Mythology - Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes

## Basic Info

* Author - Edith Hamilton
* Published: 1942
* Original Language: English

## Introduction to Classical Mythology

* Greek and Roman mythology is interesting in that it reveals the mindset of humans and civilization when it is more interconnected with the natural world. When nature and humans are interconnected as they were back then, distinctions between reality and the supernatural were more blurred.
* The Iliad is the oldest Greek writings we have preserved
* "With the coming forward of Greece, mankind became the center of the universe."
* Greek mythology is extremely interesting and illustrates its "human centrism" in the fact that its gods were made in the image of man. Elsewhere such as in Egypt gods had birds or cats heads and were towering above humans in size. The situation was similar in ancient Mesopotamian religions as well. Greek gods looked like humans, had the same vices as humans did, all just on a more extreme scale.
* The idea that the invisible must be understood by the visible is inherently Greek. While the Egyptians and other civilizations were creating sculptures and art that was surreal and had no real basis in reality, the Greeks were sculpting in the image of man, all their art centered around it.
* Greek mythology was also interesting in that the locations of great events or the habitations of monsters and beasts were nearby, real-life locations. for example, the Pegasus was said to lodge in a stable in Corinth every night, one of the largest cities in Greece.
* Wizards are non-existent in Greek mythology, and there are only two witches, Circe and Midea. This minimal presence of witchcraft and magic was at odds with the rest of the world at that time, where magic was believed to be extremely powerful and prevalent in the world.
* Astrology really had no place in ancient Greece, astronomy was of much greater importance
* Ghosts never make appearances in Greek mythology
* Hera was once a cow-faced goddess, not unlike those in Egyptian mythology
* "Myths are early science, the results of men's first trying to explain what they saw around them."
* Zeus was once a rain god, and was of greater importance than the Sun.
* This is interesting as it shows how the climates of early civilizations shaped their mythology. Rain was important to agriculture in Greece as there are very little large rivers and it is very mountainous. On the other hand in Egypt, there is very little rain so the Nile provides irrigation. The sun was also always visible more of less during the day due to a lack of mountains or storm clouds to blot it out, thus the Sun was a much more prevalent aspect of an Egyptians life. this leads to the main deity of Egyptian mythology being Ra, as sun god, and for the Greeks Zeus, a storm and at one point more specifically rain god.
* The Latin poet Ovid, who lived during the reign of Augustus, is the greatest source of Greek mythological knowledge to modern historians. From Greek documents he got the Greek myths and translated them into Latin. However he did not believe them obviously, they were sheer nonsense to him.
* Ovid was a very popular poet in his time, but got banished to the Black Sea region by the emperor.
* His narrative poem, metamorphoses, was his greatest work and the greatest source for Greek myths.
* Homer - *Iliad* and *The* *Odyssey*
* Hesiod - *Works and Days* and *Theogony*
* Pindar - Greatest lyric poet of Greece
* Edith Hamilton draws the majority of her sources from Greek writers, as it is important to her that the source believe in what they write.

## Part One

### The Gods

* The gods did not create the universe in Greek mythology, it was the other way around
* Titans are often referred to as the Elder Gods
* According to Roman mythology, when Jupitar dethroned Saturn, Saturn fled for Italy and established a golden age there
* List of some Titans not banished to Tartarus after Zeus' victory
	+ Ocean - was the river that encircled the Earth
	+ Tethys - Wife of Ocean
	+ Hyperion - father of the sun, moon, and dawn
	+ Mnemosyne - translates to memory, was the mother of the muses
	+ Themis - translates to justice, mother of the fates and the Hesperides
	+ Iapetus - father of Atlas, Prometheus, and Epimetheus
	+ Atlas - bears the heavens on his shoulders
	+ Prometheus - savior of mankind

* Olympus is located in Thessaly, in the northeast of Greece
* Ambrosia and nectar. the food and drink of the gods
* Twelve Olympians
	1. Zeus/Jupiter
	2. Poseidon/Neptune
	3. Hades/Pluto
	4. Hestia/Vesta
	5. Hera/Juno
	6. Ares/Mars
	7. Athena/Minerva
	8. Apollo
	9. Aphrodite/Venus
	10. Hermes/Mercury
	11. Artemis/Diana
	12. Hephaestus/Vulcan

#### Zeus/Jupiter

* Youngest son of Cronus and Rhea
* In the *Iliad* Homer states that Zeus' power was greater than that of all the other gods combined. Despite this however he was not omnipotent, and at times the power of fate is said to supersede his
* Scholars believe that the myths regarding Zeus' love affairs came about due to the spread of his worship. As his worship spread from town to town, the town's previous deity was merged with Zeus, which explains his many traits, and the previous deity's wife was given to Zeus, thus leading him to have countless affairs in myths.
* Zeus' Symbols
	+ Aegis - His breastplate/shield/animal skin, some kind of armor that the myths don't describe in great detail
	+ Bird - Eagle
	+ Tree - Oak
* The rustling of oak trees in the wind was how oracles interpreted his will
* A poetic term for the name Jupitar that was used in later European poetry was Jove

#### Hera/Juno

* Was a very jealous and vengeful goddess, wife and sister of Zeus
* Goddess and protector of marriage and married women
* Ilithyia, the goddess of childbirth is her and Zeus' daughter
* Hera's Symbols
	+ Argos - Her favorite city
	+ Bird - Peacock
	+ The cow was also sacred to her

#### Poseidon/Neptune

* General considered the second most powerful god behind Zeus
* Is god of the seas, storms on the seas, horses
* His wife was Amphitrite, the grand-daughter of the titan Ocean
* Created and first gave the horse to humans, giving him the name "lord of horses"
* Also was associated with earthquakes, granting him the name "earth shaker"
* Poseidon's Symbols
	+ His trident, this was his primary weapon
	+ He had a chariot which could ride across the waves
	+ Horses and bulls were sacred to him

