Characters & Stories(3)

Question 1

What prophecy did Narcissus receive when he was born?

Answer 1

He will live a long and happy live as long as he never truly sees himself

Question 2

Why did Hera punish Echo and what was her punishment?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

How did Narcissus die?

Answer 3

He fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water and wasted away because he wouldn’t eat or sleep

Question 4

What are some of the other iconographies used to depict Dionysus?

Answer 4

Longer hair with a heavier set body, long stick with the pine cone on the end, wild cats

Question 5

Who is often pictured with Dionysus?

Answer 5

Silenus, his tutor

Question 6

What were Bacchic revelries?

Answer 6

A huge party where everyone got drunk on wine, but things would always start to go bad and get dangerous at some point

Question 7

What did Dionysus do to punish Lycurgus for trying to harm him?

Answer 7

He makes him go crazy and he kills his own wife and children

Question 8

Why would people drink the first cup of wine super fast?

Answer 8

They wanted to see what story was depicted at the bottom of their individual cup

Question 9

How was Dionysus behind the brutal murder of Pentheus?

Answer 9

He drove the women celebrating him mad and they tore the man apart limb by limb in a fit of rage

Question 10

Why did Ariadne eventually accept Dionysus’s proposal?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Why did Dionysus grant King Midas a wish?

Answer 11

He watched over Silenus and made sure he was safe and out of trouble while he was drunk, until Dionysus came to get him

Question 12

What are the common themes associated with Pan?

Answer 12

Relaxation, over-indulgence, eroticism

Question 13

Who does Pan chase through the woods because he can’t control his sexual desires?

Answer 13

Syrinx, who then turns herself into reeds and Pan makes an instrument out of them

Question 14

When was the only time Pan restrained his desires and why?

Answer 14

When he came across Psyche because even Pan recognized the purity of her love with Cupid

Question 15

What is the bigger theme behind Cupid always winning against Pan?

Answer 15

True love will always conquer lust/sensuality

Question 16

How did Alcmene give birth to twin sons from two different fathers?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is the name of Hercules mortal brother?

Answer 17

Iphicles

Question 18

Who was Hercules tutor and what happens to him?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What king did Hercules meet that tricked him after he killed the Cithaeron lion

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What is referred to as the “Hercules furens”?

Answer 20

The fit of rage Hercules goes under that results in him killing his own wife and children for no reason

Question 21

Who does Hercules go to for advice on how to get rid of the furies and what is the advice?

Answer 21

The Delphic oracle tells him he must serve king Eurystheus for 10 years and complete 10 labors

Question 22

What eventually persuades Hercules to accept the oracles advice?

Answer 22

The fact that he would gain full immortality after completing his labors