Myths and Legends

Question 1

Icarus (Greek)

Answer 1

The son of master craftsman Daedalus (creator of the Labyrinth), crafted wings out of wax and feathers to escape from Crete, but Icarus’s wings melted when he flew too close to the sun

Question 2

The son of master craftsman Daedalus (creator of the Labyrinth), crafted wings out of wax and feathers to escape from Crete, but Icarus’s wings melted when he flew too close to the sun

Answer 2

Icarus (Greek)

Question 3

Momotarō (Japanese)

Answer 3

Born from a peach floating down a river, he later goes on a journey to defeat the demons on Onigashima (Demon Island)

Question 4

Born from a peach floating down a river, he later goes on a journey to defeat the demons on Onigashima (Demon Island)

Answer 4

Momotarō (Japanese)

Question 5

Pele (Hawaiian)

Answer 5

The goddess of volcanos and fire and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands.

Question 6

The goddess of volcanos and fire and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands.

Answer 6

Pele (Hawaiian)

Question 7

Ra (Egyptian)

Answer 7

The king of the Egyptian deities and the father of all creation. He was the patron of the sun, heaven, kingship, power, and light.

Question 8

The king of the Egyptian deities and the father of all creation. He was the patron of the sun, heaven, kingship, power, and light.

Answer 8

Ra (Egyptian)

Question 9

Sisyphus (Greek)

Answer 9

Founder and king of Ephyra (now Corinth). Zeus punished him for cheating death twice by forcing him to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity.

Question 10

Founder and king of Ephyra (now Corinth). Zeus punished him for cheating death twice by forcing him to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity.

Answer 10

Sisyphus (Greek)

Question 11

Sun Wukong/The Monkey King (Chinese)

Answer 11

From the Chinese novel, “Jouney to the West”, a monkey born from stone aquires supernatual powers through Taoist practices and obtains immortality.

Question 12

From the Chinese novel, “Jouney to the West”, a monkey born from stone aquires supernatual powers through Taoist practices and obtains immortality.

Answer 12

Sun Wukong/The Monkey King (Chinese)

Question 13

Zeus (Greek)

Answer 13

The sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. His name is cognate with the first element of his Roman equivalent Jupiter.

Question 14

The sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. His name is cognate with the first element of his Roman equivalent Jupiter.

Answer 14

Zeus (Greek)

Question 15

Jupiter (Roman)

Answer 15

The god of the sky and thunder, and king of the gods in ancient Roman religion and mythology, and was the chief deity of Roman state religion throughout the Republican and Imperial eras. The Romans regarded him as the equivalent of the Greek Zeus

Question 16

The god of the sky and thunder, and king of the gods in ancient Roman religion and mythology, and was the chief deity of Roman state religion throughout the Republican and Imperial eras. The Romans regarded him as the equivalent of the Greek Zeus

Answer 16

Jupiter (Roman)

Question 17

Odin (Norse)

Answer 17

The supreme god and creator in Norse mythology and is the god of both war and death. Half of the warriors who die in battle are taken to his hall of Valhalla. He is the one-eyed All-Father, who sacrificed his eye in order to see everything that happens in the world.

Question 18

The supreme god and creator in Norse mythology and is the god of both war and death. Half of the warriors who die in battle are taken to his hall of Valhalla. He is the one-eyed All-Father, who sacrificed his eye in order to see everything that happens in the world.

Answer 18

Odin (Norse)

Question 19

Thor (Norse)

Answer 19

A prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing, and fertility.

Question 20

A prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing, and fertility.

Answer 20

Thor (Norse)

Question 21

Jade Emperor (Chinese)

Answer 21

In Daoist theology he is the assistant of Yuanshi Tianzun, who is one of the Three Pure Ones, the three primordial emanations of the Tao. He is often identified with Śakra in Chinese Buddhist cosmology and can also be regarded as a traditional figure among the White Lotus secret society.

Question 22

In Daoist theology he is the assistant of Yuanshi Tianzun, who is one of the Three Pure Ones, the three primordial emanations of the Tao. He is often identified with Śakra in Chinese Buddhist cosmology and can also be regarded as a traditional figure among the White Lotus secret society.

Answer 22

Jade Emperor (Chinese)

Question 23

Jason (Greek)

Answer 23

An ancient Greek mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was married to the sorceress Medea. He was also the great-grandson of the messenger god Hermes, through his mother’s side.

Question 24

An ancient Greek mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was married to the sorceress Medea. He was also the great-grandson of the messenger god Hermes, through his mother’s side.

Answer 24

Jason (Greek)

Question 25

Nana Buluku (West Africa)

Answer 25

The female supreme being in the West African traditional religion of the Fon people (Benin, Dahomey) and the Ewe people (Togo). She s the mother supreme creator who gave birth to the moon spirit Mawu, the sun spirit Lisa, and all of the universe. After giving birth to these, she retired and left the matters of the world to Mawu-Lisa. She is the primary creator, Mawu-Lisa the secondary creator, and the theology based on these is called Vodun, Voodoo or Vodoun.

