Greek and Roman Mythology Study Flashcards

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering the major myths, deities, and heroic legends found in Jessie M. Tatlock's 'Greek and Roman Mythology'.

How did primitive people originally interpret the power of natural forces according to the text?

They recognized these forces as the expression and action of living, willing beings more powerful than themselves, which they worshiped as gods or feared as devils.

What was the early Greek conception of the world's physical structure?

The world was viewed as a flat, round disk with its central point at Delphi; it was encircled by the mysterious Stream of Ocean.

Identify the primary difference mentioned between Greek and Roman mythological development.

The mythology is essentially Greek in origin and artistic expression; the Romans did not develop an original mythology but adopted Greek stories and identified them with their own deities.

Who were the parents of the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the hundred-handed giants?

Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth).

How did Zeus escape being swallowed by his father Cronus?

His mother Rhea gave Cronus a stone wrapped in baby clothes to swallow instead, while Zeus was hidden and raised in a cave in Crete.

What was the significance of Prometheus's gift to man?

He gave man the gift of fire, which served as a symbol of civilization by allowing humans to forge tools and weapons.

According to the myth of Deucalion and Pyrrha, how was the earth repopulated after the great flood?

They followed an oracle's command to cast the 'bones of their mother' (stones) behind them; those cast by Deucalion became men and those by Pyrrha became women.

What were ambrosia and nectar in the context of Mount Olympus?

Ambrosia was the food served at the banquets of the gods, and nectar was the drink that nourished the ichor in their veins instead of blood.

Who was Io, and what happened to her due to Hera's jealousy?

Io was a daughter of Inachus whom Zeus loved; she was transformed into a white heifer and pursued by a gad-fly sent by Hera after her guardian, the hundred-eyed Argus, was killed.

What was the reward given to Baucis and Philemon for their hospitality to Zeus and Hermes?

They were made priests of a temple and granted their wish to die at the same hour, eventually being transformed into an oak and a linden tree growing side by side.

Describe the miraculous birth of Pallas Athena.

She sprang fully grown and fully armed from the head of Zeus after Hephaestus had cleft his skull with an ax.

What were the competing gifts offered by Poseidon and Athena for the city of Athens?

Poseidon struck a rock to produce a salt spring (or a horse), while Athena produced an olive tree, which was judged the superior gift.

How was Arachne punished for her arrogance toward Athena?

After a weaving contest, Athena transformed the maiden into a spider so she could continue to spin webs for all time.

What is the origin of Hephaestus's lameness in Greek mythology?

One story says Hera threw him from heaven because he was physically imperfect; another says Zeus hurled him from Olympus for siding with Hera in a quarrel.

What was the function of the oracle at Delphi?

It was the most famous site of prophecy where a priestess, inspired by vapors, gave utterances interpreted by priests to guide those seeking advice.

Summarize the myth of Daphne and Apollo.

Apollo pursued the nymph Daphne, who fled from him; when trapped, she was transformed into a laurel tree, which subsequently became sacred to the god.

What was the tragic fate of Phaethon?

He attempted to drive the chariot of the sun-god, his father, but lost control, nearly burning the earth until Zeus struck him down with a thunderbolt.

Who was Asclepius, and how did he anger Zeus?

He was the divine physician and son of Apollo who was killed by Zeus's thunderbolt for the presumption of restoring the dead to life.

In the story of Actaeon, why was the hunter transformed into a stag?

He unintentionally saw the goddess Artemis bathing in a cave; in anger, she turned him into a stag, and he was subsequently killed by his own hunting dogs.

What was the role of the Vestal Virgins in Rome?

They were noble maidens vowed to virginity who maintained the sacred, eternal fire of Vesta, representing the religious center of the community.

What was the outcome of the 'Judgment of Paris'?

Paris awarded the golden apple to Aphrodite, who promised him the most beautiful woman in the world (Helen), leading eventually to the Trojan War.

Summarize the primary trial of Psyche to regain the love of Cupid.

After losing Cupid due to her curiosity, she performed several impossible tasks for Venus, including descending to the underworld, eventually being granted immortality and reunited with him.

Explain the myth that accounts for the seasons involving Demeter and Persephone.

Persephone was kidnapped by Pluto to be queen of the dead; her return to her mother Demeter brings spring and harvest, while her periodic return to the underworld causes winter.

How did Dionysus (Bacchus) influence the development of Greek theater?

Attic drama originated at his festivals, where rough choral dances and songs evolved into formal tragedy and comedy.

Who was Charon, and what was required for a soul to be ferried by him?

He was the ferryman of the dead who required a small coin (an obol) and proper burial of the deceased's body to transport souls across the river Acheron.

What was the purpose of Heracles' (Hercules) twelve labors?

He was commanded by the oracle of Delphi to serve his cousin Eurystheus as penance for a crime of madness sent upon him by Hera.

By what means did Theseus defeat the Minotaur in the Labyrinth?

He used a ball of string provided by Ariadne to find his way back out of the mazes and killed the monster with a sword.

What were the 'Symplegades' encountered by the Argonauts?

They were the 'Clashing Rocks' that crushed ships; the Argonauts passed through them safely by following the flight of a dove and receiving divine aid from Athena.

What was the ultimate fate of Hector in the Trojan War?

He was killed in single combat by Achilles, who then dragged his body in the dust behind a chariot as vengeance for the death of Patroclus.

How did Romulus and Remus determine the location and name of their new city?

The twins sought an omen through the flight of vultures; Romulus saw twelve over the Palatine Hill while Remus saw only six over the Aventine, leading to Romulus founding Rome.