CLS 75 - Final Review

Aegyptus

Father of the 50 sons who were murdered by their wives, the Danaids (daughters of Danaus) On their wedding nights. Legendary king of Egypt.

Aeneas

Mythical founder of the Roman people. Key figure of the Aeneid. Promoted virtues like piety and duty. Depicted carrying his elderly father fleeing Troy. Often depicted with his mother Aphrodite. Depicted killing Turnus carrying shield of Vulcan.

Anchises

Father of Aeneas who is paralyzed. Carried by Aeneas fleeing from Troy. Can also be depicted in his youthful form with Aphrodite on Mount Ida.

Ascanius/Iulus

Son of Aeneas. King of Alba Longa from which Romulus and Remus would be born. Escapes Troy with Aeneas.

Dido

Queen of Carthage, lover of Aeneas. Aeneas leaves Dido behind in the night and she kills herself as a result. Depicted stabbing herself atop a funeral pyre that is lit on fire so she can be incinerated. Often has a leaving ship in the background of the painting.

Evander

King of Italy who welcomes Aeneas and aids him in battle against the Latins. Father of Pallas who dies in battle, fueling Aeneas’s revenge. Wise elder man often depicted alongside Hercules or mourning over his son Pallas.

Aeolus

God of the winds who causes a devastating storm that wrecks Aeneas’s fleet. Depicted as a kingly beared man on a throne, holding a bag containing the winds, also with horses. Some depictions also feature Juno who convinces him to unleash the winds in exchange for a nymph bride.

Agamemnon

King of Mycenae, commander of Greece during Trojan War. Has significant amounts of Hubris that blinds him which allows him to be killed by his wife Clytemnestra after sacrificing his daughter Iphigenia. Scepter of Hephaestus, often has ornate armor and king-like attributes with an Eagle. When he is killed, he is trapped in a robe and stabbed. No Cleos.

Aegeisthus

Cousin of Agamemnon, lover of Clytemnestra and kills Agamemnon after he returns from the war. Remained in Mycenae while Agamemnon went to war.

Atreus

Father of Agamemnon and Menelaus. Household has extreme ritualistic miasma as they are children of Tantalus who committed the original sin by feeding the gods human flesh. Competed with his twin brother, Thyestes, for the throne of Mycenae. Atreus possessed a golden lamb which symbolized his right to rule which was stolen by his wife Aerope. Reversing sun, Zeus reveres the sun across the sky to prove Atreus’s legitimacy. Serves Thyestes his son’s flesh during a banquet in revenge.

Clytemnestra

Queen of Mycenae, wife of Agamemnon who plots to kill him after he returns from war. Would be killed in a plot by her twin children Orestes and Electra. Typically depicted carrying an axe and alongside Aegisthus killing Agamemnon.

Electra

Daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Lived with Clytemnestra and Aegisthus after the death of Agamemnon, but plotted revenge. Typically depicted meeting her brother Orestes in her father’s tomb where they plot to get revenge on their mother.

Hermione

Sole child of Menelaus and Helen. Married to Neoptolemus, who is later killed, and then married to Orestes who killed Neoptolemus. Unable to bear children with Neoptolemus. Can be seen carrying a dagger to represent her jealousy and hatred. Also carries a marriage torch representing her double marriage.

Andromache

Concubine of Neoptolemus, former wife of Hector who is taken as a war trophy. Produces a son with Neoptolemus. Represented the ideal wife in terms of Greek values, who is ruined and forced to be a concubine, but still manages to keep her head raised. Represents domestic toll of war. Can usually be seen grieving over the dead body of Hector.

Iphigenia

Daughter of Agamemnon who is killed as a sacrifice to Artemis to appease her after Agamemnon had killed a sacred stag. Killed on an altar, usually seen by a Greek man sacrificing a woman on an altar.

Orestes

Son of Agamemnon who kills his mother and suitor Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. Commanded by Apollo he kills them for the murder of his father. Shown with Electra, shown standing over his mother and her husband with an axe of sword. Can also be depicted going to Delphi signified by a tripod to ask Apollo for ritual purification. Also frequently shown being attacked by 3 furies. Apollo can be depicted helping defend Orestes by shooting at the furies.

