Medusa Mythology Exam 2025

Syrtis (modern-day Gulf of Sidra): location, affiliation

Africa, Jason

Syrtis (modern-day Gulf of Sidra): significance

Known for trapping ships in muddy sands; there, guardian goddesses of Libya revealed that when they see Amphitrite loosening the chariot of Poseidon, it would be time to go home

Lake Tritonis/Tritonian Mere: location, affiliation

Africa, Jason

Lake Tritonis/Tritonian Mere: significance

Heroes carried their ship for 12 days and 12 nights, put ship down in waters of lake

Iolcus: location, affiliation

Greece, Jason

Iolcus significance

Jason was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcus; Pelias (Aeson's half-brother) overthrew him and killed as many descendants of Aeson as he could

River Anaurous: location, affiliation

Greece, Jason

River Anaurous significance

Pelias was holding games in honor of Poseidon when when Jason arrived, having lost one of his sandals in the River Anauros while helping Hera (disguised as an old woman), fulfilling the prophecy that a man with one sandal would remove Pelias from power

Lemnos: location, affiliation

Greece (north Aegean Sea, coast of Turkey), Jason

Lemnos significance

This island was inhabited by women who had killed their husbands; because the women neglected Aphrodite, they began to stink, so their husbands took women from Thrace as concubines; they repopulated their island with the Argonauts, creating the Minyae race

Mount Pelion: location, affiliation

Greece, Jason

Mount Pelion significance

Here, Chiron trained Jason

Thrace: location, affiliation

Greece, Jason

Thrace significance

Jason reached the court of Phineas of Salmydessus in Thrace, where Zeus had sent harpies to eat his food every day; Jason killed harpies; in return, Phineas revealed to Jason the location of Colchis and how to pass the Symplegades

Colchis: location, affiliation

Asia Minor, Jason

Colchis significance

The fleece was owned by King Aeetes of Colchis; because Eros made Medea fall in love with Jason, she helped him complete his three tasks; these included plowing a field with fire-breathing oxen (Khalkotauroi), he did this by using fire-resistant ointment; he defeated dragon by spraying it with sleeping potion

Bosporus location, affiliation

Asia Minor, Jason

Bosporus significance

this strait was where the Symplegades (Clashing Rocks) were located

Propontis location, affiliation

Asia Minor, Jason

Propontis significance

After going to Lemnos, the Argonauts stopped on the coast of Propontis (Sea of Marmara), where they were welcomed by Cyzicus, King of Doliones; the crew set sail after fending off attackers, but they ended up back where they started, and they killed the Doliones, thinking they were enemies; in penance, they held a funeral for the king and his wife

Hyperborea: location, affiliation

Mythical (far north), Jason

Hyperborea significance

the Argonauts saw Hyperborea as they sailed through Eridanos

Symplegades: location, affilation

Mythical (Bosporus, Asia Minor), Jason

Symplegades significance

To get through, the Argonauts released a bird first; they came out with the bird's tail feathers and the stern of the ship damaged

Land of the Bebryces: location, affiliation

Mythical, Jason

Land of the Bebryces significance

Here, the Argonauts fought and killed many

Island of the Sirens: location, affiliation

Mythical, Jason

Island of the Sirens significance

To pass safely, Orpheus played music more beautiful than the Sirens

Island of Dia: location, affiliation

Mythical (Black Sea), Jason

Island of Dia significance

Birds of Ares guarded shrine of Ares on this island; the Argonauts used their shields to defend themselves

Garden of the Hesperides: location, affiliation

Mythical (Ancient Libya, all of North Africa west of the Nile), Jason

Garden of the Hesperides significance

The Hesperides took pity on Argonauts and led them to drinking water

Libyan Coast/Carthage: location, affiliation

Africa, Aeneas

Libyan Coast/Carthage significance

A storm washed the crew on Carthage, where Aeneas began an affair with the queen Dido; mother Venus wanted him to stay there to rest; Hermes reminded Aeneas of his journey, so he left; Dido cursed them, which set Carthage against Rome; later, he welcomed Dido's sister Anna to his city Lavinium, Anna killed herself when she faced Lavinia's jealousy

Thrace: location, affiliation (Aeneas)

