Greek Myths on Test Flashcards
Baucis & Philemon
An old married couple who welcome a disguised Zeus and Hermes into their home and are rewarded by being saved from a flood. They wish to die at the same time and turn into trees. (some stories get immortality)
Niobe
A prideful mother boasts of having six sons and six daughters and is punished by the Titan Leto mother of Artemis and Apollo. Artemis kills her daughters and Apollo her sons. Said she was better than Leto. Father is Tantalus, married to King of Thebes.
Aphrodite & Adonis
Aphrodite falls madly in love with Adonis after being by an arrow from Eros. Adonis’s mother died and Persephone took him in but then Aphrodite won him back. Aphrodite warned him not to hunt boars but he did and the boar killed him by stabbing him. Aphrodite saw hthis and ran to him she pricked her finger, turned a white rose red, symbol of love
Pygmalion & Galatea
Pygmalion is a famous sculptor who falls in love with one of his own creations, Galatea. He prays to Aphrodite to send him a woman just like the statue he has created. She does and they get married and have a son Paphos.
Perseus and Andromeda
On his way home from beheading Medusa (with the help of Athena and Hermes’ gifts), Perseus spots Andromeda chained to a rock awaiting a gruesome death by a sea monster. Perseus rescues Andromeda and is rewarded with her hand in marriage.
Bellerophon & Pegasus
Bellerophon, a demigod that tames Pegasus, is sent to kill the Chimera, a fire-breathing monster with the body of a lion, dragon and goat. Later, Bellerophon flies Pegasus to Mt. Olympus to visit the gods. They are angered and send a gadfly to sting Pegasus causing Bellerophon to endure a crippling fall.
Tantalus
Because Tantalus abuses his privilege of sharing the food of the gods, Zeus punishes him in Hades. Although parched and famished, Tantalus is not allowed to reach the fruit or water that surrounds him. (Tantalizing)
Orpheus and Eurydice
Orpheus, the son of Apollo and Calliope, ventured down to the Kingdom of the Dead to retrieve his dead wife, Eurydice. Hades agreed to free Eurydice on one condition – Orpheus was not to look back at his wife on the walk to Earth. When they were almost home, Orpheus looked back and lost his wife forever.
Hermes
Hermes, messenger, and god of mischief, steals cows from Apollo and cleverly hides their tracks with brooms. He eats one of the cows, and, to appease Apollo, he makes the lyre for him.
Medea & Jason
A vengeful sorceress, Princess Medea helps her husband, Jason of the Argonauts, capture the golden fleece. Charms dragon etc. When Jason leaves her and marries Glaydis, Medea gives his new wife a cloak that sets her on fire. she also kills all of their children. She is sent to live in exile and loses her powers.
Labors of Hercules
In a fit of insanity caused by Hera, Hercules kills his family and must perform 12 labors to earn the forgiveness of the gods. These seemingly impossible tasks take him many years to complete, but he succeeds with the aid of Hermes and Athena. His success earns him the reputation of a great hero.
Hercules - birth & sin
Son of Zeus and a mortal woman. Hera is jealous and tries to kill by sending two serpents to his cradle. Hercules wrestles and destroys the serpents. Hera seeks further revenge when Hercules is an adult.
Death of Achilles
Achilles’ mother dipped her baby in the waters of immortality, but she held him by his heel. No arrow or weapon could harm him until Paris shoots him in the heel during the Trojan War in vengence for him killing his brother Hector bc Hector killed Patrolcus (friend) disgusied as Achilles.
Judgment of Paris
When Eris, goddess of discord, is not invited to a wedding, she resolves to take revenge. In the middle of the wedding celebration, Eris tossed a golden apple among the revelers labeled “to the fairest”. Paris (who was prophesied at birth to bring destruction to Troy) was called upon to settle the dispute. Aphrodite, Hera and Athena arguing. Paris picks Aphrodite after being promised Helen of Troy which starts the war.
Atalanta
Female hero who was abandoned by her parents at birth and raised by a bear. Participates in the famous Calydonian bear hunt and other great adventures. Offers to marry anyone who can outrun her, but anyone who tries and fails she will aim her arrows at. Hippomenes beats her by praying to Aphrodite and throwing apples to distract her
Contest of Athena & Arachne
Arachne is a skilled but vain weaver who claims to be superior to Athena. They begin a weaving competition during which Arachne mocks the gods. Athena turns Arachne into a creature able to spin thread forever - the first spider! (Arachnid)
Perseus & Medusa
Athena transforms Medusa into a gorgon, a woman with snakes for hair who can turn men into stone with a glance. Medusa is later killed by Perseus who is aided by winged sandals from Hermes and a shield, invisible helmet, and bag from Athena.
Pyramus & Thisbe
These young neighbors are deeply in love and plan to run away together. Their secret meeting goes terribly wrong when Pyramus arrives and, spotting Thisbe’s bloody veil, thinks a lion has devoured her when she really just ran away. He kills himself, and when she discovers what has happened, she joins him in death. The berries on the mulberry tree remain red in their memory.
King Midas
As a reward for a good deed, King Midas requests the golden touch. He immediately regrets this destructive gift when he can’t eat, sleep, or hug his daughter. He begs to be returned to normal, and he is after a visit to the River Pactolus.
Echo & Narcissus
Echo, a nymph who angered Hera, can only repeat the last words someone utters. She falls in love with Narcissus, a beautiful man who also falls in love with himself. Echo wastes away except for her voice . Narcissus wastes away staring at his own reflection in a pool and becomes a white and purple flower. (Narcissistic)
Daedalus & the flight of Icarus
Icarus and his father, Daedalus, try to escape King Minos’s labyrinth on the island of Crete by constructing wings made of feathers and wax. Despite his father’s warnings, Icarus flies too close to the sun, causing his wax to melt. He plummets to his watery death. (Icarian Sea)
Theseus slays the Minotaur
Theseus, in order to prove himself, convinces his father to let him fight the Minotaur(in Lab in Crete), a creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull. He kills it with the help of Ariadne (tells him about the string). Theseus forgets to hoist the white sail of victory on his journey home, so his father kills himself.
Cupid & Psyche
Pyshce’s father abandons her on a rock hoping she will get married to a demon but she actually meets Cupid. Cupid and Psyche fall in love and marry, but he will only visit her at night, and she is not allowed to see him. One night, she drips candle wax on him while trying to peek. Psyche is sent away. Tries to find him again but has to complete 3 impossible tasks for Venus. After she falls asleep by a curse from a box from one of the impossible tasks. Cupid comes back and resues her and they have a child pleasure.
Persephone & Hades
Persephone, daughter of Demeter (goddess of the harvest), is kidnapped by Hades to the Underworld. Her mother mourns her absence by making the earth cold and barren. Persephone is eventually released, but each year she must return to Hades for one month for each pomegranate seed she ate. During this time the Earth suffers through winter.
Prometheus
Prometheus steals fire from the gods for mankind. Zeus is furious and has him chained to the Caucasus mountains where an eagle tears out his liver each day and it regenerates each night. Eventually, Hercules frees him.
Apollo & Daphne
Apollo falls in love with Daphne, but she wishes to remain a maiden. As Apollo chases her, Daphne’s father, a river god, takes pity on her and turns her into a laurel tree.