Question 26

The female supreme being in the West African traditional religion of the Fon people (Benin, Dahomey) and the Ewe people (Togo). She s the mother supreme creator who gave birth to the moon spirit Mawu, the sun spirit Lisa, and all of the universe. After giving birth to these, she retired and left the matters of the world to Mawu-Lisa. She is the primary creator, Mawu-Lisa the secondary creator, and the theology based on these is called Vodun, Voodoo or Vodoun.

Answer 26

Nana Buluku (West Africa)

Question 27

Perseus (Greek)

Answer 27

He was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles. He beheaded the Gorgon Medusa for Polydectes and saved Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus.

Question 28

He was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles. He beheaded the Gorgon Medusa for Polydectes and saved Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus.

Answer 28

Perseus (Greek)

Question 29

Ganesha and Kartikeya Race (Hindu)

Answer 29

According to Hindu mythology, there was a competition between Lord Ganesh and Kartikeya to circumambulate the world three times. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati decided to organize this race to determine who would be the first to go around the world and thus earn the privilege of living in Kailash. To help in their travels, Ganesh had a mouse and Kartikeya had a large peacock, which was strong and fast. Kartikeya, who was athletic, jumped on the peacock’s back and they flew high into the sky. Rather than embarking on a futile race around the world, Lord Ganesha embarked on a different kind of journey. He walked deliberately around his parents, Lord Shiva and Parvati, three times. Ganesha, displaying the depth of his wisdom and devotion, replied, “My beloved parents, Shiva and Parvati, are the universe itself. Within their divine presence lies the entirety of the world. There is no need to traverse the physical expanse of the Earth when the universe resides in you, my dearest parents.”

Question 30

According to Hindu mythology, there was a competition between Lord Ganesh and Kartikeya to circumambulate the world three times. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati decided to organize this race to determine who would be the first to go around the world and thus earn the privilege of living in Kailash. To help in their travels, Ganesh had a mouse and Kartikeya had a large peacock, which was strong and fast. Kartikeya, who was athletic, jumped on the peacock’s back and they flew high into the sky. Rather than embarking on a futile race around the world, Lord Ganesha embarked on a different kind of journey. He walked deliberately around his parents, Lord Shiva and Parvati, three times. Ganesha, displaying the depth of his wisdom and devotion, replied, “My beloved parents, Shiva and Parvati, are the universe itself. Within their divine presence lies the entirety of the world. There is no need to traverse the physical expanse of the Earth when the universe resides in you, my dearest parents.”

Answer 30

Ganesha and Kartikeya Race (Hindu)

Question 31

Amaterasu (Japanese)

Answer 31

Also known as Ōhirume no Muchi no Kami (大日孁貴神), is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. Often considered the chief deity (kami) of the Shinto pantheon, she is also portrayed in Japan’s earliest literary texts, the Kojiki (c. 712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (720 CE), as the ruler (or one of the rulers) of the heavenly realm Takamagahara and the mythical ancestress of the Imperial House of Japan via her grandson Ninigi. Along with her siblings, the moon deity Tsukuyomi and the impetuous storm god Susanoo, she is considered to be one of the “Three Precious Children” (三貴子, mihashira no uzu no miko / sankishi), the three most important offspring of the creator god Izanagi. She is so revered that the Japanese Imperial Family is believed to have descended from her, and the Emporer was considered a divine ancestor. Japan’s most important Shinto shrine, the Grand Shrine of Ise, is dedicated to her.

Question 32

Also known as Ōhirume no Muchi no Kami (大日孁貴神), is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. Often considered the chief deity (kami) of the Shinto pantheon, she is also portrayed in Japan’s earliest literary texts, the Kojiki (c. 712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (720 CE), as the ruler (or one of the rulers) of the heavenly realm Takamagahara and the mythical ancestress of the Imperial House of Japan via her grandson Ninigi. Along with her siblings, the moon deity Tsukuyomi and the impetuous storm god Susanoo, she is considered to be one of the “Three Precious Children” (三貴子, mihashira no uzu no miko / sankishi), the three most important offspring of the creator god Izanagi. She is so revered that the Japanese Imperial Family is believed to have descended from her, and the Emporer was considered a divine ancestor. Japan’s most important Shinto shrine, the Grand Shrine of Ise, is dedicated to her.

Answer 32

Amaterasu (Japanese)

Question 33

Prometheus

Answer 33

Possibly meaning “forethought”, he is one of the Titans and a god of fire. He is best known for defying the Olympian gods by stealing fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, knowledge, and more generally, civilization. In some versions of the myth, he is also credited with the creation of humanity from clay. He is known for his intelligence and for being a champion of humankind, and is also generally seen as the author of the human arts and sciences. He is sometimes presented as the father of Deucalion, the hero of the flood story.

Question 34

Possibly meaning “forethought”, he is one of the Titans and a god of fire. He is best known for defying the Olympian gods by stealing fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, knowledge, and more generally, civilization. In some versions of the myth, he is also credited with the creation of humanity from clay. He is known for his intelligence and for being a champion of humankind, and is also generally seen as the author of the human arts and sciences. He is sometimes presented as the father of Deucalion, the hero of the flood story.

Answer 34

Prometheus