MYTHOLOGY TEST
How many trials did Hercules have to complete to make up for the murder of his wife and three sons?
12
What is Yggdrasil?
The ash tree that holds up the universe
What is the maxim of the Norse Gods?
The mind knows only, What lies near the heart Evil is greater than good, death = triumph
What did Greeks believe about the Universe?
The universe created gods Started as Chaos (dark abyss), then earth created (not known how), earth creates heaven, heaven and earth create titans Universe revolves around them
Name a few personified emotions or ideas.
Themis (divine justice), Dike (human justice), Nemesis (righteous anger), Adios (reverence)
Describe events of Trojan War
9 years with no clear winner, advantage keeps switching sides; Achilles kills Hector, Achilles dies, Ajax kills himself after he goes crazy, Greeks go into Troy to steal Palladium (picture of Athena), then realize they need to get people on inside, build Trojan horse, gate inside and kill everybody but the women
Which god was thrown out of Olympus for being ugly?
Hephaestus
Which goddess helps the Argonauts?
Hera
What happened to Echo?
Hera noticed how chatty she was and cursed her to only ever repeat what others said
Which gods sided with Greece?
Hera, Athena Poseidon
Who is the most famous Greek hero?
Hercules
How many Graces were there?
3
Who are the Danaids?
49 sisters forced to carry leaking jars in the underworld for killing their husbands
How many Nereids (daughter of Nereus) were there?
50
How many muses were there?
9
List some important people involved in Trojan War.
Paris, Helen, Menelaus, Achilles, Patroclus, Agamemnon, Odysseus, Hector, Philoctetes, Aeneas
Europa was carried away by
A beautiful bull (Zeus)
What was the cornucopia?
A horn from a goat used to feed baby Zeus, Amalthea
Greece's best warrior, fated to die after Hector
Achilles
Who are the Myrmidons?
Achilles followers, created from ants when plague killed most of Aegina people
Which of the flower myths is about a man who is loved by two goddesses?
Adonis
Only Trojan leader to escape, later founds Rome
Aeneas
What is the most famous Roman poem?
Aeneid
King of Winds
Aeolus
One of leaders of Greeks, makes Achilles mad, sacrifices daughter to go to war
Agamemnon
Which god is the most upset at Odysseus?
Poseidon
Who is nicknamed "Earthshaker"?
Poseidon
Who were the Amazon's?
All women warriors
Which gods sided with Troy?
Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, Artemis
Why could Oedipus not avoid his misfortune?
Apollo's Oracle predicted it, and he is the god of Truth, everything he says will happen, will happen; also didn't know who his father was
What is the name of the ship that Jason captained?
Argo
Home of the Norse gods.
Asgard
Who are the three maiden goddesses?
Athena, Artemis, and Hestia
Who is Zeus' favorite child? Why?
Athena, he trusted her to carry his aegis and thunderbolts
Athena's city? Athena's animal? Athena's tree?
Athens, owl, olive
Titán that holds the world on shoulders
Atlas
3 dragonlike creatures with wings and snake hair (Medusa is one), turn men to stone
Gorgons
3 women that share 1 eye
Graiae
What does Aurora turn Tithonus into?
Grasshopper
What does Psyche do after Cupid leaves her for being unfaithful?
Becomes a servant of Venus (Aphrodite), has to perform impossible tasks (helped by other creatures ants, reeds, eagle)
Who is Homer?
Greek writer of Iliad and Odyssey, wrote Homeric poems to honor various gods
What happened to Balder?
Had dream about danger, Frigga (mom) make everything swear not to hurt Balder; Loki discovers that mistletoe no swear, makes Hoder (Balder blind brother) throw mistletoe at him, kills balder
What is Sisyphus' punishment?
Has to roll heavy rock up hill, never succeeds
Name the four winds.
Boreas (North), Zephyr (west), Notus (south), Eurus (East)
How are Arethusa and Daphne alike?
Both were young, beautiful huntresses, who did not want lovers; both turned into part of nature but did not exactly escape their pursuers
Perseus's mom is hidden away in a ......
Bronze house
What did Aesculapius do to anger the gods? What happened to him?
Brought Hypolytus (Theseus son) back from the dead; killed by thunderbolt
Who founded Thebes?
Cadmus, Europa's brother
What do the gods not forgive?
Cannibalism, dishonoring the dead, grudges
Horse bodies, man heads; beastly except for Chiron
Centaurs
3 headed dog that guards the underworld
Cerberus
Only witches in Greek mythology
Circe and Medea
How was Scylla created?
