Mythology Flashcards: Greek, Roman, and World Myths Overview

Myth

A traditional story explaining natural or social phenomena, often involving supernatural beings.

mythology

A collection or study of myths, especially those belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition.

creation

The act of bringing the universe or life into existence, often explained through myth.

trickster

A mythological figure known for cunning and deceit, often disrupting the status quo.

apocalypse/destruction

A myth involving the end of the world or a catastrophic event.

Flood mythos

Myths involving a great flood sent by deities to destroy civilization.

succession myth

Myths describing the overthrow of one generation of gods by another.

combat myth

A myth involving a battle between gods or cosmic forces.

divine council myth

A myth featuring a group of gods who make decisions together.

Heroic quest myth

A myth involving a hero's journey to achieve a goal or overcome challenges.

katabasis

A journey to the underworld, often undertaken by a hero.

etiology

A myth explaining the origin of a custom, ritual, geographical feature, or name.

aitia

Greek term for cause or reason, often used in etiological myths.

polytheism

Belief in or worship of multiple gods.

monotheism

Belief in a single deity.

anthropomorphism

Attributing human characteristics to gods or non-human entities.

binaturalism

A deity possessing both natural and divine qualities.

syncretism

The merging of different religious or mythological traditions.

religion

A system of faith and worship involving belief in a higher power.

cosmogony

A theory or myth about the origin of the universe.

cosmos

The universe seen as a well-ordered whole.

theogony

A genealogy or origin story of the gods.

deity

A god or goddess.

Enuma Elish

Babylonian creation myth featuring the god Marduk.

Marduk

Babylonian god who defeats Tiamat and creates the world.

archetype

A typical example of a character or situation in myths.

collective unconscious

Jungian concept of shared, inherited memories and ideas.

binary oppositions

Pairs of contrasting concepts used in myth and literature.

Hero's Journey

Narrative pattern involving a hero's adventure and transformation.

genesis

Origin or beginning, also refers to the first book of the Bible.

Hesiod

Ancient Greek poet who wrote Theogony and Works and Days.

pantheon

All the gods of a particular mythology collectively.

primal

Original or earliest in time.

chaos

The void or disorder preceding creation.

Gaia

Greek goddess of the Earth.

Tartaros

Deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment in Greek mythology.

Eros

Greek god of love and attraction.

parthenogenesis

Reproduction without fertilization, often used in myths.

hieros gamos

Sacred marriage between a god and goddess.

Erebus

Greek primordial deity representing darkness.

Nyx

Greek goddess of the night.

Aether

Primordial deity representing the upper air.

Hemera

Greek goddess of the day.

Ouranos

Greek god of the sky.

Pontus

Greek primordial sea god.

Muses

Nine goddesses of inspiration in arts and sciences.

Mnemosyne

Titaness of memory and mother of the Muses.

Titans

Pre-Olympian gods in Greek mythology.

Cronos

Titan who overthrew Uranus and was later overthrown by Zeus.

Rhea

Titaness and mother of the Olympian gods.

Cyclopes

One-eyed giants in Greek mythology.

Hundred-handers

Giants with a hundred hands and fifty heads.

Adamant

Unbreakable substance often used in mythological weapons.

Eirynes (Furies)

Deities of vengeance in Greek mythology.

Giants

Large beings who fought the Olympian gods.

Meliae (Meliai)

Ash tree nymphs born from Uranus's blood.

nymph

Minor female nature deity.

Epithets

Descriptive phrases or titles for gods and heroes.

Olympians

Major gods who reside on Mount Olympus.

Zeus

King of the Olympian gods.

omphalos

Sacred stone representing the navel of the world.

Prometheus

Titan who gave fire to humans.

Aphrodite

Greek goddess of love and beauty.

Iapetus

Titan and father of Prometheus.

Clymene

Oceanid and mother of Prometheus.

Mecone

Site of the division of sacrifices between gods and humans.

Prometheus Bound

Tragedy by Aeschylus about Prometheus's punishment.

Pandora

First woman created by the gods, released evils into the world.

Hephaestus

God of fire and craftsmanship.

Titanomachy

War between Titans and Olympians.

Gigantomachy

Battle between gods and giants.

Typhoeus/Typhoios/Typhon

Monstrous serpentine giant defeated by Zeus.

Mt. Etna

Volcano associated with Typhon's imprisonment.

Apollodorus

Ancient author of mythological compendium.

Biblioteca

Mythological library attributed to Apollodorus.

Heracles

Greek hero known for his twelve labors.

Ovid

Roman poet who wrote Metamorphoses.

Metamorphoses

Poem by Ovid detailing mythological transformations.

Four Ages

Myth of human history divided into four eras.

Five Ages

Expanded version of the ages of man.

Aurora

Roman goddess of dawn.

Eurus

East wind in Greek mythology.

Zephyr

West wind in Greek mythology.

Boreas

North wind in Greek mythology.

Auster

South wind in Roman mythology.

Ossa

Mountain in Greece, used in Gigantomachy.

Pelion

Mountain stacked with Ossa by giants.

Jupiter

Roman king of the gods.

Works and Days

Hesiod's poem on farming and morality.

Athena

Greek goddess of wisdom and war.

Hermes

Messenger god and guide to the underworld.

Epimetheus

Titan who accepted Pandora.

Plato

Greek philosopher who discussed myths in his works.

Protagoras

Greek philosopher known for relativism.

culture hero

Mythical figure who brings benefits to humanity.

Aeschylus

Greek tragedian who wrote Prometheus Bound.

Deucalion

Survivor of the Greek flood myth.

Pyrrha

Wife of Deucalion, helped repopulate the earth.

Lycaon

King turned into a wolf for impiety.

ark

Vessel used to survive a flood.