Thyestes

Brother of Atreus, steals Atreus’s golden lamb by seducing his wife. His sons are murdered on an altar to Zeus and he is fed their flesh at a banquet. Has a prophecy that a son born from his own daughter Pelopia would avenge him. This would become Aegisthus who would kill both Atreus and Agamemnon.

Argonautica

Heroes journey of Jason who assembles the Argonauts to retrieve the Golden Fleece to reclaim his stolen throne.

Aietes

King of Colchis, father of Medea the sorceress. Keeper of the golden fleece. Primary antagonist of Argonautica. Gives Jason impossible tasks; yoking fire-breathing bulls, plowing a field with dragon’s teeth, defeating the warriors who come from dragon’s teeth. Son of sun god Helios, has a palace that is rich with various beautiful artworks.

Argonauts

Warriors that accompanied Jason on the Argonautica.

Calais & Zetes

Twin sons of the wind god Boreas. Have wings, most famously chased down the harpies who were bothering the seer Phineas. Represents untamed power of the wind, biggest proponents to leaving Heracles.

Castor & Pollux

Sons of Leda, queen of Sparta who engaged in the Argonautica. Pollux is a child of Zeus after the rape of Leda in the form of a swan. Pollux would kill King Amycus in a boxing match. Iconography shows two men with raw hide gloves boxing. They also saved their sister Helen from Theseus. They would later become the Gemini constellation

Creusa/Glauce

Woman that Jason abandons Medea for. Princess of Corinth. Killed by Medea in revenge by being given a poison imbued robe that causes her to erupt into fire. Her father dies alongside her. Depicted usually wearing a burning robe. Seen as the traditional and innocent Greek bride while Medea is cunning and powerful.

Phineas & Harpies

Phineas was a blind seer who was tormented by Harpies who would steal his food causing him to have unending hunger. This is the result of him telling mortals the secret plans of the gods. Symbolizes divine punishment. Usually depicted at a table with the harpies who are snatching his food away.

Phryxus & Helle

Origin of golden Fleece. Tried to be sacrificed by their mother Ino, but are saved by the cloud goddess Nephele who sent a flying ram with a golden fleece to rescue them. Helle would lose her grip and plunge into the sea, either dying or becoming a sea goddess. Phryxus would arrive safely to Colchis.

Jason

Rightful heir of Iolcus sent on a scavenger hunt by his uncle King Pelias. Despite having favor from the gods, Jason had no morale character and would die of old age wandering when a beam from the Argo would kill him. Wears only one sandal. Wearing leopard or Panther skin. Young and beardless. Spear and Travelling hat.

Medea

Powerful sorceress, niece of Circe and priestess of Hecate. Sole reason for the success of the Argo often helping Jason. Kills her own children who she had with Jason to ensure he wouldn’t have any heirs. Viewed as the true hero of the Argonautica. Often seen as a barbarian. Shows the tragedy that goes along with breaking sacred oaths. Often seen riding a sun chariot, killing children, cutting up bodies, and giving a robe to Creusa/Glauce.

Telamon

King of Salamis, sailed on the Argo. Participated in the Calydonian Boar Hunt, and the first sack of Troy being the first to breach its walls. Often has a full beard and full armor, which shows his status as a king and seasoned warrior.

Ate

goddess of mischief, delusion, folly, and ruin. Leads both gods and mortals into reckless and inevitable actions. Rotten apples, withered wings, a net, stormy landscapes.

Bellerophon

Famous hero, tames Pegasus and slays the Chimera. Aided by Athena in taming Pegasus with a golden bridle. He would become so famous that he tries to fly up to Mount Olympus, but he is thrwarted by Zeus who sends a gadfly to cause Pegasus to buck him off. Depicted with a golden bridle, Pegasus, the Chimera, and a spear.

Chimera

Monster, head of a lion, had a she-goat fire spitting torso, and a snake for a tail. Would be slayed by Pegasus and Bellerophon. Would be killed by a lead-tipped spear which caused internal suffocation of the chimera.

Chiron

Centaur son of Cronus, raised by Apollo and Artemis. Regarded as the great teacher of heroes. Taught Achilles, Asclepius, and raised Jason. Can be depicted with human front legs to represent his civility. Often shown carrying a branch or a lyre, and dwelling in a cave.

