Key Names and Terms from Greek Mythology and Philosophy

Flashcards covering key names and terms from Greek mythology and philosophy.

Who is Lycurgus in Greek mythology?

A legendary lawgiver of Sparta.

What were the Minyads known for?

They were a group of women who defied the cult of Dionysus.

Who was Pentheus?

A character from Greek mythology, king of Thebes, who opposed Dionysus.

What is Thespis known for?

Often considered the first actor in Greek drama.

Who is Hades?

The Greek god of the underworld.

What is another name for Hades?

Pluto.

What does psychopompos mean?

A guide of souls to the afterlife.

Who is Tiresias?

A blind prophet of Thebes, known for his clairvoyance.

Who is Tantalus?

A figure condemned to suffer eternal hunger and thirst.

What is Sisyphus famously known for?

Being punished to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity.

What is Elysium?

The final resting place of the souls of the heroic and the virtuous.

Who was Orpheus?

A legendary musician and poet who could charm all living things.

Who is Eurydicê?

The wife of Orpheus, who died young.

What is Zagreus associated with?

A deity linked to the Orphic mysteries, often considered a form of Dionysus.

Who was Pythagoras?

An ancient Greek philosopher known for his contributions to mathematics and philosophy.

What did Er experience in the afterlife?

A soldier who witnessed the afterlife and returned to tell others.

What is Acheron?

One of the rivers in the Underworld, known as the river of sorrow.

Who is Charon?

The ferryman of the dead who transports souls across Acheron.

Who is Ixion?

A figure in Greek mythology punished to be bound to a spinning wheel.