Quiz Bowl Mythology

Zeus

God who saved his siblings from Cronos and took the throne.

Hera

Goddess who wanted to overthrow Zeus, but the 100 handed one helped him escape, so she promised never to rebel again.

Athena

Goddess who became jealous of Arachne's weaving skills, so she challenged her to an impossible contest, causing her to kill herself, and then turned her into a spider.

Poseidon

God who chose the sea as his kingdom and created the horse to impress Demeter.

Hades

God who was left in the underworld for his kingdom and gave out harsh punishments to those who crossed him.

Demeter

Goddess who lost her daughter, Persephone, to Hades, so for six months of the year she makes the Earth barren, and only when her daughter returns for the other six months does she allow things to grow.

Artemis

Goddess who wanted many gifts from her father, Zeus, so he got her to gather her own gifts and also gave her the gift of being a maiden for life.

Apollo

God who became jealous of a satyr's musical skill, so he challenged him to an impossible contest and then skinned him alive.

Phaethon

Son of Helios and Clymene, wanted to drive the sun chariot, but he didn't follow instructions, so he drove too close and scorched the Earth. Killed by Zeus's thunderbolt.

Hermes

Trickster god who tricked his way into many different jobs.

Hephaestus

God that was so ugly at birth that Hera threw him off a cliff. Later, he impressed Hera with his metalworking skills and was brought back to Olympus.

Aphrodite

Goddess who was born at sea, adopted into Mt. Olympus, and then chose Hephaestus for her husband because she knew that he would allow her to do whatever she wanted.

Prometheus

Titan who was punished harshly for stealing fire from Mt. Olympus and giving it to man.

Pandora

First woman, was given a box that she was forbidden to open, but was too curious. She opened it and released horrible things in the world.

Orpheus

Son of Calliope and the Thracian King. Was an excellent musician, and when his wife died, he used his music skills to enter the Underworld to bring her back, but he failed because he did not trust in Hades.

Narcissus

Beautiful young man who fell in love with his own reflection; turned into a flower.

Echo

Cursed to only be able to repeat what other people say.

Eros

God of love, married Psyche and did not reveal his identity. Left her after she discovered his identity.

Pysche

Goddess of the soul who married Eros and betrayed his wish to remain unseen, and was left by Eros.

Perseus

The son of Zeus and princess Danae who promised his mother's fiance the head of Medusa, and he went through many adventures to slay her until he ultimately did with the help of Athena.

Daedalus

Athenian inventor who built the Labyrinth of Minos and later made wings to escape the labyrinth with his son. His son flew too high, melting his wings, and he fell into the sea and died.

Theseus

Hero and king of Athens who killed the Minotaur. Son of king Aegeus.

Atalanta

Huntress raised by bears who lost her love, Meleager, and was finally persuaded to remarry when she lost a race to Hippomenes because of golden apples.

Midas

Greedy king of Phrygia who received a "golden touch".

Pygmalion

Created a statue of a "perfect woman" and Aphrodite brought the statue to life, taking pity on him.

Zeus (Roman: Jupiter)

Sky-god who rules over Mount Olympus. Personality wise Zeus can either be an overseeing, overpowering, and pure or at other times he mat seem cruel or misguided

Hera (Roman: Juno)

Sister and Wife to Zeus. Powerful goddess know for being jealous. She is vicious and spiteful. The people of the mortal world often must overcome (or fall to) the adversity which she may place upon them.

Poseidon (Roman: Neptune)

Zeus's Brother. God of the Sea and second to Zeus in power. Throughout many stories, Poseidon holds a strong grudge against Odysseus (see "The Odyssey"). Any mishaps at sea are often seen as a result of his anger.

Hades (Roman: Pluto)

Brother of Zeus and Poseidon. Ruler of the underworld alongside his wife Persephone.

Pallas Athena (Roman: Minerva)

The Goddess of Wisdom, Reason, and Purity. She abstains from any sort of sexual intercourse. Also identifies with war, cleverness, and wit. Throughout many stories she helps Odysseus.

