Here's everything you ever wanted to know about the young demigod hero of Rick Riordan's best-selling, action-packed, ancient-myth-meets-modern-fantasy series. Show
Tirzah Price February 28, 2022 Percy Jackson is the eponymous hero of the best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. He made his debut in The Lightning Thief at just 12 years old, where he discovered the shocking truth about his parentage: He is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and the god Poseidon. Beyond his own series, he was one of the protagonists in the Heroes of Olympus series and has since appeared in other spin-off novels and series from Riordan. If you want to know everything there is to know about Percy Jackson, dive right in. *Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.*
Who is Percy Jackson?Percy Jackson's full name is Perseus Jackson. Born in 1993, he is the son of the god Poseidon and a human woman named Sally Jackson. Although a mere mortal, Sally has the special ability of seeing through the Mist, which allowed her to meet and fall in love with Poseidon. Sally named her newborn Perseus after one of the few figures in Greek mythology that found a happy ending, wishing the same for her son. Percy has very few memories of his father because Poseidon was forced to leave Sally and Percy to protect them from Zeus, who would be angry if he knew his brother had fathered a child. Demigods are considered powerful, and Zeus views them as a threat to his own position. As a young child, Percy's demigod status was apparent when a snake attempted to attack him and he managed to strangle it. This was a wake-up call for Sally, who knew that demigods had a particular smell that drew monsters, and her son's scent was very strong. Worried for Percy's safety, she married Gabe Ugliano, known as "Smelly Gabe" for his overpowering body odor. Sally's hope was that Gabe's stench would mask her son's scent from monsters. While this worked for the most part, Gabe was cruel and abusive to both Sally and Percy. He was finally petrified by Medusa. As Percy grew older, strange and inexplicable things often seemed to happen around him—for which he repeatedly got blamed. Percy was expelled from six schools for many accidents that were actually the result of Greek monsters trying to attack him.
How is Percy Jackson described in the books?Percy has tanned, olive skin and disheveled black hair. He has sea-green eyes, which he inherited from Poseidon. Although he is not extremely fit at the start of the series, his training over the course of the books results in a muscular, lean frame. He's often described as quite good-looking, bearing a striking resemblance to his father. He temporarily has a gray streak in his hair after the events of The Titan's Curse, but appears to have lost it by the events of The Mark of Athena. He is also considered brave and loyal, but he tends to have a short temper, especially if he sees bullying occurring. As a child, Percy is diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. But what might be perceived as disabilities by humans are actually assets to a demigod—Percy's ADHD is a result of a natural-born instinct for self-preservation, a hyper-vigilance that makes him seem easily distracted. Percy has the ability to take note of his opponents and analyze their weaknesses and anticipate their next moves very quickly. Percy's dyslexia is a result of his brain being hardwired to read and understand Ancient Greek rather than mortal languages. Percy is also naturally athletic and, with training, becomes a skilled swordsman with superhuman strength, agility, reflexes, and speed.
Percy Jackson’s Skills, Weapons, and AbilitiesPercy also has special abilities with water, which he inherited from his father, Poseidon. Gifted with hydrokinesis, the power to manipulate water, he can dry anything wet in a flash, turn water into solid objects that he can grab hold of, create air bubbles for others underwater, and propel himself and others through water. He also has hydrogenesis, the ability to create and summon water out of thin air. This power is a bit harder for him to master. Water doesn't harm him, so he doesn't have to worry about extreme water pressure hurting him. His more limited but related talents include toxikinesis, controlling poisons or substances that are water-based, and being able to understand how ships and other water vessels operate—even controlling them via telekinesis. In addition to these impressive abilities, Percy has several magical items that lend him even more power. He is in possession of a sword called Anaklusmos or Riptide. Riptide looks like a regular ballpoint pen when not in use, but when uncapped it becomes a three-foot Celestial Bronze sword. As a pen, it always returns to its owner's pocket. Riptide was once Hercule's sword and was gifted to Percy by Chiron. He also has a wristwatch that can be turned into a shield; the Minotaur's horn, which he got after battling the beast; and the Golden Fleece, which he retrieved on a quest and used to heal his friends.
