Narcissus, Echo, Cyclops, Medusa, & Arachne Flashcards
Define: Metamorphosis
The change of the form or nature of ta thing or person into a completely different one by natural or supernatural forces
What did Narcissus’ mother want to know from Tiresias?
What is his response?
his mother wanted to know if Narcissus would have a long life
yes, as long as he never knows himself
What is Ovid’s Metamorphoses about?
the epic poem explains how different species of plants, animals, and other natural stuff came to be through stories of transformation
Who is Echo?
A nymph known for her talkativeness
Why does Hera punish Echo? How does she do it?
Because Echo unknowingly delayed Hera when Kera was trying to catch Zeus cheating.
Echo can only repeat what someone says to her
Narcissus
A beautiful man who falls in love with his own reflection, wastes away, and dies
What is the Konon version of the Narcissus story?
A man fell in love with Narcissus and shoots his shot. Narcissus says no, and if you can’t live in a world without me, kill yourself. The man asks Eros to avenge him before he kills himself. Narcissus falls in love with his reflection and eventually kills himself because he can’t have the person he loves.
What are two tales from Ovid that we read this week?
Narcissus and Echo & Arachne
What is the significance of the Cyclops in the Titanochomy?
The cyclopes gave Zeus his thunderbolt, Hades his helmet, and Poseidon his trident
What is one explanation for the existence of the Cyclops in mythology?
They were a clan of blacksmiths who had concentric circle tattoos on their foreheads.
Blacksmiths also often wore patches to protect one eye from ash.
Where are the ghosts of the first generation of Cyclopes?
in the volcano Aetna
Who is the most famous Cyclops?
Polyphemus
How do the story of Apollo and the story of the Cyclops give people three Ancient Greek values?
Apollo kills the Cyclopes and is punished by Zeus. When he is given a second chance he repeats “Know thyself” and “Nothing in excess”
Odysseus’ arrogance with the Cyclopes demonstrates the downfalls of hubris
What does the Arachne myth explain?
The Arachne myth provides an explanation for spiders’ web-spinning and is a cautionary tale about hubris.
hubris
excessive pride
