Many literary works in the western tradition allude to mythological and biblical figures and stories that were well known to all literate people through much of our history. Below you will find an assignment that is designed to help you familiarize yourselves with some of the most prominent of these.
What I want you each to do is complete each of your identifications in a word file. Make sure that you use the same format as the sample that is provided below. Please write in complete, coherent sentences and proof-read/spell-check your entries. When you have all six in final, clean-copy form, paste them into a post on this blog. These will be graded for 5 points per identification, and they must be posted by the end of the school day on Monday September 10 (you should really be ablle to complete them by the end of class Friday!).
EXAMPLE:
Cerberus – In Greek mythology, Cerberus was the hound of Hades (God of the underworld) who had three heads, a dragon-tale, and snakes down his back and mane. He permits all spirits to enter the underworld, but none to return. He is the origin of the term “hounds of hell” (i.e., Vincent Price in Michael Jackson’s Thriller). Cerberus is overcome several times in mythology and literature, and so symbolizes both the horror of death and hell and the triumph of light over dark, goodness over evil, and reason/cunning over brute force.
Abraham and Isaac - CA
Absalom - MCC
Achilles - TF
Adonis - AG
Agamemnon - LH
Antigone - EH
Atalanta - HK
Atlas - FK
Cain and Abel - CS
Cassandra - GS
Cupid and Psyche - BS
Daedalus and Icarus - CA
Daniel (in the lion’s den) - MCC
Daphne - TF
David and Bathsheba - AG
Dionysus (Bacchus) - LH
“Eye for an eye…” - EH
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - HK
Garden of Gethsemane - FK
Good Samaritan - CS
Hercules (12 labors of) - GS
Herod - BS
Hyacinth - CA
Jacob and Esau - MCC
Jacob’s ladder - TF
Jezebel – AG
John the Baptist - LH
Jonah - EH
Judas Iscariot - HK
Laius - FK
Last Supper - CS
Lazarus - GS
Leda (and the Swan) - BS
Lot/Lot’s wife - CA
Magi - MCC
Mammon - TF
Mary Magdalene - AG
Medusa - LH
Midas - EH
Minotaur - HK
Moses – FK
Narcissus - CS
Nero (fiddled while Rome burned) - GS
Noah and the flood - BS
Odysseus - CA
Oedipus - MCC
Pandora - TF
Persephone – AG
Perseus - LH
Pharisees - EH
Philistines - HK
Pontius Pilate – FK
Procrustes - CS
Prodigal Son - GS
Prometheus - BS
Pygmalion - CA
Pyrrhus - MCC
Rachel and Leah - TF
Romulus and Remus - AG
Salome - LH
Samson and Delilah - EH
Scylla and Charybdis - HK
Sermon on the Mount - FK
Sisyphus - CS
Sodom and Gomorrah - GS
Solomon (the wise) - BS
Styx (not the band!) – CA/HK
Sword of Damocles – CS/MCC
Tantalus – BS/FK
Theseus – AG/TF
Tower of Babel – EH/GS
Trojan horse – LH
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Atalanta
A character in Greek Mythology, the legend is that she was the daughter of Iasus; she was Boeotian or an Arcadian Princess. She is often describes as a goddess. Her father, King Iasus, wanted a son, but when a daughter was born he left her at the top of a mountain to die. Some stories recount that a she-bear suckled and cared for her until a group of hunters found and cared for her. Her influence by the she bear caused her to learn and fight like a bear would. She took an oath of virginity to the goddess Artemims, and was later reunited with her father. Her father wanted her to marry, but Atalanta was uninterested in marriage. She only agreed to marry the man who could beat her in a footrace, but those who lost would be killed. After many men were defeated Melanion came along, he asked the goddess Aphrodite to help him. She gave him the three golden, irresistible apples. During the race every time Atalanta got ahead of him he rolled an apple in front of her and she chased after it. Melanion won the race and married Atalanta, together they had a son Parthenopaios, who was one of the Seven against Thebes.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are stories in the last book of the New Testament of the Bible, called the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John the Evangelist. It tells of a scroll in god’s right hand that is sealed with 7 seals. Judah opens the first 4 of the seven seals, which summon four being that ride out on white, red, black, and pale horses. The white horse and rider is referred to as the conquest. He carries a bow and wears a victor’s crown. He is argues to either represent plague, evil, or righteousness. The red horse is said to represent war and slaughter. He may represent civil war as opposed to conquest that the white horse represents. The black horse is typically seen as famine. The horseman carries a scale, representing the distribution of bread during a famine. The pale horse is names death. Unlike the other horses, he is not carrying anything. However, he is followed by Hades.
