Greek Mythology Exam 2 (ChatGPT)

Nemean Lion

Herakles’ first labor; he strangles an invulnerable lion and wears its skin

Lernaean Hydra

Multi-headed serpent Herakles kills; heads regrow unless cauterized

Ceryneian Hind

Sacred golden deer Herakles must capture alive

Erymanthian Boar

Giant boar Herakles captures and carries to Eurystheus

Augean Stables

Herakles cleans by diverting two rivers through them

Stymphalian Birds

Man-eating metal-feathered birds driven away by Herakles

Cretan Bull

Bull from Crete captured by Herakles; later linked to Theseus

Mares of Diomedes

Man-eating horses that Herakles tames after feeding Diomedes to them

Girdle of Hippolyta

Herakles retrieves the Amazon queen’s belt

Cattle of Geryon

Herakles steals red cattle from the triple-bodied giant Geryon

Apples of the Hesperides

Golden apples Herakles gets with help from Atlas

Cerberus

Three-headed guard dog of Hades; captured alive by Herakles

Legends

Stories about human heroes set in real locations with exaggerated details

Folktales

Stories meant for entertainment or morals

Gilgamesh

Ancient Mesopotamian hero-king; earliest known epic about mortality

Medusa

Gorgon with snake hair whose gaze turns victims to stone; slain by Perseus

Eurystheus

King who assigns Herakles’ labors and hides in fear of him

Cretan Bull

Sacred bull from Crete; captured by Herakles; father of the Minotaur

Cecrops

Early king of Athens; half-man

Amazonomachy

Mythic battle between Greeks and Amazons symbolizing order vs chaos

Centauromachy

Battle between Lapiths and Centaurs; symbolizes civilization over savagery

King Minos

King of Crete; father of Ariadne; associated with the Minotaur and labyrinth

Minotaur

Half-man half-bull monster killed by Theseus in labyrinth

Daedalus

Inventor who built the labyrinth; father of Icarus; escapes with wings

Minoans

Bronze Age culture on Crete known for palaces and seafaring

Oedipus Rex

Tragedy by Sophocles where Oedipus fulfills prophecy of killing father and marrying mother

Seven Against Thebes (Backstory)

War started when Polynices brings seven heroes to reclaim throne from brother Eteocles

Seven Against Thebes (Aftermath)

Eteocles and Polynices kill each other; Creon bans burial leading to Antigone’s defiance

Golden Fleece

Magical ram’s fleece guarded in Colchis; object of Jason’s quest

Medea (character)

Sorceress who helps Jason and later kills their children in revenge

Medea (play)

Euripides’ tragedy about Medea’s betrayal and revenge

Chiron

Wise centaur who tutors many heroes including Achilles and Jason

Pelops

Son of Tantalus; wins Hippodamia; ancestor of cursed Atreid family

Agamemnon

King of Mycenae; leader at Troy; murdered by Clytemnestra

Helen

Wife of Menelaus; her abduction by Paris causes the Trojan War

Oath of Tyndareus

Helen’s suitors swear to defend her marriage

Judgement of Paris

Paris awards golden apple to Aphrodite

Iphigenia

Daughter Agamemnon sacrifices to gain winds to sail to Troy

Homer

Poet credited with composing the Iliad and Odyssey

Iliad

Epic about Achilles’ anger and events in final year of Trojan War

Hector

Trojan prince and greatest Trojan warrior; killed by Achilles

Death of Patroclus

Patroclus dies wearing Achilles’ armor

The Trojan Horse

Wooden horse trick used by Greeks to enter and destroy Troy

Odyssey

Epic of Odysseus’ ten-year journey home after Trojan War

Xenia

Sacred Greek hospitality code between host and guest

Polyphemus

Cyclops blinded by Odysseus who then curses his journey

Penelope

Faithful wife of Odysseus who delays suitors with her weaving trick

A Hero’s Journey

Narrative pattern where a hero faces trials

Psyche

Mortal woman who completes divine tasks set by Aphrodite and reunites with Eros

Perseus

Hero who kills Medusa with divine aid and saves Andromeda

Theseus

Athenian hero who defeats bandits and kills the Minotaur

Jason

Leader of Argonauts who retrieves the Golden Fleece with Medea’s help

Theseus (summary)

Hero who unifies Attica

Cadmus (summary)

Founder of Thebes who slays a dragon and creates Spartoi; suffers a cursed family line

Oedipus (summary)

Hero who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother; blinds himself and dies in exile

Jason (summary)

Questing hero who gains Golden Fleece with Medea’s help but dies miserably after betraying her

Achilles (summary)

Greatest Greek warrior whose rage shapes the Iliad; kills Hector; dies young for eternal glory

Odysseus (summary)

Cunning hero who survives trials after Troy; returns home disguised and kills suitors to restore order