The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in Saint Seiya

Abstract

This study analyzes the presence of the Greco-Roman myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in the Hades saga of the Japanese anime Saint Seiya, comparing it with classical sources from Ovid (Metamorphoses, Book X) and Virgil (Georgics, Book IV). Using Gérard Genette’s concept of transtextuality, the research examines the intertextual and hypertextual relationships between the animation and the ancient texts, identifying narrative, structural, and symbolic similarities and differences. Additionally, it explores the inclusion of the character Pandora in Saint Seiya, absent from the classical tradition of the myth, proposing its insertion as an aesthetic and commercial strategy. The study concludes that, despite transformations, Greco-Roman mythology remains relevant in contemporary cultural products, solidifying itself as a universal element of rewriting and reinterpretation.