Greece, Aeneas

Thrace significance (Aeneas)

After leaving Africa, Aeneas tried to found a city in Thrace, when Polydorus (Priam's youngest son) warned him to flee

Delos: location, affiliation

Greece, Aeneas

Delos significance

At Delos, Apollo speaks to Aeneas, instructing him to go to the land of his ancestors; the king of Delos, Anius, gave him a tour

Crete: location, affiliation

Greece, Aeneas

Crete significance

Aeneas interprete's Apollo's remark as meaning Crete, where Teucrus, a Trojan forefather, once ruled; a plague strikes their city in progress

Cretan Mt. Ida: location, affiliation

Greece, Aeneas

Cretan Mt. Ida significance

Zeus caused Aphrodite to fall in love with mortal Prince Anchises, who lived on Mt. Ida; Aeneas is born

Strophades: location, affiliation

Greece, Aeneas

Strophades significance

Island of the Harpies; they fight the Harpies off, but are cursed, will not arrive home until hunger forces them to eat their tables

Buthrotum: location, affiliation

Greece, Aeneas

Buthrotum significance

Aeneas encounters Andromache, who is weeping at the empty grave of Hector; he learns that prince Helenus, son of Priam, founded Buthrotum in Epeiros; Aeneas is amazed because it looks like Troy

Cumae location, affiliation

Italy, Aeneas

Cumae significance

Here, the Cumaean Sybil urges Aeneas and Achates to sacrifice to Apollo; says that the Trojans will reach and rule in Italy, but they will fight a terrible war

Cape of Misenus: location, affiliation

Italy, Aeneas

Cape of Misenus significance

Located directly across from the island of Procida ; marks the northwestern limit of the Gulf of Naples as well as the Bay of Pozzuoli; named after Minsenus, the trumpeter of Aeneas

Lake Avernus, grove of Avernus: location, affiliation

Italy, Aeneas

Lake Avernus, grove of Avernus significance

At Cumae, Aeneas wants to descend into the Underworld through Avernus to speak to his father

Mt. Etna location, affiliation

Italy, Aeneas

Mt. Etna significance

Following Andromache's instrutions, Aeneas sails along southern coast of Italy to Sicily, Mt. Etna in the distance; Trojans make quick escape from blinded Cyclops with Greek straggler

Land of the Lotus-Eaters location, affiliation

Africa, Odysseus

Land of the Lotus-Eaters significance

After a failed raid against the Cicones, Odysseus and his twelve ships were driven off course by storms. Odysseus visited the lotus-eaters who gave his men their fruit which caused them to forget their homecoming. Odysseus had to drag them back to the ship by force.

Cape Malea: location, affiliation

Greece, Odysseus

Cape Malea significance

On his return home to Ithaca rounds Cape Malea's coast only to be blown off course, resulting in his being lost for up to 10 years

Cythera location, affiliation

Greece, Odysseus

Cythera significance

Cape Malea is located near the island of Cythera

Ithaca location, affiliation

Greece, Odysseus

Ithaca significance

the home of Odysseus

Scylla and Charybdis (identified with Strait of Messina): location, affiliation

Italy, Odysseus

Scylla and Charybdis (identified with Strait of Messina) significance

After the Island of the Sirens, Odysseus passed between the six-headed monster Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis. Scylla claimed six of his men.

Troy: location, affiliation

Asia Minor, Odysseus

Troy significance

Odysseus is returning home from Troy

Ismarus location, affiliation

Asia Minor, Odysseus

Ismarus significance

After Odysseus and his fleet landed on Ismarus, his men plundered the city, killed the male inhabitants, took the women of the town as captives and feasted and lingered on the beach, not listening to Odysseus' commands to leave; the survivors were able to call for help from further inland; they were able to escape in the morning after suffering heavy losses; Odysseus spared Maron, the son of Euanthes and the priest of Apollo; Maron gifts wine; he used this wine to lull the Cyclops Polyphemus to sleep.

Aiaia: location, affilation

Mythical, Odysseus

Aiaia significance

Here, Odysseus met Circe, escaped her magic with moly; stayed with her for one year

Ogygia: location, affiliation

Mythical, Odysseus

Ogygia significance

Odysseus spent seven years as a captive of Calypso; she was ordered to release him by the messenger god Hermes, sent by Zeus in response to Athena's plea; when Poseidon learned that Odysseus had escaped, he wrecked the raft.

