Ancient Greek Hero Final Exam

Vocab

Agōn

A contest or struggle—athletic, rhetorical, or moral. In hero stories, it’s the arena where excellence (aretē) is proven (battle, debate, games).

Ainos

A tale, proverb, or riddle with a moral message—often indirect advice or warning, sometimes embedded in speeches.

atē

Delusion, ruin, or blindness of mind sent by gods or arising from arrogance; leads a hero to catastrophic mistakes.

daimonion

A divine or semi-divine force influencing human life; not necessarily evil—can guide fate or inner prompting.

dikē

Justice, order, or what is right according to divine and social law; violation often brings punishment.

hamartiā

An error or mistake in judgment—not necessarily a moral flaw—that leads to downfall (key in tragedy).

hōrā

Right time, season, or proper moment; knowing when to act is crucial for heroes.

kleos

Glory or fame, especially earned through heroic deeds and preserved through song and memory; the core heroic value

kolōnos

A mound, hill, or raised place—often associated with burial, landmarks, or sacred space.

Krinein

To judge, decide, or distinguish; the act of discernment, especially moral or legal judgment.

memnēmai

“To remember” or “to be mindful”; memory sustains identity, honor, and continuity with the past.

miasma

Pollution or stain caused by wrongdoing (especially murder); spreads unless ritually cleansed.

Noos

Mind, intellect, or perception; the faculty for understanding truth, strategy, and reality.

Nostos

Homecoming, especially after long suffering (Odysseus); return with knowledge and transformation.

olbios

Blessed, prosperous, or fortunate—often ironic, since true olbios may only be judged after death.

Pothos

Deep longing or yearning, especially for someone absent or something unattainable (home, love, past).

psūkhē

Life-force or soul; what leaves the body at death and continues in the afterlife.

Sēma

A sign, signal, or tomb-marker; something that must be interpreted (often tied to meaning and memory).

Sōzein

To save, preserve, or rescue; can mean physical survival or safeguarding honor and order.

Telos

End, goal, or fulfillment; the ultimate purpose or completion of an action or life.

theōriā

Observation, contemplation, or witnessing (often sacred); later becomes philosophical reflection.

tīmē

Honor, worth, or social value; recognition from others, central to heroic motivation.