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Teacher Questions Page
Part A
1. What would you expect an atlas to be?
• a tall tower
• a tricky guy
• a collection of maps
2. Calypso music comes originally from the Caribbean Islands.
What kind of music is it?
romantic music
carefree music
sad music
3. Question: If Leonardo DiCaprio is wearing a floral shirt, what does it look like?
It has flowers on it.
It has stripes on it.
It is a solid colour.
Part B
1. What is the modern word for Zelos? (Zero, Zeal, Zinc)
2. Which of the following activities best shows zeal?
* painting your face in your team's colours
* yawning during a conversation
* babysitting your annoying little brother because your mother is paying
you
3. What is the modern word for titan (titanium, titanic, tight)
4. What is a person’s Achilles Heal? (strong point, weak point, confused
point)?
5. What is the modern word for Academus? (academic, ache, headache)
Part C
1. What is the modern word for Lethe?
2. If someone feels lethargic, what might he or she want to do?
take a nap
go fishing
order pizza
3. What is Chaos?
4. Nyx (Roman word Nox). Today’s word is nocturnal….what does it mean?
5. What is an Odyssey ?
6. Which of the following slogans might best represent the meaning of the
modern word tantalize or tantalizing?
• "You can run, but you can't hide."
• "Wanting and having are two different things."
• "Don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk."
Part D
1. What is the Midas touch?
2. Who was superman’s nemesis?
3. What happens if you open up a Pandora’s box?
Part E
1. What is salute?
2. What is salutation?
3. Which of the following would have a salutary effect on someone?
aspirin
caffeine
adrenaline
Group A
Name _______________________
Directions: Write in the answers as you go along. Remember that words
often change their meaning over time: a word that originally meant
something bad might mean something good today, and vice versa.
1. How did Atlas try to trick Hercules? (Use your own words.)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Which of the following might cause you to use an atlas?
A. buying apples
B. weightlifting
C. planning a vacation trip
D. playing a practical joke
3. According to the ancient Greeks, where did Calypso live?
_________________________________________________________________
4. Modern Calypso music comes originally from where? (Be specific.)
_________________________________________________________________
5. The Roman goddess Flora was in charge of what?
_________________________________________________________________
6. Why do you suppose the Floralia was held in the spring instead of in
autumn?
_________________________________________________________________
7. Which of the following phrases best describes the Greek character
Mentor?
A. a good role model
B. a sneaky spy
C. a funny comedian
D. a great warrior
8. When Stephen King calls someone “a mentor,” do you think he means he
trusts the
person or that he followed his example? Why do you think that?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________ 9. If people still
believed in the Roman gods today, which of these workers would most
likely worship Vulcan?
A. a lawyer
B. a welder
C. a truck driver
D. a soccer coach
10. What happens during a volcano's eruption that might remind people of
Vulcan and his forge?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Group A
Page 1
Atlas
Atlas was a Titan, a deity of great strength and power. According to the
stories, the Titans ruled the universe, and Cronus was their leader. The son
of Cronus, Zeus, overthrew his father in a terrible battle and condemed all
the Titans to bitter punishments. The punishment for Atlas was one of the
worst. He had to hold the world on his shoulders. The earth was very
heavy, and he had to carry the burden alone.
Atlas only had one visitor: Hercules. Hercules had to find the Golden Apples
of the Hesperides. Since Atlas was the father of the Hesperides, Hercules
asked him for help. Atlas said he would get the apples if Hercules would
hold the earth while he was gone. Hercules agreed. When Atlas returned
with the apples, he said Hercules could just keep on holding the earth and
that Atlas would deliver the apples for him.
Hercules had to think fast, because he knew Atlas was never coming back.
He asked Atlas to hold up the earth again for just a moment while Hercules
put a pad on his shoulders. Atlas did, and Hercules took the apples and left.
