Classical Mythology A to Z

Description

“Classical Mythology A to Z” refers to the rich collection of gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and other mythological figures and themes from Greek and Roman mythology. This mythology includes stories that have been passed down for centuries and have greatly influenced literature, art, and culture throughout history. Below is a brief overview of some of the most important entries, from A to Z:

### A
– **Achilles**: A Greek hero in the Trojan War, known for his near invincibility, except for his heel.
– **Aphrodite**: The Greek goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.
– **Apollo**: The Greek god of the sun, music, and prophecy, son of Zeus and Leto.

### B
– **Bacchus**: The Roman name for Dionysus, the god of wine, revelry, and fertility.
– **Boreas**: The Greek god of the north wind.

### C
– **Cerberus**: The three-headed dog that guards the entrance to the Underworld in Greek mythology.
– **Cronus**: The Greek Titan who was the father of Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon.

### D
– **Dionysus**: The Greek god of wine, pleasure, and revelry.
– **Demeter**: The Greek goddess of agriculture and the harvest.

### E
– **Eros**: The Greek god of love, often depicted with a bow and arrow.
– **Elysium**: The Greek concept of an afterlife for the virtuous.

### F
– **Fates**: In Greek mythology, the three goddesses (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos) who control human destiny.
– **Faunus**: A Roman god of the forest, fields, and fertility.

### G
– **Gaia**: The primordial Greek goddess of the Earth.
– **Gorgons**: Three monstrous sisters, including Medusa, who could turn people to stone with their gaze.

### H
– **Hades**: The Greek god of the Underworld, ruler of the dead.
– **Hera**: The queen of the Greek gods, wife of Zeus, and goddess of marriage and birth.

### I
– **Icarus**: The son of Daedalus, who flew too close to the sun with wings made of feathers and wax.
– **Iliad**: An epic Greek poem attributed to Homer, detailing the events of the Trojan War.

### J
– **Janus**: A Roman god of beginnings, gates, transitions, and time, often depicted with two faces.

### K
– **King Midas**: A king in Greek mythology who was granted the ability to turn anything he touched into gold.
– **Kronos**: Another spelling of Cronus, the Titan who ruled during the Golden Age.

### L
– **Leda**: A queen of Sparta in Greek mythology, who was seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan, leading to the birth of Helen of Troy.
– **Libation**: A ritual pouring of liquid (often wine) as an offering to gods.

### M
– **Medusa**: One of the Gorgons, a monster whose gaze could turn people to stone.
– **Minotaur**: A half-man, half-bull creature that lived in the labyrinth on Crete.

### N
– **Nike**: The Greek goddess of victory, often depicted with wings.
– **Narcissus**: A young man who fell in love with his own reflection, leading to his demise.

### O
– **Odysseus**: A Greek hero known for his long journey home after the Trojan War, as told in Homer’s “Odyssey.”
– **Orpheus**: A legendary musician and poet in Greek mythology, who attempted to rescue his wife Eurydice from the Underworld.

### P
– **Poseidon**: The Greek god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses.
– **Pandora**: The first woman in Greek mythology, who opened a box that released all the world’s evils.

### Q
– **Quirinus**: An early Roman god, often associated with war and the Roman state.

### R
– **Rhea**: The Greek Titaness, mother of the Olympian gods, including Zeus.
– **Romulus and Remus**: Legendary twin brothers, founders of Rome.

### S
– **Satyrs**: Half-man, half-goat creatures associated with Dionysus, known for their love of revelry and mischief.
– **Sisyphus**: A king condemned to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity as punishment for his deceitfulness.

### T
– **Titan**: A member of the primordial race of giants in Greek mythology, who were overthrown by the Olympian gods.
– **Theseus**: A Greek hero famous for slaying the Minotaur.

### U
– **Uranus**: The Greek primordial god of the sky, father of the Titans.
– **Underworld**: The realm of the dead in Greek and Roman mythology, ruled by Hades.

### V
– **Vesta**: The Roman goddess of the hearth, home, and family.
– **Venus**: The Roman counterpart of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty.

### W
– **Wood Nymphs**: Spirits of nature in Greek mythology, associated with trees and forests.
– **Wolves**: In Roman mythology, wolves were sacred to the god Mars and symbolized strength and courage.

### X
– **Xenia**: The Greek concept of hospitality, or the bond between guest and host.
– **Xanthus**: A river god in Greek mythology, also the name of one of Achilles’ horses.

### Y
– **Ymir**: In Norse mythology, a primordial being whose body was used to create the world.
– **Yggdrasil**: The immense tree that connects the Nine Worlds in Norse mythology.

### Z
– **Zeus**: The king of the Greek gods, ruler of the sky, thunder, and lightning.
– **Zodiac**: A circle of twelve constellations, each associated with a particular sign, influenced by ancient astrology.

This alphabetical listing covers just a fraction of the immense and varied characters and themes in classical mythology, but it captures some of the most pivotal figures and ideas from Greek and Roman stories.