| A Achaia (a-KEE-a) A district of modern Greece. The name goes back to the Heroic Age. Acheron (ACK-uh-ron) One of the rivers of the Underworld. Also the modern name of a river in Greece, still reputed to give access to Hades. Achilles (a-KILL-eez) Best fighter of the Greeks besieging Troy in the Trojan War. Killed by the Trojan Paris with the help of the god Apollo. Acrisius (a-KRISS-ee-us) King of Argos, father of Danae and brother of King Proetus of Tiryns Acropolis (a-KROP-uh-lis) The citadel of Athens. Aeetes (ee-EE-teez) King of Colchis, brother of Circe, father of Medea and taskmaster of Jason. Aegean Sea (i-JEE-an) The sea between the Greek mainland and Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Some derive the name from King Aegeus. Aegeus (EE-joos) King of Athens, father of Theseus and husband of Medea. Kills himself, believing Theseus has been sacrificed to the Minotaur. Aethra (EE-thra) Daughter of the king of Troezen and mother of the hero Theseus. Alcmene (alk-MEE-nee) Mother of Hercules and Iphicles. Alcyonian Lake (al-cee-OH-nee-an) Bottomless lake. In the vicinity, or perhaps even part, of the swamps of Lerna in which Heracles fought the Hydra. Amazons (AM-uh-zonz) Mythological warrior women. Renowned hunters and fighters. ambrosia (am-BROH-zhuh) A delicacy of the gods. May have been made of honey, water, fruit, cheese, olive oil and barley. Amphitrite (am-fi-TRY-tee) A daughter of Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea. Said to have honored Theseus with a jeweled crown. Aornum (a-OR-num) A location in western Greece in or near the valley of the River Acheron. Aphrodite (a-fro-DYE-tee) The goddess of love. Known to the Romans as Venus. Apollo (uh-POL-oh) God of prophesy, music and healing. Arcadia (ar-KAY-dee-uh) A mountainous region in central Greece. In romantic poetry, a pastoral idyll of shepherds and nymphs. Ares (AIR-eez) The god of war, known to the Romans as Mars; wounded in battle by Hercules. Argo (AR-goh) The ship that bore Jason to Colchis in quest of the Golden Fleece. His shipmates were called the Argonauts in consequence. Argonauts (AR-guh-nawts) The group of heroes (and one heroine, Atalanta) who sailed with Jason after the Golden Fleece. They encountered both the Clashing and the Wandering Rocks, as well as the Sirens. Argos (AR-gohs) A kingdom of the Heroic Age. A Greek town still bears the name today. Argus (1) (AR-gus) The shipwright who built the Argo for Jason Argus (2) - A mythological character with more than the usual number of eyes. Also called Argus All-Seeing. Ariadne (air-ee-AD-nee) The daughter of King Minos whose help made it possible for Theseus to slay the Minotaur and survive. Aristaeus (air-is-TEE-us) A minor god, the son of Apollo, whose unwanted attentions caused Eurydice to step on a poisonous snake and die. Artemis (AR-ti-mis) Virgin goddess of the hunt. One of the Olympians. Atalanta (at-uh-LAN-tuh) Abandoned at birth by a father who wanted a son, Atalanta became a great heroine. One of the Argonauts. Athena (a-THEE-nuh) Goddess of crafts and the domestic arts and also those of war. Patron goddess of Athens. One of the Olympians. She aided Perseus against Medusa, Hercules against the Stymphalian birds; gave Bellerophon the golden bridle with which he tamed Pegasus and Jason the prow for his ship. Athens (ATH-inz) In history, the principle city of Greece (vying at times with Sparta for political supremacy). In mythology, ruled by Theseus. Atlantis (at-LAN-tis) According to Plato, an advanced civilization that sank beneath the waves, a legend based perhaps on Minoan Crete. Atlas (AT-las) A Titan who supported the heavens by means of a pillar on his shoulders. He divulged the whereabouts of the Graeae to Perseus and was temporarily relieved of his burden by Heracles. B |
| GREEK MYTHOLOGY |