Greek Mythology Mt 1

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aegis

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A breastplate decorated with a Gorgon’s head surrounded by a fringe of snakes, commonly worn by Athene.

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Aeschylus

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Greek tragedian (c. 525-455 B.C.); author of Prometheus Bound, Oresteia

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Anaxagoras

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Pre-Socratic philosopher who theorized that science can explain phenomena attributed to myths.

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caduceus

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A wand entwined by two serpents and topped by a pair of wings. Emblem of Hermes and Asclepius.

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Chaos

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According to Hesiod, the great Void, one of the four primal entities from which the universe evolved.

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charter myths

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Traditional tales that serve to justify a custom or practice, such as Hesiod’s story about Prometheus tricking Zeus into accepting an inferior sacrifice.

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chthonic

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Relating to the earth or underworld, associated with goddesses of fertility, death, or regeneration (chthon-earth).

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cosmogony

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An account of the origin of the universe (cosmos-universe + gonos-offspring).

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cosmology

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A theory describing the order of the universe (cosmos-universe + logos-reason).

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Delphi

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Originally called Pytho, the shrine of Apollo on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus, location of the Delphic oracle.

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Dodona

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The ancient oracle of Zeus at Epirus, where messages were delivered by a sacred oak.

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Eleusinian Mysteries

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Secret rituals of the cult of Demeter at Eleusis

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etiology

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Theory dealing with causes and origins (aitia-cause + logos-reason).

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Euhemerus

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(c. 300 BCE) Suggested that the Olympian and pre-Olympian gods were originally mortal, ancient leaders posthumously elevated to divine status.

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Gorgon

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One of three monstrous snake-haired sisters, depicted in Archaic art as round-headed with bulging eyes, protruding tongue, tusks, and often wings; symbol on the aegis and often on the shield of Athene.

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Hades

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The subterranean realm of the dead, named for its ruler.

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Hesiod

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Greek poet of the late 8th century BCE; author of Theogony & Works and Days

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Kore

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The greek word for "maid" or girl, commonly used in reference to Persephone

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Mekone

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The site, according to Hesiod, where Prometheus tricked Zeus over a sacrificed oxv

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Minoan

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Describing the earliest European civilization (c. 3000-1400 BCE), centered on the island of Crete and ruled by King Minos, who kept an elaborate palace at Knossos.

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Mt. Helicon

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Mountain sacred to the Muses; shepherd Hesiod met them there

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Mt. Parnassus

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Above the site of Delphi, sacred to Apollo

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Muses

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The nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, patrons of literature and the arts. The words "music" and "museum" are derived from the Greek mousa-muse.

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Mycenean

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The earliest civilization on the Greek mainland (c.1600-1100 BCE), which produced most of the Greek myths we know today, including the Trojan War saga.

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myth

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From the Greek mythos-utterance, something one says –a story involving gods and/or heroes whose adventures represent significant aspects of human nature

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Olympus

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Mythical dwelling place, above the sky, of the Olympian gods

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omphalos

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A stone at Delphi representing the navel of the world; traditionally, the stone that Rhea gave Cronus to swallow instead of Zeus

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oracle

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a prophetic shrine; the cryptic messages of a god; the persons who interpret or deliver such messages

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paean

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A cult hymn to Apollo

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Pandora

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According to Hesiod, the first woman (pan-all + dora-gift) whose name Hesiod reads as "all gifted" or “gifted by all the gods,” though it may originally have meant "giver of all."

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parthenogenesis

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The phenomenon of a reproduction, usually by a female, without fertilization

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Phoebus

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The shining one," another name for Apollo

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polytheism

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A multiple-god belief structure

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psychopompos

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Hermes’ role as conductor of souls to the underworld

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Pythia

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Apollo’s virgin priestess at Delphi

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Tartarus

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The abyss beneath Hades where Zeus imprisoned the Titans; Also, the father (by Gaea) of Typhoeus

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Theagenes

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(c. 525 BCE) Proposed that the stories of the gods were allegories of natural processes and human dispositions.

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Theogony

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Hesiod’s story of the creation and order of the universe, and the generations of the gods

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Theology

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Theory of religion / of the divine

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Titans

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The giant offspring of Gaea and Uranus (overthrown by Zeus), and the sons of Iapetus: Prometheus (forethought), Epimetheus (afterthought), and Atlas.

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Xenophanes

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(c. 550 BCE) Justified the ethical deficiencies of the Homeric gods by proposing that gods were projections of the human imagination.

