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Cultural Literacy-Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses
Cultural Literacy-Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses
23
English
12th Grade
10/25/2011

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

HADES / PLUTO

Definition
God of the underworld and ruler of the dead.  Also the name of the underworld itself.
Term

HESTIA / VESTA

Definition
The Roman and Greek goddess of the hearth and home.  Roman and Greek cities were supposed to have a public hearth dedicated to this goddess at which the fire was kept constantly burning.
Term

HERMES / MERCURY

Definition
The messenger god.  He traveled with great swiftness, aided by the wings he wore on his sandals and his cap.  Son of Zeus and father of Pan.
Term

POSEIDON / NEPTUNE

Definition
God of the sea.  Frequently portrayed as a bearded giant with a fish's scaly tail holding a large trident.
Term

ARES / MARS

Definition
God of war, brutal and bloodthirsty.  Son of Zeus and Hera and the father of the Amazons.
Term

HEPHAESTUS / VULCAN

Definition
God of metalworking and fire.  The only malformed, ugly god.
Term

ARTEMIS / DIANA

Definition
Virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon. Daughter of Zeus and twin sister of Apollo.  Also called Cynthia.
Term

ATHENA / MINERVA

Definition
Goddess of wisdom.  She had an unusual birth springing fully grown out of the forehead of her father, Zeus.  Helped the Greeks in the Trojan War.  Became the protector of Odysseus on his journey home.  Guardian of the city of Athens.
Term

DEMETER / CERES

Definition
Goddess of agriculture.
Term

DIONYSUS / BACCHUS

Definition
God of wine and revelry.  His followers, after overindulging in wine, would often dance wildly, tearing animals and sometimes people, to pieces. 
Term

EROS / CUPID

Definition
The god of love.  A magnificently handsome young man and the son of Venus.  Often depicted as a chubby, winged infant who shoots arrows at people to make them fall in love.
Term

APHRODITE / VENUS

Definition
Goddess of love and beauty.  Paris awarded her the Apple of Discord, choosing her over Hera and Athena as the most beautiful goddess.  She was thought to have been born out of the foam of the sea, and is thus often pictured rising from the water.
Term

HERA / JUNO

Definition
Wife of Zeus, protector of marriage.  Best known for her jealousy and for her animostiy toward the many mortal women with whom her husband fell in love.
Term

ZEUS / JUPITER

Definition
Chief of the Greek and Roman gods, who defeated the Titans to assume leadership of the universe.  He lived atop Mt. Olympus, from which he hurled thunderbolts to announce his anger.  Despite his awesome power, he had a weakness for mortal women.
Term

NEMESIS

Definition
Greek goddess of vengence
Term

APOLLO

Definition
God of poetry, prophesy, medicine, and light.  Represents all aspects of civilization and order. 
Term

PAN

Definition
The Greek god of flocks, forests, meadows and shepherds.  He had the horns and feet of a goat.  He frolicked about the landscape, playing delightful tunes.
Term

ZEPHYR

Definition
The Greek and Roman god of the west wind, considered the most pleasant of the winds.
Term

PROTEUS

Definition
A god who served Poseidon.  Known for being able to change his shape at will.
Term

ATLAS

Definition
A Titan famous for his strength.  After the defeat of the Titans by Zeus, he was condemned to support the Earth and sky on his shoulders for eternity.
Term

TITANS

Definition
The gods who ruled the universe until they were overthrown by Zeus.
Term

PROMETHEUS

Definition
The Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. As punishment, Zeus ordered him chained to a rock and sent a great eagle to gnaw at his liver.  Was eventually rescued by Hercules.  He became a symbol of lonely and valient resistance to authority.
Term

MORPHEUS

Definition
Roman god of sleep and dreams
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