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42 Cards in this Set
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- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
Adonis
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very handsome young man
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from Adonis, a handsome youth loved by Aphrodite
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aegis
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1. shield or protection 2. auspices or sponsorship
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from aegis, the protective shield of Zeus
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amazon
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tall, strong, masculine woman
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from the Amazons, a mythological race of women warriors
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ambrosial
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exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; extremely delicious; excellent
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from ambrosia, the food of the gods
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atlas
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book of maps
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from Atlas, a giant who supported the heavens on his shoulders. The figure of Atlas supporting the world was prefaced to early map collections
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auroral
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1. pertaining to the dawn or resembling it 2. rosy
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from Aurora, goddess of the dawn
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bacchanalian
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jovial or wild with drunkenness
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from Bacchus, the god of wine
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chimerical
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fantastic; unreal; impossible; absurd
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from the Chimera, a fire-breathing monster with a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail
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Draconian
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cruel; harsh; severe
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from Draco, an Athenian lawmaker who drew up a harsh code of laws
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Elysian
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delightful; blissful; heavenly
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from Elysium, the mythological paradise where the brave and good live after death
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hector
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1. bully; intimidate with threats 2. bluster
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from Hector, bravest of the Trojans
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Herculean
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1. very difficult 2. having or requiring the strength of Hercules
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from Hercules, a hero of super-human strength
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hermetic
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airtight
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from Hermes, who, among his other attributes, was god of magic
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iridescent
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having colors like the rainbow
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from Iris, goddess of the rainbow
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jovial
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jolly; merry; good-humored
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from Jove, or Jupiter. The planet Jupiter was believed to make persons born under its influence cheerful or jolly
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labyrinthine
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1. full of confusing passageways; intricate 2. complicated, like the Labyrinth
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a fable maze in Crete
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laconic
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using words sparingly; terse; concise
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from Lakonikos, meaning "Spartan." The Spartans were known for their terseness
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lethargic
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unnaturally drowsy; sluggish; dull
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from Lethe, river in Hades whose water, if drunk, caused forgetfulness of the past
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Lucullan
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sumptuous; luxurious
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from Lucullus, a Roman who gave lavish banquets
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martial
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pertaining to war; warlike
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from Mars, god of war
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mentor
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1. wise and trusted adviser 2. athletic coach
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from Mentor, to whom Odysdeus entrusted the education of his son
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mercurial
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1. quick; vivacious 2. changeable 3. crafty 4. eloquent
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these are characteristics f Mercury, the messenger of the gods, who was also god of commerce, magic, and eloquence, as well as the patron of travelers, rogues, and thieves. His name designates a planet as well as a metal
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myrmidon
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obedient and unquestioning follower
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from thw Myrmidons, a martial tribe who accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War
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nemesis
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1. due punishment for evil deeds 2. one who inflicts such punishment
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from Nemesis, goddess of vengeance
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odyssey
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any long series of wanderings or travels
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from the Odyssey, the poem dealing with Odysseus' ten years of wandering on his way home from the Trojan War
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paean
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song or hymn of praise, joy, or triumph
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A paean was a hymn in praise of Apollo, the god of deliverance
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palladium
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safeguard or protection
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from Palladium, the statue of Pallas Athena, which was thought to protect the city of Troy
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panic
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unreasoning, sudden fright that grips a multitude
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from Pan, a god believed to cause fear
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philippic
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bitter denunciation
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from the Philippics, orations by Demosthenes denouncing King Philip of Macedon
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plutocratic
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having great influence because of one's wealth
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from Plutus, god of wealth
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procrustean
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cruel or inflexible in enforcing conformity
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from Procrustes, a robber who made his victims fit the length of his bed, either stretching them or cutting off their legs
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protean
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1. exceedingly variable 2. readily assuming different forms or shapes
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from Proteus, a sea god who could readily change his shape to elude capture
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Pyrrhic
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ruinous; gained at too great a cost
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from Pyrrhus, who suffered enormous losses in a "victory" over the Romans
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saturnine
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heavy; dull; gloomy; morose
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from Saturn, father of Jupiter. Though Saturn's reign was supposedly a golden age, he has become a symbol of heaviness and dullness because astrologers associated his name with the metal lead
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siren
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1. dangerous, attractive woman 2. a woman who sings sweetly 3. apparatus for sounding loud warnings
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from the Sirens, creatures half woman and half bird, whose sweet winging lured sailors to destruction on the rocks
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solon
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1. legislator 2. wise man
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from Solon, noted Athenian lawgiver
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stentorian
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very loud
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from Stentor, a legendary herald whose voice was as loud as fifty voices
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Stygian
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infernal; dark; gloomy
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from Styx, a river of the lower world leading into Hades, or Hell
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tantalize
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1. excite a hope but prevent its fulfillment 2. tease
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from Tantalus, who was kept hungry and thirsty in the lower world with food and water very hear but just beyond his reach
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terpsichorean
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pertaining to dancing
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from Terpsichore, the muse of dancing
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thespian
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pertaining to the drama or acting
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from Thespis, reputed father of Greek drama
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titanic
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of enormous strength, size, or power
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from Titans, lawless, powerful giants defeated by Zeus
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