Cypria

Epic that covers the first nine years of the Trojan War. Lost epic book with things that would be referenced in later epics.

Apple of Discord

Apple that Eris throws into the wedding of Peleus and Thetis that is meant to cause strife. Says for the fairest. Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite all claim the apple and Zeus appoints Paris the choose who will take the apple.

Helen

Wife of Menelaus, queen of Sparta, most beautiful woman in the world. Daughter of Zeus and Leda. Would be abducted by Paris and cause the Trojan War due to the oaht of Tyndareus. Often depicted being abducted by Paris, shown by a man leading a woman away by grabbing her forearm, often with boats in the background. Can also be depicted with her handmaidens who lift her veil to appeal to Menelaus not to kill her.`

Judgement of Paris

Paris chooses Aphrodite as the fairest after being bribed with Helen of Troy. This leads to the events of the Trojan War. This would cause Hera and Athena to become Troy’s sworn enemies which would ultimately result in destruction of Troy. Usually shown with three goddesses, either depicted as nude or semi-nude. Paris often wears a Phrygian cap and has a Shepards crook. Cap is floppy and traditionally Eastern.

Leda

Queen of Sparta who is impregnated by Zeus to produce many of the heroes. Iconography includes the rape of Leda by a swan and an egg from which her divine children hatched.

Menelaus

King of Sparta, husband of Helen of Troy. Dueled Paris and won, Paris would later be saved by Aphrodite. Often portrayed as courageous and loyal. Would wrestle Proteus to learn how to appease the gods and find his way home. Would live out his days wit Helen as king of Sparta. Depicted dueling Paris in hoplite armor and also as having his sword drawn against Helen

Paris/Alexandar

Prince of Troy whose actions directly lead to the Trojan war and fall of Troy. Was a handsome, young Shepard. Often seen as cowardly and unskilled. Kills Achilles by shooting an arrow into his heel that is guided by Apollo. Wears the Phrygian cap, often carries a bow, seen guiding away Helen. Would later die by Philoctetes who used a poison arrow given to him by Heracles.

Peleus and Thetis

Parents of Achilles. Thetis had a prophecy that her son would be stronger than their father. Zeus decides to send her a mortal, Peleus, who has to wrestle her while she shapeshifts and tries to get away until eventually she relents. Thetis is often accompanied by dolphins and carries weapons since she is a goddess.

Tyndareus

King of Sparta, father of Helen, forced her suitors to a vow that they would help if she were ever kidnapped, which prevents civil war but would lead to the Trojan War. Represents diplomatic ingenuity. Often depicted as an elder man who carries a scepter and has a beard. In the middle of a group of younger men while signing oath.

Danaus & Danaids

Had 50 daughters, married them to his twin brother Aegyptus. Instructs his daughters to all kill them on their wedding night. Danaids are recognizable by their punishment in the underworld. They are forced to carry jugs of water that are bottomless, an impossible task. Danaus is also credited with building the first ship.

Herakles/Hercules

Son of Zeus and Alcmene, granddaughter of Perseus and descendant of Io. Demonstrated physical power and strength, power of human spirit, stoicism. Club, lion skin, wrestler’s body.

Alkmene

Mother of Heracles and Iphicles. Mortal princess of Mycenae descended from Perseus. Married to Amphitryon, but impregnated by Zeus who visited her in the form of her husband. Amphitryon tries to burn her on the pyre, but Zeus saves her by sending a heavy downpour of rain, often symbolized by nymphs pouring water out from jugs to extinguish the fire.

Deianira

Wife of Herakles. She would be kidnapped by the centaur Nessus who would be killed by Hercuels, but Nessus would give Deianira a love potion made from his blood. When Herakles becomes close with Iole, Deianira uses the potion out of jealousy, but it actually was poison which results in Herakles’s death. Deianira then commits suicide, either by knife or hanging.

Eurystheus

Herakles’s cousin who became king instead of him due to a trick by Hera. He would be the king responsible for declaring all of Herakles’s labors for redemption after he kills his first family. After Herakles’s death, Eurystheus would lead a campaign against his children, which would end with him dying and his severed head having it’s eyes gouged out by Herakles’s mother Alcmene.

