Book 9 Flashcards
Who is Theseus in relation to Neptune?
Neptune’s grandson
What did Acheloüs claim about his status compared to Hercules?
He is the ruler of the rivers whose winding waters flow throughout your realm
What did Hercules boast about in his argument with Acheloüs?
His celebrated Labours
What was the outcome of the fight between Acheloüs and Hercules?
Acheloüs lost and had one horn snapped off
What does the horn of Acheloüs symbolize after being filled by the naiads?
The Goddess of Abundance–the horn of plenty
Who was Nessus?
A centaur who was fatally hurt by an arrow from Hercules
What did Nessus offer to do for Deïanira, wife of Hercules
Help her cross the river
What did Hercules use to shoot Nessus?
An arrow with lethal poison from the Hydra
What did Nessus do with his blood before he died?
Soaked his shirt in it and gave it to Deïanira as a love charm
What rumor did Deïanira hear about Hercules?
That he was in love with Iole
What item did Meleager’s sister Denaeiras send to restore her husband’s love?
A shirt soaked in Nessus’ blood
This shirt ultimately brings misery instead of restoring love.
What did Hercules do after receiving the poisoned shirt?
Draped it across his shoulders
He was unaware of its poisonous nature at first.
How did the poison from the shirt affect Hercules?
It spread through his body, causing immense pain
The poison was likened to red-hot metal in freezing water.
What did Hercules question regarding his past labors?
Whether the gods still exist
He felt abandoned despite his many heroic feats.
What transformation occurred to Lichas after Hercules threw him?
He was transformed into solid rock
This reflects the mythological theme of punishment and transformation.
What did Hercules do to prepare for his death?
Built a funeral pyre
This signifies his acceptance of fate and the end of his mortal life.
What did Jupiter assure the other gods about Hercules?
That he would overcome the flames and be welcomed to heavenly regions
This shows the gods’ concern for Hercules and Jupiter’s confidence in him.
How did the fire affect Hercules’ physical appearance?
He lost his mortal limbs and became greater, awe-inspiring
This symbolizes his ascension to divinity.
Who was Galanthis and what did she do?
A servant who helped Alcmene and thwarted Juno’s plans
She played a crucial role in the birth story of Hercules.
What did Juno do through Lucina to delay Alcmene’s childbirth?
Interlocked her fingers and muttered spells
This was part of her ongoing enmity against Hercules.
What did Alcmene scream for during her labor pains?
Lucina and her divine assistants
Lucina was the goddess of childbirth, representing hope for Alcmene.
What transformation does Galanthis undergo?
Galanthis is transformed into a creature with forelegs – a weasel
This transformation occurs after she deceives the goddess to help with Alcmene’s childbirth.
What does Dryope do at the lake?
Dryope intends to offer garlands to the nymphs
She carries her infant son while picking flowers.
What happens to Dryope as she tries to leave the lake?
Her feet become stuck and she transforms into a tree
This transformation occurs as she tries to escape after picking flowers.
Who is Amphissos?
Amphissos is Dryope’s infant son
He is depicted as being affected by his mother’s transformation.
What does Dryope express as she transforms into a tree?
She laments her unjust treatment and pleads for her son
Dryope wishes for her son to be safe and to remember her.
What favor does Iolaüs receive from Hebe?
Iolaüs is changed back to a youthful appearance
This transformation occurs as a result of Hercules’ prayers.
What is Themis’ prophecy about Thebes?
Thebes is moving towards civil war
The prophecy includes details about the fates of various characters, including Amphiaraüs.
What does Jupiter say about Fate?
Fate governs the gods as well
Jupiter emphasizes that even he is subject to Fate’s rules.
What happens to Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus as they age?
They become worn down by advancing age
Their diminished state serves to convince the other gods of the inevitability of Fate.
What does Byblis develop for her brother Caunus?
Byblis develops a passionate, forbidden love
This love serves as a warning against inappropriate relationships.
What does Byblis dream about?
She dreams about embracing her brother Caunus
These dreams reflect her inner turmoil and forbidden desires.
What does Byblis dream about?
She dreams about her brother and sees herself in his embrace.
This reflects her forbidden feelings and inner turmoil.
What internal conflict does Byblis experience?
She struggles with her love for her brother and the fear of societal condemnation.
This conflict drives her to contemplate her actions and their repercussions.