Group A
Page 2
Odysseus
The great Greek hero Odysseus spent many years wandering the
Mediterranean Sea after helping win the Trojan War. Eventually he lost all
his ships and all his crew. He was trapped on an island with the nymph,
Calypso, who loved him and wanted him to stay with her. She did
everything she could to make his stay on her island a happy one.
Odysseus, however, still wanted to return to his wife, Penelope; his son,
Telemachus; and his kingdom, Ithaca. Finally Athena persuaded most of the
Olympian gods that he should be allowed to return home. Zeus sent
Hermes, his messenger, to tell Calypso that she had to let Odysseus leave
her island.
Calypso was angry and hurt. She had to obey, Zeus, though, and five days
later Odysseus set sail on a strong raft.
Today we call music from the Caribbean islands calypso music to
remember the beautiful nymph and her island.
Group A
Page 3
Floralia
Flora was the Roman goddess of Spring and Spring flowers. During her
festival, the Floralia, people brought offerings of honey, fruit and flowers to
her temple. The festival lasted five days in late April and early May. The
celebration of May Day (May 1) can be compared to the Floralia.
Group A
Page 4
Mentor
Mentor was the man the Greek hero Odysseus trusted more than anyone
else in his kingdom of Ithaca. In The Odyssey, Athena disguises herself as
Mentor and advises Telemachus, Odysseus' son, to try to find information
about his father. Mentor guides the young man to the people who will help
him.
Today when we call someone a mentor, we remember a trustworthy, wise
counselor who gave good advice and set a good example for someone
younger.
Group A
Page 5
Vulcan
Vulcan was the Roman god of fire and the forge. As the Olympian
blacksmith, he made furnishings, dwellings, and armor for the gods and
goddesses. Some poets said Vulcan's forge was under volcanoes and caused
smoke and fire to come from them during an eruption.
Vulcan was liked and respected both by the gods and by people. He
supported those who worked with their hands in trades and
manufacturing.
Vulcan was the Roman god of fire and the forge. As the Olympian
blacksmith, he made furnishings, dwellings, and armor for the gods and
goddesses. Some poets said Vulcan's forge was under volcanoes and caused
smoke and fire to come from them during an eruption.
Vulcan was liked and respected both by the gods and by people. He
supported those who worked with their hands in trades and
manufacturing.
Group B / Worksheet B / Name _______________________
Directions: Write in the answers as you go along, two questions per word.
Remember
that words often change their meaning over time: a word that originally
meant something
bad might mean something good today, and vice versa.
1. Plato, a famous Greek teacher, named his school after a generous host
named ___________________________.
2. Plato's students were called "academics," and today our word "academic"
means ___________________________.
3. According to one story, Achilles was invulnerable except for his heel.
Why wasn't his heel protected like the rest of his body? (Use your own
words.)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. If your doctor says you have injured your Achilles tendon, which of these
will you probably need as you recover?
A. A sling
B. Crutches
C. A back brace
D. A collar around your neck
5. What happened to the men who heard the Sirens sing (except for
Orpheus
and Odysseus)?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. A modern siren would not have the body of a bird, but how might she be
like the original sirens?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
7. It was hard for Zeus and the Olympians to defeat the Titans because the
Titans were so _______________________________.
8. Which of the following words does NOT mean the same thing as our
modern
word "titanic"?
A. colossal
B. huge
C. minuscule
D. gargantuan 9. The ancient Zelus was the personification or symbolic
embodiment of the
concept of zeal. What is zeal?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
10. Complete this analogy: Zeal is to painting your face in your team's
colours as ___________________.
A. courage is to running away
B. anger is to raising your voice
C. joy is to looking the other way
D. fatigue is to exercising
Group B
Part 1
Academus
A man named Academus lived in Athens, Greece. The great teacher Plato
chose Academus's garden to be the place of his lectures. Because they met
there, Plato's students were called "the academic group," and Plato's school
was called "the Academy."