Hylas

Hylas was a beautiful youth and companion of Heracles who joined the Argonauts. While drawing water in Mysia, he was seized by water nymphs who fell in love with him. Heracles searched for him in vain, causing the Argo to sail without its greatest hero. Hylas never returns, symbolizing the perilous allure of nature and youthful beauty. In art, he appears as a youthful, often nude figure with a water jar, surrounded by Naiads emerging from a spring.

Iolaus

Iolaus was the devoted companion and nephew of Heracles, best known for aiding him in the fight against the Lernaean Hydra. By cauterizing the Hydra’s necks after each head was cut off, he prevented their regeneration and ensured Heracles’ victory. He later helped Heracles in other labors and adventures and was honored as a hero, especially in Thebes and Athens. In art, Iolaus is shown as a youthful attendant beside Heracles, holding a torch, club, or chariot reins.

Megara

Megara was the first wife of Heracles and the daughter of King Creon of Thebes. Driven mad by Hera, Heracles tragically killed Megara and their children, an act that led to his purification and the Twelve Labors. In some traditions she survives and is later married to Iolaus, but she remains a symbol of innocent suffering caused by divine cruelty. In art, Megara appears as a sorrowful woman beside Heracles, sometimes with children, or in scenes of domestic tragedy and lamentation.

Omphale

Omphale was the Lydian queen who enslaved Heracles as punishment for murder. During his servitude, their roles reversed, with Heracles performing women’s work while Omphale wore his lion skin and carried his club. She later became his lover and, in some traditions, his wife. In art, Omphale is shown wearing the Nemean lion skin, often beside a feminized or submissive Heracles.

Nessus

Nessus was a centaur ferryman who attempted to abduct Deianira while carrying her across a river. Heracles shot him with a Hydra-poisoned arrow, fatally wounding him. As revenge, Nessus tricked Deianira into keeping his poisoned blood as a supposed love charm, which later caused Heracles’ death. In art, Nessus appears as a centaur struggling with Deianira or being shot by Heracles.

Kleos

Kleos is the Greek concept of glory or fame earned through great deeds and preserved in song. It motivates heroes like Achilles to choose a short life with everlasting renown over a long, obscure one. Kleos is achieved through bravery in battle and recognition by poets and the community. In art, kleos is symbolized by heroic warriors, epic performance scenes, or figures accompanied by lyres and inscriptions.

Laomedon

Laomedon was king of Troy who cheated both gods and heroes, refusing to pay Apollo and Poseidon for building Troy’s walls and later denying Heracles his promised reward. As punishment, Heracles attacked Troy and killed Laomedon. His broken oaths helped establish Troy’s doomed moral legacy. In art, Laomedon appears as a crowned king at Troy’s walls, in scenes of divine punishment, or confronting Heracles.

Meleager and Atalanta

Meleager was a hero who led the Calydonian Boar Hunt, where he fell in love with the warrior Atalanta. He killed the boar and awarded its hide to Atalanta, angering his uncles and triggering a family feud that led to his death when a magical log burned. Atalanta became famed for her speed and skill in hunting, later participating in the hunt and other adventures. In art, Meleager is shown with a spear or boar’s hide, while Atalanta appears as a running huntress or wielding a bow.

Nostoi

The Nostoi are the “Returns” of Greek heroes from Troy to their homelands after the Trojan War. They recount the perilous voyages of figures like Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Nestor, often marked by storms, divine wrath, and tragic deaths. These stories emphasize fate, heroism, and the cost of war. In art, Nostoi are depicted as ships at sea, heroes struggling against waves, or scenes of homecoming and reunion.

Odysseus

Odysseus was the cunning king of Ithaca, famed for his cleverness during the Trojan War and his decade-long journey home in the Odyssey. He devised the Trojan Horse strategy, faced monsters like the Cyclops Polyphemus, and resisted temptations from Circe and the Sirens. His perseverance and wit defined his heroic legacy. In art, Odysseus appears as a bearded warrior, a ship captain at sea, or bound to the mast to resist the Sirens. Also wears a travellers cap and has a bow.

Calyspo

Calypso was a nymph who lived on the island of Ogygia and detained Odysseus for several years during his journey home from Troy. She offered him immortality if he stayed, but he longed for Ithaca and eventually left with the gods’ aid. Calypso represents both divine allure and the tension between desire and duty. In art, she appears as a reclining or standing nymph, often with Odysseus on her island or beside a ship.

