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Questions and Answers
What does the Greek term aitia mean?
What does the Greek term aitia mean?
Cause or reason
Who is the single most important source for classical mythology after Homer?
Who is the single most important source for classical mythology after Homer?
Ovid
Who is not a tragic playwright?
Who is not a tragic playwright?
Herodotus
Who wrote the Theogony?
Who wrote the Theogony?
In the psychoanalytic approach to myth, what is the anima?
In the psychoanalytic approach to myth, what is the anima?
To whom can be attributed an interpretation of myth centered on the spiritual or mystical yearnings of human beings?
To whom can be attributed an interpretation of myth centered on the spiritual or mystical yearnings of human beings?
Who is responsible for analyzing myth into 31 recurrent motifemes?
Who is responsible for analyzing myth into 31 recurrent motifemes?
What cannot be said about the role of women in Greek society?
What cannot be said about the role of women in Greek society?
Which statement corresponds most closely to Lévi-Strauss' approach to myth?
Which statement corresponds most closely to Lévi-Strauss' approach to myth?
To whom is attributed the theory of the archetype?
To whom is attributed the theory of the archetype?
Who attempted to explain myths as charters of social customs?
Who attempted to explain myths as charters of social customs?
Who attempted to explain myth in terms of meteorological or cosmological phenomena?
Who attempted to explain myth in terms of meteorological or cosmological phenomena?
What is the name of an interpretation of myth that sought to rationalize it by claiming that the gods were originally powerful men?
What is the name of an interpretation of myth that sought to rationalize it by claiming that the gods were originally powerful men?
What is an important element in defining saga or legend?
What is an important element in defining saga or legend?
Which is not a meaning of the Greek word mythos?
Which is not a meaning of the Greek word mythos?
What is myth proper?
What is myth proper?
What is myth saga?
What is myth saga?
What are the contributions of Sigmund Freud to myth?
What are the contributions of Sigmund Freud to myth?
What are the contributions of Carl Jung to myth?
What are the contributions of Carl Jung to myth?
What are JG Frazer, Harrison, and Graves known for?
What are JG Frazer, Harrison, and Graves known for?
What does structuralist interpretation of myth attempt to do?
What does structuralist interpretation of myth attempt to do?
What do feminist approaches to mythology focus on?
What do feminist approaches to mythology focus on?
How was homosexuality perceived in myth?
How was homosexuality perceived in myth?
What did Homer write?
What did Homer write?
What did Hesiod write?
What did Hesiod write?
Who are Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides?
Who are Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides?
Who is Apollodorus?
Who is Apollodorus?
What did Plato use myth for?
What did Plato use myth for?
Who is Vergil?
Who is Vergil?
Who is Ovid?
Who is Ovid?
Who was the contemporary of and successor to Schliemann at Troy?
Who was the contemporary of and successor to Schliemann at Troy?
What name has been given to the type of walls found at Mycenae?
What name has been given to the type of walls found at Mycenae?
What seems to have been the Hittite name for Troy?
What seems to have been the Hittite name for Troy?
In what region is the origin of Homer likely to be found?
In what region is the origin of Homer likely to be found?
In a widely held theory, to whom was the destruction of Bronze Age settlements attributed?
In a widely held theory, to whom was the destruction of Bronze Age settlements attributed?
Who is responsible for the creation of the first true alphabet?
Who is responsible for the creation of the first true alphabet?
When can we locate the emergence of Homer's epics?
When can we locate the emergence of Homer's epics?
In which layer of settlements did Carl Blegen locate Homer's Troy?
In which layer of settlements did Carl Blegen locate Homer's Troy?
How many settlements were located on the hill of Hissarlik?
How many settlements were located on the hill of Hissarlik?
Who is principally credited with unlocking the mystery of Linear B?
Who is principally credited with unlocking the mystery of Linear B?
Who is responsible for excavating at Pylos?
Who is responsible for excavating at Pylos?
Which palace contains the famous Lion Gate?
Which palace contains the famous Lion Gate?
What is a common Homeric epithet for Mycenae?
What is a common Homeric epithet for Mycenae?
When can we date the Late Bronze Age?
When can we date the Late Bronze Age?
Who unearthed the Palace of Minos at Cnossus?
Who unearthed the Palace of Minos at Cnossus?
What characterizes the Early Bronze Age?
What characterizes the Early Bronze Age?
What characterizes the Middle Bronze Age?
What characterizes the Middle Bronze Age?
What characterizes the Late Bronze Age?
What characterizes the Late Bronze Age?
What characterized the Minoan Civilization?
What characterized the Minoan Civilization?
What characterized the Mycenaean Age?