Circe was jealous that Glaucus (half fish, half man sea god) loved her, so she poisoned Scylla's bath water and turned her into a monster
Who killed Agamemnon?
Clytemnestra, his wife
Hera animals?
Cow and peacock
Who was the most important Titan?
Cronos
Name several of the love stories in Greek mythology.
Cupid and Psyche, Pyramus and Thisbe, Oedipus and Eurydice, Ceyx and Alcyone, Pygmalion and Galatea, Philemon and Baucis
In which love story does one of the lovers show faithlessness?
Cupid and Psyche, when Psyche doesn't trust him and looks at him with light
What was Pandora's downfall?
Curiosity
Artemis's tree? Her animal?
Cypress, deer
What two gods known as the Supreme deities of Earth?
Demeter and Dionysus
Only god to have a mortal perent
Dionysus
What are some overall themes/motifs in Greek mythology?
Don't anger the gods, you can't escape destiny, always be hospitable (never know what stranger could be god), don't be too ambitious (Otis and Ephialtes, Bellerophon), even good have hardships Love, honor, revenge
How did Cronus try to prevent his children from killing him?
Eating them right after they were born
2 books about Norse mythology.
Elder Edda and Younger Edda
Demeter's festival is called.....
Eleusinian Mysteries, all those who took part swear vow of secrecy
Why is Sigurd killed?
He goes back to get Brynhild disguised as Gunnar, when she find out, she angry and want him killed so she tells Gunnar that he slept with her and he must be killed; Gunnar's brother kills him in his sleep
3 creatures that punish sins and evildoers, later become Benevolent Goddesses
Erinyes/furies
Describe the cause of the Trojan War.
Eris (Discord) throw gold apple into Peleus and Thetis wedding; Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera want it; they ask Zeus to pick between them, he send them to Paris (Trojan prince living with nymph), Paris choose Aphrodite bc she going to give him Helen (fairest woman); Menelaus married to Helen, get all of Greece to fight to get her back
Another name for Cupid.
Eros
Theseus' idea of justice
Everything that was done to the innocent was done to the guilty
3 women who decide what a mortal's Destiny is and when they die, thread of life
Fates/Moirae
Why does Theseus's father kill himself?
He sees the black sail (Theseus forgot to change it to white) and thinks Theseus is dead
What did Aesculapius want to learn?
Healing
Troy's best fighter, fated to die before Achilles
Hector
Fairest woman, princess of Troy who war is fought over, married to Menelaus
Helen
Who is the actual sun god (not Apollo)?
Helios
Why did Phaethon's father have to let him die?
Helios swore an oath on the river Styx in the underworld which means that the promise has to be kept
Describe Hephaestus
God of Fire and Forge, master craftsman, makes Zeus thunderbolts; ugly and lame, married to Aphrodite; important to city life
Describe Ares
God of War, son of Zeus and Hera, hated by both, coward who runs when wounded; little more than symbol of war
Describe Aphrodite
Goddess of Love and Beauty, came from sea foam, wife of Hephaestus
Describe Hestia
Goddess of hearth and home, no personality or part in myths, one of virgin goddesses, offerings made to her before and end of meal
Describe Hera
Goddess of marriage, care for married women; Zeus's wife and sister, punishes Zeus's lovers, holds grudges for a long time; Trojan War dragged on because of her
Explain the story of the five ages of man.
Gods created man based on metals, starting from the best and working their way down; golden race mortal but had no sorrow or pain, silver race had little intelligence and couldn't help hurting each other, brass race terrible warriors that killed each other, race of godlike heroes, when died went to isle of blessed, iron race is us, evil nature that fest worse through geneations
What was relationship between gods and humans?
Gods should be feared but could also be laughed at
Which god wore winged sandals?
Hermes
Who is the most cunning of the gods?
Hermes
Who sends Golden Fleece to save Phrixus?
Hermes
The only light in darkness is..... (Norse)
Heroism
Describe the story of the Cranes of Ibycus.
Ibycus, a poet, was attacked by robbers; he call on cranes to avenge him, they fly over open theater and the robbers shout out, they are captured and killed
Describe the story of Icarus.
Icarus and his father were put in Labyrinth by Minos for helping Theseus and other Athenians escape, father (Daedalus) makes wings for them, warns Icarus not to fly to close to sun or glue melt; icarus fly too high, wings melt, and he fall into sea, drown
Who are Eleysian Fields reserved for? Where are they?
