Download Apollo Background: According to Greek and Roman mythology

Apollo
Background: According to Greek and Roman mythology, Apollo is known as the god of music, poetry, plague, oracles, sun, medicine, light, and
knowledge. His story begins with Zeus having an affair with Leto. Hera, Zeus's wife became jealous(as usual) and cursed Leto. Leto then gave
birth to twins, Artemis and Apollo. As a child of only four days, he killed the dragon, Python, as an attempt to save his mother's life. The location
at which he killed the dragon became the place his oracles to reside at. Apollo is also notable for his beauty and multiple love affairs with both
genders. His beauty has made him one of the most cherished gods in mythology.
Symbolism: Symbolically, Apollo represents beauty and a physically perfect male. His ties with music can also symbolize a musician as he is the
leader of the Muses. Apollo is also known for being the god of the sun, therefore, he can be alluded to either the sun itself or Helios, the sun
god.
Argus Eyed
Background: The term Argus eyed originates from Greek mythology. Argus or Argos was a giant who in many stories was decried as having one
hundred eyes all over his body. The Greek goddess Hera used Argus to spy on her husband Zeus because she suspected that he was unfaithful.
The goddesses suspicions were true and she caught her husband cheating on her with a nymph named Io, so she decided to turn her into a cow
and made Argus Io's guardian so that Zeus could no longer see her. Zeus could not live without his lover and sent Hermes, the god of
messengers, to retrieve his lover. Hermes dressed up like a shepherd boy and tried to put Argus to sleep by playing him a song on his lyre,which
is a small u-shaped harp. Hermes song was unsuccessful at lulling the giant to sleep, so Hermes told him Argus a story, and finally he fell asleep.
Hermes then chopped Arguses head off. After that Arguses eyes were placed by Hera's bed so that she could have something to remember him
by.
Symbolism: This allusion has a very obvious meaning. That the giant had a hundred eyes and that is why the term Argus eyed came to be. Also
because of the way that Hera was using Argus the term "Argus eyed" refers to jealous watchfulness. This is also where jealousy has become
known as the "green eyed monster" because Argus was a monster, not a human
Athena/Minerva
Background: According to Greek mythology, Athena, although androgynous, is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law
and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill, equated with the Roman goddess Minerva, who possesses
similar to identical attributes. In Greek respects, Athena was born as a full grown woman from Zeus’ mind, and was Zeus’ favorite daughter.
When Athens was in need of a patron deity, Athena and Poseidon agreed to allow the Athenians to choose which gift they preferred. They
chose Athena’s olive tree over Poseidon’s salt water because it provided wood, food, and oil, and thus she became the virgin patroness of
Athens. Athena is responsible for Medusa’s snake hair and Herse and Aglaulus’ suicides from Acropolis and fostered Erichthonius while helping
Perseus defeat Medusa and Hercules from killing his mortal father. And although Athena is the goddess of war strategy, she only sought the
need to go to war with purpose and preferred wisdom to physical confrontation.
Symbolically: Symbolically, Athena and Minerva serve as a depiction of wisdom and justice. Both goddesses symbolize the necessity of doing
what is morally right and believe in punishing what is unethical and sinful. Athena and Minerva are comparable to a parent eradicating a child’s
amorality by rewarding their good actions and chastising their wrong behavior.
Atlantean
Background: Many hypothesize that Greek philosopher, Plato, created the utopian land of Atlantis to convey his idea of a perfect society. This
city was said to be covered precious metals and jewels encrusted every part of the city. This civilization also became home to many exotic forms
of wildlife and it became a “picture perfect” civilization. In his writings, Plato stated that the gods created earthquakes and fires which then
sent this magnificent city into the sea. Plato claimed that this was a punishment for the greed and desires that the people of Atlantis began to
possess because they were bring lavished with riches. This island was said to be located in the Mediterranean while others believe it was
located off the coast of Spain. Even though this city perished into the sea, the legend still lives on as Atlantis becomes the example of a utopian
society even after its downfall.
Authors allude to the ancient city of Atlantis to depict a utopian society in which everything prospers. This symbolizes the mystery that comes
with a utopian society. It is in the nature of mankind to want peace but it is just not possible with differing opinions and perspectives. This city is
a representation of what one may want but in reality, these dream-like thoughts are impractical.
Attila the Hun
Background
Attila was ruler of the Huns, a group of Eurasian nomads, from 434 until 453, the year he died. His enormous Hunnic Empire reached from the
Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea.
He was one of the most feared enemies of the western and eastern Roman empires and was the most successful of barbarian invaders to
invade the Roman Empire. He is known for his ruthless and bloody conquests in Europe. His attacks were so brutal that he was named "the
scourge of God".
Symbolism
Symbolically Attila represents power, barbarity, ruthlessness, and roughness. This obviously can be derived from his bloody conquests that
display his apparent lack of regard for the value of human life and his desire for power. To say that someone is an Attila or to compare them to
Attila is to essentially say that they are cruel, merciless, tyrannical, and with morals that are more than slightly askew. The connotation that
comes with his name brings ideas of plundering, murdering, and chaos. As an allusion he can emphasize extreme cruelty and savageness in an
individual or event. Basically, his name evokes feelings of fear and evil.