#### Hades/Pluto

* One of his nicknames was the "God of Wealth," as he was god over precious jewels and metals in addition to being god of the underworld
* His wife was Persephone
* He was not god of death however, just the dead. The god of the dead was Thanatos in Greek, and Orcus in Latin
* He had a helmet which made the wearer invisible
* Rarely left the underworld, even to visit Olympus

#### Athena/Minerva

* Zeus' daughter, sprang from his head
* She is generally the goddess of war, but primarily just in the area of home defense
* She was the goddess of the city/city life, civilization, handicrafts, agriculture to a degree, and she invented the bridle, which allowed humans to tame horses properly
* She was Zeus' favorite child, and carried the aegis and his thunderbolts into battle for him
* Was nicknamed "the grey eyed" or "flashing-eyed" as well as "parthanos" which translates to virgin as she was chief of the 3 virgin godesses
* Was also the goddess of wisdom, purity, and reason
* Athena's Symbols
	+ Bird - The Owl
	+ Athens - Her favorite city
	+ Parthenon - Her primary temple
	+ Tree - The olive tree, which she created

#### Apollo

* Son of Zeus and Leto along with his twin sister Artemis
* Was born on the island of Delos, which was sacred to him
* God of archery, music, light/the sun, healing, poetry, good and lovely endowments, and truth
* Known as "Lord of the Silver Bow," Lycian, Pythian, and "the Mouse God"
* Spent his time towing the sun in his golden chariot, entertaining the other gods with his golden lyre and speaking through his oracle
* The oracle of Delhi was his oracle, and the most important in Greece. She spoke to visitors in trances about the future, which was supposedly caused by vapors coming out of a cleft in the rocks below.
* Apollo's Symbols
	+ Tree - Laurel
	+ Animals - Dolphin and Crow

#### Artemis/Diana

* Was the daughter of Zeus and Leto along with her twin brother Apollo
* One of the virgin/maiden goddesses and goddess of the hunt, the moon, which she towed in her silver chariot, and the youth
* If a woman died suddenly from a quick and painless death, she was said to have been killed by Artemis' silver arrows
* Is said at times to be a goddess of three forms;
	+ Selene - Moon goddess in the sky
	+ Artemis - Goddess of the hunt on Earth
	+ Hecate - Goddess of the dark of the moon, that which is hidden, the moon, crossways, and magic, down below the Earth
* Though present in all gods to some degree, Artemis most vividly displays the uncertainty between good and evil
* Artemis' Symbols
	+ Tree - Cypress
	+ Animal - More or less all wild animals, but especially the deer

#### Aphrodite/Venus

* Goddess of love and beauty, who seduced and lured both men and gods
* The "laughter-loving goddess"
* In the Iliad is said to be the daughter of Zeus and Dione, but in later poems and stories is said to have risen from the foam of the sea near Cythera and was borne to Cyprus, so both islands were sacred to her
* Wife of Hephaestus in most stories
* In earlier myths is shown to be harmless, soft, and meek, but over time became more deceptive and malicious
* Symbols of Aphrodite:
	+ Tree - Myrtle
	+ Animal - Dove, sparrow, swam

#### Hermes/Mercury

* Zeus and Maia were his parents, Maia was a daughter of Atlas
* Messenger god, as well as the god of thieves, commerce, and protector of traders, and was also given the role and guide to the dead
* Invented the lyre to sooth Apollo's wrath, and was known as the master thief
* He is the most common god is mythological tales
* The Caduceus was his magic wand, and he also had winged sandals which allowed him to travel quickly and is also depicted commonly as wearing a winged helmet

#### Ares/Mars

* Son of Zeus and Hera, who both detested him
* Ares was feared and not widely worshipped by the Greeks, but the Romans were quite fond of Mars, who was much more civil than his Greek counterpart
* Is not heavily featured in mythology, though is said once to be a lover of Aphrodite
* Generally though he just functions as a symbol of war in mythology, and less of a distinct personality
* In the Iliad is described as murderous, bloodthirsty, the incarnate curse of mortals, and a coward as he bellows loudly and retreats when wounded in battle.
* His sister Eris accompanies him on the battlefield as does the goddess of war, Enyo/Bellona who is accompanied by Phobos (fear) and Deimos (dread)
* Ares' Symbols
	+ Bird - Vulture
	+ Animal - Dog

#### Hephaestus/Vulcan/Mulciber

* In most myths is the child of Zeus and Hera
* Was ugly and lame, and was crippled by either Hera or Zeus throwing him off Olympus. Hera was said to have done that in disgust after seeing how ugly Hephaestus was, and Zeus is said to have done so after Hephaestus sided with or tried to defend Hera in a dispute.
* Was the smith god and crated weapons and armor for the gods, he had maidens crafted out of gold who would assist him in his work
* Along with Athena he was also the god of handicrafts, civilization, and agriculture
* He was said in later poems to work in his forges under volcanos, and caused them to erupt
* He has different wives in different myths, in the Odyssey it is Aphrodite, in the Iliad it is one of the three Graces, Aglaia
	+ Aglaia was the goddess of beauty, glory, and adornment
* Hephaestus was a very popular god among the Greeks, and when children were admitted into Athens city organization, the god of the ceremony was Hephaestus

#### Hestia/Vesta

* She is one of Zeus' sisters and along with Athena and Artemis, one of the maiden goddesses
* She, like Ares, though to even a lesser degree, has no real personality and plays no role in myths
* She was goddess of the Hearth, which was very important culturally in Greece and a child was carried before the Hearth before they could be formally received into the family
* Each city also had a Hearth, which always had to be burning, and if a new city was to be founded, colonist would take a burning ember from their home city's hearth to start the hearth at the new city
* In Rome the Hearth was cared for by 6 virgin priestesses, known as the Vestals

#### Minor gods and goddesses

* Eros/Cupid - god of love
	+ Initially was a companion of Aphrodite, but later came to be her son in myths and a mischievous boy
	+ Often was blindfolded to symbolize that love is blind

Anteros - Avenger of slighted love/ the one who opposes love

Himeros - Longing

Hymen - God of the wedding feast

Hebe - Goddess of Youth, daughter of Zeus and Hera, married Hercules when he ascended to heaven