Achilles – Achilles was the mightiest of the Greeks to fight in the Trojan War. He was the hero of Homer’s Illiad. He was raised and educated by the Centaur Chiron. Later, his mother helped Achilles by the heel and dipped him in the river Styx making him invulnerable. His heel remained dry and thus we have the term, “Achilles’ heel.” Achilles followed Odysseus to Troy and his close friend Patroclus. At Troy, Achilles was an undefeatable warrior. He captured 23 towns and won many women as war-prizes. One day, Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks, took away Achilles’ war-prize. Briseis was taken away and Apollo became enraged. He refused to fight and Patroclus took his armor to join the next battle. Hector tragically killed him. Achilles avenged his death and desecrated Hector’s body by dragging it behind his chariot. Achilles’ fate was met when Priam’s son, Paris was aided by Apollo and shot Achilles in the knee, killing him.
Daphne – Daphne was the daughter of the river god Peneus. The story of Daphne shows the vengeance and humane side of the gods. In the beginning, Apollo was a great archer and excessively proud of his archery skills. He teased Eros, the God of Love and also a fellow archer. He teased him for being small and claimed that his arrows would make no difference. Eros had is revenge by dipping two arrows, one in gold and one in lead. The gold arrow caused absolute admiration while the other caused the opposite. Eros shot Apollo with gold and the maiden, Daphne, with the lead. Thus, Apollo was forced to chase Daphne until she begged her father for help and he turned her into a laurel tree. Apollo reached the tree and held it in his heart, which is why the laurel is a symbol of Apollo.
Jacob’s ladder – Jacob fell asleep and dreamed that there was a ladder set up to the heavens. Here, the angels and God resided. God promised Jacob that no matter where he and his descendants were, at the end of their life, they would return to the Kingdom of Heaven. This story shows the connection between heaven and earth. Jesus Christ is also an example of the ladder because he was sent from God to save humanity.
Mammon – Mammon is a term used to describe wealth or good. Sometimes it is personified as a deity, such as Satan. Mammon is the root of all evil and the embodiment of avarice.
Pandora – Pandora was the first woman created by the Gods. Prometheus was originally tasked with creating man but because he stole fire from the heaven. Zeus handed the task to Hephaestus. Hephaestus delivered her to Epimetheus, his brother. Pandora opened the pithos or storage box, which contained a swarm of evil spirits. This explains all the bad and evil events that occur in the world. Pandora’s curiosity got the best of her gave the world suffering.
Rachel and Leah – Rachel and Leah were the wives of Jacob and the daughters of Laban. Jacob fell in love with Rachel and agreed to work for Laban in exchange for her hand. Laban deceived Jacob into marrying Leah instead. Rachel was disgusted by her father’s sin and harbored this anger in her heart. Jacob gave Laban a massive dowry and led Rachel to believe that she was exploited and sold. She and Leah believed they could have never forgiven their father. Rachel loved Jacob far more than Leah had and the actions of her father shattered her world. The lesson is that we need to forgive and then God will fix all the situations that are evil or cursed.
Theseus was the founder-king of Athens and the son of Aethra. Aegeus and Poseidon slept with Aethra in the same night. Theseus volunteered to slay the Minotaur to prevent the sacrifice of Athenian boys and girls. On his arrival to Crete, Ariadne, King Minos’ daughter, fell in love with Theseus. She gave him a ball of thread so that he could navigate the Labyrinth. Theseus found a sword under a rock and killed the Minotaur at the heart of the Labyrinth. He set back for home and promised his father that if he were successful that his sail would be white. If it were black, he failed. Although Theseus succeeded, he forgot to put the sails back up and the king, Aegeus suicided. Theseus inspired Suzanne Collins when she wrote The Hunger Trilogy.