What characterized the Mycenaean Age?
What is Erebus?
What is Erebus?
The Hecatonchires have how many hands?
The Hecatonchires have how many hands?
The Cyclopes are children of whom?
The Cyclopes are children of whom?
The 6,000 children of Oceanus and Tethys are?
The 6,000 children of Oceanus and Tethys are?
Who is Eros?
Who is Eros?
What is Pontus?
What is Pontus?
Who is the father of Zeus?
Who is the father of Zeus?
What is Ge?
What is Ge?
The Hecatonchires were children of?
The Hecatonchires were children of?
Who was the consort of mother-earth goddess Rhea?
Who was the consort of mother-earth goddess Rhea?
Who did Cronus devour, except for whom?
Who did Cronus devour, except for whom?
Aphrodite was born as a result of the castration of?
Aphrodite was born as a result of the castration of?
Which lover of Eos was granted immortality, but not perpetual youth?
Which lover of Eos was granted immortality, but not perpetual youth?
Eos is the goddess of the?
Eos is the goddess of the?
Selene, goddess of the moon, fell in love with which handsome shepherd?
Selene, goddess of the moon, fell in love with which handsome shepherd?
Which of the following drove the chariot of the sun disastrously?
Which of the following drove the chariot of the sun disastrously?
Greek mythology imagines the earth as a flat disc encircled by?
Greek mythology imagines the earth as a flat disc encircled by?
The Titans are the offspring of?
The Titans are the offspring of?
What does the Greek term hieros gamos mean?
What does the Greek term hieros gamos mean?
Which of the following did not arise from Chaos?
Which of the following did not arise from Chaos?
What Spanish painter depicted Saturn devouring one of his children?
What Spanish painter depicted Saturn devouring one of his children?
Which is not a name of the Cyclopes?
Which is not a name of the Cyclopes?
What author parodies myth in his comedy entitled Birds?
What author parodies myth in his comedy entitled Birds?
From what union did Day and Aether come into being?
From what union did Day and Aether come into being?
Who is the author of the Works and Days?
Who is the author of the Works and Days?
What is the difference between Ovid and Hesiod's creation myths?
What is the difference between Ovid and Hesiod's creation myths?
Who reluctantly binds Prometheus in Aeschylus' play Prometheus Bound?
Who reluctantly binds Prometheus in Aeschylus' play Prometheus Bound?
The woman Zeus seduced and then turned into a cow was?
The woman Zeus seduced and then turned into a cow was?
During which age did Cronus rule?
During which age did Cronus rule?
What happened to the men of the Bronze Age?
What happened to the men of the Bronze Age?
According to tradition, mankind is recreated from?
According to tradition, mankind is recreated from?
Who survived the flood sent by Zeus?
Who survived the flood sent by Zeus?
Which was the final outrage that preceded the flood?
Which was the final outrage that preceded the flood?
Who was the slayer of Argus?
Who was the slayer of Argus?
The offspring of Zeus and Io was?
The offspring of Zeus and Io was?
Zeus punished Prometheus for what?
Zeus punished Prometheus for what?
In the traditional version of the creation of man, who is depicted as the creator?
In the traditional version of the creation of man, who is depicted as the creator?
One of the most difficult opponents for Zeus to overcome was the dragon named?
One of the most difficult opponents for Zeus to overcome was the dragon named?
In another struggle, Zeus fought against the Gegeneis, whose name means?
In another struggle, Zeus fought against the Gegeneis, whose name means?
In Zeus' bid for power, from whom did he not receive aid?
In Zeus' bid for power, from whom did he not receive aid?
What was the first age in the universe?
What was the first age in the universe?
Of what city was Gilgamesh king?
Of what city was Gilgamesh king?
Who corresponds to the Greek Typhoeus in the Enuma Elish?
Who corresponds to the Greek Typhoeus in the Enuma Elish?
Which is not a name of the Hecatonchires?
Which is not a name of the Hecatonchires?
Who is the counterpart to the Greek Deucalion or the Hebrew Noah in the Epic of Gilgamesh?
Who is the counterpart to the Greek Deucalion or the Hebrew Noah in the Epic of Gilgamesh?
Which two giants attempted to storm heaven by piling Olympus, Ossa, and Pelion upon one another?
Which two giants attempted to storm heaven by piling Olympus, Ossa, and Pelion upon one another?
What characterized the Age of Silver?
What characterized the Age of Silver?
What characterized the Age of Bronze?
What characterized the Age of Bronze?
What characterized the Age of Heroes?
What characterized the Age of Heroes?
What characterized the Age of Iron?
What characterized the Age of Iron?