Group B
Part 2
Achilles
Achilles was a great warrior who fought in the Trojan War on the side of
the Greeks.
When he was born, his mother discovered that his fate was to die in
combat. She tried to make him impervious to weapons by dipping him in
the sacred river Styx. In order to do that, she had to hold him by one heel,
and that part didn't get wet.
During combat on the fields of Troy, Paris, prince of Troy, shot an arrow at
Achilles. The god Apollo guided it into the one place where Achilles could
be hurt, his heel. He died.
Group B
Part 3
Sirens
The Sirens had the heads of beautiful women and the bodies of birds. They
lived on a rocky island in the sea. Their voices were enchanting, and
everyone who heard them sing was drawn to them. Sailors would sail their
ships onto the rocks and drown, trying to hear more of their lovely singing.
Most people who heard them sing died. There are only two stories of
survivors. On their famous adventure Jason and the Argonauts heard the
Sirens. They fought the sound but eventually were overcome and began to
sail their ship toward the rocky coast. Fortunately Orpheus was on board.
Orpheus was a musician and singer of such skill that he broke the spell of
the Sirens, and the sailors brought their ship, the Argo, back on course.
Odysseus, hero of The Odyssey, had been warned in advance about the
Sirens. He plugged the ears of his crew with beeswax, so they couldn't hear
the captivating sound. But Odysseus himself wanted to hear the singing, so
he had his men tie him to the mast. When the ship drew near the island, he
was enchanted by the singing. Moving his head, he gestured to his men to
untie him and let him swim to the island. Instead, they tied him even
tighter. He begged, he pleaded, and as they sailed beyond the island, he
wept. As they sailed further away, he returned to his senses.
These are the only stories of men who heard the Sirens and escaped
destruction.
Group B
Part 4
The Titans were a race of gods who lived before Zeus and the other
Olympians. They were very big and very strong. Some of the most famous
Titans were Cronus, Rhea, Ocean, Hyperion, Atlas, Epimetheus, and
Prometheus, who gave fire to humans.
Cronus and Rhea were the parents of Zeus and other Olympian gods and
goddesses. Cronus knew that one of his children was destined to overthrow
him. As each child was born, he swallowed it. When Zeus was born, though,
Rhea wrapped a stone in a baby blanket and gave that to Cronus instead.
She hid Zeus on an island. When he became an adult, he forced Cronus to
disgorge the stone and his five brothers and sisters: Hera, Poseidon, Hades,
Hestia, and Demeter. Then he waged a terrible war against Cronus and the
Titans. After he won, he sentenced them to cruel punishments.
Group B
Part 5
Zelos
Zelos was the god of zeal or great enthusiasm. He was the brother of Nike,
the winged goddess of victory, and it seems appropriate that they go
together. After all, how can you win at something if you don't give it your
enthusiasm?
Group C / Worksheet C / Name _______________________
Directions: Write in the answers as you go along, two questions per word.
1. The river Lethe was also called "_______________________________."
2. Which of the following is an antonym for "lethargic"?
A. dry B. safe C. hungry D. energetic
3. The ancient Greek muses were goddesses in charge of what?
A. sports B. tools and technology C. nature D. the arts
4. If you are "musing" about something, what are you doing?
A. thinking B. singing C. dancing D. writing a poem
5. The Roman name "Nox" does not refer to a god or goddess. Who was
Nox? _________________________________________________________________
6. Complete the sentence: It was hard to see the nocturnal animals because
A. it was too dark.
B. they were too far away.
C. they moved too quickly.
D. they lived underwater.
7. Odysseus was the greatest of the Greek heroes. He fought in the Trojan
War for
10 years. How long did it take him to get home after the Trojan War?
A. two weeks
B. ten years
C. six months
D. a year
8. Our word "odyssey" means "a long voyage full of unexpected twists and
turns."
What caused Odysseus to have such a difficult journey?