Circe

Circe was a powerful sorceress on the island of Aeaea who transformed Odysseus’ men into pigs. Odysseus, aided by Hermes’ magic herb, resisted her spells, and she became his ally and lover for a year. She provided guidance for his journey through the underworld and the perils ahead. In art, Circe is depicted with a wand or potion, surrounded by animals, or offering a cup to Odysseus.

palamedes

Palamedes was a clever Greek hero and inventor during the Trojan War, credited with creating letters, numbers, and war strategies. He exposed Odysseus’ feigned madness to avoid the war, earning Odysseus’ deadly jealousy. Framed and executed by a trick involving false evidence, Palamedes became a symbol of intelligence betrayed. In art, he appears as a youthful warrior, holding tablets or scrolls, or confronted by Odysseus and other Greeks.

Penelope

Penelope was the faithful wife of Odysseus, who waited twenty years for his return from Troy and his subsequent wanderings. She cleverly delayed remarriage by weaving and secretly unraveling a shroud each night. Her loyalty and intelligence preserved Ithaca’s throne and household. In art, Penelope appears seated at her loom, in scenes of awaiting Odysseus, or rejecting suitors.

Polyphemus

Polyphemus was the giant Cyclops son of Poseidon who imprisoned Odysseus and his men in his cave. He ate several of Odysseus’ companions before Odysseus blinded him with a heated stake to escape. His curse on Odysseus prolonged the hero’s journey home. In art, Polyphemus appears as a towering one-eyed giant, often grasping Odysseus’ men, or with a club or rock.

Scylla and Charybdis

Scylla and Charybdis were monstrous hazards Odysseus faced while sailing the Strait of Messina. Scylla was a six-headed sea monster who snatched sailors from ships, while Charybdis was a giant whirlpool that could swallow entire vessels. Odysseus navigated carefully, losing few men to Scylla rather than risking Charybdis. In art, Scylla appears as a multi-headed monster rising from the sea, and Charybdis as a swirling whirlpool or gaping mouth in water.

Sirens

The Sirens were dangerous creatures who lured sailors to their deaths with irresistible singing. Odysseus famously navigated past them by having his crew block their ears with wax while he was tied to the mast. They symbolize temptation and the peril of desire. In art, Sirens appear as bird-bodied women singing, as women with wings, or perched on rocky cliffs near the sea.

Telemachus

Telemachus was the son of Odysseus and Penelope, who grew up during his father’s long absence after the Trojan War. He journeyed to Pylos and Sparta seeking news of Odysseus and matured into a capable leader. He aided Odysseus in defeating the suitors upon his return to Ithaca. In art, Telemachus appears as a young man beside Odysseus, carrying a spear, or confronting the suitors.

Perseus

Perseus was the hero who slew Medusa, the Gorgon whose gaze turned men to stone, using a reflective shield given by Athena. He rescued Andromeda from a sea monster and later founded Mycenae. His cleverness and divine gifts defined his heroic legacy. In art, Perseus appears with Medusa’s severed head, wearing winged sandals, or holding a curved sword (harpe), often beside Andromeda.

Acrisius

Acrisius was the king of Argos and father of Danaë, who tried to prevent a prophecy that his grandson would kill him by imprisoning Danaë. Zeus impregnated her in the form of golden rain, and she gave birth to Perseus. Acrisius later accidentally fulfilled the prophecy when Perseus struck him with a discus. In art, Acrisius appears as a worried or seated king, sometimes beside Danaë in her chamber, or witnessing Perseus’ athletic contests.

Andromeda

Andromeda was the Ethiopian princess saved by Perseus from a sea monster sent as punishment for her mother’s boast. She was chained to a rock as a sacrifice but became Perseus’ wife after he slew the creature. Andromeda symbolizes innocence, beauty, and deliverance by heroism. In art, she appears chained to a rock, in the arms of Perseus, or beside the defeated sea monster.

