How Mythology Inspired ALL of Persona 3 (Every Persona Explained)

LadyVirgilia・2 minutes read

Various main characters in Persona 3 have Personas inspired by Greco-Roman mythology that reflect their personalities and journeys, with transformations symbolizing growth and change. The evolution of each character's Persona mirrors their development and challenges, culminating in their growth and understanding of sacrifice and leadership.

Insights

  • The main characters in Persona 3 are deeply influenced by Greco-Roman mythology in their Persona designs and characteristics, reflecting their personalities and journeys throughout the game.
  • Each character's growth and development are intricately tied to their Persona evolutions, symbolizing personal transformations and thematic elements such as revenge, leadership, healing, and enlightenment.
  • The relationships between characters and their Personas mirror complex mythological narratives, showcasing themes of sacrifice, guilt, vengeance, and growth as they navigate their intertwined destinies.
  • The overarching narrative of Persona 3 weaves together themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the search for truth, culminating in the protagonist embodying the role of a divine savior akin to Jesus Christ, bringing a sense of closure and hope to the story.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of Yukari's Persona, Eo?

    Yukari's Persona, Eo, holds great significance in reflecting her personal story and struggles. Eo's design and moveset symbolize Yukari's battles with madness and restoration, mirroring her journey of pushing others away while desiring close bonds. The parallels drawn between Eo and the Greek myth of Eo being sent away by her father highlight Yukari's feelings of displacement and longing for connection. Ultimately, Eo's representation in Persona 3 serves as a poignant reflection of Yukari's emotional complexities and growth throughout the game.

  • How does Mitsuru's Persona, Artemisia, reflect her character development?

    Mitsuru's Persona, Artemisia, plays a crucial role in reflecting her character development and growth. The design of Artemisia, with elements like a breastplate, helmet, dagger, and fencing sword, symbolizes Mitsuru's intentions to use her powers for good and her willingness to take on leadership roles. The helmet covering Artemisia's face represents Mitsuru's personal struggles and sacrifices, showcasing her desire to protect others while concealing her true self. As Mitsuru evolves and takes on new responsibilities, Artemisia serves as a visual representation of her journey towards embracing her desires and standing up for what she believes in.

  • What is the inspiration behind Fuka's Persona, Lucia?

    Fuka's Persona, Lucia, draws inspiration from Saint Lucia, a Christian martyr known for her dedication to Christ and miraculous survival of torture. The design of Lucia, featuring bandages around the eyes and throat, reflects Saint Lucia's injuries, while the glass sphere symbolizes Fuka's ability to sense Shadows and her gift of prophecy. Lucia's high magic stat represents Fuka's connection to divinity and her role as a healer within the group. Overall, Lucia serves as a symbolic representation of Fuka's resilience, spiritual connection, and ability to sense and decipher the strengths and weaknesses of Shadows.

  • How does Ken's Persona, Nemesis, reflect his character arc?

    Ken's Persona, Nemesis, is deeply intertwined with his character arc and journey towards maturity. Inspired by the Greek goddess of divine retribution, Nemesis embodies Ken's desire for revenge for his mother's death. The design of Nemesis, with a dark color scheme and a circular symbol representing retribution, symbolizes Ken's quest for justice and balance. As Ken's healing skills represent a blend of good fortune and retribution, his Persona's eventual transformation into Kalanemi from Hindu mythology signifies his growth towards enlightenment and moving past vengeful desires. Nemesis serves as a visual representation of Ken's evolution, highlighting his pursuit of justice and understanding of the cyclical nature of life.

  • How does Akihiko's Persona, Polyduces, reflect his character traits?

    Akihiko's Persona, Polyduces, is deeply reflective of his character traits and history as a fighter. Inspired by the immortal twin brother in Greek mythology, Polyduces embodies Akihiko's strength, agility, endurance, and magical abilities inherited from Zeus. The design of Polyduces as a boxer mirrors Akihiko's prowess in combat, while the blue attire symbolizes Zeus' association with the skies and the red elements represent Akihiko's aggression and passion for fighting. As Akihiko's Persona evolves into Caesar, drawing inspiration from the Roman Emperor Augustus, it symbolizes his growth after Shinji's death and his role as a strong party member in battles. Polyduces serves as a visual representation of Akihiko's determination, combat prowess, and leadership qualities throughout the game.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Persona 3 Characters: Mythology and Transformation"

