It has often been said that there is nothing new under the sun. In this vein, authors of all literary genres often borrow themes and plots from stories of the past. Many of these authors choose to borrow from the rich mythology of the ancient Greeks. Suzanne Collins has been asked many times where the idea for The Hunger Games came from. She readily admits that the characters and plot come from Greek mythology and more specifically Theseus and the Minotaur (Margolis 30). One who knows both stories can easily recognize the identical framework on which each of these stories is built. Theseus and Katniss Everdeen, Collins' heroine, volunteer to fight for their respective countries, they both fight beasts of strange origin, and they are both brave in battle and emerge victorious, but it is the uniqueness of the characters which makes each story suitable for the period and the audience to which it belongs. Collins modernizes the classic hero of Theseus by changing her gender, her motivations, and altering her selfish personality, and by doing these things she creates a heroine that resonates better with today's young adult audiences. Generally, women throughout history have not been highly appreciated. This was especially true for women in ancient Greece. In fact, “women were,” as Foley states in his article “Sex and the State in Ancient Greece,” “universally legal minors; Women citizens participated at best indirectly in the political and intellectual life of the city” (31). This is the society in which the original Theseus was created, so it stands to reason that any major heroes passed down from this society would in fact be men. He...... middle of paper ...... counted. Collins uses his interpretation of myth and ability to transform the historical character of ancient Greece into one more suited to modern society and audiences and create a pop culture phenomenon that those of ancient Greece would likely be proud of. , Suzanne. The hunger games. New York: School. Inc. 2009. Print. Foley. Helene. “Sex and the State in Ancient Greece”. Diacritics. 5.4 (1975): 31-36. Jstor. Web.April 17, 2014.Guerber, HA Myths of Greece and Rome. New York: American Book Company. 1921. Printed. Moreaux, Danish. “Mythical hero versus modern heroine: the female hero in The Hunger Games by SuzanneCollins. Catalyst. 3.2 (2013) Article 3. Web.Plutarch. Lives and writings of Plutarch. Ed. Clough AH & Goodwin, W. New York: TheColonial Company Ltd. 1905. Print.