The Hidden Oracle

One of the most important themes of The Hidden Oracle is Apollo’s growing acceptance of his mortality. Initially, Apollo is horrified to have his superhuman powers taken away. He frequently rails against Zeus for making him a mortal, despises his teenager’s body, and wonders how mortals survive their limited existence. When he is beaten up by thugs, he laments at seeing blood instead of “golden ichor” leak out of his wounds. Since Apollo was known for his power and beauty, his flawed human appearance offends his vanity. He even mocks humans for living in tiny apartments, wondering “Where is your pride? Your sense of style?” (27). However, as the plot progresses, Apollo undergoes a subtle transformation. Though his body and mind are limited, he finds his emotional capacity expanding and experiences feelings such as guilt, love, and empathy. Apollo admits that gods, who are surer of their actions, do not generally harbor such intense emotions. Thus, being mortal gives Apollo opportunities to grow in a different direction.

However, the plot of the novel is not just about Apollo accepting his mortal form. Instead, it delves into the powers that mortality itself confers. In Chapter 8, Apollo admits that all gods actually fear death because “as you’ve seen, immortality can be taken away” (60). Because mortals live to the fullest despite knowing they are bound to die, Apollo admires their courage. A god would probably tear their hair out in a similar life situation. Mortality grants bravery and fortitude. In fact, as the plot shows, Apollo achieves many of his feats in The Hidden Oracle because he has the humility of a mortal, such as when he bows to the queen ant “Mama” and requests her to fly him and the other demigods out of the woods. Apollo-the-god would never have bowed before the myrmekes. Apollo constantly pits the memories of his immortality with the reality of his mortal life, thus touching upon a running theme in the Greek myths: the jealousy with which the gods regard humans. In Greek mythology, the all-powerful Gods are loathe to share powers with humans and often subject humans to difficult quests and sacrifices. Despite their power, the gods often appear insecure about the potential of humans. Riordan translates this theme of tension to a modern context in The Hidden Oracle.

Further, mortal Meg McCaffrey’s wildness is the catalyst to Apollo’s growing acceptance of his human powers. Apollo can see Meg is powerful; however, her power is not perfect like that of Apollo in his godly form. Even Meg’s appearance—her short stature and her glasses—is unlike the beautiful gods of mythology. Yet, Meg frequently saves Apollo and the demigods, inadvertently commanding her guardian spirit, Peaches. As he spends more time with the temperamental girl, Apollo begins to realize that power comes in all forms and sizes.

In an important sequence toward the book’s end, Apollo meets another divine creature who has been stripped of her powers: the nymph Calypso. However, unlike Apollo, who has been conflicted throughout about his lost powers, Calypso still has “a grace and easiness about her” (357). Calypso seems genuinely in love with the demigod Leo Valdez and tells Apollo that she intends to live her mortal life “fully and without fear” (358). Apollo notes that for Calypso, confined to her island for thousands of years, breaking free of her immortality was a choice and a freedom. Apollo can see that immortality is a complex gift, especially for beings like Calypso, trapped in labels. Calypso’s carpe-diem spirit finally breaks through Apollo’s mixed emotions, and he settles into the greatest power mortals possess: living in the moment and appreciating life’s smallest joys.