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Calliope

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Beautiful voice
Epic poetry
Writing tablet

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Clio

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Proclaim/Celebrate
History
Scroll

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Melpomene

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Songstress
Tragedy
Tragic mask

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Thalia

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Flourishing/Festivity
Comedy
Comic mask

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Erato

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Lovely
Love poetry
Lyre

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Aphrodite / Venus

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Goddess of love
sacred place: Cyprus
Sceptre, myrtle tree, dove, scallop shell, mirror

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Apollo / Apollo

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God of light, music, prophecy, the arts
sacred place: Delphi Lyre, laurel, bow, dolphin, crow

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Ares / Mars

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God of war, Spear, armor, vulture, dog

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Artemis / Diana

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Goddess of the hunt, childbirth, protects children
sacred place: Ephesus, Brauron, Bow, deer, cypress tree, moon

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Athene / Minerva

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Goddess of wisdom, war, crafts
protects cities
sacred place: Athens Aegis, helmet, spear, shield, owl, olive tree

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Demeter / Ceres

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Goddess of fertility, agriculture, harvest
sacred place: Eleusis
Wheat, corn, stalks of grain, torch, sickle

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Dionysus / Bacchus

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God of wine, intoxication, creative ecstasy. Sacred place: Delphi Thyrsos, grapes and grapevine, ivy, drinking vessel, panther

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Hades / Pluto

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God of the underworld Cornucopia, Cerberus, sceptre, helmet of invisibility

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Hecate / Hecate

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Goddess of crossroads, night, underworld, patron of magic and witchcraft A torch in each hand, three-headed figures, howling dogs, key, rope and dagger

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Hephaestus / Vulcan

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Lame god, god of metallurgy, forge and fire
sacred place: Lemnos Axe, smith’s hammer, anvil, tongs, fire

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Hera / Juno

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Goddess of marriage,
sister and wife of Zeus Peacock, sceptre, diadem, cow, throne

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Hermes / Mercury

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Messenger of Zeus, delivers dead to underworld, god of commerce and travelers Caduceus, winged broad-brimmed helmet, winged sandals or boots

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Hestia / Vesta

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Goddess of hearth and home Fire, hearth

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Poseidon / Neptune

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God of the sea, earthquakes Trident, fish, bull, horse

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Zeus / Jupiter

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God of the sky, thunder, ruler of the gods and Olympus Thunderbolt, eagle, oak tree, throne

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Age of Gold

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Kronos Rules,No Women,No aging, The work is easy (gathering)

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Age of Silver

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Created by Olympians, women and men make children, take 100 years to mature then die quickly, unintelligent people, no gratitude toward the Gods.

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Age of Bronze

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Created by Zeus from Ash trees, people fight, do not eat, everything is made of bronze, tools, houses and weapons, when people die they go to Hades

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Age of Heroes

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Demi-gods that were fashioned by Zeus, they died fighting in the great wars

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Age of Iron

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Gods send pain and vexation, bonds between friends and family are broken, people take justice into own hands, wrong doers and men earn power

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Python

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The serpent that guarded the ancient Delphic shrine of Themis, Apollo slayed with his arrow

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Rhea

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Titan wife of Cronus and mother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera and Hestia

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Atlas

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Titan brother of Prometheus whom Zeus ordered to hold up the broad vault of the sky

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Cronus/Saturn

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Titan son of Gaea and Uranus, deposed his father and ruled the cosmos until overthrown by his son Zeus

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Uranus

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the original sky god and son-husband of gaea, castrated by his son cronus

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Typhoeus

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A montsrous giant, half human half reptile with 100 dragon heads, child of Gaea and Tartarus, Zeus had to defeat before gaining control of the Cosmos

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Argus

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The hundred eyed monster sent to spy on Zeus by Hera

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Cyclopes

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The three sons of Gaea and Uranus, Brontes (thunder), Steropes (lightning) and Arges (thunderbolt)

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Hecatoncheires

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Zeus' allies in Titanomachy the hundredhanded

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Medusa

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the only mortal Gorgan, gaze turned men to stone, with Athene's help Perseus beheads her

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Ganymede

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Trojan shepherd boy with whom Zeus fell in love with, Zeus carried him off in the shape of an eagle and he became cup bearer to the gods

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Daphne

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A nymph loved by Apollo, she was changed to a Laurel tree, and became the symbol of Apollo

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Demophon

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Held to fire by Demeter to turn him to a God

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Europa

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Zeus kidnapped her and took her to Crete in the form of a white bull

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Niobe

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had twelve children, boasted that she bore more children than Leto, in anger Leto shoots all but two of her children and was eternally weaping

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Triptolemus

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Demeter chose to travel with this young man teaching him the skill of agriculture