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Ms. Hamden
Mythology Study Guide
NAME:
Introduction
1. What was the purpose of Greek and Roman mythology?
2. What is the first written record of Greece called, and who was the author?
3. What is the “Greek miracle”?
4. What do myths show us about the early Greeks? How did they differ from the Egyptians?
5. In what ways did the portrayal of Zeus change over the years? Why did this happen?
6. Explain Saint Paul’s “quote” on p.16. Why is this an important concept for religions?
7. What are some explanations for the existence of myths on p.19? Why is religion notably absent here?
8. How did Ovid view the myths?
9. What did Homer write and when?
10. What is Hesiod’s Theogony, and why is it important?
11. What are the Homeric Hymns?
12. Pindar’s poems were written for what purpose?
13. Who were the three writers of tragedy, and who was famous for his comedy?
Ms. Hamden
Mythology Study Guide
NAME:
Chapter One
1. What did the Greeks believe about the origins of the gods and the universe?
2. How did Homer describe Mt. Olympus?
Zeus:
1. How did Zeus gain power?
2. Why was he depicted as having so many extramarital affairs?
3. Who is even stronger than Zeus?
4. Where was his oracle and how did it work?
Hera:
1. Who was she and whom did she protect on earth?
2. How would you describe her relationship with her husband?
Poseidon:
1. What did he rule?
2. What (besides Neptune) is he frequently called?
3. What is the trident?
Hades:
1. Who and what is he king of?
2. What did his famous cap do to whoever wore it?
3. How would you describe his personality?
Pallas Athena:
1. Who were her parents?
2. Over whom is she the protector?
3. What words are frequently used to describe her?
4. What was her relationship like with Zeus?
Phoebus Apollo:
1. Who were his parents?
2. What instrument does he play?
3. Of what is he the god?
4. Where was his oracle and how did the oracle work?
5. Who was Python?
6. What does Phoebus mean?
Artemis:
1. What is she also called (besides Diana)?
2. Who are her parents?
3. What does she love to do?
4. What's her connection to the moon?
Aphrodite:
1. Of what is she the goddess?
2. How was she born?
3. Who is her husband?
4. How would you characterize her personality?
Hermes:
1. Who were his parents?
2. What does he look like?
3. What's his personality like?
4. Of what is he the god?
5. What is his function for the realm of the dead?
Ares:
1. Who are his parents?
2. Of what is he the god?
3. What's his personality like?
4. Who are his companions on the battlefield?
5. With whom did he have an illicit affair?
Hephaestus:
1. What makes him different from the other gods?
2. Who are his parents?
3. What is his job?
4. What is his relationship to volcanoes?
Hestia:
1. Of what is she goddess?
2. How does she fit into the Olympian family?
3.
What was her role in founding colonies?
4. What were the priestesses who guarded her flame in Rome called?
Ms. Hamden
Mythology Study Guide
NAME:
The Lesser Gods of Olympus
Eros:
Of what is he the god?
What is his relationship to Aphrodite?
How is he frequently represented?
Hebe:
Of what was she goddess?
Iris:
Of what is she goddess?
What is her job?
The Graces:
How many were there?
What did their names mean?
What would they do at banquets?
Muses:
How many were there?
What were their names and their particular fields?
Who was Nemesis?
The Gods of the Waters
Who were the Oceanids?
Who was Nereus' father?
What were the names of his 50 daughters?
What were Proteus' two useful powers?
Who were the Naiads? How did they differ from the Nereids?
The Underworld
What kind of mood exists in Hades?
How is it set up?
What rivers were found there?
Who is Charon and Cerberus?
What is the role of the three judges?
Who were the Furies (the Erinyes)?
The Lesser Gods of Earth
Of what were Demeter and Dionysus, respectively, goddess and god?
Pan:
Who was his father?
He's part animal--which animal?
Where did he live?
What instrument did he play?
What's the relationship between him and our word "panic"?
Silenus:
What animal does he ride and why?
Who did he teach?
The Sileni: These creatures were part human and part what?
Oreads, Dryads or Hamadryads: Who/what were they? Where did they dwell?
Aeolus:
Of what was he king?
What were the Greek names of the four chief winds and their direction?
Chiron:
What type of creature was he?
What would he look like?
For what was he known?
Gorgons: What did they look like?
The Graiae: What was unusual about this trio of old women?
The Sirens: What awful thing were they known to do (or try to do) to sailors, including Odysseus?
The Fates: What is their Greek name? What was the meaning of Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos' names
and how do they reflect their duties?