In underworld, place beautiful place where heroes, poets, and priests (good dead) go when they die
Who was the famous daughter who was sacrificed to win the Trojan war?
Iphigenia
The first hero in Europe who went on a great journey was.......
Jason
What did Oedipus ultimately do?
Killed his father and married his mother
What did many Greeks do when they thought they had done something wrong or lost someone they loved?
Killed themselves
What does Medea do after Jason betrays her?
Kills their two sons and leaves in chariot pulled by dragons
Apollo's tree? Animals?
Laurel, dolphin and crow
Describe the story of Atalanta
Left on Mountain as baby because she was girl, raised by she bear and then hunters; she was first person so wound Calydonian boar, Meleager give her the skin (angers his uncles so he kills them and is then killed by his mother); married man who beats her in a foot race (Melanion throw good apples to get her to slow down); they later turned into lions for insulting gods
River of forgetfulness, all souls drink before going up to earth
Lethe
Hades had a helmet that did what?
Made wearer invisible
Who does Perseus kill?
Medusa
Helen's husband, gets all of Greece to fight with him to get her back
Menelaus
Name and describe the two divisions of the underworld.
Tartarus - deeper of the two, prison of sons of earth Erebus - dead pas as soon as they die, more pleasant of two
Explain the story of why Athena got Athens?
Poseidon gave Athens a salt water well, and Athena gave them an olive tree; people voted on which god to pick, all men vote Poseidon, all women vote Athena; there are more women than men, Athena wins; Poseidon is angry, floods Athens, men take away women right to vote
Aphrodite tree? Animals?
Myrtle tree, dove, sparrow, or swan
Water nymphs
Naiads
Name a few flower myths.
Narcissus, Hyacinthus, Adonis, also Clytie
Who is the savior of mankind and what did he do to advance civilization?
Prometheus, gave men ability to walk on 2 legs and fire, also tricked Zeus into letting them keep the best parts of an animal and sacrifice the worst
Why was Cassandra punished and by who?
Punished by Apollo for refusing his love
Sculptor who hated women but fell in love with statue
Pygmalion
Which love story is most similar to Romeo and Juliet?
Pyramus and Thisbe
Who is Hypermnestra?
The Danaid that did not kill her husband
One thing that neither gods nor mortals can escape?
Norse - Ragnarok/death Greece - oath on river Styx
Biggest difference between Greek and Norse gods?
Norse gods know they will eventually be defeated while Greek gods know they can never be defeated
Romans did not have personified gods (took them from Greece). They had.....
Numina, meaning Powers or Wills, only useful gods
Zeus' tree? His animal?
Oak, eagle
River that surrounds the earth, titan
Ocean
One of Greek leaders, comes up with Trojan horse
Odysseus
List some things that Hercules did that were NOT heroic.
Often let his anger hurt innocent people/things - killed music teacher, kill servant boy, goes crazy and kills his wife Megaera and 3 sons, got drunk while Ademetus mourn for wife, kills good friend for an insult from the friend's father
Who refuses to mourn for balder?
One giantess
Greatest mortal musician, went to underworld to retrieve his wife, fails
Orpheus
Prince of Troy who chooses Aphrodite to get apple, steals Helen, is a coward
Paris
Fights as Achilles, is killed by Hector his death is reason Achilles comes back to fight
Patroclus
Was left on island because of snake bite, take to Trojan war by a Odysseus because he has the Bow of Hercules; kills Paris
Philoctetes
What more important to Greeks than priests?
Poets
Who pretended to be Zeus and was struck with a thunderbolt?
Salmoneus
Half man, half goat, very ugly
Satyr
What does Odin do even though he is very powerful?
Seeks knowledge and wisdom
How does the Argo get past the Clashing rocks?
Sent a dove before they went in
What happens to Arachne?
She competes with Minerva in weaving, two are equal, so Minerva beats Arachne, Arachne is humiliated, hangs herself, Minerva pity her and turn her into a spider
What is the compromise between Hades and Persephone?
She dislikes him for taking her; Hades will get four months with her and Demeter will get the other eight months.
Why did Philomela lose her tongue?
She was going to tell her sister Procne that Tereus (Procne's husband) pretended that Procne was dead to marry Philomela
Who is Pandora?
