Greek Myth Midterm

Temenos

A sacred space dedicated to a god, marked off from ordinary land, containing temples, altars, and ritual areas.

Ouranos

Primordial god of the sky, first ruler of the cosmos, overthrown by his son Cronus.

Gaia

Primordial goddess representing Earth, mother of many gods including the Titans.

Eros

Primordial force of attraction and desire that brings beings together and enables creation.

Cronus

Leader of the Titans, who castrated his father Ouranos and ruled the cosmos before Zeus.

Zeus

King of the gods, associated with justice, divine order, and political authority.

Prometheus

Champion of humanity who stole fire from the gods and was punished by Zeus.

Pandora

First woman created by the gods as punishment for humanity, opened a jar releasing hardships.

Athena (Parthenos)

Virgin goddess of wisdom and strategy; a patron deity of Athens.

Delphi

Major sanctuary of Apollo and location of the famous oracle.

Dionysus

God of wine, theater, and ritual madness, associated with ecstatic religious experiences.

Maenads

Female followers of Dionysus who enter ecstatic states.

Eleusis

Site of the Eleusinian Mysteries dedicated to Demeter and Persephone.

Sparagmos

Ritual tearing apart of animals during Dionysian frenzy.

Oceanids

Daughters of Ocean, water nymphs associated with rivers and springs.

Delos

Sacred island and birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.

Brauron

Sanctuary of Artemis known for initiation rituals marking the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Thebes

An important mythological city associated with Dionysus, Cadmus, and Pentheus.

Hades

God of the underworld and ruler of the dead.

Cadmus

Founder of Thebes and grandfather of Pentheus.

Rhea

Titan goddess and wife of Cronus, mother of the Olympian gods including Zeus.

Hephaestus

God of fire and metalworking, often depicted as lame.

Persephone (Kore)

Daughter of Demeter who is abducted by Hades, explaining the cycle of the seasons.

Mystes

First-level initiate in the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Epoptes

Higher-level initiate in the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Telesterion

Large hall in Eleusis where secret rituals of the Mysteries occurred.

Artemis (potnia theron)

Virgin goddess of the wilderness and animals.

Actaeon

Hunter torn apart by his own dogs after seeing Artemis bathing.

Leto

Mother of Apollo and Artemis by Zeus.

Hermes (Argeiphontes)

Messenger god associated with travel, trickery, and commerce.

Mercury

Roman equivalent of Hermes, serving as a messenger of the gods.

Psychopompos

Epithet of Hermes meaning 'guide of souls', referring to his role leading the dead to the underworld.

Semele

Mortal mother of Dionysus.

Teiresias

Blind prophet of Thebes who recognizes Dionysus' divinity.

Agave

Mother of Pentheus, who kills him in a Dionysian frenzy.

Anchises

A mortal shepherd loved by Aphrodite, their union produces Aeneas.

Aeneas

Son of Aphrodite and Anchises, a Trojan hero and legendary ancestor of the Romans.

Olympia

Sanctuary of Zeus, site of the Olympic Games.

Dodona

Sanctuary of Zeus, known for one of the oldest Greek oracles.

Epidaurus

Sanctuary of Asclepius, god of healing.

Delphi

Famous sanctuary of Apollo known for its oracle.

Heracles

Hero known for his strength, completed the Twelve Labors.