Characters & Stories(3) Flashcards
What prophecy did Narcissus receive when he was born?
He will live a long and happy live as long as he never truly sees himself
Why did Hera punish Echo and what was her punishment?
She distracted Hera from catching Zeus having affairs with the nymphs through stimulating conversation, and when Hera found out she cursed her to only be able to repeat the last thing someone says to her
How did Narcissus die?
He fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water and wasted away because he wouldn’t eat or sleep
What are some of the other iconographies used to depict Dionysus?
Longer hair with a heavier set body, long stick with the pine cone on the end, wild cats
Who is often pictured with Dionysus?
Silenus, his tutor
What were Bacchic revelries?
A huge party where everyone got drunk on wine, but things would always start to go bad and get dangerous at some point
What did Dionysus do to punish Lycurgus for trying to harm him?
He makes him go crazy and he kills his own wife and children
Why would people drink the first cup of wine super fast?
They wanted to see what story was depicted at the bottom of their individual cup
How was Dionysus behind the brutal murder of Pentheus?
He drove the women celebrating him mad and they tore the man apart limb by limb in a fit of rage
Why did Ariadne eventually accept Dionysus’s proposal?
She was abandoned by Theseus on an island, who she thought actually loved her, and because Dionysus promised her immortality and protection if she married him, she really didn’t have much of a choice
Why did Dionysus grant King Midas a wish?
He watched over Silenus and made sure he was safe and out of trouble while he was drunk, until Dionysus came to get him
What are the common themes associated with Pan?
Relaxation, over-indulgence, eroticism
Who does Pan chase through the woods because he can’t control his sexual desires?
Syrinx, who then turns herself into reeds and Pan makes an instrument out of them
When was the only time Pan restrained his desires and why?
When he came across Psyche because even Pan recognized the purity of her love with Cupid
What is the bigger theme behind Cupid always winning against Pan?
True love will always conquer lust/sensuality
How did Alcmene give birth to twin sons from two different fathers?
Zeus took the form of Amphitryon and tricked her into consummating their marriage, so she consummated the marriage twice with her real husband and Zeus
What is the name of Hercules mortal brother?
Iphicles
Who was Hercules tutor and what happens to him?
Linus mocked Hercules for not being as good of a student as his brother, so Hercules beat him to death, which led him to be kicked out and disowned by his family
What king did Hercules meet that tricked him after he killed the Cithaeron lion
King Thespius - kept bringing Hercules his daughters and making the “mistake” of them not being the right one to consummate a marriage, so Hercules impregnated 49 out of the 50
What is referred to as the “Hercules furens”?
The fit of rage Hercules goes under that results in him killing his own wife and children for no reason
Who does Hercules go to for advice on how to get rid of the furies and what is the advice?
The Delphic oracle tells him he must serve king Eurystheus for 10 years and complete 10 labors
What eventually persuades Hercules to accept the oracles advice?
The fact that he would gain full immortality after completing his labors