Danae

Danaë was the daughter of King Acrisius of Argos, imprisoned to prevent a prophecy that her son would kill him. Zeus visited her as a shower of gold, and she gave birth to Perseus. She and Perseus were later cast into the sea in a chest but survived, highlighting her role in fate and divine intervention. In art, Danaë is shown receiving the golden rain, reclining in a chest, or with the infant Perseus.

Dictys

Dictys was the fisherman who rescued Danaë and the infant Perseus after they were cast into the sea by Acrisius. He raised Perseus, providing care and protection until the hero grew. Dictys represents kindness, loyalty, and humble heroism. In art, he appears as a fisherman holding Danaë or Perseus, beside a chest washed ashore, or with a net or fishing tools.

Graeae/Graiai —> Gray Sisters

The Graeae, or Graiai, were three ancient sisters who shared a single eye and tooth among them. They helped Perseus locate Medusa by being coerced to reveal her location. They symbolize aged wisdom and the eerie power of prophecy. In art, they appear as old, wrinkled women sharing one eye, often clutching a tooth, or depicted together with a sinister, mystical appearance.

Medusa

Medusa was the Gorgon whose gaze turned anyone who looked at her to stone. Once a beautiful maiden, she was cursed by Athena and later slain by Perseus, who used a reflective shield to avoid her deadly eyes. Her head retained its petrifying power and was used as a protective symbol. In art, Medusa appears with snakes for hair, a terrifying visage, or in Perseus’ grasp holding her severed head.

Pegasus

Pegasus was the winged horse born from Medusa’s blood when Perseus beheaded her. He later became the steed of the hero Bellerophon, helping him defeat the Chimera. Pegasus symbolizes divine inspiration and heroic mobility. In art, Pegasus appears as a white, winged horse in flight, often carrying Bellerophon, or rising from Medusa’s blood.

Pietas

Pietas was the Roman virtue of duty, loyalty, and devotion to the gods, family, and country. It guided figures like Aeneas, who honored the gods and cared for his father while fleeing Troy. Pietas embodies moral and religious responsibility above personal desire. In art, it is symbolized by Aeneas carrying Anchises, holding the household gods (Penates), or in scenes of sacrifice and filial devotion.

Brutus

Brutus, often called Lucius Junius Brutus, was the founder of the Roman Republic who led the revolt against the last king, Tarquin the Proud. He famously executed his own sons for plotting to restore the monarchy, placing duty above personal ties. Brutus symbolizes republican virtue, courage, and moral integrity. In art, he appears as a stern statesman, holding fasces, or witnessing the execution of his sons.

Faustulus

Faustulus was the shepherd who discovered the infant twins Romulus and Remus, raised by a she-wolf, and brought them to his home. He and his wife, Acca Larentia, nurtured the boys into adulthood. Faustulus represents guidance, care, and the protection of Rome’s founders. In art, he appears as a shepherd with the twins, beside the she-wolf, or tending to the children in a pastoral setting.

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who expanded Rome’s territories, reformed the calendar, and centralized power as dictator. His crossing of the Rubicon sparked civil war, and his assassination on the Ides of March ended his rule. Caesar symbolizes ambition, military genius, and the fall of the Republic. In art, he appears in a toga or armor, with a laurel crown, or at the moment of his assassination.

Lucretia

Lucretia was a noble Roman woman whose rape by Sextus Tarquinius sparked outrage and led to the overthrow of the monarchy. Her suicide after the assault symbolized honor, chastity, and civic virtue. Lucretia’s story inspired the founding of the Roman Republic. In art, she appears at her loom, drawing a dagger, or in scenes of lamentation and confrontation with her assailant.

Numa Pompilius

Numa Pompilius was the second king of Rome, known for his wisdom, piety, and establishment of religious and legal institutions. He organized the priesthoods, created the Roman calendar, and promoted peace and law over war. Numa symbolizes divine guidance and moral governance. In art, he appears as a solemn, bearded king, often holding a staff or scroll, or performing religious rites.

Quirinus

Quirinus was an early Roman god, often identified with the deified Romulus, symbolizing the Roman people and civic unity. He represented war in a communal sense and the authority of the Roman state. Quirinus embodies the fusion of divine and political power in Rome. In art, he appears as a bearded, toga-clad figure, sometimes holding a spear or scepter, or in scenes of public ritual and sacrifice.

