Classical Greek Mythology

Question 1

hieros gamos

Answer 1

holy marriage

Question 2

epithets

Answer 2

descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned

Question 3

kataibatês

Answer 3

coming down (Zeus)

Question 4

xenia

Answer 4

concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship

Question 5

chthonic

Answer 5

concerning, belonging to, inhabiting the underworld

Question 6

parthenos

Answer 6

virgin

Question 7

aegis

Answer 7

refers to someone’s sponsorship or protection

Question 8

liminal

Answer 8

threshold

Question 9

herma

Answer 9

a heap of stones (Hermes)

Question 10

apotropaic

Answer 10

telling evil spirits to get lost

Question 11

aretê

Answer 11

human excellence (based on Ares’ name)

Question 12

enthousiasmos

Answer 12

enthusiasm

Question 13

ecstasia

Answer 13

to “stand outside” himself

Question 14

herm

Answer 14

a statue with a bearded head at the top and an erect phallus projecting out the front (Hermes)

Question 15

psychopompus

Answer 15

guide of souls (Hermes)

Question 16

hermeneuô

Answer 16

to perform the function of Hermes

Question 17

kerykeion

Answer 17

staff carried by Hermes (with the 2 snakes)

Question 18

votary

Answer 18

devotee/nun/monk

Question 19

mystai (mystês sg.)

Answer 19

initiates

Question 20

kykeon

Answer 20

mixture of milled barley, water and mint (pennyroyal)

Question 21

irony

Answer 21

the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning

Question 22

menos

Answer 22

power/life force

Question 23

kouros

Answer 23

the young (17-21 year-old) man portrayed as the essence of male beauty (Apollo)

Question 24

apellai

Answer 24

a male initiation festival

Question 25

phoebus

Answer 25

bright (Apollo)

Question 26

sôphrosynê

Answer 26

ideal of an excellence of character and soundness of mind

Question 27

Panhellenic

Answer 27

representing all people of Greek origin/ancestry (Apollo)

Question 28

atasthla

Answer 28

reckless

Question 29

Crisa

Answer 29

Delphi (Apollo)

Question 30

hubris

Answer 30

the act of belittling the honour of a god or person

Question 31

thusia

Answer 31

sacrifice

Question 32

parthenogenetically

Answer 32

reproduction without fertilization (Hephaestus)

Question 33

poikilomêtis

Answer 33

refers to a person with “varied (poikilo-) cunning (mêtis)”

Question 34

anaideia

Answer 34

shamelessness

Question 35

timê

Answer 35

honour (Hermes)

Question 36

paneion

Answer 36

panic

Question 37

pan

Answer 37

all

Question 38

potnia therôn

Answer 38

lady of wild beasts (Artemis)

Question 39

parerga

Answer 39

side-deeds (heracles)

Question 40

athloi

Answer 40

Labours (heracles)

Question 41

oikos

Answer 41

household (antigone)

Question 42

polis

Answer 42

city state (antigone)

Question 43

anthropos

Answer 43

human (antigone)

Question 44

deina

Answer 44

“wondrous”, “terrible”, “clever”, or “skilled” (antigone)

Question 45

synoikismos

Answer 45

uniting the entire peninsula of Attica under Athens’ rule (hippolytus)

Question 46

mênis

Answer 46

“anger” or “wrath” (illiad)

Question 47

oulomenên

Answer 47

“destructive” (achillies anger)

Question 48

geras

Answer 48

prizes (illiad)

Question 49

atê

Answer 49

sin (illiad)

Question 50

anagnorisis

Answer 50

recognition (illiad - achilles)

Question 51

pathei mathos

Answer 51

“learning comes by suffering” (Agamemnon)