Key Terms in Greek Mythology PDF

Key Terms -​ Anthropomorphic: “Human form” -​ Aniconic: without form -​ Aegis: Can be depicted as armour, goatskin, or cloth, which gives power to and protects those who wear it. The aegis is an attribute of Zeus and Athena -​ Caduceus: Herald’s staff. Symbol of Hermes and heralds. Staff has...

Key Terms -​ Anthropomorphic: “Human form” -​ Aniconic: without form -​ Aegis: Can be depicted as armour, goatskin, or cloth, which gives power to and protects those who wear it. The aegis is an attribute of Zeus and Athena -​ Caduceus: Herald’s staff. Symbol of Hermes and heralds. Staff has 2 snakes running up it and can have a pair of wings on it -​ Chthonian/Chthonic: of the earth -​ Petasus: Traveller’s cap -​ Polias: of the city (Athena Polias = Athena of the city) -​ Allegory: Saying something in a way that is different from what appears to be said -​ Divine myth -​ Etiological myth -​ Theogony: Origin of the gods (Theo = gods, ogony = origin) -​ Cosmogony: Origin of the world (Cosmo = world, ogony = origin) -​ Titanomachy: War of the Titans between the Olympian gods (led by Zeus) and the Titans (lead by Cronus) -​ Typhonomachy: War against Typhon between Zeus and Typhon (Gaia and Tartarus’ offspring) -​ Gigantomachy: War against Giants between Olympian gods and Giants -​ Eris: Types of Strife: one compels men to work and compete for riches and the other makes battles thrive and war -​ Trickster: Hermes and Prometheus -​ Pithos: A storage vessel. Most notably associated with Pandora when Zeus gave Epimetheus Pandora and the pithos which contained all the evils of the world. -​ Anesidora: Sender up of gifts. Epithet of Pandora, Gaia, and Demeter -​ Kore(ai): Means “maiden” or “young girl” and is commonly associated with Persephone in her role as a youthful goddess of spring, fertility, and renewal. The broader concept of Korai represents themes of youth, purity, transformation, and divine femininity.