Rhea Silvia/Ilia

Rhea Silvia, also called Ilia, was a Vestal Virgin and daughter of Numitor, king of Alba Longa. She was forced to remain celibate but became pregnant by Mars, giving birth to the twins Romulus and Remus. Her story connects divine intervention with the founding of Rome. In art, she appears as a Vestal Virgin, often with Mars nearby, or beside the infant twins and the she-wolf.

Romulus/Remus

Romulus and Remus were the twin sons of Rhea Silvia and Mars, abandoned at birth and suckled by a she-wolf. They grew up under the care of the shepherd Faustulus and eventually founded the city of Rome. Romulus killed Remus in a quarrel, becoming Rome’s first king. In art, they appear as infants with the she-wolf, as young men founding Rome, or with Romulus holding a spear and Remus beside him.

Sextus Tarquinius

Sextus Tarquinius was the son of the last Roman king, Tarquin the Proud, infamous for raping Lucretia. His crime sparked outrage and led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the founding of the Roman Republic. Sextus symbolizes tyranny, abuse of power, and moral corruption. In art, he appears confronting Lucretia, fleeing the city, or depicted in dramatic scenes of violence and moral transgression.

Oedipus

Oedipus was the king of Thebes who unknowingly killed his father, Laius, and married his mother, Jocasta, fulfilling a tragic prophecy. Upon discovering the truth, he blinded himself and went into exile. His story symbolizes fate, hubris, and the limits of human knowledge. In art, Oedipus appears as a crowned or kingly figure, blind and guided by others, or confronting the Sphinx.

Seven Against Thebes

The Seven Against Thebes were seven champions who attacked Thebes to support Polynices’ claim to the throne against his brother Eteocles. The campaign ended in mutual destruction, including the deaths of both brothers, fulfilling the curse of Oedipus’ family. The story symbolizes familial strife, fate, and heroic courage. In art, they appear as armored warriors besieging Thebes’ walls, in battle with Theban defenders, or on shields and vases depicting the campaign.

Amphiaraus

Amphiaraus was a seer and one of the Seven Against Thebes who foresaw the doomed expedition. Despite knowing it would fail, he joined the campaign due to his wife Eriphyle’s bribery. During battle, he was swallowed by the earth, and later worshipped as a hero and oracle. In art, Amphiaraus appears in a chariot being swallowed by the ground, holding prophetic scrolls, or among the Seven Against Thebes.

antigone and ismene

Antigone and Ismene were the daughters of Oedipus and Jocasta in Thebes. Antigone defied King Creon by burying their brother Polynices, upholding divine law over human law, while Ismene was more cautious and initially refused to help. Antigone’s courage led to her death, symbolizing loyalty, piety, and moral duty. In art, they appear as grieving sisters, in scenes of Polynices’ burial, or confronting Creon.

Creon and Haemon

Creon was the king of Thebes who enforced the law forbidding Polynices’ burial, prioritizing state over family. His son Haemon pleaded for mercy on Antigone’s behalf but failed to prevent her death, ultimately dying in grief. Their story symbolizes the conflict between law, family, and conscience. In art, Creon appears as a stern, toga-clad ruler, Haemon as a young man pleading or mourning, often beside Antigone or the tomb.

Eteocles and Polynices

Eteocles and Polynices were the sons of Oedipus who quarreled over the throne of Thebes. Their conflict led to the Seven Against Thebes and ended with both brothers killing each other in battle, fulfilling their father’s curse. They symbolize familial strife, fate, and the tragic consequences of pride. In art, they appear as armored warriors fighting each other, lying dead on the battlefield, or in scenes of Thebes under siege.

Tydeus

Tydeus’ story includes a grisly episode of cannibalism that emphasizes his savage, unstoppable nature. During the war of the Seven Against Thebes, he was mortally wounded, and in some versions, he ate the brains of his enemy, Melanippus, either in a frenzy or as an act of vengeance. This act horrified the gods; Athena, who had planned to grant him immortality, withdrew her favor because of his brutality. In art, Tydeus may be shown in battle, wielding weapons, or in scenes emphasizing his ferocity and bloodthirsty reputation.