A. He forgot to thank the gods.
B. The Trojans captured him.
C. The Trojan Horse injured him.
D. He was seasick most of the time.
9. How was Tantalus punished?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
10. Complete the analogy: tantalize is to tempt as ________________.
A. lethargic is to sluggish
B. nocturnal is to daily
C. odyssey is to hero
D. muse is to amuse
Group C
Part 1
Lethe
The river Lethe was also called the river of forgetfulness or oblivion. It was
one of five rivers separating the Greek underworld from the land of the
living. Souls often became drowsy as they listened to the river's
murmuring. Those who drank water from the river Lethe forgot everything
they had seen while they were in the Underworld. Then they could return
to Earth to be reincarnated (born in a new form).
Group C
Part 2
Muse
The nine Muses were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory). Each
Muse was in charge of one area of the arts:
• Calliope, epic poetry and eloquence
• Clio, history
• Erato, love poetry
• Euterpe, lyric poetry
• Melpomene, tragedy
• Polyhymnia, songs to the gods (hymns)
• Terpsichore, dance
• Thalia, comedy
• Urania, astronomy
The Muses provided inspiration and joy. Artists often asked their muse for
help.
Group C
Part 3
According the Greek story of creation, at first there was nothing but Chaos.
Chaos was a huge, wild, disorganized void or "nothingness." Chaos had two
children: Nyx and Erebus. Nyx and Erebus were not gods to be worshipped;
they were personifications of the concepts of night (Nyx) and darkness
(Erebus).
Nyx laid an egg, and from it came love. When Love was born, beauty and
order came, too. The confusion of Chaos began to disappear. Love created
Light and Day.
In some stories, Nyx rode across the sky in a chariot, bringing night.
The Roman name for Nyx was Nox, and our English words come from Nox.
Group C
Part 4
Odysseus, king of Ithaca, is the greatest of the Greek heroes. During the
years of the Trojan War, Odysseus proved to be a natural leader. He was
also very clever. In fact, he thought of the Trojan Horse, the trick which
brought the war to an end. He is often referred to as "wily Odysseus."
When the Trojan War ended, Odysseus forgot to thank the gods for helping
him. This made them angry, and they punished him with a long voyage
home. The trip that should have taken about two weeks took 10 years
instead. Along the way, Odysseus fought many monsters and misfortunes,
was taken prisoner by Circe and Calypso, visited the land of the dead, and
eventually lost all of his men. He was able to get home only because Athena
changed her mind and helped him.
The story of Odysseus' long voyage with its unexpected twists and turns is
told in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey. Our English word comes from the
title.
Which of the following might be called an odyssey?
Group C
Part 5
Tantalus was the son of the god Zeus and a mortal mother. The gods and
goddesses liked Tantalus. One time he invited all of them to his palace for a
great banquet, and they all honored him by attending.
No one has ever tried to explain what happened next. Tantalus ordered his
servants to kill his son Pelops, boil him in a cauldron, and serve him to the
gods for dinner. Of course the gods knew what was on the plates in front of
them, and they refused to eat. Instead, they restored Pelops to life, and they
devised a unique and terrible punishment for Tantalus.
Tantalus was chained in a pool in the underworld. Around the pool were
fruit trees heavy with ripe fruit. Whenever he was hungry and reached for
something to eat, a breeze blew the branches out of his reach. When he was
thirsty and tried to drink, the water drained into the ground. When he
stood up, it was there again. He was condemned to spend eternity hungry
and thirsty even though he was surrounded by food and water.
Today our word tantalize suggests tempting someone with something he or
she can't have. Something tantalizing is very interesting or desirable.
Group D / Name _______________________
Directions: Write in the answers as you go along, two questions per word.
