Test Questions Flashcards
Who is the lover of Thisbe?
Pyramus and Thisbe were two lovers from the city of Babylon whose quarreling families forbid to marry.
What is the name of the son of the god of the Sun who was unable to drive his father’s chariot?
Phaethon asked to be allowed to drive the chariot of the sun through the heavens for a single day. Helios, bound by his oath, had to let him make the attempt. Phaethon set off but was entirely unable to control the horses if the chariot, which came too near the earth and began to scorch it.
In what sort of animal did Arachne transform when pushed by Athena?
Arachne was a woman with a great talent in weaving. Everyone was amazed at her work and one day, Arachne said she had a greater talent than goddess Athena. That is why Athena transformed her into a spider to weave for all her life.
In classical mythology, which Greek hero was able to kill the Minotaur?
Pereus was able to kill the Minotaur and escape the Labyrinth, by securing a flaxen thread to the entrance of the Labyrinth and following that threat out again.
Which Renaissance humanist formed the chief link between Italian and Northern humanism?
Erasmus
Who was Protagoras?
Ancient Greek philosopher (490-420 BCE). Best known for his statement that “Man is the measure of all things”, which means that individual perception and subjectivity are central tot en understanding of reality and truth.
“Man is the measure of all things.” By Protagoras.
Means that individual perception and subjectivity are central tot en understanding of reality and truth.
Which classical philosopher was known as peripatetic philosopher?
Aristotle
In Plato’s Symposium, what is the ultimate goal of Eros?
To seek a higher form of beauty and wisdom.
What do Stoics mean by ‘apathy’?
The condition of being totally free of emotions and passions: pain, fear, desire and pleasure.
Who was punished by Zeus for having stolen the fire of the Gods? And what was his punishment?
Prometheus.
Zeus condemned Prometheus to eternal torment for this.
In classical mythology, who married his own mother?
Oedipus, did this without initially realising her true identity. Her name was Jocasta.
Who killed his own son?
Oedipus and Jocasta have four children. When Oedipus discovers the truth about his prophecy (that he would kill his father and marry his mother), he gouges out his own eyes in despair. Later, he curses his sons who would die at the hands of each other.
What are the names of the two elderly people who were rewarded by the Gods for their hospitality?
Philemon and Baucis are rewarded with exemption from the flood that the gods unleash upon their inhospitable neighbours.
What is the name of the winged horse in classical mythology?
Pegasus
Who is the name of the Titanic who holds up the sky on his shoulders?
Atlas was condemned to hold up the sky/heavens for eternity after the Titanomachy.
Who is the daughter of Demeter?
Persephone
Which women was blasted to ashes when Zeus appeared to her in his full divine glory?
Semele was a mortal woman and was seduced by Zeus, who appeared to her in his divine splendor. However, as a mortal, she could not withstand the overwhelming sight of Zeus in his true form, and was reduced to ashes.
Who was the son of the mortal woman Semele?
Dionysus
What is the name of Jason’s ship?
The Argo, used to sail to retrieve the Golden Fleece.
Who is the son of Laius and Jocasta?
Oedipus
Which lover of Aphrodite was killed by a wild boar?
Adonis. It is said that it was no ordinary beast, but the god Ares, who was one of Aphrodite’s many lovers. He apparently disguised himself as a boar and attacked the young man.
In Plato’s philology, the Ideas/Forms are:
The eternal Forms of everything in material reality.
What did Plato believe?
That the material works we perceive with our sense is an imperfect reflection.
Neoplatonism was developed by:
Plotinus was a philosopher who lived in the 3rd century CE and is considered the founder of Neoplatonism.
In classical mythology, who is the wife of Agamemnon?
Clytemnestra
What is the name of the man whose stables were cleaned by Hercules?
King Augeas
What kind of poetics is Aristotle’s poetry?
Descriptive poetics
What does Aristotle’s poetics claim?
That watching tragedy has a pervasive effect on the emotions of joy and fear.
Who introduced the notion of ‘ataraxia’?
This notion was introduced by the Greek philosopher Epicurus.
Who or what is Parnassus?
A Greek mountain sacred to the Muses.
In the shape of what animal did Zeus appear to Europa?
A white bull
Who turned into stone out of grief after having lost all her children?
Niobe
Who is the father of Aeneas?
Anchises
Who cut off Medusa’s head?
Perseus, a demi-god of Greek mythology who was famous for killing Medusa by cutting off her head.
Who was the lover of Pyrrha?
Deucalion and Pyrrha were the only survivors of flood and repopulated the Earth.
Who was the lover of Procne?
Tereus and Procne are a tragic couple in the myth of Procne and Philomela.
Who was the lover of Hector?
Andromache and Hector were a couple in the Trojan War.