AG/TF
Andrew Gray
Adonis- Adonis is the god of beauty and desire. He is a central figure in many Greco-Roman religions. Adonis is a life-death-rebirth-deity, annually renewed, ever youthful vegetation god. Aphrodite fell in love with Adonis in the central myth in Greek telling. Then Persephone was taken by Adonis’ beauty and would not give him back to Aphrodite. Zeus then came to settle the matter and decided that Adonis would spend one third of the year with Persephone and one third of the year with Aphrodite, and the last third was to be spent with whoever he chooses. Adonis chose to spend two thirds with Aphrodite. Artemis sent a wild boar with was said to have killed Adonis out of jealously for his hunting ability. In newer Greek mythology Adonis is said to have been one of Apollo’s lovers. She instantly fell in love with him while watching him hunt one day. This story is not nearly as cool and I don’t even know why they would change his story in newer Greek mythology.
David and Bathsheba- in the Hebrew Bible, Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and later was married to David. Her most well known story in the bible is when King David seduced her. Bathsheba was also the daughter of Eliam. Bathsheba and David had a child by the name of Solomon. In the gospel of Mathew, Bathsheba is mentioned as an ancestor of Jesus
Jezebel- Jezebel is the daughter of Ethbaal, King of Tyre, and is married to Ahab, king of north Israel. When Ahab died, Jehu was sent to kill the sons of Jezebel and Ahab in order to remove them from the throne. One of the sons, Jehoram, was killed. Jezebel confronted Jehu and was killed when Jehu told her court officials to throw Jezebel out of a window.
Mary Magdalene- Mary was one of Jesus' most recognized and celebrated disciples. When Jesus cured her of a disease which they called "seven demons", she became grateful to Jesus and turned into one of his closest friends. She stayed with Jesus at the cross even after the male disciples had left. Mary was also the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection.
Persephone- Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and also she is queen of the underworld. Apparently, Persephone was captured by Hades, god of the underworld. Persephone may appear as a mystical divinity with a scepter and a little box, but she was mostly represented in the act of being carried off by Hades. She is also very prominent in Roman mythology.
Romulus and Remus- Romulus and Remus are twin brothers who are the main story behind Rome's foundation myth. They were rescued and saved by a she-wolf who suckled them and a woodpecker who fed them. They were both natural leaders, and they killed Amulius and restored Numitor to his throne. Then they decided to found a new city. They could not agree upon very much to do with their new city, and after a fight Romulus killed Remus. Then he named the city Rome after himself. Apparently Romulus became to autocratic, and then he disappeared of died under mysterious circumstances.
Judas Iscariot, according to the New testament, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is famous for betraying Jesus to the wrath of chief Sanhedrin priests for a ransom of 30 pieces of silver, bribery in the form of money was his famous weakness. The Gospels say that Jesus foresaw and allowed this betrayal because it would allow God’s plan to be fulfilled.
Minotaur- While King Minos competed against his brother for the throne of Crete, he prayed to Poseidon to send him a white bull as a sign of support. He was to kill the bull to show his support, to Poseidon but decided to keep the bull because of its beauty. Angered, Poseidon wanted to punish Midos so Aphrodite made Pasipae, Minos’ wife fall deeply in love with the bull from the sea, the Cretan Bull. Pasipae made Deadalus construct a wooden, hollow cow that she would climb into so she could mate with the bull, the offspring produced the Minotaur. After speaking with the oracle at Delphi, Minos ordered Deadalus to create a labyrinth to hold the Minotaur.
Philistines were people who as part of the Sea peoples appeared in the Southern coastal area of Canaan at the beginning of the Iron Age. According to the bible, they ruled 5 city-states, Gaza, Askelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. The Bible depicts them as the Kingdom of Israel’s most dangerous enemy. Their population was around 25,000 and peaked to about 30,000. They worshiped the deities Baal, Astarte, and Dagon. They were known for the production and consumption of alcohol
Cain and Able are two sons of Adam and Eve, that appear in the old testament (Genesis 4). Cain, the eldest, is described as a crop farmer and Abel as a shepherd. As they grew up, Cain became very jealous of Able because he believed God favored him. Cain killed Able out of jealously and committed the first murder; Able was also the first death. The story of Cain and able symbolizes jealously, and represents the dark things humans are capable of.