1. Hercules completed twelve labors. Which one required
a. the greatest strength? __________________________________________________
b. the most courage? ____________________________________________________
c. the most cleverness? __________________________________________________
2. Complete the analogy: HERCULEAN : WEAK :: _____________ .
A. hot : warm
B. spotted : striped
C. musical : rhythmical
D. left : right
3. When Bacchus offered him a gift, King Midas asked to turn things into
____________________ just by touching them.
4. Midas's choice was foolish and disastrous. Today if someone has “the
Midas Touch,”
we call them ____________________ .
A. foolish
B. generous
C. successful
D. cowardly
5. According to the ancient Greeks, Nemesis was the personification of
_________________________________________________________________
6. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Prince Harry is the nemesis of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
B. Mother Theresa was the nemesis of poor people.
C. Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, was the nemesis of his
crewmates, "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins.
D. Adolph Hitler was the nemesis of Jewish people.
7. What was the only good quality in the original Pandora's Box?
_________________________________________________________________
8. Pandora's name means "all gifts," but she is famous for bringing all the
troubles into the world. The name for that contradiction is ________.
A. irony
B. suspense
C. personification
D. simile 9. Why might the oracle have been correct in describing Cupid as
"a winged monster
who was even stronger than the gods"?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
10. A person's psyche includes all of the following except which one?
A. mind
B. soul
C. self-esteem
D. body
Goup D
Part 1
Many students first learn about Hercules by watching the Disney movie. In
it they see a strong guy with a good heart and tremendous courage, but not
a lot of brains. That's a good comparison to the Hercules of the ancient
Greeks.
Hercules ranks with Odysseus and Theseus as one of the greatest Greek
heroes. The son of Zeus and a mortal woman, he killed a pair of snakes
while he was still an infant. Everyone knew then that he was no ordinary
child.
As an adult, he married the Theban princess Megara. He loved his wife and
children, but one day in a fit of madness, he killed them all. When he came
to his senses and realized what he had done, he was going to kill himself.
However, the Theban ruler Theseus reached out and grasped Hercules'
bloodstained hands. According to the Greek tradition, this made Theseus
guilty, too.
This act of friendship saved Hercules' life. Theseus convinced Hercules to
come to Athens. While he was there, Hercules consulted the oracle of
Apollo. The oracle told him to go to King Eurystheus, who would provide
tasks for Hercules as penance. If he completed what Eurythesus said, he
would be purified from his guilt.
King Eurystheus devised a list called "The Twelve Labors of Hercules." Each
was all but impossible. Hercules undertook them willingly in order to atone
for his crimes.
• The Nemean Lion
Hercules had to kill the Nemean Lion, a huge, strong beast no weapon
could harm. He choked it to death, then carried the carcass to the
King.
• The Hydra
The Hydra had nine heads, one of which was immortal. The other
eight were equally dangerous. If a warrior cut off one head, two more
grew in its place. Hercules brought his nephew Iolus to help him. As
Hercules cut off one head, Iolus seared the neck with a hot brand so a
new head couldn't grow. After they cut off the eight mortal heads,
Hercules buried the ninth one under a huge rock.
• The Golden Stag
This stag had horns of gold and was sacred to Artemis. Hercules had
to capture it alive.
• The Erymanthean Boar
Hercules chased this monstrous wild hog until it was worn out. Then
he trapped it in deep snow.
• The Stables of King Augeus
King Augeus had thousands of cattle and hadn't bothered to clean out
his stables in years. Hercules rerouted two rivers to flood the stables
and clean them quickly.
• The Stymphalian Birds
There were so many birds that the people of Stymphalus considered
them a threat. Athena drove the birds out of their hiding places, and
Hercules shot them with his arrows.
• The Minoan Bull
Hercules journeyed to the island of Crete and overpowered the
savage bull that Poseidon had given King Minos. He put the bull on a
boat and brought it to King Eurystheus.
• The Mares of Diomedes
These horses were a special challenge: they ate human flesh.
Hercules had to kill King Diomedes first, and then he drove off the
mares.
• The Girdle (Belt) of Hippolyta
Hippolyta was the Queen of the Amazons, a race of warrior women.