Ganymede - Cupbearer to the gods, was a beautiful Trojan prince that was carried up to Olympus

Iris - Goddess of the rainbow/messenger for the gods

The Three Graces - Daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, one of Ocean's daughters, brought joy to men and gods alike

* Aglaia - Splendor
* Euphrosyne - Mirth
* Thalia - Good/cheer

The Nine Muses - The daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory

* Clio - History
* Urania - Astronomy
* Melpomene - Tragedy genre
* Thalia - Comedy genre
* Terpsichore - Dance
* Calliope - Epic poetry
* Erato - Love poetry
* Polyhymnia - Songs to the gods
* Euterpe - Lyric poetry

Water Gods

* Poseidon - god of the sea and underground rivers
	+ The Friendly Sea was a term used by the Greeks to refer to the Black Sea
* Ocean - titan over the river Ocean, which encircled the Earth
	+ His wife was the titan Tethys
	+ His daughters were the Oceanids, nymphs of the river Ocean
	+ His sons were the rivers of the Earth's gods
* Pontus - means deep sea, was son of Gaia and father of Nereus
* Nereus - old man of the sea who never lied and was always kind
	+ Wife was Doris, a daughter of Ocean
	+ He had 50 daughters, known as the Nereids, which were the nymphs of the sea
	+ Two notable Nereids were Thetis and Amphitrite, Achilles' mother and Poseidon's wife respectively
* Triton - Son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, was the trumpeter of the sea and used a great shell to fulfill his role
	+ The blow of his trumpet could either sooth and agitate the waves and storms of the sea
* Naiads - Water nymphs that dwelt in springs and fountains
* Proteus - son or attendant of Poseidon who could foretell the future and shapshift
	+ The term protean figure is derived from his name, and refers to a shapeshifting character

The Greek Underworld and Its Gods

* The underworld was often called Hades, after its ruler
	+ Erebus usually referred to the upper regions
	+ Tartarus usually referred to the lower regions
* The Roman poet Virgil is one of the greatest sources of knowledge on the Greek underworld, according to him:
	+ The river Acheron led to Hades
	+ Charon - Ferryman of the underworld
		- Only accepts those who were duly buried and buried with passage coin
	+ Cerberus was the guard of the gate to Tartarus, was a three headed dog
	+ Three judges, Rhadamanthus, Minos, and Aeacus judged each soul and sentenced them to either eternal torment of the Elysian Fields
	+ The Furies were women tormented evil-doers in the underworld, represented by Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto
	+ Hypnos (sleep) and his twin brother Thanatos (death), sons of Nyx (night) and Erebus (darkness) also dwelt in the underworld, and from the underworld dreams ascended through two gates, one of horn for true dreams, and one of ivory for false dreams

Lesser Gods of Earth

* Earth - called the All-Mother, but was not really a divinity and did not have a persona of any kind
* Demeter/Ceres - the goddess of corn, a daughter of Cronus and Rhea, mother of Persephone
* Dionysus/Bacchus - God of the vine
* Pan - Merry and noisy god who was a son of Hermes
	+ Had goat horns and goat feet
	+ Was the god of goatherds and shepherds
	+ Often danced with woodland nymphs in the forest
	+ Was quite ugly in myths and often his advances were often rejected by nymphs
	+ Scary, unknown noises of the forest were said to be made by him
	+ The word panic derives from his name
* Silenus - son or brother of Pan
	+ Old fat man who rode around on a donkey
	+ Tutored Dionysus
	+ Castor and Pollux - twin brothers who lived half their life on Earth and the other in Heaven
		- Sons of Leda, they ere the protectors of sailors
		- Especially beloved in Rome, where they were often also seen as protectors in battle
		- Pollux was not always seen as divine
		- Known as the "Sons of Zeus"
		- Leda - Wife of a Spartan king, Tyndareus
			* In one myth conceived with Zeus while he was in the form of a swan and gave birth to Castor and Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife, and with the king Pollux and Helen of Troy
		- In some myths, the two share immortality, one is on Earth while the other in Heaven, or sometimes it is said they are together half the time in heaven, and the other half one Earth or in Hades
		- This arrangement occurred because Castor was killed and Pollux was so distressed that he asked that he die as well, so Zeus had them share immortality as Castor was immortal and Pollux was not, or the arrangement occurred because the two were so close that fate decreed that they be kept separate.
		- The constellation Gemini is supposed to be the two twins
		- The two were always shown riding white horses
	+ Sileni - Men who were part horse but different from Centaurs as they walked on two feet, so essentially satyrs that were horse instead of goat
	+ Satyrs - They were unruly part man, part goat creatures that dwelt in the woods
	+ Oreads - nymphs of the mountains
	+ Dryads - nymphs of the trees, their lives were tied to that of their tree
	+ Aeolus - King of the winds
		- Boreas - The North Wind
		- Zephyr - The West Wind
		- Notus - The South Wind
		- Eurus - The East Wind
	+ Centaurs - Half-men half-horse creatures that rode on 4 legs and were very savage, except Chiron
	+ Gorgons - Dragon-like creatures with wings that turned men to stone
		- Phorcys, the son of the Sea and the Earth was their father
	+ Graiae - Sisters the gorgons, known as the grey ones they were three grey women who shared one eye and one tooth
	+ The Sirens - Lived on oceans and with their lovely singing voices lured men to their deaths, what they looked like what not detailed
	+ The Fates, Moirae in Greelk, Parcae in Latin
		- Clotho - The spinner of the thread of life
		- Lachesis - the disposer of lots
		- Atropos - Cut the thread of life with the "Abhorred Shears"