  • The video analyzes the Persona of main characters in Persona 3, including Strega, and how Greco-Roman mythology influenced each character's Arts.
  • Jumpei starts with the Persona Hermes, reflecting his oratory skill, wit, and athletic nature, fitting the Magician Arcana.
  • Hermes' traits match Jumpei's personality, seen in his clever ideas like Operation Babe Hunt and his role as a guide and protector.
  • Chidori's Persona, Medea, symbolizes her healing abilities and betrayal of Strega, inspired by Medea's actions in Greek mythology.
  • Jumpei's Persona transforms into Trismagistus after combining with Medea, symbolizing wisdom and alchemical transmutation.
  • Yukari's Persona, Eo, reflects her story of being driven from her home, paralleling the Greek myth of Eo being sent away by her father.
  • Eo's design and moveset symbolize her struggles with madness and restoration, fitting Yukari's journey of pushing others away while desiring close bonds.
  • Yukari's Ultimate Persona, Isis, represents magic, healing, and rebirth, mirroring her struggle to cope with the protagonist's death in The Answer.
  • Isis's connection to the Greek goddess Eo and her ability to revive Osiris reflect Yukari's grief and determination to bring back the protagonist.
  • Yukari's willingness to go to great lengths to return to the past mirrors Isis's drive to revive her husband, showing her growth in understanding sacrifice.

17:09

Mitsuru and Fuka's Persona transformations and symbolism.

  • Yukari decides to become the seal to protect the world and life, apologizing to Igis and suggesting a return to April 1st to live fully and protect the protagonist's memory.
  • Mitsuru's background is inspired by the Greek myth of Penthesilea, a fierce Amazonian warrior consumed by guilt over her sister's death, leading her to take on leadership roles to atone for her family's deeds.
  • Mitsuru's prowess in battle against Shadows, her high magic stat, powerful ice skills, and physical attack stat, reflect her experience and leadership qualities.
  • Mitsuru's Persona design, with a breastplate and helmet symbolizing a warrior, a dagger representing treachery, and a fencing sword for honorable combat, reflects her intentions to use her powers for good.
  • The helmet covering Mitsuru's Persona's face symbolizes her personal struggles and sacrifices, hiding her true self and desires to protect others.
  • Mitsuru's final Persona, Artemisia, is based on a historical queen known for her tactics in the Greco-Persian War, reflecting Mitsuru's new role as head of the Kitty Jewel company.
  • Artemisia's design, with a breastplate and mask, symbolizes Mitsuru's growth in standing up for her desires while still deferring to Yukari, mirroring her assistance to Yukari in the fight with Igis.
  • Fuka's Persona, Lucia, is inspired by Saint Lucia, a Christian martyr known for her dedication to Christ and miraculous survival of torture, symbolized in Fuka's ability to sense Shadows and decipher their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Lucia's design, with bandages around the eyes and throat, reflects Saint Lucia's injuries, while the glass sphere symbolizes Fuka's ability to sense Shadows and her high magic stat represents her gift of prophecy.
  • Fuka's transformation into Juno symbolizes her role as a guardian angel for the team, with the skill Oracle reflecting this change and the skill Escape Route mirroring the concept of safeguarding and providing shelter.

33:24

Persona Designs Reflect Characters' Journeys and Emotions

  • Fuka's persona has a mythical aesthetic with feathers extending from her back, a face mask with multiple eyes, and a headdress, reflecting a motherly figure and peacekeeper role.
  • Ken's persona, Nemesis, is inspired by the Greek goddess of divine retribution, seeking vengeance for evil deeds, fitting his desire for revenge for his mother's death.
  • Nemesis's design reflects a negative judgment with a wide grin, a dark color scheme, and a circular symbol representing the cyclical nature of retribution.
  • Nemesis's moveset includes light-based attacks like Hama and Hamaon, reflecting divine retribution, and physical attacks symbolizing revenge.
  • Ken's healing skills represent a balance between good fortune and retribution, mirroring the balancing scales of Justice.
  • Ken's persona eventually transforms into Kalanemi, a demon from Hindu mythology, symbolizing his journey towards enlightenment and moving past vengeful desires.
  • Kalanemi's design reflects the cyclical nature of time and the zodiac, with a lack of facial features symbolizing enlightenment and objective justice.
  • Ken's growth mirrors Kalanemi's enlightenment, focusing on the present and understanding the truth, showing his journey towards maturity and balance.
  • Shinji's persona, Caster, reflects the mortal twin brother in Greek mythology, showcasing adventure, battle prowess, and guilt over his actions.
  • Caster's design symbolizes mourning and guilt, with a black color scheme and a gaunt face, reflecting Shinji's tragic fate and inability to let go of his guilt.

