Mythos Playing Cards
A card deck based on the legends, lore, and myths of Ancient Greek Mythology.
Overview
Cards Designed by a Greek Myth Geek
Introducing MYTHOS, a modern, illustrative take on Greek Mythology-themed playing cards. As a huge fanatic of the Ancient Greek lore, I couldn't help but incorporate their stories, symbols, and heroes in this colorful deck. I wanted to tackle illustration to refine my skills and learn new tools all while incorporating the entertaining storytelling of Ancient Greece.
Problem
Research
Card Layout and Design Mood Boards
Process
Color Theory and Symbolism
After the research phase, I knew I had to redesign the suits to match the symbols of the Gods and select a color scheme that fit.
The suits are intentionally themed for each trio of face card characters from Greek Mythology. I wanted to keep the original distinction between the red and the black suits by choosing a lighter color scheme for the diamonds & hearts, and a darker one for the spades & clubs.
The individual suit designs and color palettes for each suit reflect the realms of which each trio of Ancient Greek characters reside. For example, the deep purples and dark tones of the Underworld are incorporated into a bundle of pomegranates (a symbol of Hades) in the shape of the clubs suit.
design
Choosing the Big Three of Each Suit
Selecting the face cards for each suit was challenging. There was a struggle between showing the famous characters of Greek Mythology for my general audience and ensuring the face cards had a story behind them.
I narrowed down to the following organization:
Diamonds (The Skies): Zeus, Hera, Hercules
Hearts (The Love Triangle): Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus
Clubs (The Underworld): Hades, Persephone, Demeter
Spades (The Seas): Poseidon, Athena, Triton
results
Card Designs
Card Back and Joker Design
Packaging
Say hi!
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