#### The Roman Gods

* Apollo and Pluto were the two Greek gods to keep their Greek names
* Prior to the adoption of Greek gods the Romans didn't really have defined, personified gods of their own. Though they were still quite religious.
* The gods before the Greeks were quite vague, and were known to dwell above. But that's about it. They were called the Numina (numen singular), which translates to the powers or the wills.
* the Romans simply believed different numen presided over different aspects of life, but that assigning personalities was more or less unimportant
* Lar/Lares - An ancestor spirit who was worshipped within a home, which had only one, sometimes cities had a lar as well
* Penates - Hearth and storehouse gods worshipped within a home and sometimes within cities
* To lares and penates part of every meal was offered, they served as protectors of the home and its inhabitants
* Janus -one of the Numina
	+ God of good beginnings and endings
	+ Was personified unlike the rest of the Numina, but no stories were told of him
	+ He had one young face and one old face
	+ The doors to his temples were only closed in times of peace
* Faunus - roman Pan of sorts, though not part goat, and Saturn's grandson, was a prophet and spoke to men in their dreams
* Fauns - Roman satyrs
* Quirinus - God version of Romulus
* Manes - Spirits of the good dead in Hades, sometimes they were worshipped
* Lemures or Larvae - spirits of the wicked dead and greatly feared
* Camenae - goddesses who cared for springs and wells, later they were merged with the Muses by the Romans

### The Two Great Gods of Earth

* Demeter/Ceres and Dionysus/Bacchus were both much different than the other gods, as unlike the rest of them they lived on Earth and were associated with the more practical matters of the corn and the vine respectively. The two were closely associated with one another and worshipped at Eleusis
* It is natural that Demeter ended up being a goddess, because when humans first developed agriculture, women were the primary farmers, while men were engaged in warfare and hunting
* Demeter had here own festival, which at fist was likely quite simple but later in Greek history became a 9 day festival held every 5 years in September. On these days normal life was put on hold and many sacrifices, processions, and dances were held. In the midst of it all a very sacred and secretive ceremony was held in a temple.
* Both Demeter and Dionysus were also suffering gods, unlike the other gods who did not know lasting suffering. Their suffering was greatest during the winter. Which explains why the corn and the vine die.

#### Demeter/Ceres

* The story of how Demeter lost Persephone is one of the earliest Homeric Hymns
* Had one daughter, Persephone, the maiden of Spring
* Persephone was seized one days while admiring flowers by Hades in a coal-colored chariot driven by two black steeds
* When the Sun told Demeter what had happened, she wept for days and while at Eleusis was invited into the home of a women who cared for her, and Demeter cared for her son, seeking to grant him immortality
* This process however was interrupted when Demeter placed the boy in a fire as part of the process. The mother, not knowing the purpose, screamed upon seeing this took him out of the fire, interrupting the process.
* This did anger Demeter, so she revealed her godly form to the women and demanded they build her a temple to win back her favor. After they built the temple she dwelt there and continued to mourn. letting no fruit blossom and grow and concerning even Zeus himself, who to no avail tried to have her turn her anger away.
* Zeus then sent Hermes to fetch Persephone from the underworld, but before she left Hades had her eat a pomegranate seed, which bound her to return to him
* An arrangement was made, that Persephone would dwell above with her mother for 2/3 of the the year, and for 1/3 with Hades. Persephone was unhappy with this arrangement, and again allowed fruit to bloom again. But when Persephone goes down every year, the Earth is again desolate, thus explaining Spring and Winter.

#### Dionysus

* The last god to enter Olympus and the only one who's parents were both not divine
* He was the son of Zeus and Semele, a Theban princess, and was born in Thebes
* Semele was a very tragic figure, Zeus loved her so much that he promised on the River Styx that he would do anything she asked.
* Hera put into her heart to desire to see Zeus in his full glory, knowing she would die if she saw it. Zeus was obligated to do so, and in the process killed her as expected. After her death, Zeus had the child hidden from Hera and raised by the Nymphs of Nysa
* When Dionysus was grown, he wandered the Earth, teaching men how to worship him and the art of the vine
* Once while on the shore Dionysus was taken by some pirates. He was handsome and dressed in a purple robe, so they thought he was a prince and could get some ransom money. They tried to bind him, but they would loosen and fall apart when they touched him.
* They then tried to sail away, but their ship would not move. Wine then started to flow down the deck and the mast and sails became entangled in vines. He then turned into a lion and as they jumped off the boat to escape they turned into dolphins. The sole survivor was the helmsman, who earlier and tried to warn the captain to free him because he was likely a god.
* Lycurgus, a Greek king, once mocked him and refused his worship, but was imprisoned by Dionysus within a cave until he better realized his error. However Zeus was not so mild and struck him blind, which led to his death. He then came upon Ariadne, a princess of Crete who had been abandoned by Theseus, and they fell in love. Later, when she died, she put of crown of hers he had given her among the stars
* He later also descended into the Underworld to retrieve his mother, and even death submitted and gave up his mother, who he took to Olympus to dwell with the gods
* Maenads - Women maddened with wine who would run through the forests and mountains with pine cone tipped wands, devouring any flesh, man or beast, that they came upon.
* Dionysus had a duality to him, he would grant his worshippers either joy and a feeling of freedom, or savage brutality. this is the same duality wine has. It is associated with parties, joy, and forgetting one's troubles, but also with broken families and ruined lives.
* Maenads would often accompany him through his travels
* In one story Pentheus, a king of Thebes, was annoyed by Dionysus and his accompanying maidens while they were making merry in his city, and ordered his guards to seize him. When he was brought before Pentheus Dionysus was very kind and gentle, while Pentheus was brash with him and could not see his true divinity for he was "not pure" as Dionysus put it.
* Pentheus then threw him in prison, but it would not hold him and he came again to Pentheus and once again Pentheus was brash with him so Dionysus left him.
* Later when Pentheus along with other Theban women were hunting for Dionysus' followers in the mountains Dionysus caused madness to come upon the women, and they proceeded to tear Pantheus limb from limb, and these women included Pantheus' own mother and sisters
* In later Greek religion Dionysus became a god of inspiration, who inspired his worshippers with bravery, courage, and artistic/creative inspiration when needed
* Eleusinian Mysteries - Demeter's religious rites, sometimes Dionysus' rites are included with the Eleusinian mysteries but are often referred to as the Dionysian Rites
* Dionysus' festivals were among the grandest in Greece, it lasted five days in the Spring and was centered around theatres. where poetry was ready and plays performed in his honor. During this time no one could be arrested and prisoners were sometimes even let out to take part in the festivities
* Like Demeter, Dionysus died every winter temporarily, like the pruning of a grape vine, it is said he was torn to pieces and the beginning of every winter by either the titans themselves, or on Hera's orders
* In later Greek mythology Dionysus became an important symbol of life after death and resurrection, due to his dying and resurrections that occurred every winter. Persephone also died and came back every winter, but she was less important of a symbol

