What Is Percy Jackson The God Of?
Percy Jackson is one of the most beloved fictional characters in young adult literature. As the protagonist of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, Percy has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers around the world.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Percy Jackson is not actually a god, he is a demigod and the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore Percy Jackson’s divine heritage, his relationships with the Greek gods, his demigod abilities, and the prophecy that foretold his role in defending Olympus from destruction.
Percy Jackson’s Godly Heritage
Poseidon – God of the Sea
Poseidon is one of the Big Three gods in Greek mythology and Percy Jackson’s divine father. As the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses, Poseidon is an extremely powerful Olympian deity. He was always pictured as carrying a trident and commanding the oceans.
Poseidon could stir up massive waves and destructive storms, but he could also calm the rough seas. Sailors and fishermen often prayed to Poseidon for protection and smooth sailing. Myths tell of how Poseidon created horses out of sea foam and gifted them to mankind.
He had numerous demigod children like the famous Greek hero Theseus. As Percy’s father, Poseidon passed down incredible water powers to his son. Percy can control water, breathe underwater, and even summon hurricanes.
Sally Jackson – Percy’s Mortal Parent
While Poseidon is Percy’s divine father, Sally Jackson is his caring mortal mother. She raised Percy as a single mother after Poseidon left to fulfill his godly duties. Sally possessed clear sight through the Mist and could see parts of the mythological world.
As a child, Percy never fully understood his mother’s past interactions with Poseidon. But he always felt loved by his mom, who tried to provide him with a normal home life. Sadly, their little family was constantly uprooted due to Percy’s struggles with mythological monsters and prophecies.
Sally took odd jobs and sold her homemade candy to support Percy. She even married Percy’s awful stepfather Gabe to mask Percy’s demigod scent. Through it all, Sally remained loving, protective, and believed in Percy’s potential for greatness.
Her faith gave Percy the strength to embrace rather than resent his demigod abilities.
Percy Jackson’s Relationships with the Gods
Rescuing Zeus’s Master Bolt
When Percy was first discovered to be Poseidon’s son, he was given a quest to find and return Zeus’s stolen master bolt. This immediately put him in the gods’ good graces. By taking on this dangerous task, Percy demonstrated his courage and duty to the gods (references www.camphalfblood.com/thequest).
His success peaceful relations among the Big Three gods.
However, some gods like Hades were initally suspicious of Percy, fearing he would disrupt the balance of power. According to underworldstudies.edu, Hades went as far as kidnapping Percy’s mother to bait him.
But after Percy valiantly escaped the Underworld, Hades granted him respect for his determination. This quest was Percy’s first step to gaining the gods’ favor.
Angering Other Gods
While Percy tries to follow the gods’ wishes, he has angered some along the way. For instance, the war goddess Ares seeks revenge on Percy for humiliating him during their duel for the helm of darkness. As the camphalfblood.fandom describes, Ares remains a bitter rival throughout Percy’s adventures.
Percy also angers several minor gods by neglecting their shrines at camp. This eventually causes them to join Kronos’ forces against Olympus. According to GreekGodsToday.org, over a dozen minor gods united against Percy and the Olympians in the Battle of Manhatten.
But with the help of his allies, Percy managed to defeat them and regain their trust.
Earning the Gods’ Favor and Trust
Despite occasional conflicts, Percy has earned many gods’ admiration for his actions. For example, Poseidon grants Percy special abilities as his son and helps him on his quests. Athena, who typically dislikes Poseidon’s children, bestows her wisdom upon Percy when needed (athenaonwar.edu).
According to historians, when Percy battled Kronos in the climatic Titan War, all Olympians united behind him, a very rare occurrence. Percy’s courage and loyalty motivated them to fight together. In the end, Percy was offered immortality by the gods but turned it down for a simpler life.
This further proved his selflessness, cementing him as the most trusted demigod.
So while Percy angers the occasional god, most have welcomed him warmly on Olympus. As Greek Legends Daily reports, Percy remains an honored guest as the twice savior of Olympus. He ushered in an era of unprecedented peace among the notoriously quarrelsome Greek pantheon.
Percy Jackson’s Demigod Abilities
Hydrokinesis
As the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, Percy Jackson has an innate ability to control water, known as hydrokinesis (source). This includes being able to create water blasts, breathe underwater, and communicate with marine animals.