She was the first woman, created to punish man for upsetting Zeus by tricking him to accept worst parts of animal as sacrifice
How does Zeus come to Danae (Perseus mom)?
Shower of gold
Why was the house of Atreus cursed?
Tantalus killed his only son Pelops and boiled him; served him to the gods
Who was the most famous Norse hero?
Sigurd
Sing sailors to their death
Sirens
What does Bellerophon do to get Pegasus?
Sleeps in Athena's temple, she give him gold bridle
What threatens the Yggdrasil?
Snakes chewing on the roots
Why are monsters present in Greek mythology?
So heroes have evil to fight, extremes of human behavior
What does Psyche mean?
Soul
How does Odysseus get his men out of the Cyclops' cave?
Stabs Polyphemus in the eye with a wood stake, hides his men under sheep
Penelope (Ody wife) want suitors to do what to win her hand?
String Odysseus's bow and shoot it through 12 rings
Greek Queen Clytemnestra and Norse Queen Signy are alike because.......
They both kill their husbands for revenge
Why did Prometheus help Io and encourage her?
They both suffering, he pities her; He tell her that her suffering and wandering will be worthwhile in the end and people will remember her name
Why Greeks create gods as human beings?
They saw that humans were beautiful, didn't need to creat any fantastical god; also makes heaven feel more like home, more familiar, invisible must be understood by the visible
What is the moral of the story of Midas?
Think about things before you do them (don't be stupid) Always pick the most powerful god in a contest
What are the names of Odin's ravens?
Thought and Memory
Who originally ruled the universe in Greek mythology?
Titans
Why does Aeneas go to the underworld?
To visit his father, Anchises, for advice abt founding Rome
Why is Bellerophon killed
Tried to fly up to Olympus on Pegasus
Hall of heroes
Valhalla
Who is Brynhild?
Valkyrie that disobeyed Odin and was put to sleep surrounded by ring of fire
Why is Theseus the great Athenian hero?
Very intelligent and strong (unlike Hercules), started voting system in Athens, protector of defenseless
Greatest Roman writer
Virgil
Ares' animals?
Vulture, dog, wild boar
What was the Sphinx's riddle?
What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening? Answer: man
What does "alas" mean?
Woe for Linus, a son of Apollo who was abandoned and then torn apart by dogs
How was relationship to gods different between men and women?
Women favored women gods, male gods saw women as objects and men sometimes considered equal while women never considered equal
Describe Poseidon
Zeus brother, drew for rule of the sea, 2nd most powerful god; gave first horse to man; has palace underwater but is usually on Olympus
Describe Hades
Zeus brother, drew for rule of the underworld, God of Wealth bc of metals in earth, unwelcome outside of underworld; kidnap Persephone, gets her for a portion of the year; King of Dead, but not Death itself
Describe Zeus and Hera's relationship.
Zeus is the king of the gods, ruler of everything, but he is afraid of Hera's wrath and tries to hide his many affairs from her. She has little personality besides being jealous and wanting revenge. It seems like they do not really love each other most of the time, and he finds Hera to be more of an annoyance than anything.
Hades, Callisto, Orion, and Pleiades are all similar because......
Zeus turned them into stars
List the 12 important gods of Olympus.
Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Hephaestus, Ares, Hermes, Hestia
Describe Zeus
thunder and sky god, ruler of gods; drew for rule with two brothers Poseidon and Hades; falls in love with many women, angers his jealous wife Hera
Describe Artemis
daughter of Zeus and Leto, Apollo twin sister, Goddess of the hunt, Phoebe, Selene, Luna; she is also a moon goddess, wild animals sacred to her (deer)
Describe Pallas Athena
daughter of only Zeus (spring from his head full grown), Zeus favorite child, battle goddess, protect cities, agriculture, invented bridle so man could tame horses; one of 3 virgin goddesses; Parthenon
Why did Greeks create Mythology?
entertainment, moral instruction, explain natural occurrences, and to reveal our deepest hopes and fears as a society/culture, search for beauty
What was in Pandora's box?
harmful things: plagues, sorrow mischief, but also Hope
Describe Phoebus Apollo
son of Zeus and Leto, born on Delos, master musician, God of Light and Truth, Delphi Oracle very important in myths, sun god but not god of the sun, most Greek of all the gods
Describe Hermes
son of Zeus and Maia, messenger for gods, God of Commerce and Market, protector of traders; most cunning of gods, stole Apollo's herds before he one day old, made lyre from tortoise shell