50:29

"Akihiko's Evolution: From Polyduces to Caesar"

  • Polyduces was depicted as immortal due to being the son of the Greek god Zeus, while Caster was mortal, leading to Polyduces' immortality inspiring Akihiko to continue Shinji's legacy after his death.
  • In mythology, Polyduces and Caster, twin brothers, engaged in a fight where Caster tragically died, but Polyduces, saved by Zeus, begged his father to grant half of his immortality to Caster, turning them into the constellation Gemini.
  • Akihiko's Persona, Polyduces, reflects his history as a fighter, with high stats in strength, agility, endurance, and magic, inherited from Zeus, and a moveset emphasizing combat skills and support abilities.
  • Polyduces' design as a boxer mirrors his mythological prowess in boxing, while his blue attire symbolizes Zeus' association with the skies, and the red elements may represent Akihiko's aggression and passion for fighting.
  • Akihiko's evolved Persona, Caesar, draws inspiration from the Roman Emperor Augustus, symbolizing Akihiko's growth after Shinji's death, with the design reflecting Caesar's military leadership and expansion of the Roman Empire.
  • Caesar's design includes a figure in a Senate seat, symbolizing Augustus' power over the Senate, and a smaller figure within Caesar's chest possibly representing Shinji's memory and Akihiko's growth as a character.
  • Augustus' choice of the name "Imperator" to emphasize victory and leadership parallels Akihiko's role as a strong party member in battles, reflecting Augustus' military successes and Akihiko's combat prowess.
  • Caesar's globe symbolizes Augustus' expansion of the Roman Empire, while the Laurel wreath signifies victory, reflecting how Akihiko helped defeat Nyx and preserve humanity's future.
  • Akihiko's determination to honor Shinji and the MC's memory, akin to Augustus fulfilling Caesar's legacy, showcases his growth and leadership, with Caesar's design reflecting Roman soldiers' attire and weaponry.
  • Akihiko's evolution as a character, akin to Augustus' leadership, demonstrates his resolve to move forward and fulfill his friends' wishes, with his evolved Persona, Caesar, embodying victory and strength in battle.

01:07:51

"Awakening abilities, seeking truth, hastening humanity's end"

  • The protagonist awakens to a wildcard ability, initially reverting to a cold demeanor but later forming a bond with Metis, her Human Side, to move forward.
  • Athena values wisdom and intends to uncover the truth behind the protagonist's sacrifice, unlike others in the group with personal motives.
  • Jin and Takaya, inspired by the primordial entity Moros, work towards hastening humanity's end by uniting Erebus and Nyx, bringing misfortune to many.
  • Jin sets up a Revenge Request website, aiding Takaya in fulfilling their goal, reflecting Moros' role in leading others to tragic fates.
  • Takaya's Persona, Hypnos, personifies sleep and non-violent deaths, reflecting his role in putting individuals to rest and causing apathy in preparation for Nyx's arrival.
  • Orpheus, the protagonist's Persona, reflects his musical abilities and connection with various mythological figures, aiding the group in their quests.
  • Orpheus' design and initial scene of being ripped apart by Thanatos mirror the tragic fate of Orpheus in Greek mythology, symbolizing death.
  • Thanatos, Nyx's son and personification of non-violent deaths, is the leader of Strega and reveals the impending doom of Nyx's arrival, offering C's a chance to avoid suffering through memory wipe.
  • Thanatos' merciless portrayal, inspired by a story of being outwitted by King Sisyphus, reflects in the Persona's design with a large sword, beast-like features, and chains.
  • The connection between Thanatos and Hypnos, as twin brothers, mirrors the roles of Takaya and Jin in bringing about the end, with Takaya causing sleep and rest, while Jin aids in fulfilling their shared goal.

01:25:05

Evolution of Thanatos and Persona Messiah

  • Thanatos, initially depicted as a winged young man in ancient times, later evolved into a Grim Reaper figure, influencing Roji's design as Nyx's Avatar, combining both portrayals.
  • Orpheus, killed in mythology due to his inability to feel happiness, mirrors the protagonist's apathetic demeanor at the game's start, with the protagonist learning the value of life through social links and accepting death peacefully like Thanatos.
  • The Persona Messiah, confirmed in the end credits, symbolizes a divine savior akin to Jesus Christ, with the protagonist embodying this role in P3's narrative, reflecting themes of suffering, sacrifice, and the anticipation of a second coming.
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