If you're like us and have fallen into a deep dark rabbit role of Greek mythology after watching Netflix's KAOS, then hi welcome to the club. And if you're still scratching your head over the references about the deadly trio of the Furies, then this is what you need to know about them.
KAOS is a modern reinterpretation of some of the biggest legends from Greek mythology, all interwoven by the main plot of the series that sees Zeus (Jeff Goldblum) question his power, and wonder if both, his family, and the mortals, still believe in him as a ruler. And he's right to question them, as three humans, along with a group of rebels, are working towards an end goal of bringing down the gods.
One of the myths that gets a retelling in KAOS is that of the Furies, aka three sisters intent on bringing justice. So who are this deadly trio? And what is their Greek origin story? Here's what you need to know.
Who are the Furies in KAOS?
Our first introduction to the Furies is in episode three, where they follow a man to a petrol station and convince him to kill himself.
The voiceover of Prometheus (Stephen Dillane) explains the Furies are older than the gods and "they roam the Earth, delivering justice where they feel it has been denied." The interesting thing about the Furies is that only those they pursue can hear or see them. So you basically never want to encounter them.
In KAOS they're called Tisi (Donna Banya), Alecto (Cathy Tyson) and Meg (Natalie Klamar), and ride around in leather jackets on motorbikes. They're mainly involved in Ari's (Leila Farzad) storyline and we see them following her around on her birthday, which convinces Ari she must have done something wrong.
What is the Furies' story in Greek mythology?
The Furies are part of Greek mythology and are often also known as the Erinyes or Eumenides. They are the goddesses of vengeance, and while their story of their beginnings alters, there is usually three goddesses included in the myth.
There's Alecto who is all about endless anger, Megara who sums up jealous rage and Tisiphone who is about vengeful destruction.
In some origin stories they are the daughters of Hades and Persephone, and in others they were created after Titan Cronus castrated his father Uranus, threw his genitals in the sea and the Furies emerged from drops of his blood which fell to the Earth. Charming.
They go around punishing bad behaviour and essentially hound their victims.
While crucial in Ari's story in KAOS in Greek mythology they have no link to the myth of the Minotaur, Theseus and Ariadne.
KAOS is available on Netflix now
