Mythology

Question 1

“aetiological” means

Answer 1

not scientific or natural

Question 2

example of natural aetiological myth

Answer 2

Zeus’ lightning bolts, Persephone and the changing of the seasons

Question 3

example of etymological aetiological myth

Answer 3

Aphrodite - aphros is foam

Question 4

example of religious aetiological myth

Answer 4

Eleusinian mysteries

Question 5

“parthenogenetically” means

Answer 5

virgin birth (think Parthenon is the temple of Athena)

Question 6

example of a psychological myth

Answer 6

the influence of Aphrodite is why people lose control (think also Dionysus)

Question 7

example of historical myth

Answer 7

Trojan War, the Odyssey, Poseidon and Athena competing for the city of Athens

Question 8

Gaia

Answer 8

earth mother (physiomorphic)

Question 9

meaning of “physiomorphic”

Answer 9

the actual physical thing. Like Gaia is physically the earth

Question 10

meaning of “anthropomorphic”

Answer 10

takes a human form. All the titans are anthropomorphic

Question 11

Ouranos

Answer 11

the heaven and the skies. Ouranos and Gaia give birth to twelve titans

Question 12

Why did Kronos kill his father?

Answer 12

Because Ouranos had trapped all of the other titans (preventing them from being born) so Gaia gave Kronos a sickle so he could cut off his genitals

Question 13

Aphrodite’s birth myth

Answer 13

When Kronos chopped off Ouranos’ genitals the semen dropped into the sea and Aphrodite was born from the sea foam.

Question 14

Who did Kronos marry?

Answer 14

Rhea

Question 15

Who was Zeus’ first wife?

Answer 15

Metis - “intelligent, cunning”

Question 16

Athena’s unusual birth

Answer 16

Zeus swallowed Metis while she was still pregnant and Athena popped out of his head after a splitting (literally) headache.

Question 17

Zeus

Answer 17

Jupiter. Sky-god, weather god, god of justice. Eagle, bull. Lightning bolt, scepter

Question 18

Hera

Answer 18

Juno. Cow-eyed. Cow, peacock. Scepter.

Question 19

Ares

Answer 19

Mars. God of war. Violence and blood lust. Long-standing affair with Aphrodite. Son of Hera and Zeus.

Question 20

Aphrodite

Answer 20

Venus. Goddess of erotic love. Smile-loving goddess, goddess of smiles and deceit, Kypris, Ourania. Dove. Daughter of Zeus and Dione. Married to Hephaestus.

Question 21

Aphrodite’s affairs

Answer 21

Ares, Anchises (see Homeric hymn to Aphrodite), Adonis

Question 22

Hephaestus

Answer 22

Vulcan (think volcano). Metal worker and god of the forge. Makes golden net to catch Aphrodite and Ares

Question 23

Poseidon

Answer 23

Neptune. God of sea, earthquakes, salt and fresh water springs. Earth shaker, Hippios. Horse and bull. Trident.

Question 24

What happened to Medusa?

Answer 24

Medusa and Poseidon slept together in Athena’s temple, so Athena cursed her to become a gorgon.

Question 25

Pegasus?

Answer 25

Off-spring of Medusa and Poseidon. He pops out of Medusa’s neck when her head is chopped off by Perseus

Question 26

Athena

Answer 26

Minerva. Goddess of crafts, wisdom and war. owl-eyed, Partheios, helper of heroes. Owl, Nike, olive tree, aegis, snake

Question 27

What is the aegis?

Answer 27

Goat-skin fringed with snakes, sometimes has medusa’s head. Athena often wears it as a cloak.

Question 28

Arachne

Answer 28

weaving challenge with Athena, her hubris made Athena turn her into a spider so she could weave all day everyday

Question 29

two phrases written on Apollo’s temple

Answer 29

Know Thyself and Nothing in Excess

Question 30

Artemis

Answer 30

Diana. Virgin goddess of the hunt, childbirth.

Question 31

Apollo

Answer 31

Apollo. God of youth, music, prophesy, archery, and medicine. Lyre, bow and arrow, laurel tree, crow, omphalos