Myth and religion Flashcards
Pantheon
Term given to gods when spoken of collectively
Iconography
The symbols attached to a particular character when represented in an image
Polytheism
The belief in many gods
Anthropomorphism
Giving human form or attributes to something that is otherwise not human
Epithet
Adjectival word or phrase regularly added to a name to denote a personal or physical quality
Chthonic
Relating to the gods that were connected with the earth and the underworld
Cornucopia
A horn shell that contained an endless supply of food and drink
Diadem
A crown often associated with gods or kings
Acropolis
The highest point in a Greek city, usually reserved for religious buildings
Aegis
The breastplate or shield of Athena that contained an image of a gorgon in the centre
Parthenon
Temple built to Athena on the Athenian acropolis
Oracle
An utterance, often ambiguous or obscure, given by a priest or priestess said to be speaking the words of a god
Lyre
A small Greek harp consisting of a sound box with 2 curved arms connected by a crossbar from which strings are attached
Caduceus
A traveller’s staff most closely associated with the god Hermes
Thebes
An ancient city in Greece that is the focus of many mythological stories
Thyrsus
A staff associated with the god Dionysus which was tipped with a pine cone; could be intertwined with ivy
Maenads
Female followers of Dionysus
Hellenes
A collective name for the Greeks, a group of peoples who share the same social and religious customs and languages
Satyrs
In myth, half man, half goat, attendants of Dionysus, known for their promiscuous nature
Etruscans
The exact origins are unknown although it is believed that they inhabited Italy from at least the ninth/eighth century BC. By the time Rome was founded they were well established in Italy
Capitoline hill
One of the 7 original hills of Rome, political and ceremonial heart of the city
Cerealia
A major festival in honour of Ceres held in Rome every year between 12th and 19th April
Magna Graecia
‘Great Greece’. Term used to describe the region of southern Italy and Sicily where they many independent Greek cities
Sarcophagus
A stone coffin, especially one bearing sculpture and inscriptions
