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AP LITERATURE: Allusions (Mythology) Flashcards

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3566411352Achilles' HeelA weakness in spite of overall strength, which could potentially lead to downfall/a person's only weak or vulnerable point0
3566411353AdonisThe central idea of the myth is that death and resurrection of Adonis represents the decay of nature every winter and its revival in spring Meaning: beautiful youth was loved by both Aphrodite and Persephone, has a handsome face and gorgeous body1
3566411354AeolianThe Greek god of wind and patriarch of the Greenus Aeolia/aeolian harp2
3566411355ApolloThe God of healing and medicine/son of Apollo, representing order, reason, and self-discipline.3
3566411356Argus-eyedStory: A giant with 100 eyes that were transferred after his death to peacocks tail. Meaning: vigilant or observant4
3566411357Athena & MinervaAthena is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration., strength, and justice. Minerva is the goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, and magic.5
3566411358AtlanteanStory: Atlanteans are one of four cultures in Titans expansion/an island swallowed by the sea Meaning: A civilization the emphasizes quality or quantity6
3566411359AuroraThe latin word for dawn, Aurora arose from the sea and rode in her horse drawn chariot across the sky ahead of the sun sprinkling dew upon earth7
3566411360Bacchanal/BacchusWas the God of grape harvest and winemaking/wine. Celebration contributed to this god. The festivities took place at night five days of mitiation in each month to celebrate wine. Meaning: refer to drunkness or to wild or drunken partying8
3566411361BacchanalianRevelry was common in Ancient Greece among royal and upper classes. Like Bacchanal, it is a celebration or party that involves winemaking, sexual and uncontrollable behavior9
3566411362CalliopeGoddess of music, song, and dance. Also, the goddess of eloquence, who bestowed her gift on kings and prince. Often found holding a tablet and stylus./chief of 9 muses10
3566411363CentaurStory: Have the body of a horse and torso/head/arms of a man. Meaning: They are depicted as lustful and wild, however Chiron (best known as centaur) was wise and modest.11
3566411364ChimeraStory: Was a hybrid monster in Greek mythology. It had the head and body of a lion as well as head of a goat that was attached to its back and a tail that ended in a snake. Meaning: any mythical animal formed from parts of various animals, is hoped for but is illusory or impossible to achieve.12
3566411365CupidityStory: God of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is portrayed as a chubby boy with a bow and arrow that represents his source of power. A person shot by his arrow has uncontrollable desire. Meaning: cherubic but mischievous little boy13
3566411366EroticEros was the Greek god of love and fertility. Eros encouraged and facilitated birth and creation and had a positive and negative force (virtue and misery). Before becoming Cupid he had arrows that stimulated erotic feelings/deals with sexual love14
3566411367Furorwas the goddess of rage, fury, madness, and frenzy. Her Roman equivalent was named furor.15
3566411368Helen of TroyDaughter of Zeus and Leda; queen of Laconia (province of Homeric Greece); considered the most beautiful woman in the world/led to the Trojan War16
3566411369HerculeanStory: Of or relating to Hercules; requiring, bearing, or relating to the great strength of Hercules. Meaning: hero of superhuman strength and courage, a Herculean task is one that is formidably difficult17
3566411370Hydra-HeadedStory: Having many facets or aspects, especially difficult or irritable ones. Refers to Hydra, the many headed serpent (snakes) slain by Hercules, each of which when cut off was replaced by two more. Meaning: something that seems to be never ending or indestructible because new parts keep developing18
3566411371IridescentStory: Showing luminous colors that appear to change when observed from different angles. Iris in turn derives from the Greek Goddess Iris meaning: personification of rainbows and messenger of the the gods.19
3566411372GorgonStory: female creature who has hair made of living, venemous snakes, as well as a horrifying visage that turned those who beheld her to stone. Meaning:!frightening or repulsive woman20
3566411373HalcyonStory: mythical bird usually identified with the kingfisher, said to breed about the time of the winter solstice in a nest floating on the sea and to have the power of charming winds and waves into calmness. Meaning: idyllically happy and peaceful21
3567843660HarpyStory: A female monster in the form of a bird with a human face. Meaning: Thought to have originally been wind spirits/cruel or grasping, unscrupulous woman22
3567843661HectorA Trojan prince. Eldest son of Priam and Hecuba, killed by Achilles in Homer's Lliad.23
3567843662JovialStory: Jove is another name for Jupiter, the Roman name for the supreme deity. Meaning: Means one with markedly good humor.24
3567843663JunoesqueStory: An ancient Roman goddess protector and special counselor of state. Daughter of Saturn, sister (wife) of chief God Jupiter. She looks over all women of Rome, known as Juno. Having the state bearing and imposing beauty of Goddess Juno. Meaning: queen of heaven, marked by stately beauty, imposingly tall and stately.25
3572955810LethargyStory: Forgetfulness. The river of "Lethe" in the underworld was used to help the dead forget their past life, if drunk. Meaning: can mean a lack of energy or enthusiasm26
3572955811MartialStory: Having to do with war and aggression. Son of Juno and Jupiter, Ares, God of war (Mars). Meaning: related to fighting or war27
3572955812MedeaA sorceress who helped the leader of the Argnauts, Jason, to obtain a Golden Fleece from her father, King Aeëtes. She utilized her magic powers to help and advise Jason who she later married.28
3572955813Mentor"Faithful and wise". A more experienced person guiding a less knowledgeable one. "Trusted advisor"29
3572955814MercurialHaving the characteristics of eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, and thievishness like, God of mercury. /messenger of the gods, quick and changeable in character having the traits of Mercury30
3572955815Mercury/HermesA major Roman god. God of financial gain, messages, luck, and boundaries. He is also guide of souls to the under world. Related unstable, unpredictable, change, like Mercury.31

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