#### How the World and Mankind Were Created

* Hesoid - One of the best sources of creation myths in Greek mythology
* Chaos - A formless mass that is considered the first being
* Chaos' children, Night and Erebus
* Night and Erebus created Love, and Love created Light and Day
* It is not very well explained, but eventually Earth and Heaven came about
* All the above mentioned entities are a mix of object and person, they were not really gods or anything, but they had a personality about them still. Later though they would take on the names Gaia and Ouranos, or Mother Earth and Father Sky
* Cyclops - Wheel-eyed
* The first children of Gaia and Ouranos were monsters, such as the cyclopes and Hekatonkheires, which had one hundred arms and 50 heads
* After the cyclopes and Hekatonkheires came the titans
* Ouranos was disgusted with the Hekatonkheires and banished them to Tartarus. This enraged Gaia, who had her son Cronus horribly wound him. From his blood sprang the giants, furies, and other horrible monsters, While most of the monsters were banished with time, the furies could not so long as sin was in the world.
* Cronus then ruled over the Earth, with his sister-wife Rhea/Ops
* Cronus learned one day that one of his children would overthrow him, and he proceeded to eat them as they were born. Zeus, the 6th, however, was saved when Rhea replaced him with a stone wrapped in swaddling clothing. Zeus later, when he was grown, attacked Zeus with Gaia and forced him to throw up his siblings and the stone. The priestesses of Delphi believed they had the stone in their possession and rubbed it with oil every day.
* Zeus and his five siblings Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Hestia, and Demeter, battled against the Titans and almost destroyed the universe in the process, but due to Prometheus siding with the Gods and also the freeing of the Hekatonkheires, who sided with the Gods, the Gods were victorious
* The defeated Titans were banished to Tartarus, except Atlas who was forced to hold the sky on his back forever
* After the Titans were defeated Typhoon was born, who was described as a flaming monster with one-hundred heads
* However Zeus utilized his newly acquired control over lightning and thunder to defeat Typhoon, who became Mount Etna in Sicily, the largest active volcano in Europe
* After Typhoon was defeated the Giants then rebelled against the Gods, but the Gods were very strong at this point and with Hercules' help they defeated them and banished them to Tartarus as well. This war was known as the Gigantomachy.
* The Greeks believed the Earth was a found disk divided in half by the two seas, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and surrounded by the river Ocean
* Cimmerians - A race of people said to live on the other side of the river Ocean, in a land of mist and darkness.
* Hyperboreans - People who lived on the Northern far bank of Ocean, they were a fair and immortal people
* Ethiopians - A people to the south on the opposite side of Ocean, they dined with the gods and were highly favored of them.
* On the opposite bank too were the Muses, as well as the land of the blessed dead
* There are two major myths regarding the creation of man and the animals
	+ The first is that Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus were assigned the task, Epimetheus was not like his brother in that he lacked foresight, and instead was quite scatterbrained , When he created the animals first, he gave the best gifts to them first, such as flight, armored skin, speed, and many others. Realizing his mistake he went to Prometheus, who made man upright and in the image of god in order to even the odds. He also gave them fire, their greatest defense against Earth's beasts
	+ Prometheus means "foresight"
	+ In the second, the gods all created man in five stages first the Gold, the the Silver, then the Bronze, then an age of heroes, and then the Iron era, our era
		- Gold - lived in splendor and without toil, when they died they passed on and became protective spirits
		- Silver- Very inferior to the Gold age, they were quite clumsy and when they died their spirits did not live on
		- Bronze - Were extremely strong and violent, they killed themselves off
		- Iron - the most wicked age, it is said each generation will get worse and worse until Zeus kills them off
	+ In both stories only men existed in the golden age, women were created later, the first being Pandora, which means the "gift of all"
	+ Pandora was created by Zeus as part of his revenge against Prometheus, who he disliked for his love of mankind, his stealing of fire for man, and his trickery in getting Zeus to accept fat and bone as sacrifice, rather than the best parts of the animal. However despite her beauty Pandora was given an evil disposition, and it was her nature to be evil towards men and to curse them
	+ "From her, the first woman, comes the race of women, who are an evil to men, with a nature to do evil."
	+ In another version of the story, Pandora herself was not evil, but extremely curious instead, and that was her true danger. The gods gave her a box and gave the both of them to Epithemeus, instructing her to never open the box. Of course her curiosity got the better of her, and she proceeded to open the box which unleashed plagues, misfortunes, and sorrows onto all of mankind, but also hope, man's sole comfort in his trials.
	+ Prometheus was then severely punished by Zeus, who had his servants Force and Violence bind his to a mountain in the Caucus range where he was tortured by an eagle for ages. Zeus also wanted Prometheus to disclose which of his own sons would overthrow him, so he sent Hermes to gather this information. However Prometheus resisted and never gave him, making him an important symbol of rebelling against injustice authority in Greece. Eventually he was freed by either Hercules or by Chiron who sacrificed his life in exchange.
	+ In the Greek story of the flood, Zeus becomes angry with the sins of mankind and floods the Earth with the help of his brother Poseidon
	+ The whole Earth is flooded except for the peak of Parnassus, and it is on this peak that Prometheus sends a chest with the the last two humans alive, his son Deucalion, and daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora, Pyrrha. Zeus pitied them upon seeing them disembark recalled the waters. The two found a temple and gave thanks to the gods. When commanded to throw behind themselves the bones of their mother, they instead threw stones, the bones of mother Earth. These became the stone people when they fell and they helped repopulate the Earth.