Aeolia location, affiliation

Mythical, Odysseus

Aeolia significance

the island kingdom of Aeolus; gave Odysseus a bag with winds in it except for west wind; his men opened it thinking it was gold

Scheria/Phaecia: location, affiliation

Mythical, Odysseus

Scheria/Phaecia significance

Having listened to his story, the Phaeacians agreed to provide Odysseus with more treasure than he would have received from the spoils of Troy; they delivered him at night, while he was fast asleep, to a hidden harbor on Ithaca; Nausicaa was the daughter of King Alcinous

Thrinacia: location, affiliation

Mythical, Odysseus

Thrinacia significance

Odysseus summoned the spirit of the prophet Tiresias and was told that he may return home if he is able to stay himself and his crew from eating the sacred livestock of Helios on the island of Thrinacia and that failure to do so would result in the loss of his ship and his entire crew.

Island of Cyclopes: location, affiliation

Mythical, Odysseus

Island of the Cyclopes significance

Odysseus and his men entered the cave of Polyphemus, who sealed the entrance with a massive boulder and began to eat Odysseus's men; devised an escape plan in which he gave Polyphemus wine and blinded him with a wooden stake; cried for help but was left by his neighbors ("Nobody"); they finally escaped the cave by hiding on the underbellies of the Cyclops's sheep

Land of Laestrygonians significance

the cannibalistic Laestrygonians destroyed all of his ships except his own

Island of the Sirens: location, affiliation (Odysseus)

Mythical, Odysseus

Island of the Sirens significance (Odysseus)

All of the sailors had their ears plugged up with beeswax, except for Odysseus, who was tied to the mast as he wanted to hear the song.

Land of the Cimmerians: location, affiliation

Mythical, Odysseus

Land of the Cimmerians significance

inhabitants of a strange and mythological land, located on the opposite side of the Oceanus river surrounding the earth; they are described as a country forever deprived of sunshine, at the entrance to the kingdom of Hades

Underworld: location, affiliation

Mythical, Odysseus

Underworld significance

Odysseus summoned the spirit of the prophet Tiresias

Troad (northwest Anatolia): location, affiliation

Italy, the Trojan War

Troad (northwest Anatolia) significance

Xanthus/Scamander was river god near ancient Troy, his brother Simois (tributary) favored the Trojans during the Trojan War; Scamander attempted to kill Achilles three times, and the hero was only saved due to the intervention of Hera, Athena and Hephaestus.

Trojan Mt. Ida (site of the Judgment of Paris, site of Dardania): location, affiliation

Italy, Trojan War

Trojan Mt. Ida (site of the Judgment of Paris, site of Dardania) significance

Teucer was the first king of Troad and father of Bateia; Dardanus married Bateia, who bore Dardanus two sons, Ilus and Erichthonius; Dardanus moved to the slope of Mount Ida, where he founded the city of Dardania; Erichthonius's son Tros was the founder of the kingdom of Troy; from the Anatolian Mount Ida, Zeus was said to have abducted Ganymede to Olympus; Laomedon was a Trojan king, and nephew of Ganymede; Priam was the last King of Troy

Crete: location, affiliation (Theseus)

Greece, Theseus

Crete significance (Theseus)

home of the Minotaur

Epidaurus: location, affiliation

Greece, Theseus

Epidaurus significance

First Labor. At Epidaurus, sacred to Apollo and the healer Asclepius, Theseus turned the tables on the chthonic bandit, Periphetes, the Club Bearer, who beat his opponents into the Earth, taking from him the stout staff that often identifies Theseus in vase-paintings.

Corinth: location, affiliation

Greece, Theseus

Land of the Bebryces significance

Megara: location, affiliation

Greece, Theseus

Megara significance

Near Megara, a robber named Sciron forced travelers along the narrow cliff-face pathway to wash his feet. While they knelt, he kicked them off the cliff behind them, where they were eaten by a giant turtle (or, in some versions, a sea monster). Theseus pushed him off the cliff where he was eaten as well.