Classical Civilization Review

Flashcards of key terms and definitions from the lecture notes.

Zeus / Jupiter

King of the gods, ruler of the sky, law, justice

Athena / Minerva

Goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, crafts

Aphrodite / Venus

Goddess of love, beauty, desire

Heracles Birth

Son of Zeus and Alcmene, born through divine deception

Nemean Lion

First of Heracles' 12 Labours: Indestructible hide; killed by strangulation. Wears its pelt as his iconic armour.

Lernaean Hydra

Second of Heracles' 12 Labours: Multi-headed serpent; heads regenerate. With lolaus' help, he cauterises necks after decapitation. Dips arrows in venom

Ceryneian Hind

Third of Heracles' 12 Labours: Sacred deer of Artemis; captures it without harm, showing reverence for the gods.

Erymanthian Boar

Fourth of Heracles' 12 Labours: Chased and captured in snow; shown to Eurystheus who hides in a jar.

Augean Stables

Fifth of Heracles' 12 Labours: Cleans in one day by diverting rivers Alpheus and Peneus; symbolic of restoring order.

Stymphalian Birds

Sixth of Heracles' 12 Labours: Man-eating birds with bronze feathers. Uses krotala (rattle) from Athena to flush and shoot them.

Cretan Bull

Seventh of Heracles' 12 Labours: Captures the bull that fathered the Minotaur, released in Marathon.

Mares of Diomedes

Eighth of Heracles' 12 Labours: Man-eating horses feeds Diomedes to them, then tames and brings them back

Girdle of Hippolyta

Ninth of Heracles' 12 Labours: Amazon queen gives it willingly, but Hera stirs up conflict; Heracles kills Hippolyta

Cattle of Geryon

Tenth of Heracles' 12 Labours: Slays triple-bodied Geryon in Erythela; drives cattle across Mediterranean, builds Pillars of Heracles.

Apples of the Hesperides

Eleventh of Heracles' 12 Labours: Guardians include Ladon the dragon. Tricks Atlas into retrieving them; symbolic of divine boundaries.

Cerberus

Twelfth of Heracles' 12 Labours: Descends into Underworld, tames three-headed dog without weapons; symbolic of ultimate heroic feat.

Theseus Birth

Born of Aegeus or Poseidon and Aethra. Raised in Troezen retrieves father's sword and sandals from under a boulder.

Periphetes (Club-bearer)

Kills bandit with iron club; adopts weapon.

Sinis (Pinebender)

Bends pine trees to kill travellers; Theseus kills him by same method.

Crommyonian Sow

Ferocious pig terrorising countryside; slain by Theseus.

Sciron

Forces travellers to wash feet then kicks them to sea; Theseus throws him to be eaten by turtle.

Cercyon

Wrestles and defeats strongman; symbolic of skill over brute force.

Procrustes

Adjusts travellers to bed by mutilation; Theseus subjects him to same fate

City Dionysia (Greece)

Spring festival for Dionysus Eleuthereus. Includes processions, dithyrambs, dramatic contests (tragedy, comedy).

Great Panathenaia (Greece)

In honour of Athena Polias, every four years. Includes a procession starting at Dipylon Gate and ending at Acropolis.

Lupercalia (Rome)

February 15, fertility and purification rite. Rituals involve the sacrifice of a goat and dog in Lupercal cave.

Saturnalia (Rome)

December 17-23; honour Saturn. Slaves dine with masters; social norms relaxed.

Prosthesis

Body washed, anointed, displayed; female relatives lament.

Ekphora

Procession at dawn, mourners in black, flute music.

Roman Death Customs Preperation

Body laid out with wax masks (imagines) of ancestors.

Roman Death Customs Procession

Procession through Forum with professional mourners, musicians, and actors

Parentalia

Family graves decorated, food offerings.

Lemuria

Exorcise malevolent spirits; paterfamilias walks barefoot, throws beans.

Centauromachy

Depicts battle between Lapiths and Centaurs; a symbol of Greek order vs. barbaric chaos.

Amazonomachy

Battle between Greeks and Amazons; represents male heroism, Athens vs. foreign threat.

Prima Porta Augustus

Statue showing Augustus as commander and divine descendant; visual propaganda linking him to myth and power.

Ara Pacis

Friezes show imperial family, mythic founders (Aeneas, Romulus); celebrates peace (Pax Romana), Augustus' divine mission.