#### Earliest Heroes

##### Prometheus and Io

* Io was a woman who Zeus was deeply in love with, but stronger than that was his fear of Hera. To hide Io Zeus covered the Earth with a storm cloud and in the time it took Hera to dissipate it Zeus turned her into a cow. Hera was quite sure Zeus was lying when it said it was just a cow and asked for it as a present from Zeus. Zeus reluctantly turned Io over and Hera then turned Io over to Argus, her servant with 100 eyes. Argus followed Io everywhere and droved her across the Earth, not allowing Io to be helped by Zeus because the second he would show up Argus would report his findings to Hera. Zeus then tasked Hermes with killing Argus. Hermes then lulled Argus to sleep with stories, and the instantly Argus closed all of his eyes, Hermes immediately killed him. Hera then put his eyes up in the tails of the peacock, her sacred bird.
* The story that ultimately lulled Argus to sleep was that of Pan and Syrinx, a nymph who he loved deeply but right before he could lay hold on her her fellows nymphs turned her into a tuft of reeds, which Pan when turned into his signature instrument, the reed or Pan flute.
* After Argus' death Hera sent a fly to harass Io and drive her across the Earth.
* She was driven across a sea and a strait which both would be named for her, the sea the Ionian, and the Bosphorus Strait, which translates to "Strait of the Cow"
* Eventually Io made it to the Nile where she was able to be transformed back into a human by Zeus and lived happily ever after. Later Hercules would be a descendent of hers.

##### Europa

* Europa was the daughter of the King of Sidon
* One day she was awakened by the dream where two continents, one Asia and the other nameless tried to possess her. The nameless of course would later take her name.
* She decided to not go back to sleep and went to bathe on a beach with other beautiful women.
* As this was happening Cupid shot an arrow into Zeus' heart and he fell madly in love with her
* Zeus came to the women in the form of a handsome bull and as soon as Europa got on his back, her spirited her away across the waves to his island, Crete, where Rhea had hidden him from Cronus.
* Once there the Seasons, the gatekeepers of Olympus, arrayed her for bridal. From her and Zeus came forth Minos and Rhadamanthus, two Cretan rulers who would later become judges of the dead they were so righteous and fair.

#### Polyphemus

* The story of Polyphemus was started by Homer in The Odyssey, but over time many other poets and satirist added more to his story. The tale of Odysseus and his escape from Polyphemus' cave remains the most popular story of him.
* The cyclopes were the only children or Ouranos and Gaia before the titans who were allowed to come back to Earth, they made Zeus' thunderbolts and lived in a fertile country all their own, but were quite ruthless and barbaric. There were originally three, but hundreds more came later.
* Another story involving him was his pursuits of the nymph Galatea on the island of Sicily. She would tease him and he would chase after her to no avail, this cycle continued until Galatea saw he was a son of Poseidon and decided not to tease him any more. Eventually Galatea fell in love with a prince named Acis, but he was killed out of jealousy by Polyphemus. Acis later became a river god.

#### The Narcissus Flower

* Two stories exist about the flower's creation, in the first Zeus simply created for Hades to use as bait in drawing Persephone away from the main group so she could be captures by him.
* the second story revolves around a prince named Narcissus. He was very handsome but no woman could win him over, as he did not want to give them power over him. One nymph (Oread specifically) who sought his favor was Echo, was cursed by Hera as only being able to repeat what others say, never to say anything herself. She tried to win Narcissus over but he would not give her power over him. Dejected, Echo spends her time to this day in caves, alone.
* Eventually the goddess Nemesis heard the prayer of one of his scorned admirers and cursed him to love only himself. He saw his reflection in a pool of water and could not look away, eventually dying and turning into a narcissus flower.

#### The Hyacinth Flower

* Apollo had a young lover named Hyacinth, who he loved dearly. One day they had a discus throwing competition and after one of Apollo's throws Zephyr, the west wind, caused the discus the strike Hyacinth in the head, killing him. This was done out of jealously primarily as he too loved Hyacinth, but saw he could never compete with Apollo. This made Apollo completely heartbroken, and as he wept over his body it became the Hyacinth.
* Interestingly however the Hyacinth story applies to different flowers than the flower named Hyacinth today.

* Youth turning into flowers upon death likely was common in Greek mythology for several reasons. One possible explanation was that it made sense to the Greeks that one who died in the prime of life, when they were most beautiful, would turn into something beautiful upon death. Another explanation however is that young virgins were sacrificed and their blood spread upon fields when the harvest was bad, and the thought came naturally to ancient Greeks that the flowers that bloomed after the blood was spread was another form of the sacrificed youth.

#### Adonis and the anemone

* Adonis was a lover of Aphrodite and Persephone
* Aphrodite know he would be lovely the moment he was born, and upon his birth spirited him away to Persephone for her to raise him.
* However when he reached his teenage years Persephone would not give him back, leading to the goddesses feuding, which Zeus had to finally break up, ruling that he should spend half the year in the underworld, and the other half with Aphrodite
* However one day while boar hunting Adonis was gored and mortally injured
* As he laid dying in Aphrodite's arms, her tears mingled with his blood, and from this mixture sprang crimson anemone flowers