Phoebus Apollo

He is the son of Zeus and Leto and is the twin to Artemis. He is the God of Archery, Light and Truth as well as the master of Poetry and music. Throughout mythology his Oracle at Delphi is known for being a powerful source of prophecy and truth (See "Oedipus Rex")

Artemis (Roman: Diana)

Apollo's twin sister, the beautiful huntress Goddess, despite often being characterized as good and just she demands a human sacrifice during the Trojan war.

Aphrodite (Roman: Venus)

Sweet and delicate goddess of Love, Beauty and Romance. She often shows daunting power (see Cupid and Psyche) and is a principal cause to the Trojan War. Married to the ugly and crippled Hephaestus.

Hermes (Roman: Mercury)

The son of Zeus and the Titan Atlas's daughter Maia. The messenger of the gods, he is fast and cunning and a master thief, the God of market and commerce. He is the guide that leads the dead from earth to Hades.

Ares (Roman: Mars)

God of War whose is existence is not only dreaded by his father Zeus but also his mother Hera. Though he is seen as ruthless and unrelenting, in a twist he is a coward.

Hephaestus (Roman: Vulcan)

Son of either Zeus and Hera or just Hera alone. He is the only ugly Olympian who is partially crippled. He is the blacksmith of the the gods and is generous and good-natured.

Gaea (Roman: Terra)

First being to emerge in the universe. She gives birth to Heaven who becomes her husband

Uranus (Roman: Caelus)

Born out of Gaea, becomes the husband of Gaea. Father of all the original creatures of earth, including titans, cyclopes, and the furies.

The Titans

Original Gods, children of Uranus and Gaea. Parents of the six original Olympians. Most of the titans are imprisoned in the earth besides Prometheus, Epimethius, and Atlas who are not imprisoned.

Cronus (Roman: Saturn)

Becomes the ruler of the Titans by overthrowing his father Uranus. After Rhea gives birth to his children, he swallows them up. Rhea saves one, Zeus, who forces him to puke up his siblings with whom he defeats the Titans with.

Prometheus

Only Titan to side with Zeus against Cronus. Defies gods by helping humans. Zeus chains him to a rock where everyday an eagle comes to pick at his innards. He never surrenders.

Dionysus (Roman: Bacchus)

God of wine. Embodies both the good and evil effects of evil. Patron of music and art but sometimes is the god of madness and frenzy.

Demeter (Roman: Ceres)

Sister of Zeus who lives on earth. Goddess of harvest and corn. Kinder than Dionysus but depressed because Hades took her daughter Persephone as his bride. Her mourning four months of the year is an explanation for the fields being barren.

Persephone (Roman: Proserpine)

Daughter of Demeter who is kidnapped by Hades to be his wife. Passive and generally agrees to what is asked of her.

Eros (Roman: Cupid)

Son of Aphrodite. Uses his bow to fire magic arrows that cause people to fall in love. Beautiful young man, though usually depicted as a winged cherub. Often blindfolded, performs works of romantic mischief whenever his mother asks.

The Furies

Three horrible sisters, terrible spirits who torment evildoers and punish them for their sins.

The Fates

Three sisters who decide the paths of life, have arguably the most power in the Greek universe. Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos

Clotho (Fate)

Spins the thread of life.

Lachesis (Fate)

Assigns each person's thread of life.

Atropos (Fate)

Snips the thread of life at its end.

Odysseus (Roman: Ulysses)

Protagonist of Homer's Odyssey. King of Ithaca who is a great warrior in the Trojan War who is best known for his decade long trip home from the war

Hercules (Heracles)

Famous greek hero, son of Zeus who rises to Olympus at his death. Renowned for his incredible strength and bravery while lacking intelligence and self control. Commonly, his stories have the theme of him making a mistake and attempting to fix it.

Jason

Leader of the Argonauts and husband of Medea. One of the least impressive of the Greek Heroes. Notable Quest: Recovery of the Golden Fleece

Oedipus

Son of the king of Thebes who kills his father and marries his mother.

Orestes

Son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, hero of Oresteia.

Paris

Son of King Priam of Troy and Queen Hecuba.

Helen

Most beautiful woman who has ever lived. She is promised to Paris after his judgement of Aphrodite. Her kidnapping causes the Trojan War.