What does Byblis decide to do with her feelings?
She decides to confess her feelings to Caunus through a letter.
This act signifies her desperation and longing for acceptance.
What happens when Caunus receives Byblis’s letter?
He is horrified, rejects her feelings, and expresses anger towards the servant.
Caunus’s reaction intensifies Byblis’s emotional turmoil.
How does Byblis react to Caunus’s rejection?
She turns pale, trembles, and reflects on her foolishness for confessing her love.
Her reaction indicates deep regret and emotional distress.
What does Byblis wish she had done differently?
She wishes she had spoken to Caunus directly instead of writing a letter.
This indicates her desire for a more personal and heartfelt confession.
What does Byblis think about the signs she received before sending the letter?
She believes the signs warned her against following her desires.
This suggests a belief in fate and the consequences of her actions.
What does Byblis resolve to do after Caunus’s rejection?
She resolves to continue pursuing Caunus despite the risks.
This determination highlights her intense passion and refusal to give up.
What ultimately happens to Caunus after Byblis’s attempts?
He flees the country to escape her advances and founds a new city.
This signifies the extent of his distress and the impact of Byblis’s feelings.
What condition does Byblis fall into after Caunus leaves?
Byblis becomes insane and expresses her grief openly.
Her madness illustrates the extreme emotional toll of unrequited love.
Who is Byblis?
Byblis is the daughter of Miletus who became insane due to grief over her brother.
What transformation did Byblis undergo?
Byblis was transformed into a fountain spring due to her tears.
Who is Ligdus?
Ligdus is a humble man from Crete who is concerned about the sex of his unborn child.
What were Ligdus’ wishes for his child?
He wished for a son and expressed that a daughter would be a grievous burden.
What did Telethusa dream about?
Telethusa dreamed of Io, who advised her to disregard her husband’s orders regarding their child.
What did Io instruct Telethusa to do?
Io told Telethusa to raise the child regardless of its sex.
What was the name of Telethusa’s child?
The child was named Iphis.
How did Telethusa deceive Ligdus about the sex of the child?
She raised Iphis as a boy, even though Iphis was born a girl.
Who was Iphis arranged to marry?
Iphis was arranged to marry Iänthe, the daughter of Telestes.
What inner conflict did Iphis face?
Iphis loved Iänthe but felt despair due to her true identity as a girl.
What did Telethusa do as the wedding day approached?
She postponed the wedding and sought help from Isis.
What transformation occurred to Iphis before the wedding?
Iphis was transformed from a girl into a boy.
What did Iphis do after the transformation?
Iphis took gifts to the shrine and fulfilled the vow made as a girl.
What was the outcome of Iphis and Iänthe’s story?
Iphis, now a boy, married Iänthe.
Who was the goddess that appeared to Telethusa?
Io
What did Telethusa pray for?
She prayed for assistance from Isis.
What were the Labours of Hercules?
A series of twelve very difficult tasks Hercules had to carry out for king Eurystheus
These labours were to atone for killing his children in a mad fit brought on by Juno.
Who instructed Eurystheus on what tasks to assign to Hercules?
Juno
Juno had an ongoing hatred for Hercules.
What creature did Hercules fight that had many snake-like heads?
The Hydra
If one head was cut off, two new ones replaced it.
Who was Amphitryon?
The husband of Hercules’ mother, Alcmene
Alcmene was impregnated by Zeus before Amphitryon married her.
What was the first labour of Hercules?
To bring back the skin of an allegedly invincible lion rampaging around Nemea.
What did Hercules do to the Cretan bull?
Brought it back to Eurystheus
This was part of his seventh labour.
What was the third labour of Hercules?
Capturing the deer with golden antlers
This event took place on Parthenium mountain in Arcadia.
Which monster did Hercules kill in his tenth labour?
Geryon
Geryon was a herdsman with three bodies.
What did Hercules do with Cerberus?
Dragged him up to earth
This was his twelfth labour.
What was the role of Juno in Hercules’ birth?
She delayed his birth
This was to ensure that her favored child, Eurystheus, could be born first.
Who was Hebe?
Goddess of youth
She was married to Hercules when he became a god.
What did Pasiphaë do to engage with the bull?
Concealed herself inside an artificial cow.
Who were the sons of Jupiter and Europa?
Rhadamanthus and Minos