## Part Two

### Stories of Love and Adventure

#### Cupid and Psyche

* Psyche was a beautiful daughter of a king, so beautiful that the worship of Venus ceased and all gave reverence to her only.
* This made Venus furious, and she commanded that Cupid make her fall in love with the most ugly creature on Earth, but Cupid was in love with Psyche as well and could not do it
* However she was so beautiful that she never married, as all probably felt unworthy of her.
* Her father consulted the Oracle of Apollo, who said she was destined to marry of giant serpent, and must be left on a hill to await her fate
* The king and queen did so, but instead of a monster showing up Zephyr took her away to a lovely mansion, where all her needs for taken care of and lovely husband awaited her. The catch however was that she could not look upon him.
* One day she saw her sisters, mourning her fate. Despite her husband's warnings she went out to meet them. However upon seeing her house and riches, they grew jealous and stoked her fears about her new husband, convincing her she had to stab him in the dead of night.
* Psyche did this, but to her horror she realized her husband was no monster, but a lovely man, who she later realized to be Cupid. Upon being accidentally burned by some burning wax from Psych's candle, Cupid went up to his mother to get his wounds tended.
* Psyche was distraught, and went to Venus herself to ask for help in finding her beloved Cupid. Venus forced Psyche to do a variety of impossible tasks such as sorting a huge mound of assorted tiny seeds in one day, obtaining golden wool from deadly sheep belonging to Helios, and to gather the black water of Styx's source, which was on an incredibly steep and slippery cliff. She was however assisted by ants, whispering reeds, and Zeus himself in the form of an eagle respectively. Her last task was to fetch some of Proserpine's beauty from the underworld. Psyche obeyed and went to Proserpine, who willingly gave some of her beauty. However before reaching Venus at the foot of Olympus' gat Pscyhe opened the box, and instead found the essence of death in the box, which put her into a deep sleep. At this point Cupid had awoken and was searching for Psyche and upon finding her woke her with a prick of his arrow of love.
* He then hastened to Zeus to plead for help regarding Psyche. Zeus consented and gave Psyche ambrosia and nectar, making her a goddess and he declared the two husband and wife.
* Psyche is Greek for soul

#### Eight Brief Tales of Love

##### Pyramus and Thisbe

* They were two beautiful youths who grew up as neighbors in Babylon, but were forbidden to marry by their parents. They were so close of neighbors in fact that only a wall separated the two's bedrooms.
* Through a crack in the wall the two would whisper to one another.
* The two then made plans to escape, and planned to meet under a mulberry tree in the countryside
* Thisbe arrived quite early however and waited for a time.
* Eventually a lioness showed up and scared her off, forcing her to drop her cloak, which the lioness promptly tore up and splattered with blood from a recent kill.
* After Thisbe had run off Pyramus showed up, and upon seeing her bloodied cloak stabbed himself with a sword, splattering the mulberry tree's then white berries with red.
* Thisbe then returned hoping Pyramus would be there now, and found him dying. Her words causing his eyes to open for a moment, then close again forever. Thisbe then promptly killed herself with the same sword. The two's ashes were put in the same urn, and the mulberry tree's berries remained red forever after that day in remembrance of the two lovers.

#### Orpheus and Eurydice

* The gods invented many insturments
	+ Athena invented the flute, though she did not use it herself
	+ Hermes invented the lyre, but gave it to Apollo to appease his anger, and Apollo soon mastered it and became chief musician of the gods
	+ Hermes also invented the shepherds pipe, and Pan the reed pipe
	+ Orpheus was the greatest musician in Greece, as he had one of the Muses as his mother, and his father was a Thracian prince, and the Thracians were the greatest musicians in Greece.
	+ He was so skillful, with the lyre especially, that animals would follow him to hear his sweet melodies and rivers would change courses.
	+ He sailed with the Argonauts, and many times proved useful in calming vengeful foes, reinvigorating his fellow crew mates with fresh zeal when fatigue overtook them, and was very useful when he drowned out the sirens' song to protect his crewmates
	+ At some point he met Eurydice, a lovely woman, and they wed.
	+ Shortly after their wedding however she was bit by a viper and died in a meadow.
	+ Orpheus was so heartbroken that he journeyed to the underworld to retrieve her, calming Cerberus and even the Furies, which all allowed him to pass
	+ "Love was too strong a god" - A line from the song Orpheus sang to Hades and Persephone
	+ Eventually he even caused Hades to weep, and he allowed him to take Eurydice on the condition that he not look back at her as he led her out of the underworld
	+ Unfortunately he looked back as he reached the light and she was still in the darkness, causing her to disappear forever.
	+ He was so distraught he wandered the countryside until the day he died at the hands of some Maenads. His head then floated to Lesbos where it was buried by the muses, and his bones were buried at the foot of Mount Olympus, where nightingales sing most beautifully.
	+ The term lesbian is derived from Lesbos, as it was on that island that the Greek poet Sappho lived, who was herself a lesbian.

#### Ceyx and Alycone

* Ceyx was a king of Thessaly and son of lucifer (a light bearer who was the male personification of the morning star of the planet Venus)
* Alycone was a daughter of Aeolus
* They loved each other deeply but one day Ceyx left to depart on a long boat journey to consult an oracle. Alycone begged him not to go, knowing he would face grave danger on the journey, and insisted she go too if her were so determined to go. Ceyx however would not hear of his wife sharing the danger and departed alone.
* At sea Ceyx's ship was destroyed in a monstrous storm. Alycone patiently awaited him and prayed every night to Juno. This touched her so she bad Somnus (hypnos) to inform her of the truth in a dream.
* Somnus then bade his son Morpheus to take on the form of Ceyx and inform Alycone. He did so, but in the process also awoke her, startling her greatly.
* The next morning she then rushed to the beach and saw his dead body floating towards the shore. As she ran to see the body the gods turned her into a bird, and Ceyx's body also became a bird's. The two then were always seen flying together above the waves.

#### Pygmalion and Galatea

* Pygmalion was a sculptor from Cyprus who was a proud woman-hater and resolved never to marry.
* His greatest work however was a statue of a beautiful woman. He worked on it tirelessly, and it was so perfect one would not even believe it to be a statue but a real woman upon seeing it,
* He treated the statue like it was a real woman, dressing it in all manner of fineries, kissed it, and even brought it gifts.
* He then prayed to Venus on her feast day, which was very important on Cyprus, that he could find a woman like the statue. Venus caused the brazier before him to burst up three times as a signed his prayer had been answered.
* He then went home, and upon kissing and touching the statue found the statue become flesh with his every touch.
* He named the woman Galatea, and had a some with her, who he named Paphos, Venus' favorite city.