The Good Samaritan is parable told by Jesus in the New Testament. In this parable, a Jewish traveler is beaten, robbed and left to die along a road. A Priest and a Levite both walk past a man and avoid him. Then a Samaritan (Samaritans and Jews have historically despised each other) comes by and helps the injured man. This parable represents the Christian theme of “loving thy neighbor.” Some Christians have interpreted the parable allegorically, with the Samaritan representing Jesus Christ, who saves the sinful soul. Others see the parable as exemplifying the ethics of Jesus. This parable has inspired the common phrase “Good Samaritan”, meaning someone who helps a stranger.
The Last Supper is known to be Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, before his crucifixion. The supper took place outside the old city of Jerusalem. The last supper is the foundation of the Christian Eucharist or the “holy communion.” During the supper, Jesus tells his disciples that one of them will betray him and that Peter will deny his name twice. The last supper has influenced the famous painting by Leonardo Di Vinci
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a hunter from the territory of Thespiae who was known for his beauty. He was very proud and he disregarded those who loved him. His rival Nemesis, saw this and attracted Narcissus to a pool where he saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realizing it was just an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus died. The theme encourages people to not take to much pride in their selves Narcissus is the origin of the term “Narcissism”, which is a fixation with oneself. The story of Narcissus has influenced much literature and was featured in a film. The term “Narcissistic” is very common in modern society.
In Greek mythology, Procrustes was a rogue smith and bandit from Attica who physically attacked people by stretching them or cutting off their legs, to force them to fit the size of an iron bed. The Story of Procrustes has influenced the term “Procrustean” referring to when different lengths or sizes or properties are fitted to an arbitrary standard. Procrustean beds, strings and analysis’ are found in modern society.
Sisyphus was a king in Greek mythology that was punished and forced to roll a boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down. This punishment was eternal. The word Sisyphean means never ending and is derived from this story. Some interpret Sisyphus as the disc of the sun that rises and sets everyday. The story makes reference to eternal punishment faced in hell.
Abraham and Isaac- Abraham, father of Isaac, was an obedient servant of God. During the time period people were worshipping idols and offering children as sacrifices. God wanted to show Abraham and his descendants that he was not pleased with these offerings and idols, so he took to a way to teach Abraham. He also wanted to test how faithful Abraham would be to his commands. God told Abraham to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice on a near mountain. Abraham’s heart was filled with pain but never the less he obeyed God’s orders and brought his son to the mountain. When Isaac asked, “Father, here is the wood, but where is the lamb for the offering?” Abraham replied, “My son, God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt offering.” After his son was tied to the wood and an alter was built Abraham was prepared to slay his son. Just before the event, an Angel came down and said, “Do not harm him, now I know that you love God more than you love your only son, and that you are obedient to god.” With this Abraham was greatly relieved and pleased God’s will was not for the death of his son. While looking around Abraham discovered a Ram with which to sacrifice. His comment to his son came true; God provided a burnt offering. Abraham named the place Jehovah-jireh, meaning “The Lord will provide.” The offering taught Abraham and his descendents that God did not wish for human offerings and was not pleased in the worshipping of idols. It reassured people that God loves our gift to live.
Daedalus and Icarus- The Greek tale of Daedalus and Icarus is one of balance. Daedalus was shut up in a tower with his son Icarus to prevent his knowledge of his Labryrinth from spreading to the public. Surrounding him was sea, so he sought a clever way to escape. He began to fabricate wings for himself and his son using feathers string and wax. When both were fitted with their wings they were prepared to escape. Daedalus warned his son not to fly to high, because the sun would melt the wax, nor to low, because the sea would soak the feathers. Forgetting his father’s word, Icarus soared too high and the wax melted. He fell into the sea and drowned much to his father’s despair. An allusion made to Daedalus and Icarus would most likely involve balance; the ability not to “fly to high or too low.” With freedom comes responsibility and it is clear Icarus forgot this when he escaped.
