Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who is the goddess of sexual love and desire?
Who is the goddess of sexual love and desire?
- Demeter
- Athena
- Artemis
- Aphrodite (correct)
Who is the god of prophesy, healing, and the sun?
Who is the god of prophesy, healing, and the sun?
Apollo
Which god is depicted as a young man in armor and is associated with war?
Which god is depicted as a young man in armor and is associated with war?
- Zeus
- Hephaestus
- Hermes
- Ares (correct)
Who is the goddess of the hunt and wilderness?
Who is the goddess of the hunt and wilderness?
What is the Roman name of the goddess Athena?
What is the Roman name of the goddess Athena?
Who is the goddess of fertility and agriculture?
Who is the goddess of fertility and agriculture?
What is Dionysus known for?
What is Dionysus known for?
Who is the god of the Underworld?
Who is the god of the Underworld?
What does Hephaestus god of?
What does Hephaestus god of?
Who is the wife of Zeus and protector of marriage?
Who is the wife of Zeus and protector of marriage?
Who accomplished the twelve labors and became immortal?
Who accomplished the twelve labors and became immortal?
What is Hermes the god of?
What is Hermes the god of?
Who is known for his cunning and is a hero in Homer's epic poem?
Who is known for his cunning and is a hero in Homer's epic poem?
Who is the god of the sea?
Who is the god of the sea?
Who is the ruler of all the gods?
Who is the ruler of all the gods?
What term refers to the belief in multiple gods?
What term refers to the belief in multiple gods?
What is a myth?
What is a myth?
What is significant about the island of Delos?
What is significant about the island of Delos?
Who are the Olympian gods?
Who are the Olympian gods?
Who is Pan?
Who is Pan?
What is Chaos in Greek mythology?
What is Chaos in Greek mythology?
Who is Ouranos in Greek mythology?
Who is Ouranos in Greek mythology?
What is Tartoros known for?
What is Tartoros known for?
Who is Kronos?
Who is Kronos?
Who is Anchises?
Who is Anchises?
What does Aetiology explain?
What does Aetiology explain?
Who is Demophoon?
Who is Demophoon?
Study Notes
Greek Deities
- Aphrodite: Goddess of love and desire; married to Hephaestus; associated with Eros/Cupid; Roman equivalent is Venus.
- Apollo: God of prophecy, healing, and reason; often depicted with a lyre or bow; associated with the sun; Roman name is also Apollo.
- Ares: God of war and battle rage; depicted in armor; lover of Aphrodite; Roman name is Mars.
- Artemis: Goddess of the hunt and wilderness; embodies virginity; twin of Apollo; Roman name is Diana.
- Athena: Goddess of wisdom, crafts, and war strategy; depicted as a young woman with armor; Roman name is Minerva; sprang from Zeus' head.
- Demeter: Goddess of fertility and agriculture; mother of Persephone; often shown with grain; Roman name is Ceres.
- Dionysus: God of wine, drama, and theatre; often depicted with ivy and grapes; followers enter a manic frenzy; also known as Bacchus.
- Hades: God of the Underworld; associated with Cerberus, a three-headed dog; kidnapped Persephone; Roman names are Pluto or Dis.
- Hephaestus: God of metalworking; physically disabled; sometimes associated with volcanoes; Roman name is Vulcan.
- Hera: Wife of Zeus; protector of marriage; known for jealousy towards Zeus' lovers; Roman name is Juno.
- Heracles: Demigod known for the twelve labors; depicted with a club and lion skin; achieved immortality after death; Roman name is Hercules.
- Hermes: God of thieves, travel, and commerce; messenger of the gods; depicted with winged sandals; Roman name is Mercury.
- Odysseus: Cunning mortal and hero from Homer's "Odyssey"; spent 20 years in war and wandering; King of Ithaca; husband of Penelope.
- Poseidon: God of the sea; associated with earthquakes and horses; depicted with a trident; Roman name is Neptune.
- Zeus: Ruler of all gods; god of storms and the sky; wields a thunderbolt; known for numerous mortal love affairs.
Concepts and Terms
- Polytheism: Belief in multiple gods; foundational to Greek mythology, differing from monotheistic religions.
- Myth: Narrative explaining natural phenomena; often involves supernatural elements and conveys morals and values.
- Delos: Birthplace of Apollo; location where Leto gave birth due to Hera's banishment.
- Olympian Gods: The primary gods residing above the underworld; considered the most powerful deities.
Mythical Beings and Origins
- Pan: Child of Hermes; connected with nature and rustic life; often depicted with human and goat features.
- Chaos: The primordial void that existed before creation; in Greek, signifies "emptiness"; parent of Erebos.
- Ouranos: Father of Kronos; creator of Earth and the Titans; arises from chaos.
- Tartoros: A dark abyss in the Underworld for punishing titans.
- Kronos: Father of Zeus; attempts to kill him out of fear; ultimately killed by Rhea, Zeus's mother.
- Anchises: Mortal lover of Aphrodite; her infatuation with him demonstrates uncontrollable desires.
- Aetiology: Explanatory narratives regarding the origin of gods' domains and powers.
Key Myths and Characters
- Demophoon: Son of Metaneira found by Demeter; highlights maternal themes in Demeter's search for Persephone in the "Hymn to Demeter."
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Description
Test your knowledge of ancient Greek gods and goddesses with these UCSB Classics 40 midterm flashcards. Each card highlights a key figure, offering definitions and associations that are essential for understanding classical mythology. Perfect for students preparing for exams or anyone interested in classical studies.
