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.