She was willing to help him out and gave him the girdle. As he was
leaving, the Amazons mistakenly thought Hercules was kidnapping
Hippolyta, so they attacked his ship. Hercules, mistakenly thinking
Hippolyta ordered the attack, killed her. He took the girdle and
escaped. • The Cattle of Geryon
Geryon was a monster with three bodies. He lived on Erythia, an
island way in the west. On his way to get the cattle, Hercules set up
two great stones, called the Pillars of Hercules. Today they are the
mighty rocks Gibralter and Ceuta at the western entrance of the Mediterranean Sea.
• The Golden Apples of the Hesperides
No one knew where the golden apples were, but Eurystheus ordered
Hercules to bring them to him. The Hesperides were the daughters of
Atlas, so Hercules asked Atlas, the Titan who held up the sky, for help.
Atlas asked Hercules to hold up the sky while he went for the apples.
When he came back, he told Hercules to just keep on holding up the
sky while he delivered the apples. Hercules knew was Atlas was up
to. He said he would be glad to hold up the sky if Atlas would take it
back for just a moment so he could put a pad on his shoulders. Atlas
agreed. Hercules took the apples and left.
• Cerberus, the Three-Headed Dog
Hercules' last job was to bring Cerberus up from the Underworld.
Hades, king of the underworld, agreed to let Cerberus go as long as
Hercules didn't use any weapons on him. Hercules lifted Cerberus up
and carried him to Eurystheus. Cereberus was very dangerous, so
Eurystheus made Hercules take him back. That was the last of his
labors.
When he died, Hercules was taken to Mount Olympus to spend
eternity with the gods and goddesses.
Group D
Part 2
Phrygia was famous for its roses, and King Midas had wonderful gardens
near his palace. One day his servants found Silenus, a follower of the god of
wine Bacchus, asleep among the roses. Midas welcomed him and treated
him as a royal guest for 10 days. Then he helped Silenus rejoin Bacchus.
Bacchus was so pleased with Midas that he promised Midas he would grant
him one wish. Midas greedily wished that everything he touched would
turn to gold.
That night at dinner Midas could not eat or drink anything because it kept
turning to gold in his mouth. He went out to his garden for comfort, but the
roses turned to gold when he touched them. His young daughter ran
outside and asked her daddy to pick her up. Laughing, she grabbed his legs
-- and instantly turned to gold.
Horrified, Midas hurried to Bacchus to beg him to take back the gift.
Bacchus sent him to bathe in source of the river Pactolus and to sprinkle
river water on his daughter. To this day people find gold in the sand from
that river.
This story helps us remember that some things are more important
than wealth.
Group D
Part 3
Nemesis was not a goddess but the personification of a concept. The name
"Nemesis" means "righteous anger." Her domain was retribution or just,
fair revenge. Nemesis did not reside on Mount Olympus with the gods but
rather on Earth with mortals.
Today a nemesis is an evil opponent, someone who usually wins.
Group D
Part 4
Prometheus and Epimetheus were brothers during the Golden Age, when
no evil existed on the Earth. No one was ever sick or angry or hungry.
Everyone spent their days in peace and happiness. Prometheus, whose
name means "forethought," was a Titan and was very wise. His brother's
name meant "afterthought," and he made a terrible mistake.
On Mount Olympus the gods created a young woman. Each one gave her a
special gift, such as a silvery gown, a golden crown, great beauty, and
garlands of flowers. They named her "Pandora," which means "the gift from
all."
The gods also gave Pandora a box. Into that box each god had put
something harmful, and they warned her never to open it. Then they sent
Pandora to Epimetheus.
When he saw her beauty, Epimetheus forgot his brother's warning never to
accept anything from Zeus. He welcomed Pandora into his home and
married her.
