is proof that she doesn't have the power to be her own person. When George dies, she is heartbroken but in some way, she is also set free. She is empowered to decide who she is on her own, to go against the fate of her namesake. In this way, Hippolyta's relationship to her own name is an example of a central concept of Lovecraft Country — finding the power and freedom to be who you are in spite of the obstacles in front of you.
