certamen Flashcards
Whose rude laughter at the way Demeter greedily drank barley water resulted in his transformation into a lizard?
Ascalabus
From the blood of what Spartan youth did Apollo cause a flower to grow after accidentally killing him with a discus?
Hyacinthus
Which Greek deity had the epithet ‘Promachos’?
Athena
Who was twiced punished by Demeter in the underworld - first trapped under a heavy stone, and later transformed into an owl?
Ascalaphus
Who blinded Polymnestor for killing her youngest son and was transformed into a fiery-eyed dog?
Hecuba
Into what were the tears of the Heliades transformed?
amber
What couple, riding an oxcart, led the Encheleans into various wars until that tribe was routed and they were transformed into snakes?
Cadmus & Harmonia
What woman from Colophon dared to challenge Athena to a weaving contest and as a result was transformed into a spider?
Arachne
What daughter of Penius was changed into a Laurel tree as she fled from Apollo?
Daphne
Into what was Clytie transformed because of her jealous actions against her sister Leucothoe?
sunflower
What son of Cephissus & Leiriope fell in love with his own reflection and wasted away watching it?
Narcissus
Which Greek deity had the epithet ‘Ennosigaeus’, meaning ‘Earth-shaker’?
Poseidon
Which Greek deity had the epithet ‘Argeiphontes’, meaning ‘killer of Argus’?
Hermes
Which Greek deity had the epithets ‘Anadyomene’ and ‘Cytheria’?
Aphrodite
Which pious couple offered to kill their pet goose to provide a meal for a pair of disguised gods?
Baucis & Philemon
Which Greek deity had the epithets ‘Delphinius’ and ‘Smintheus’?
Apollo
Which Greek Olympian does Homer call ‘Nephelegereta’ meaning ‘the cloud gatherer’?
Zeus
After she brought about her father’s death by cutting her purple lock of hair, who was changed into a ciris bird?
Scylla
What Ligurian musician was changed into a swan as he mourned for his friend Phaethon?
Cycnus
While grieving over the loss of his daughter who flung himself from a cliff and was transformed into a hawk?
Daedalion
Which Greek Olympian was called the ‘Earthshaker’ because he was responsible for earthquakes?
Poseidon
By what collective name do we know the sisters Euryale, Stheno, and Medusa?
Gorgons
What ruler of Olympus relied on his thunderbolts to help maintain order?
Zeus / Jupiter
Equipped with the caduceus and winged sandals, what messenger god led souls to the underworld?
Hermes / Mercury
What whirlpool-like monster made it impossible for Odysseus’ ships to pass safely through the Straits of Messina?
Charybdis
Reared by the Lycian King Amisodarus, what creature had the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a snake?
Chimaera
By what collective name do we know the daughters of Zeus and Themis who presided over Justice, Peace, and Order?
Seasons / Horae
Upon which river in the Underworld did the Gods swear their oaths?
Styx
Phlegethon, Acheron, Lethe, Cocytus, and Styx all belong to what group?
Rivers of the Underworld
Which of the Muses is often depicted holding a tragic mask and a wreath of vines because of her connection with the theater?
Melpomene
What group of sisters, conceived when Zeus lay with Mnemosyne for nine nights, were the patronesses of various arts?
Muses
What group of one-eyed giants were in charge of forging Zeus’ thunderbolts?
Cyclopes
According to Ovid, what god induced the Theban women who followed him to create chaos while intoxicated by his wine?
Bacchus (not Dionysus)
According to Homer, which god created a new shield for Achilles?
Hephaestus (not Vulcan)
What Greek goddess of wisdom was born from Zeus’ head?
Athena
The word ‘Cereal’ derives from the name of what Roman goddess of agriculture?
Ceres
According to Homer, who was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea?
Zeus (not Jupiter)
According to Hesiod’s Theogony, what river in the Underworld was the oldest of the children of Oceanus and Tethys?
Styx
Who asked Zeus to give her the following as gifts: 60 ocean nymphs to be her companions; 20 river nymphs from Crete to look after her hunting gear and her hounds; bow and arrows; and eternal virginity?
Artemis
Who was protected from his father’s cannibalism by noises made by the clashing of the spears and shields of the Corybantes?
Zeus
Who was given a pair of bronze castanets to assist in chasing the birds away from Lake Stymphalus?
Heracles
For which of his labors did Heracles change the course of the Alpheius & Penius rivers?
Cleaning the Augeian Stables
What daughter of Creon did Heracles inadvertently kill in a fit of madness induced by Hera?
Megara
Who took refuge in a bronze jar because he was terrified by the sight of the Nemean Lion?
Eurystheus
For which of his labors did Heracles demand the payment of one tenth of a herd of cattle?
Cleaning the Augeian Stables
Who helped Heracles defeat the Hydra?
Iolaus
What Bistonian king did Heracles feed to his own flesh eating horses?
Diomedes
Heracles first ventured beyond the Peloponnese in order to retrieve what creature as his seventh labor for Eurystheus?
Cretan Bull