Jayson’s Reviews > The Hidden Oracle > Status Update

Isn't the fact that her mother's Greek form ancient and strong, and then Meg had(?) Roman training why she's so strong though? Or have I missed something?

Jenny wrote: "Isn't the fact that her mother's Greek form ancient and strong, and then Meg had(?) Roman training why she's so strong though? Or have I missed something?"

Well, I think in some respect, all demigods have some increased strength or healing from divine parentage; they can take ambrosia for a cure-all, for instance. I don't know that Demeter would be any more ancient or strong than any other Greek god. Her Roman form's only been mentioned once, I think, and only in the context of Meg not being Roman.

As for Roman training, I don't think she has unless I've missed something myself. She only just found out she was a demigod when Apollo told her, and she was only claimed by Demeter once she got to the camp. The camp being run by a skeleton crew during the winter, I doubt there would be much training at all, let alone Roman training. If she did train at camp, it's still winter, and I wouldn't think much time would have passed.

The one possibility would be if she had been secretly practicing all those years she's had her magic crescent rings. But that's not been mentioned, albeit assumed. I don't remember her actually talking about her rings or how she got them, she just started using them. Even self-taught, I don't think it'd be realistic she'd be that good at twelve, especially with no one to spar with. 🤷‍♂️

Ah here's the quite I was referring to
"The style you fight in... is a style from the late Roman Empire... Even back then it was rare... Yet your mother is Demeter, the goddess in her Greek form, not Ceres... Also, her older,, Greek form is much more powerful"

I'm wondering too, she says her rings are from her step dad- was she raised by a Roman God, or demi God maybe?

Jenny wrote: "Ah here's the quite I was referring to
"The style you fight in... is a style from the late Roman Empire... Even back then it was rare... Yet your mother is Demeter, the goddess in her Greek form, ..."

Ah, I see. Thanks, I think I was reading tired during that whole fight scene, and wasn't paying that much attention.

Reading it over again, I believe the implication is that her step-father taught her. Though, she only confirms that he gave her the rings. I think it's entirely possible that the rings themselves confer greater fighting ability.

As well, I don't think it's particularly special for a Greek form to be more powerful than the Roman equivalent for a goddess. Athena, is another example of that. That was essentially the plot of the latter Heroes of Olympus books. Possibly that's manifested in greater physical strength for Meg?

It's all inconclusive until we find out who this mysterious Roman step-father is.

Jenny wrote: "I'm wondering too, she says her rings are from her step dad- was she raised by a Roman God, or demi God maybe?"

My guess would be a demigod. Roman demigods tend to live well into adulthood, so that wouldn't surprise me. Gods have a reputation in these books of being absentee parents, I would assume step-parents all the more so.

If you want a real plot twist, it could be one of the evil Triumvirate that raised her or someone associated with them.

How far into the book are you, by the way? I don't want to spoil anything. Unless this is a reread for you.

I'm on chapter 19 right now.
I didn't know it was common for Greek forms to be stronger- thanks for that tidbit; I'm sure it will be important later on!

Jenny wrote: "I'm on chapter 19 right now.
I didn't know it was common for Greek forms to be stronger- thanks for that tidbit; I'm sure it will be important later on!"

Okay, so we're not so far off then. I'm having difficulty finding time to read atm but still manage to get around fifty pages done a day. So, in all likelihood, I'll be done in the next couple days.

It's interesting, because I think Athena's Roman form was diminished because part of her godly purview as war goddess was taken by Bellona, which contributed to the initial Annabeth/Reyna conflict/rivalry. I haven't looked into it, but it could be that some new Roman goddess took power and influence from Demeter as well. 🤷‍♂️

Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships while Demeter is mostly known as a grain goddess, she also appeared as a goddess of health, birth, and marriage, and had connections to the Underworld. It was mentioned in the book Demeter was connected to pestilence as well

Jenny wrote: "Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships while Demeter is mostly known as a grain goddess, she also appeared as a goddess of health, birth, and marriage..."

Interesting how Demeter is seen as more powerful when her Greek form is mostly known for grain. Though, I don't see a huge difference between fertility and birth, motherhood and marriage, etc., they're all in the same ballpark. Possibly the Greeks saw grain as particularly important?

I think it's more for her connection with the underworld? Possibly the Greeks had a grain blight, where the Roman's didn't or had less of one as well

Jenny wrote: "I think it's more for her connection with the underworld? Possibly the Greeks had a grain blight, where the Roman's didn't or had less of one as well"

Well, Demeter is Hades' mother-in-law, so there's a direct connection there where her daughter living in the underworld meant the end of growing season.

I think the Romans being a large and expansive empire had less problems with food shortages. The Nile pretty much fed the entire Mediterranean, or at least provided reserve food when local production was low. So, you may be right about the Romans having to depend less on Ceres than the Greeks did on Demeter.