Percy Jackson’s Key RelationshipsGrover Underwood
Annabeth Chase
Tyson
Percy Jackson’s Love Interests
Other Friends of Percy Jackson
Percy Jackson’s Enemies
What happens to Percy Jackson throughout the series?Percy is first introduced in The Lightning Thief, when he survives a Minotaur attack and discovers his status as a demigod. At Camp Half-Blood, he learns more about his past and future, and begins training. However, it's not long before Percy is accused of stealing Zeus's lightning bolt and, with the help of his friends Grover and Annabeth, must clear his name. Percy ends up traveling to the underworld and revealing the true thief while also saving his mother from death. In The Sea of Monsters, Thalia's Tree, which both protects Camp Half-Blood from monsters and shields them from the mortal world, has been poisoned. To save the camp, Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece. But he needs the help of Grover, who's been kidnapped. Joining forces with Annabeth and his new friend Tyson, Percy sets out to rescue Grover and bring back the Golden Fleece from the Sea of Monsters, aka the Bermuda Triangle—running into old enemies along the way. In The Titan's Curse, Percy and his friends learn of two new demigod siblings in need of their help—but when they set out to rescue them, their ally, the goddess Artemis, goes missing. She was hunting a mysterious monster before she disappeared, which leaves everyone on Olympus unsettled. What could be powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? What's clear: Artemis is needed in an important upcoming solstice vote about war against the titans, and it's up to Percy and his friends to find her before it's too late. The Battle of the Labyrinth sees Percy facing one of his toughest challenges yet: high school. He is surprised by demon cheerleaders and the reappearance of former flame Rachel Elizabeth Dare, as well as signs indicating that the titans are gaining power. With Camp Half-Blood in more danger than ever, Percy and his friends must enter the underground labyrinth so Annabeth can fulfill a prophecy—and they can all find a way to keep their beloved camp safe. In The Last Olympian, Percy's life is interrupted once more with a message from Blackjack: The titans are about to make their move from Luke Castellan's cruise ship in the Sea of Monsters. Percy throws himself into the fight but is alarmed to find the odds stacked against him and his friends at every turn. Then, he discovers a terrifying prophecy that could spell out his end, In the ensuing battle, which rages in Manhattan, Percy must face numerous choices that will affect not only his future but the fates of everyone he loves. Percy appears in Heroes of Olympus series but not as a protagonist. He is not in every book; in fact, he spends much of the series missing while his friends search for him, but eventually returns. Percy also appears as a secondary character, and as a young adult living on his own, in the Trials of Apollo series. He is mentioned and makes a few brief appearances in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series as well.
How does the Percy Jackson of the films compare to that of the books?Percy Jackson's story has been adapted numerous times for screen and stage. The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters were adapted into two feature films starring Logan Lerman as Percy. Percy was aged up in the films to appeal to a wider audience. Rick Riordan has famously said he wasn’t a fan of the changes the films' producers made, and he hasn't even watched the movies. In 2020, Rick Riordan announced that he was working with Disney+ to develop the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series as a TV show for the streaming giant, with plans for each season to cover one book in the series. The project is still in development—so now is the perfect time to get caught up on Percy Jackson and the Olympians saga before the next adaptation hits the small screen. It's all narrated by Jesse Bernstein, who brings this fantastical world believably to life and captures the voices of not only Percy and his friends but also an array of mythical gods and monsters. Tags
Up NextPercy Jackson: Books vs. MoviesHow does the son of Poseidon in Rick Riordan's best-selling books compare to how he's portrayed in the popular movies? If you're a Percy Jackson fan, read on to find out!Who are the most important characters in Percy Jackson?In Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the main characters also include Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood. In Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus, the main characters are Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Hazel, Frank, Piper, and Leo. Nico may count as well.
Who are the 7 main characters in Percy Jackson?Unraveling the Prophecy
The seven half-bloods are, Jason Grace, Leo Valdez, Piper McLean, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Hazel Levesque, and Frank Zhang.
Who is the main protagonist in Percy Jackson?Perseus “Percy” Jackson is the main protagonist and the narrator of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series as well as one of the main characters in The Heroes of Olympus series. He is a Greek demigod son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson.
Is Nico a main character in Percy Jackson?Nico di Angelo is the son of Maria di Angelo and the Greek god Hades, the younger brother of Bianca, the half-brother of Hazel Levesque, the current boyfriend of Will Solace. He is one of the main characters in Percy Jackson & the Olympians and The Heroes Of Olympus. He also appears in The Trials Of Apollo.
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