Glossary

Question 1

aetiology

Answer 1

deals with the cause or origin of something. In relation to myths it is the attempting to find the answer or cause of the origins of something in our world

Question 2

aristeia

Answer 2

the peak or excellent performance of a hero on the battlefield

Question 3

caduceus

Answer 3

the twisted snack staff carried by Hermes

Question 4

Chaos

Answer 4

In Hesiod’s theogony, chaos was the beginning of the organization of the world.

Question 5

What does the term chaos mean in Hesiod?

Answer 5

chasm or separation

Question 6

Didactic poetry

Answer 6

this is the type of poetry that has a specific hexameter and it is usually used for teaching or instructing.

Also called “wisdom poetry”

Question 7

What are examples of didactic poetry

Answer 7

Hesiod’s “theogony” and “work of days”

Question 8

Epic cycle

Answer 8

Oral dactylic hexameters poems, now lost, telling of the events surrounding the Trojan war

Question 9

Epic poetry

Answer 9

poetry written in hexameter telling the extraordinary feats of heroes

Question 10

examples of epic poetry

Answer 10

The Illiad and Odyssey

Question 11

epithet

Answer 11

An adjective that relates to a god in poetry as a way to help the poet fill out the lines

Question 12

geras

Answer 12

a prize or gift of honour.
The physical manifestation of time

Question 13

kleos

Answer 13

Glory or renown built upon one’s exploits in life. Ideally endures past one’s death. A major motivator for Homeric heroes.

Question 14

muthos

Answer 14

The Greek word meaning ‘speech’ or ‘story’, from which we get our English word myth.

Question 15

nekuia

Answer 15

a rite in which ghosts are called and questioned about the future

Question 16

Nostos

Answer 16

an epic hero’s journey home from sea.
This can refer to the journey itself or the poetic retelling of the journey

Question 17

ring composition

Answer 17

a feature of oral poetry where the end of a section will match or similarly match the theme or what was said at the beginning of the section

Question 18

thyrsus

Answer 18

Pine cone attached to the top of a stick. Usually carried by Dionysus

Question 19

time

Answer 19

Honour or esteem within one’s community, a major motivator of Homeric heroes.

Question 20

deinos

Answer 20

A Greek adjective meaning wondrous or awesome; it is ambiguous, and can be applied to things that are good or bad in excess

Question 21

deus ex machina

Answer 21

A tragic plot device in which a god is lowered on a crane to resolve a seemingly unresolvable conflict. Literally, ‘god from a machine.’

Question 22

intertexuality

Answer 22

The phenomenon of meaningful connections between texts.

Question 23

meta poetic

Answer 23

An adjective used to describe poetry that talks about poetry (itself and/or other poems).`

Question 24

orchestra

Answer 24

A part of the ancient theatre: the dancing area, where the chorus performs.

Question 25

panhellenism

Answer 25

The idea of cultural unity in Greece based on distinctive Greek traits; developed in opposition to the notion of the ‘barbarian’

Question 26

parados

Answer 26

A part of the ancient theatre: a walkway by which the chorus enters and exits the orchestra.

Question 27

pietas

Answer 27

The Roman virtue of dutifulness, devotion, steadfastness to the gods, one’s country, and one’s family.

Question 28

psychopomp

Answer 28

Escort of souls; one of the roles of Hermes.

Question 29

rhapsode

Answer 29

The reciter of epic or didactic poetry; the name is derived from either the Greek rhapsôdein, “to weave together,” or the Greek rhabdos, the staff held by the reciter.

Question 30

skene

Answer 30

A part of the ancient theatre: a raised stage on which the spoken action takes place, which would hold the set.

Question 31

theatron

Answer 31

A part of the ancient theatre: the terraced seating area for the audience.

Question 32

Xenia

Answer 32

A social bond of reciprocal hospitality and friendship between people from different backgrounds.