Study Notes
Mythological Terms and Concepts
- Aitia: Refers to 'cause' or 'reason' in Greek.
- Anima: In psychoanalysis, represents the archetypal concept of femininity within masculinity.
- Hieros Gamos: Greek term meaning 'holy marriage'.
- Myth Proper: Stories that explore the relationship between gods and humankind.
Major Figures in Mythology
- Ovid: Significant source for classical mythology after Homer; known for "Metamorphoses".
- Hesiod: Wrote "Theogony" and "Works and Days"; important in Greek literary tradition.
- Apollodorus: Authored "Bibliotheca" around 120 CE, compiling mythological traditions.
- Homer: Authored "Iliad" and "Odyssey" circa 600 BCE, foundational texts of Greek mythology.
- Carl Jung: Developed concepts of the collective unconscious and archetypes, including 'anima' and 'anumus'.
Playwrights and Their Contributions
- Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides: Key tragic playwrights of the fifth century BCE.
- Herodotus: Not a tragic playwright; known as the 'Father of History'.
- Aristophanes: Noted for comedies that often parody myth, such as "Birds".
Mythological Analysis
- Vladimir Propp: Analyzed myths into 31 recurring motifemes; focused on structural functions of characters.
- Mircea Eliade: Interpreted myths as expressions of human spiritual and mystical pursuits.
- Bronislaw Malinowski: Viewed myths as charters for social customs and practices.
Theoretical Approaches
- Structuralism (Levi-Strauss): Focus on myths resolving binary opposites; aiming to decode cultural narratives.
- Feminist Approaches: Examined women's roles in Greek society, focusing on themes of oppression and violence.
Mythical Storylines and Characters
- Cronus: Father of Zeus; associated with the Golden Age and devoured his children except for Zeus.
- Eros: God of love, often depicted as primordial.
- Titans: Offspring of Gaia and Uranus, engaged in a significant battle against Zeus.
- Prometheus: Titan credited with creating mankind and providing fire to humanity; punished by Zeus.
- Deucalion and Pyrrha: Survivors of Zeus' flood, paralleling Noah's story in the Hebrew narrative.
Historical Context and Archaeology
- Mycenaean Age: Characterized by Cyclopean walls and shaft graves; worship of Zeus and emergence of Greek language.
- Minoan Civilization: Dominated during the Middle and Late Bronze Age; capital at Cnossus; characterized by unique art and architecture.
- Linear B: Early form of Greek script, deciphered by Michael Ventris; significant for understanding Mycenaean culture.
- Dorians: Attributed with the destruction of Bronze Age settlements, marking the transition into the Greek Dark Ages.
Ages of Humanity in Myth
- Age of Gold: Idealized first age with no suffering; ruled by Cronus.
- Age of Silver: Characterized by strife; children stayed young for too long.
- Age of Bronze: Violent age; constant wars leading to mutual destruction.
- Age of Heroes: Era of demi-gods participating in epic quests.
- Age of Iron: Present age of hardship and moral compromise.
Notable Thematic Elements
- Homosexuality in Myth: Commonly accepted between adult men and boys in ancient Greek contexts.
- Cosmogony: Various creation myths, including interpretations by Hesiod and Ovid, differing mainly in the presence of chaos.
- Natural Elements: Myths often explain natural phenomena and human experiences through divine narratives (Müller’s theories).
- Chaos and Creation: Hesiod presents a story beginning in chaos, while Ovid describes a god bringing order to a primordial mass.
Geographical Significance
- Hissarlik: Site associated with Homer's Troy; composed of nine distinct settlement layers.
- Mycenae: Notable for its architectural achievements, including the Lion Gate; referred to as 'rich in gold'.
Symbols and Deities
- Hecatonchires: Giants with a hundred hands, progeny of Gaia and Uranus.
- Cyclopes: One-eyed giants, also children of Gaia and Uranus, known for their craftsmanship.
- Selene and Eos: Goddesses of the moon and dawn, respectively; Eos had a lover, Tithonus, who was granted immortality but not eternal youth.
Important Mythological Events
- Titanomachy: Battle between the Titans and Olympians, leading to the Olympians' supremacy.
- Prometheus Bound: Aeschylus' tragedy showcasing the punishment of Prometheus, addressing themes of rebellion and divine authority.
These points encapsulate significant aspects of classical mythology, from key figures and their contributions to thematic interpretations and historical context.
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Description
Test your knowledge of key terms and figures in Classical Mythology with these flashcards covering chapters 1 to 6, 9, and 13. From important Greek terms to pivotal authors like Ovid and Hesiod, this quiz will help you cement your understanding of classical myths and their interpretations.