One day Pandora's curiosity got the better of her. She just had to know
what was in the box the gods had given her, so she opened it. Immediately
all the troubles of the world flew out: disease, anger, hunger, and many
others. Terrified, Pandora slammed down the lid, but it was too late. The
Golden Age was ruined.
Pandora looked down at the box, startled. Did she hear something inside
knocking and saying, "Let me out"? Pandora sighed. No matter what was in
there, it couldn't be any worse than what she had already let out, so she
opened the box. Out flew Hope, the only good thing the gods had included.
Today Hope is often the only thing that sustains people during bad times.
Group D
Part 5
Psyche (pronounced "SAI-kee") was a beautiful young woman, the
youngest of three daughters. Men came from many lands to admire her, but
no one wanted to marry her.
Her father was concerned, so he consulted an oracle. The priestess of Apollo said Psyche was fated to marry a winged monster who was even
stronger than the gods. She said Psyche must be dressed in deepest
mourning and left alone on the top of a hill. Her husband would take her
away.
Everyone was upset by this news, but Psyche faced it bravely. When the
day came, she dressed as though she were going to her death and joined the
procession to the top of the hill. She said good-bye to her family and waited.
They returned to their homes and mourned for her.
When it grew dark, a soft, gentle wind lifted Psyche up and carried her to a
peaceful meadow. She slept. She woke up next to a beautiful mansion
overlooking a lovely river. She went to the door and heard voices telling
her to enter, that the house was hers and they were her servants. They
brought her delicious food to eat, and gentle music filled the house. She was
alone, but somehow she knew that her husband would come in the evening.
And she knew he would not be a monster.
Psyche was right. Her husband was everything she could have hoped for,
except for one thing: she never saw him. He left before dawn and only
returned to his home after dark. He warned Psyche never to try to see him.
Psyche decided she had to see him. One night she waited until he was
sleeping quietly and lit an oil lamp. She was astonished at how handsome
he was. She began to tremble, and some of the oil spilled out of the lamp
onto his shoulder. He woke up, realized that she had broken her promise,
and left. She ran after him into the night, but he said, "Love cannot live
where there is no trust."
That's when Psyche realized that her husband was Cupid, the god of love.
No wonder the oracle had said she would marry a winged monster stronger
than the gods! How many times had Cupid shot one of his arrows into a god
or goddess to make them fall in love with a mortal. Psyche scolded herself
for not keeping her promise.
Determined to win him back, Psyche decided to go to Venus, the goddess of
love and Cupid's mother. She would offer herself as a servant to try to win
Venus' favor. But Venus was angry and gave Psyche a series of tasks. First
Psyche had to sort out a heap of very small seeds into separate piles. She
could never have done it by herself, but a group of ants took pity on her and
sorted them for her.
The second task was to bring Venus golden fleece from the sheep that
grazed near the riverbank. The sheep were very fierce. Psyche thought of
throwing herself into the river because the task was so hard. A kind reed,
however, spoke to her and told her to wait until evening. The sheep would
walk through the thicket to get water from the river. After they left, Psyche
could get the fleece that was hanging on the briars.
For the third task, Venus ordered Psyche to bring her a flask of water from
the river Styx. The banks of the river were very dangerous, slick and steep
and rocky. As she tried to figure out how to get the water, an eagle swooped
down and took the flask, flew to the waterfall and filled it, then brought it
back.
Finally Venus said that taking care of Cupid's wounds had robbed her of her
beauty. She ordered Psyche to take a box to Proserpina, Queen of the
Underworld, and ask her to put some of her beauty into it. The journey to
the underworld was long and dangerous, but again Psyche had help along
the way. Proserpina filled the box, and Psyche began the difficult journey
back.
On the return trip, Psyche grew curious about what the beauty charm was. She finally opened the box. She didn't see anything inside, but before long
she was sound asleep.