Hector

Other son of King Priam of Troy. Bravest and most famous of the Trojan warriors.

Aeneas

Only great Trojan warrior who survives the war. Topic of Aeneid.

Agamemnon

One of the great kings who leads the Greeks in the Trojan War. King of Mycenae.

Achilles

Most famous Greek in the Trojan war who has unrivaled bravery and strength. He dies when he is struck in the only vulnerable part of his body.

Pandora

Famously foolish woman of Greek myth who is entrusted by the gods with a box coined "Pandora's Box" that when she peeks inside of releases all evil into the world. She closes the box just in time to save Hope, human kinds only solace.

Orpheus

Son of the muses. Greatest mortal musician who has ever lived.

Oracle at Delphi

Priestess of Apollo and the most famous prophet in all Greece. Humans consult the Oracle to ascertain the will of the gods or a person's fate.

Ariadne

Daughter of King Minos who helps Theseus defeat the dreaded Minotaur.

Iphigenia

Daughter of Agamemnon who is offered as a sacrifice for Artemis during the Trojan War.

Medea

Along with Circe, she is one of the two famous sorceresses in Greek myth.

Medusa

One of the three Gorgons. Horrible woman with snakes for her whose gaze turns men to stone.

Minotaur

Half man half bull monster who terrorizes King Minos's Labyrinth.

Sphinx

Beast with the head of a woman and the body of a winged lion. Destroys herself when Oedipus solves its riddle.

Cyclopes

Fearsome one-eyed giants who are either the children of Uranus or sons of Poseidon. Forgers of thunderbolts of Zeus.

Polyphemus

Terrible Cyclops who imprisons Odysseus and his men.

Cerberus

Vile three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades.

Odin

Counterpart of Zeus in Norse mythology.

Hela

Fearful goddess who presides over the realm of the dead which is called Hel (not synonymous with our word "hell").

Valhalla

Hall of slain warriors in Norse myth.

The Valkyries

Splendid female warriors who select and carry dead warriors to Valhalla.

Uranus and Gaea

Parents of the Titans, all that existed in the universe first.

Mount Olympus

Mystical home of the gods which exists on a heavenly plane (not the heavens).

Supernaturals: sea nymphs

Abound in the seas ruled by Poseidon.

Supernaturals: souls of the evil dead and monsters

Abound in the underworld ruled by Hades.

Demeter and Dionysus

Two supreme deities of the Earth. Best friends of humanity.

Demeter

She wanders the Earth in despair until finally resting in Eleusis (her temple) in disguise as a human. One day, the kind family that had harbored her in this dark time offended her. She then hides herself in the temple out of sadness.

Persephone

Hades makes her eat a magical pomegranate seed to necessitate her return.

Persephone

Stays with her mother, Demeter, 2/3 of the year (spring and summer) and with Hades 1/3 of the year (winter).

Dionysus

After Hera found out that his mother, Semele, was mothering the child of Zeus, Hera fixed her death. Zeus saved him from his mother's flaming body by sewing him into Zeus's own thigh.

Chaos

All that existed at the beginning of the universe according to Greek mythology.

Night and Erebus

Children of Chaos and parents of Love

Light and Day

Children of Love

Horrible monsters: Cyclopses and Titans

First things created by Gaea and Uranus

Cronus

Killed his father Uranus after birth.

Gaea

Mother Earth, mother of the titans, cyclopes, and giants

Uranus

Father of the sky and heavens, father of the titans, cyclopes, and giants.

Cronus

Youngest Titan; son of Gaea and Uranus

Hundred Handed Giants

Sons of Uranus and Gaea. Uranus banished them to the Underworld due to them scaring him.

Cyclopes

Creatures with one eye in the middle of their head. They were born from Uranus and Gaea and banished to the Earth.

Rhea

Wife of Cronus. Gave birth to many Gods and Goddesses, notably Zeus, the only one she saved.

Tartarus

Ancient abyss used as a place of suffering for the wicked. Lowest part of the Underworld. Created by Chaos.

Titans

Twelve children of Gaea and Uranus.

Hera

Goddess of Women and Marriage. She was the wife and sister of Zeus.