The Blood of Olympus

The gods come roaring down Mount Olympus in war gear and fight the giants alongside their demigod children. Jason’s first time meeting his father is battling with him, but his presence feels familiar, evoking some of his happiest memories. Zeus destroys Porphyrion’s throne, but Porphyrion taunts him that his cause is lost. Even if Zeus kills him, Gaea will bring him back. Zeus indicates to Jason that they must destroy Porphyrion in the air, where Gaea can’t save him. After Jason sends Porphyrion flying off the Acropolis cliff and Zeus vaporizes him with a thunderbolt, Zeus praises Jason and says that he doesn’t hold him accountable. However, “[t]he worst is not over” (335): Someone must be held responsible for what happened.

Although they’ve defeated the giants, the gods look uneasy. Zeus calls them to attention, chides Hera for her dangerous plan, and then calls Apollo forward. Zeus points out that Apollo has defied his father twice; he emboldened his descendant Octavian “to follow his dangerous paths” and “prematurely revealed a prophecy that still may destroy them all” (338). After Zeus sends Apollo back to Olympus to await his punishment, Jason challenges his father, angering the god, but Artemis steps in and smooths things over.