Cupid, who was well enough to leave his mother's palace by now, found her
by the side of the road. He awakened her and sent her on to Venus. Then he
flew up to Mt. Olympus. Jupiter himself blessed the marriage and gave
Psyche ambrosia to eat, making her immortal. Once Psyche became an
immortal, Venus no longer objected to the marriage, and Cupid (the god of
love) and Psyche (whose name means "soul") were always together after
that.
Group E / Name _______________________
Directions: Write in the answers as you go along, two questions per word.
Remember
that words often change their meaning over time: a word that originally
meant something
bad might mean something good today, and vice versa.
1. According to the story, why does Aeolus, the god of the winds, stop
the winds and calm the waves for a week every year?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. When we remember halcyon days, we often remember them with
________.
A. uneasiness
B. frustration
C. regret
D. nostalgia
3. Salus was the goddess of ____________________________________________.
4. All of the following could have a salutary effect on a person except
which one?
A. a visit from an old friend
B. smoking
C. taking vitamins
D. a walk in early morning sunshine
5. Somnus was the god of ____________________________________________.
6. Answer this question without using a dictionary: A person who has
INSOMNIA is unable to do what?
A. use a computer
B. taste sweet things
C. see red and green things
D. sleep
7. Terpsichore was the Muse in charge of choral music and
____________________________________________.
8. All of the following might be called terpsichoreans except which one?
A. Anna Pavlova
B. Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
C. Michael Jackson
D. Tiger Woods
9. Zephyrus was in charge of the wind from what direction?
____________________________________________.
10. Complete the analogy: zephyr : pleasant :: ___________ .
A. Internet : electronic
B. mountain: new
C. test : fun
D. summer : cold
Group E
Part 1
Ceyx and Alcyone were deeply in love. One day Ceyx had to leave on a
journey. Alcyone begged him not to go, because she was afraid he would die
during a storm at sea. But he left anyway.
Sure enough, a storm destroyed Ceyx's ship, and everyone aboard
drowned. Back at home, Alcyone waited for Ceyx to return. She prayed to
the gods for him every day. The goddess Juno took pity on her and sent a
messenger in a dream to tell her of her husband's death.
When Alcyone awoke, she was distraught. She went down to bluff where
she had waited for Ceyx to return. In the distance she saw a corpse floating
toward shore. When it was close enough, she recognized Ceyx. She jumped
into the water, so she could die and be with him, but the gods took pity on
them and transformed both of them into birds.
Now every year there is one week of very calm water at sea. During this
time Alcyone floats in her nest on the sea until her eggs hatch. After the
young birds are born, the spell is broken. Those seven days are called
Alcyon or, more commonly, Halcyon days, a time of peace and tranquillity.
Group D
Part 2
Salus is the personified Roman goddess of health and prosperity, both of
the individual and the state. She had a temple on the Quirinal, built in 302
BC. Later she became more a protector of personal health. Her attribute
was a snake or a bowl and her festival was celebrated on March 30.
Our English words salute, salutation, salutatory, and salutatorian are all
derived from the name Salus, suggesting a greeting that includes wishes for
good health.
Salus is identified with the Greek goddess Hygieia, from whose name we
have our word hygiene.
Group E
Part 3
Somnus was the Roman god of sleep. He lived in a quiet valley that was so
deep the sun never shone there. The only sound in the valley came from
Lethe, the river of forgetfulness and oblivion. Poppies bloomed near the
door to his home. Not surprisingly, Somnus spent his days asleep on a soft,
dark bed unless someone had an errand for him to run, like bringing news
of Cyex's death to Alcyone.
Group E
Part 4
Terpsichore (pronounced "terp-SICK-ur-ee") was, like Calliope, a muse, one
of the nine daughters of Zeus and a mortal woman. Each was in charge of a
different aspect of the arts.
Terpsichore is mostly associated with dancing, though some stories put her
in charge of choral singing (groups like choirs). Her name comes from two
Greek words meaning "to delight in dancing."
Group E
Part 5
Zephyr (pronounced "ZEF-er") was the Greek name for the West Wind.