Achilles

Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior in the Trojan War, known for his unmatched strength, speed, and martial skill. He killed Hector to avenge Patroclus, whose death drove him into a rage, and was ultimately slain by an arrow to his heel. Achilles symbolizes heroism, wrath, and the tension between glory and mortality. In art, he appears armored with a spear and shield, dragging Hector’s body, or in moments of grief with Patroclus.

Ajax (Son of Telemon)

Ajax the Great was a towering Greek warrior in the Trojan War, famed for his strength, bravery, and steadfastness. He defended the Greek ships against Trojan attacks and fought Hector in single combat. After losing Achilles’ armor to Odysseus, he fell into despair and committed suicide. In art, Ajax appears in full armor with a large shield, in combat with Trojans, or preparing for his death. He falls on his sword

Ajax (Son of Oileus)

Ajax the Lesser was the son of Oileus, king of Locris, and a Greek warrior at Troy. Unlike Telamonian Ajax, he was smaller and less heroic, known for speed and cunning rather than overwhelming strength. He committed sacrilegious acts, including assaulting Cassandra in Athena’s temple, which led to his death by shipwreck as divine punishment. In art, he appears as a smaller, armored warrior, sometimes fleeing the sea, or depicted in sacrilegious scenes with Cassandra.

Andromache

Andromache was the wife of Hector and mother of Astyanax in the Trojan War. She is famed for her loyalty, grief, and devotion to her family, especially after Hector’s death at the hands of Achilles. Her story symbolizes the suffering of women in war and the human cost of heroism. In art, she appears weeping beside Hector’s body, holding Astyanax, or in scenes of lamentation and mourning.

Astyanax

Astyanax was the infant son of Hector and Andromache, heir to Troy. After the fall of Troy, he was tragically killed—thrown from the walls by the Greeks—to prevent him from avenging his father. He symbolizes innocence destroyed by war and the brutal consequences of vengeance. In art, Astyanax appears as a small child in Andromache’s arms, crying beside his parents, or in scenes of the sack of Troy.

Brises

Briseis was a Trojan woman captured as a war prize by the Greeks during the Trojan War. She was given to Achilles, and her seizure by Agamemnon sparked the hero’s anger and withdrawal from battle, a key conflict in the Iliad. Briseis symbolizes the personal and political consequences of war. In art, she appears as a captive woman beside Achilles, being taken by Agamemnon, or in lamentation scenes.

Cassandra

Cassandra was a Trojan princess and daughter of Priam, gifted with the power of prophecy but cursed so no one would believe her warnings. She foresaw the fall of Troy and her own fate but was ignored, eventually taken as a concubine by Agamemnon after the war. Cassandra symbolizes tragic foresight and the powerlessness of truth. In art, she appears in despair, clutching her head, beside the Greeks, or in scenes of the sack of Troy.

Chryseis

Chryseis was a Trojan woman captured by the Greeks during the Trojan War and given to Agamemnon as a war prize. Her father, the priest Chryses, pleaded for her return, and Agamemnon’s refusal sparked Apollo’s plague on the Greek army. Eventually, she was returned, triggering Achilles’ anger and withdrawal from battle. In art, Chryseis appears as a captive woman beside Agamemnon, pleading with her father, or being led away by Greek soldiers.

Dardanus

Dardanus was a mythical founder of Dardania and ancestor of the Trojans, often considered a son of Zeus and Electra. He established the royal line that would lead to Priam and the rulers of Troy. Dardanus symbolizes divine origin and the legitimacy of Trojan kingship. In art, he appears as a regal, bearded figure, often holding a scepter or staff, sometimes with a Trojan city or altar in the background.

Diomedes

Diomedes was a Greek hero of the Trojan War, famed for his courage, skill in battle, and favor from Athena. He wounded Ares and Aphrodite in combat and was one of the most effective Greek warriors alongside Achilles. Diomedes symbolizes martial valor and divine-aided heroism. In art, he appears in full armor with a spear or sword, often fighting Trojans, wounding gods, or accompanied by Athena.

Epeus

Epeus was the Greek architect and craftsman credited with constructing the Trojan Horse that allowed the Greeks to finally enter and sack Troy. His clever design symbolizes cunning, strategy, and the turning of intellect into war success. Epeus represents ingenuity in mythic warfare. In art, he appears building the wooden horse, inspecting it with other Greeks, or guiding the warriors hidden inside.