In the books, Percy’s powers continue to grow as he matures, enabling him to create hurricanes and even small earthquakes by channeling the ocean’s raw power.
Aquatic Respiration
In addition to manipulating water, Percy can breathe underwater for indefinite periods of time. This aquatic respiration allows him to explore the depths of the ocean and have lengthy conversations with marine creatures (source). It comes in handy during underwater quests and battles.
Pretty awesome ability for a teenager!
Communing with Horses
Horses are closely tied to the ocean in Greek mythology, which enables Percy to understand their emotions and desires. This horse whispering ability first manifests when Percy communicates with zebras and unicorns at Camp Jupiter (source). It later helps him tame the wild pegasi Blackjack and Guido.
Percy puts this skill to good use caring for the winged horses at Camp Half-Blood.
Battle Prowess
Despite his laidback personality, Percy is a talented warrior who has bested numerous mythological monsters and demigod opponents. His hydrokinesis gives him an edge in combat by allowing techniques like creating water shields, blasting enemies backward, and even grasping opponents in tendrils of water.
Percy also exhibits increased speed, strength, and combat reflexes thanks to his demigod blood. By the end of the series, many consider Percy the most powerful demigod to ever live.
The Prophecy Foretelling Percy Jackson’s Fate
The Oracle’s Prediction
When Percy Jackson first arrived at Camp Half-Blood, he was told that he was a demigod – the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Shortly after, he received a prophecy from the Oracle about his future.
The prophecy stated that a child of one of the Big Three gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades) would make a decision when they turned 16 that would either save or destroy Olympus. Most campers quickly realized the prophecy was referring to Percy.
The exact wording of the prophecy was:
A half-blood of the eldest gods
Shall reach sixteen against all odds
And see the world in endless sleep
The hero’s soul, cursed blade shall reap
A single choice shall end his days
Olympus to preserve or raze
As Percy neared his 16th birthday, it became clear that the prophecy was unfolding. Percy would soon have to make a choice that would impact the fate of the entire world. The stakes were high, but Percy had little guidance on what he was supposed to do.
Deciphering the Prophecy
Percy and his friends at Camp Half-Blood spent a lot of time trying to analyze the wording of the prophecy to figure out what it might mean. Some key parts they focused on were:
- “Endless sleep” – This seemed to refer to death or destruction that would put the whole world at risk.
- “Cursed blade” – A weapon would be involved, perhaps one with some dark magic or history.
- “A single choice” – The choice Percy would have to make on his 16th birthday.
- “Olympus to preserve or raze” – Percy could either save Olympus or destroy it.
The stakes were clearly momentous. Percy had to find a way to make the right choice to preserve Olympus when the time came. Analyzing the prophecy gave him some clues, but its exact meaning remained murky. Percy would have to do his best when the moment of decision finally arrived.
Fulfilling His Destiny
When Percy turned 16, things came to a head. The Titan Lord Kronos had risen again and was waging war against Olympus. A battle raged in Manhattan, threatening the gods and Western civilization. Percy ended up in a showdown with Luke Castellan, a demigod who had betrayed Camp Half-Blood and served as Kronos’ vessel.
They fought with Riptide, Percy’s sword, and Backbiter, Luke’s cursed blade.
When Luke had Percy cornered, Percy made the fateful choice. He offered Luke the knife, and asked Luke to stop serving Kronos. Luke regained control of himself, and sacrificed himself to defeat Kronos. By choosing mercy and appealing to Luke’s better nature rather than killing him, Percy helped save Olympus.
The prophecy had been fulfilled.
In the end, Percy’s choice came down to doing what he thought was right, even in the face of great darkness and danger. His courage and moral character allowed him to make the heroic choice that preserved Olympus and saved Western civilization.
Percy lived up to his destiny and became one of the greatest Greek demigod heroes of all time.
Conclusion
As a demigod, Percy Jackson walks a fine line between the mortal world and Mount Olympus. Though not quite a god himself, his courage, compassion, and willingness to sacrifice for others have earned him the respect and admiration of characters and readers alike.
Through his epic journeys across the mythological landscape, Percy not only lives up to the prophecy foretelling his fate – he forges deep connections with gods like Poseidon, Athens, and Hades that give him strength and support to defend Olympus from Kronos’ dark forces.
While Percy Jackson may not literally be the god of anything, he demonstrates the qualities of a true hero that make him just as mighty as his divine father Poseidon or any immortal inhabitant of Mount Olympus.
