The ancient Greek origins of ‘The Warriors’
Serving as a truly timeless classic and as a cultural artefact of cinema, Walter Hills’ iconic 1979 action thriller The Warriors has transcended the limits of the screen, weaving itself into the very fabric of modern culture with its gritty take on gang warfare and life in a decaying urban environment.
The film focuses on the titular gang from Coney Island as they try to make their way back home after being framed for the murder of the leader of New York City’s most powerful gang. With raw and frantic energy and iconic characters to the brim, Hill’s movie is a brilliant commentary on violence and alienation, reflecting the social arena of 1970s America.
There’s a fascinating underside to The Warriors as to its origins, which actually trace back to ancient Greek history. The film is, after all, a modern retelling of the age-old tale of brotherhood, survival and making a dangerous journey back home, drawing analogues with many of the themes and motifs of ancient Greek literature.
At its root, The Warriors relates to the ancient Greek epic poem ‘Anabasis’ by Xenophon and mirrors the journey of the Ten Thousand. They were a group of Greek mercenaries who found themselves in a perilous situation deep into enemy territory following the death of their leader, Cyrus the Young, who finds his namesake in the leader of the Gramercy Riffs gang in the movie.
The Warriors also find themselves trapped behind enemy lines, trying to find their way back to Coney Island, just as the Greeks did during the Battle of Cunaxa. The similarities do not end there, though, as the film’s protagonist, Swan, also has features of a classical Greek hero, such as courage, intelligence and leadership skills.
With a focus on honour, glory and combat, The Warriors is clearly inspired by the tales of ancient Greek literature. The individual gangs of New York City serve as the many states and cities of Greece and its empire, which each had their own code of conduct, aesthetic style and culture.
Elsewhere, The Warriors battle against a diverse string of enemies, many of whom blur the moral lines of right and wrong, just as many antagonists in Greek mythology had served as friend and foe simultaneously. New York City itself is also depicted as a metropolis on the brink of collapse, echoing the fate of ancient Greece itself, so rich and vibrant and yet doomed to fall.
The Warriors is, therefore, far more than just a violent romp through The Big Apple. It’s rather a reimagining of the tales of classical literature and ancient Greece, an undoubtedly absorbing and gripping modern tale that finds its masterful analogues with the bloody echoes of the distant past.
