Allusions Quiz 2 (Mythology) Flashcards
(17 cards)
Icarus
Island of Crete- Lack of caution
Tantalus
Hades - Offered then withheld
Sword of Damocles
King’s Banquet - Imminent Danger
Janus
Roman god of openings and doorways - Two faced, hypocritical.
Narcissus/Narcissism
Narcissus/ Greek Mythology - Obsessive focus on oneself, particularly one’s physical appearance.
Cassandra
Apollo and the gift of prophecy - Someone who predicts disasters or negative results.
Nemesis
Goddess of vengeance and retribution/ A person’s nemesis is that which causes his or her downfall
Delphic Oracle
Temple of Apollo/ Prediction or message that is ambiguous and difficult to interpret
Medusa
Gorgons, Greek mythology/ Medusa refers to a repulsive or terrifying woman.
Sisyphus/Sisyphean
King who offended Zeus/ forced to roll a giant boulder up a hill/ A seemingly endless, perhaps futile task.
Scylla and Charybdis
Many headed sea monster, whirlpool, narrow strait/ Between two equal dangers, avoiding one means getting closer to the other.
Phoenix/ Rising from the ashes
Mythological Bird/ Symbolize rebirth or resurrection, surmounting great obstacles
Achilles’ Heel
River Styx, Trojan War/ Area of particular vulnerability
Sirens
Irresistible song, Sea creatures/ Tempts a person away from safety and toward a destructive path.
Gordian Knot
Alexander the great/ Extremely complex problem, solving such problem in a quick, decisive manner.
Prometheus
Brought fire to humans, eagle taking his liver/ Valiant resistance to authority, rebellion against the established order of the universe.
The Muses
Nine Goddesses/ Source of inspiration, artistic, creative endeavors.
