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
Aegis
The breastplate or shield of Athena that contained an image of a gorgon in the centre
Acropolis
The highest point in a Greek city, usually reserved for religious buildings
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
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
Hellenes
A collective name for the Greeks, a group of peoples who share the same social and religious customs and languages
Magna Graecia
‘Great Greece’. Term used to describe the region of southern Italy and Sicily where they many independent Greek cities
Capitoline hill
One of the 7 original hills of Rome, political and ceremonial heart of the city
Sarcophagus
A stone coffin, especially one bearing sculpture and inscriptions
Plebs
Lowest social class of Romans, making up the majority of the Roman population
Cerealia
A major festival in honour of Ceres held in Rome every year between 12th and 19th April
Vulcanalia
A festival held in Rome each year on 23rd august in honour of the god Vulcan
Votive
An offering to the gods
Lararium
A small shrine to the household gods (lars) that was found in Roman homes
Bacchanalia
A Roman festival in honour of Bacchus
Seer
A person who is reputed to be able to see the future
Hydra
A many-headed serpent monster
Pediment
Triangular area at the top of each end of a temple, which could contain sculptures
Metope
Square decorative spaces that ran around a Doric temple and could contain sculptures
Centaur
Mythical created with upper body of a man and lower body of a horse
Pyre
Funeral mound made of wood on which to cremate a body
Sanctuary
An area of holy land dedicated to a god or gods that contained the temple and altar
Colonnade
An open-air covered walkway supported by columns
Blood sacrifice
Killing of an animal as offering to a god
Centauromachy
Mythical battle between the centaurs and the Lapiths
Amazons
A mythical race of women from Asia Minor
