Inventory 2 Flashcards
(45 cards)
Neoptolemus
Son of Achilles. Also known as Pyrrhus. Went to Troy after his father’s death. Went to Lemnos with Odysseus to get Philoctetes’ bow. Conflicted between obeying Odysseus’ orders to deceive Philoctetes and upholding his moral character. Lies to him, but gives the bow back. Eventually, he and Philoctetes sail together. He will take Andromache as a concubine
Asclepius
God of medicine. Origin the medical staff, which has one snake. A healer trained by him will take care of Philoctetes once he reaches Troy
Temenos
A sacred shrine set off from other places. One at Lemnos guarded by a snake. When Philoctetes came too close to it, the snake bit him, setting up the rest of the plot
Cassandra
The concubine Agamemnon brings back from Troy. She spoke prophecies that no-one would believe. Sees being taken as a slave as a blessing because she will be married to a king. Will be killed by Clytemnestra
Helen
Trojan War fought for her. Captured by Paris. Held separately from other Trojan women, causing tension. Menelaus intends to kill her for adultery, but spares her after seeing her beauty. She blames the on Aphrodite
Troy
Where the Trojan War was fought for 10 years. Ended with the Horse, designed by Odysseus, which got past the divinely-built walls. Sacked by the Greeks, who plundered it for gold and women. Never recovered
Phrixus
Brother to Helle. Rescued from sacrifice at Iolcos by a golden ram, who flew them over Eastern Europe. He arrives in Colchis, where king Aëtes gives him sanctuary. So, Phrixus sacrifices the ram and gives him the Golden Fleece in gratitude
Jason
Descendant of Phrixus. Sent to retrieve Golden Fleece when king of Iolcos sees him in the marketplace with 1 sandal. Deals with harpies. Goes to Colchis in the Argo, where he defeats skeletons. Meets Medea, who helps him defeat the dragon and escape. Marries her. Later tells her that he no longer loves her and that he wants to marry a Greek princess, Creusa. His children are killed and he dies an antihero much later
Argo
The fastest and best ship ever built. Commissioned by Jason, constructed by Argos. A piece of it falls on Jason’s head and kills him
Medea
From Colchis, daughter of Aëtes. Well-versed in magic. Helps him get the Golden Fleece. Gives him a potion of invisibility and invulnerability to defeat dragon. Chops up her brother to delay her father. Married to Jason. When he tells her he wants to marry someone else, she is devastated. Laments about women’s restrictions and tells Jason what she’s done for him. After conflicting with her maternal instincts, kills her children to get back at him, then escapes on a chariot pulled by serpents
Odysseus
Son of Laertes. Known for being very clever and a good speaker. Designed Trojan Horse. Sailed to Troy with Philoctetes. When Philoctetes was bitten, he abandoned him because of his screaming and smell. Hated by him. Desperately wants to win the war, so needs Philoctetes’ bow, but must have Neoptolemus get it. Pressures him to deceive him, against his nature. Eventually gets it after a deus ex machina
Heracles
Known for his great labors and strength. Suffered in his death when his wife accidentally poisons his jacket, causing him to burst into flames. He did not die until Philoctetes, one of his soldiers, lit a pyre and placed him on it. As a reward, he gave him his great bow and arrows. Helenus gives a prophecy that Troy will not fall without the bow. He later resolves the dilemma in the play through a deus ex machina, commanding Philoctetes to go to Troy and be healed
Hekuba
Wife of Priam, mother of Polyxena, Hektor, and Paris. Contrast between her dancing feet and her inability to get off the ground. Laments Troy’s losses. Tries to comfort the chorus of Trojan women. Talthybius tells her Polyxena was sacrificed to Achilles. Buries Astyanax, her grandson. Thought he would be burying her. Places him in Hektor’s shield without good flowers or clothes. Reflects on how piteous it is that the great Greek conquerors feared a baby. Learns that she will be a slave
Hektor
Son of Priam and Hekuba. Husband to Andromache. Father of Astyanax. Killed by Achilles. Greatest Trojan warrior. Andromache begged him not to fight and leave her a widow and Astyanax an orphan. Everything to her after Achilles killed her family. His armor is really Achilles’ armor. His son is buried in his shield
Priam
King of Troy. Husband to Hekuba. Father of Polyxena, Hektor, and Paris. Shown mercy by Achilles, who returns Hektor’s body after killing him
Semele
Mother of Dionysus. Daughter of Harmony and Cadmus. Tricked by Zeus into sleeping with him. Hera tells her to have him reveal his divinity. He incinerates her by doing so
Bacchae
Followers of Dionysus. Carried thyrsoi. Less extreme than the Maenads
Thebes
Dionysus’ birthplace. Ruled by Pentheus
Sparagmos
Ritual performed by the Maenads. Women left their homes for the mountain. They found animals, caressed them, the tore them apart and drank their blood. Leads to Pentheus’ death when he is mistaken by Agave, his mother, as an animal
Talthybius
Messenger for the Greeks. Tells Hekuba Polyxena was slaughtered and Cassandra will be Agamemnon’s concubine. Tells Andromache Astyanax must die. Gives Hekuba the body so she can bury him
Helle
Sister to Phrixus. About to be sacrificed by the king of Iolkos when a golden ram took them away and flew across the city. She fell off at the body of water separating Turkey and Europe. Now called the Hellespont
Aëtes
Ruler of Colchis. Father of Medea. Given the Golden Fleece after giving Phrixus sanctuary. Builds a temple to guard it and places a dragon there. Sends soldiers to get the Golden Fleece after Jason steals it. Medea delays him by cutting her brother up into pieces.
Argonauts
The crew manning the Argo. Sail from Iolkos to Colchis
Creon
King of Corinth. Father of Creusa. Originally planned to banish Medea after her divorce, then let her go after she begged for one more day. Killed after she poisons him