Hyacinth-In Greek mythology Hyacinth was a boy lover of the god of Apollo. Apollo and Hyacinth took turns throwing the discus. When it Apollo's turn to throw, Hyacinth ran after the disc to catch it, in an attempt to impress his lover. However, the discus struck Hyacinth and he died. The myth explains that the God of wind, Zephyrus was jealous of Hyacinth's preference for Apollo. For this reason he blew the discus off course in order to kill Hyacinth. When his lover died, Apollo did not allow Hades to claim him. Instead, he made a flower, the hyacinth, from his blood. Apollos tears, it is said, stained the flower's petals as a sign of his grief. This mythological flower has been compared to many plants. This legend has been used to allude to jealously, anger and its consequences.
Lot/Lot's wife- the story of Lot and Lot's wife takes place in a town called Sodom. The story is in Genesis 19 of the bible. It is said that two angels arrived at Lot's home to urge he and his family to flee from being caught in the disaster for the iniquity of the city. Lot delayed so the angels grabbed his hand and led him out of the city along with his family. The command was given not to look back towards Sodom or stop anywhere in the Plain. Lot looked back while traveling behind her husband and turned into a pillar of salt.
Odysseus- Odysseus, also known as Ulysses, is the literary hero in Homer’s, Odyssey. Odysseus was the fictional Greek king of Ithaca who fought in the ten year Trojan War. He is the one who thought of the “horse trick” in which to enter Troy and take its citizens by surprise. After the war ended Odysseus began his epic journey home to Ithaca which took another ten years do to many set backs. He is known for his cunning, intelligence, and perseverance that of which finally led home. When he finally returned to Ithaca he had to reassert himself as the King. Only the true king of Ithaca could string a certain bow and when Odysseus did this his city knew it was he. Odysseus epic journey alludes to perseverance and is referenced in many other works of literature. Cunning or “street smarts” can perhaps be coined by this man’s epic journey.
Pygmalion- Pygmalion was a sculptor who, after seeing women prostitute themselves, became disinterred in them. After carving a woman out of ivory he was awe struck by her realism and beauty. He fell in love with his statue and made offerings to Venus’ alter in hopes that she would breathe life into it. When he returned home he kissed the statue and realized that Venus had granted his wish. Stories similar to Pygmalion our common throughout literature. In Pinocchio, for instance a puppet is transformed into a real boy; in Harry Potter chess pieces come to life.
Agamemnon- He was a figure in Greek mythology that is remembered for starting the Trojan War when Paris of Troy abducted his brother’s wife, Helena. He then fought the Trojans for ten years until finally defeating them with the Trojan horse. He is often remembered for his tragic family history, taking Achilles’ spoils of war, and being murdered by his wife. When someone is compared to Agamemnon, it is usually not a good thing.
Bacchus- Also known as Dionysus, he was the Roman and Greek god of wine, ecstasy, and madness. His myths were often focused on how surprisingly destructive his powers of madness were, and the effects on mortals. His cult bathed in the glory of madness, and he is often referred to today as the god of partying.
John the Baptist- He was an itinerant preacher, and is mostly remembered for his interactions with Jesus in the gospels, and being beheaded for Herodias. John was said to be the one who baptized Jesus, which led to God telling Jesus that he was his son. He was also known for his propensity to eat locust and honey, and wearing animal pelts.
Trojan Horse- The Trojan Horse was a strategy used by the Greeks to defeat the Trojans after ten long years of war. In a modern sense it is often used to describe a strategy or action that is only exists as a cover for the real strategy to succeed. For example, a Trojan horse computer virus is disguised as a benevolent program, but is just a guise to deliver a virus.
Perseus- He was a Greek mythological figure who was renowned for being the son of Zeus, killing Medusa, and saving the princess Andromeda. Perseus is remembered for his epic quest against impossible odds, and subsequently succeeding and being one of the few Greek heroes who didn’t die a horrible death.
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