AP Lit Greek Mythology Allusions

Achilles’ heel

a single fatal vulnerability/weak spot (Achilles was made nearly invincible

Adonis

an extraordinarily handsome young man; beauty that attracts devotion and jealousy (Adonis is loved by Aphrodite and dies young).

Aeolian

relating to wind (from Aeolus

Apollo

idealized beauty + music/poetry + clarity/prophecy; “Apollonian” = rational

Argus

all-seeing/watchful (Argus had many eyes); “Argus-eyed” = vigilant

Athena/Minerva

goddess of wisdom + strategy + crafts; allusion = smart

Atlas

massive burden/endurance (Titan forced to hold up the sky); “to carry the world” / heavy responsibility.

Aurora

dawn (Roman goddess of sunrise); also “aurora” = daybreak glow / new beginning.

Bacchus/Dionysus

wine

Centaur

half-human half-horse; civilized mind vs animal impulse; also the “wild/untamed” side of humanity.

Chimera

a monstrous hybrid; allusion = an impossible fantasy or a strange mix that doesn’t belong together.

Cupid

winged love-god whose arrows cause love; allusion = sudden romance/infatuation.

Eros

Greek love/desire (often intense

Fates

forces of destiny who “measure” and “cut” life’s thread; allusion = unavoidable fate.

Furies

vengeful spirits who punish wrongdoing (esp. family crimes); allusion = relentless guilt/revenge.

Gorgon (Medusa)

snake-haired figure whose gaze turns people to stone; allusion = paralyzing fear or deadly/petrifying beauty.

Halcyon

calm “halcyon days” (myth of Alcyone; a stretch of tranquil weather at sea); allusion = peaceful

Harpy

ugly winged snatcher/tormentor; allusion = something (or someone) that preys

Hector

Trojan champion

Helen (of Troy)

the “face that launched a thousand ships”; allusion = beauty so powerful it sparks conflict/disaster.

Herculean

requiring superhuman strength/effort (Hercules’ labors); allusion = extremely difficult task.

Hydra-headed

a problem that multiplies when attacked (cut one head

Iris/Iridescent

Iris = rainbow messenger goddess; iridescent = rainbow-shimmering; allusion = multicolored

Jovial

cheerful

Junoesque

regal

Lethe

river of forgetfulness in the Underworld; allusion = oblivion

Mars/Martial

Mars = god of war; martial = warlike

Medea

brilliant sorceress who helps Jason then takes terrifying revenge; allusion = dangerous

Mercurial/Mercury/Hermes

fast messenger + trickster; mercurial = quick

Morpheus/Morphine

Morpheus = god of dreams (morphine named after him); allusion = sleep

Muse

goddesses of artistic inspiration; “a muse” = source of creativity; allusion = inspiration that sparks art/ideas.

Narcissism

self-obsession (Narcissus falls in love with his reflection); allusion = vanity

Nemesis

goddess of retribution; “a nemesis” = the force/person that brings downfall; allusion = payback for arrogance.

Neptune

sea god; allusion = the ocean

Niobe

boastful mother punished by the loss of her children; turned into a figure of endless tears; allusion = pride leading to unbearable grief.

Odyssey

a long wandering journey (Odysseus’ trek home); allusion = extended

Olympian

of the gods on Mount Olympus; allusion = lofty

Paean

a hymn/song of praise or victory (often to Apollo); allusion = joyful tribute/celebration.

Pandora’s Box

once opened

Parnassus

mountain sacred to Apollo and the Muses; allusion = poetry/arts

Pegasus

winged horse linked to inspiration; allusion = soaring imagination

Phoenix

bird reborn from its ashes; allusion = comeback

Plutocracy

rule by the wealthy (wealth/power linked with “pluto”/riches); allusion = society controlled by money.

Prometheus

Titan who steals fire for humans and suffers for it; allusion = rebellious innovation

Proteus/Protean

shape-shifting sea god; protean = endlessly adaptable

Psyche

Greek for “soul”; mortal who undergoes trials and is united with Eros; allusion = the soul/mind

Pygmalion

sculptor whose perfect statue comes to life; allusion = a creator’s transforming influence (or “falling for” one’s creation).

Pyrrhic victory

a win that costs so much it’s almost a loss (King Pyrrhus); allusion = victory with devastating price.

Saturnalia/Saturnine

Saturnalia = Roman festival of excess/role-reversal; saturnine = gloomy

Sibyl

a prophetess/oracle; allusion = cryptic prophecy

Sisyphus/Sisyphean

condemned to roll a boulder up forever; allusion = endless

Styx/Stygian

river of the Underworld (oaths sworn on it); stygian = dark

Tantalize

to torment with something desirable just out of reach (Tantalus can’t drink/eat); allusion = teasing deprivation.

Titans

ancient giant gods; allusion = enormous power/scale (“titanic” = gigantic).

Vulcan

Roman god of fire/forging; allusion = blacksmithing

Zephyr

gentle west wind; allusion = soft breeze

Zeus

king of the gods