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Mythology Terms Definitions and Origins
Mythology Terms Definitions and Origins
25
English
9th Grade
01/21/2013

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Term
Aegis
Definition

D:Protection; Support

M: The shield of breastplate of Zeus or Athena with the gorgon's head in the middle

Term
Ambrosia
Definition

D: Something especially delicious to taste or smell; a fruit dessert

M: The food of the gods. Can heal or give life

Term
Calypso
Definition

D: a terrestrial orchid having a single varegated purple, yellow, and white flower; She who conceals

M: Held Odysseus captive for 7 years in the Oddysey

Term
Chimerical
Definition

D: unreal; imaginary; visionary

M: The Chimera is a wild hybrid creature with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of serpent, killed by Bellerophon

Term
Delphic
Definition

D: Ambiguous; Obscure; Not easily understood

M: Delphi was the Oracle of Apollo she could foretell the future

Term
Draconian
Definition

D: Rigorous; unusually severe or cruel

M: From Draco, Athenian lawmaker who drew up a harsh code of laws

Term
Epicurean
Definition

D: Epicurean delights are refined and exquisite pleasures; fond of luxury or indulges in sexual desire

M: Epicurus was a greek philosopher who sought happy tranquil life characterized by the absence of pain and fear 

Term
Halcyon
Definition

D: Calm, Peaceful, Tranquil

M: The bird the halcyon provided calm waters for Ceyx when he died at sea and floated calmly

Term
Herculean
Definition

D: Requiring the great strength of Hercules; Very hard to perform

M: The great hero in the ancient world. Hercules wore lion skin and possessed amazing strength of the gods

Term
Hermetic
Definition

D: Made airtight by fusion or sealing, not affected by outward influence of power, completely sealed

M: Hermes had much concealed knowledge, secret sacred knowledge

Term
Labrynth
Definition

D: An intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find one's way or to reach the exit

M: The labrynth, originally created by Daedalus to trap the minotaur, is where Theseus killed the minotaur

Term
Laconic
Definition

D: Using few words; expressing much in words, concise

M: Lakonikos were warriors or spartans know for their brusque speech

Term
Meander
Definition

D: To proceed by or take a winding road or indirect course

M: The Menderes River was a long winding river that was known to trap people for years

Term
Mentor
Definition

D: An advisor, a wise and trusted counselor

M: Mentor was the trusted counselor of Odysseus, gaurdian to Telenachus

Term
Museum
Definition

D: A building or place where works of art scientific specimens or other objects of value are kept and displayed

M: Derived from Muses, the daughters of Zeus, who made music

Term
Narcissistic
Definition

D: Having an undue fascination with oneself; vain

M: Narcissus was a man who became obsessed with his own reflection in a river

Term
Nemesis
Definition

D: An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome

M: The goddess of divine retribution

Term
Odyssey 
Definition

D: A long series of wanderings or adventures filled with notable experiences and hardships

M: An epic poem written by HOmer telling the tale of Odysseus's journey to return home to Ithaca

Term
Palladium
Definition

D: A rare silver-white metal; provides protection or safety

M: Statue of Pallus was prophecied to protect the city of Troy

Term
Platonic
Definition

D: Intimate and affectionate but not sexual love

M: Plato was a greek philosopher who wrote the Symposium which talks of different types of love

Term
Promethean
Definition

D: Boldly creative, defiantly original

M: Prometheus gave fire of life to people that he molded from clay

Term
Protean
Definition

D: Tending or able to change frequently or easily

M: Proteus god of the sea, known able to change form and prophecy

Term
Stoic
Definition

D: A person who maintains or affects the  mental attitude advocated by the Stoics by joy, grief, pleasure, pain

M: A Greek school of Philosophy founded by Zeno which taught to be unaffected by joy or grief

Term
Tantalize
Definition

D: To torment with ,or as if, with the sight of something desired but out of reach

M: Tantalus was punished by the gods by having eternal hunger and thirst when he reached for food or water it would move away

Term
Zephyr
Definition

D: A gentle, mild breeze

M: Zephyr was the west wind, zephyrus-latin

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