#### Baucis and Philemon - Ovid

* When Jupitar was bored, he would often go down to Earth in the guise of a wanderer, and would often take the most entertaining and resourceful of gods, Mercury, with him.
* One day they went down the Phrygia to test the hospitality of the people towards strangers. They were rejected hundreds of times until them came upon the humble hovel of Baucis and Philemon.
* The two were extremely hospitable towards the two, giving them humble stew and cheap wine, but it was the best they had.
* As the meal progressed however, Baucis and Philemon both realized that no matter how much wine was poured, or stew served, the containers would not empty. They then realized they were in the presence of gods, and tried to catch their only goose to provide a more suitable meal for the two, but it proved too difficult.
* The gods then finally revealed themselves, and took the two outside. They saw that the whole countryside had been buried in sea water save for their hovel, swallowed up in Jupitar's disdain for their lack of hospitality. Even though the neighbors were not kind to the older couple, they wept for their dead neighbors, further showing their goodness and humility.
* They saw too that their hovel become a stately marble temple. Jupitar asked what they desired of him, that he would grant them any wish. The two asked to be priests of the new temple, and that they could die together when the time came. This pleased the gods and they granted their request.
* When the time came when the two were very old, instead of falling to the earth the two became trees, an oak and a linden growing from the same stump, which was a marvel to all who saw it from that day onward.

#### Endymion

* He was a very handsome shepherd who while lying by his flock one night fell into a deep slumber, and the goddess Selene lay by him, kissed him, and caressed him.
* He still sleeps on that hill to this day, immortal but with no consciousness. Some say Selene lulled him into his eternal slumber, So she could have him to herself forever.

#### Daphne - Ovid

* Daphne was a man-hating young and beautiful huntress, daughter of Peneus, a river god.
* One day while hunting Apollo gained sight of her, and began to chase her,
* Daphne ran with all her might to avoid him, knowing the cruel fate that awaited most young women who became lovers to a god
* When he was right on her she caught sight of her father's river and pleaded for help.
* She was then changed into a laurel tree, which Apollo declared was to be his tree, and the adorn the heads of champions and rulers following great victories

#### Alpheus and Arethusa

* Alpheus was a river god of the river of the same name and Arethusa was a young and beautiful huntress who worshipped Diana, and like her swore herself to a life of virginity.
* One day after a hunt Arethusa stopped at a river to bathe, and while doing so she heard a voice call to her and without a second thought she fled away. Finally the voice caught up with her and Alpheus revealed himself. Knowing she could not outrun a god Arethusa plead for assistance from Diana and was turned into a spring, which bore her name. This spring was in Sicily, and was joined with the Arethusa river via a tunnel that went under the Mediterranean.
* Legends was that if a wooden cup was thrown in the Alpheus spring, it would pop up at the Arethusa spring.

### The Quest of the Golden Fleece - Apollonius of Rhodes

* The story starts with King Athamas, who put away his wife Nephele and married a younger princess named Ino.
* Ino sought to orchestrate the deaths of Nephele's two children so her own son would inherit the throne.
* Ino had all the corn seeds in the land parched, so they would not yield fruit and this forced the king to consult the Oracle.
* Ino then had the messenger say to the king, instead of the true message from the Oracle, that the young prince, son of Nephele, was to be sacrificed to end the famine.
* Athamas reluctantly agreed the the demands of the people to sacrifice his son the save the land from famine.
* Right as the two were about to be sacrificed, Nephele's prayers were answered and Hermes sent a golden-fleeced ram to take away and save Nephele's son and daughter.
* The boy was named Phrixus and the girl Helle. Helle unfortunately fell and drowned while crossing the sea, but Phrixus was also to cross over the Black Sea safely and came into contact with the Colchians. Their king, Aetes gave Phrixus one of his daughters and in gratitude for his rescue, Phrixus sacrificed the ram to Zeus and gave the golden fleexe to Aetes,
* Phrixus has an uncle who had his kingdom usurped from him by his one nephew, Pelias. Pelias had prophesied to him that a kinsman, wearing only one sandal, would kill him. This man was Jason.
* One day Jason came to Pelias' kingdom in fine apparel, but only one sandal. This dew Pelias' attention and upon confronting Jason, Jason declared he was there to take back the throne.
* Pelias agreed to give back the throne if Jason brought back the golden fleece, for he claimed an Oracle declared to him that by doing so Phrixus' spirit could return to his homeland.
* Jason agreed and summoned the heroes of Greece to aid him. This included: Hercules, Orpheus, Castor and Pollux, and Peleus (Achilles' father). Hera favored Jason, and thus blessed all these heroes on their journey to desire adventure and victory at all costs. Their ship was called the Argo.
* Different stories and events
	+ Lemnos - An island of only women who had risen up and killed every man on the island save the old king, who they exiled. Here they were treated with great hospitality and then continued on their way.
	+ Hercules left the group searching for his dear armor bearer Hylas, who unbeknownst to him was dragged under the water by a nymph. In searching the forest Hercules forgot about his journey and the rest of the Argonauts were forced to leave him behind.
	+ Phineus and the Harpies - Phineus was an old man with the gift of prophesy, which displeased Zeus greatly so he punished the man with a curse that caused harpies to swoop down and defile any food he laid out, so that he could not eat. Thus he was greatly famished when the Argonauts came to him, but Phineus had forseen that only two men could save him, which appened to be the two sons of Boreus among the Argonauts. The sons defeated the harpies and nearly killed them, but before they could Iris intervened, forbadding them from finishing off the harpies but promising that the harpies would not bother them again. Phineus then gave them advice concerning the Sympleglades, or clashing rocks
	+ The Symbleglades - Huge rocks that crashed together constantly and boiled the sea around them. Phineus advised that the crew send forth a dove, and that if the dove were to make it through, then it would be safe for the Argo. Their dove did pass through safely, barely, and so did the Argo. After the Argo passed through the rocks remained immobile, and thus were no longer a threat to sailors.
	+ They passed by the Amazons, daughters of Ares and the nymph Harmony, as well as Prometheus chained to the Caucus mountains. They then finally reached Colchis.
* Hera still highly favored the heroes at this point, and knowing the great danger that lie before them asked Aphrodite is she could help. Aphrodite sent Eros down to make the princess of Colchis, Medea, fall in love with Jason. Medea was also a powerful sorceress so having her as an ally would have many benefits.
* Aeetes welcomed the heroes and was a very gracious host. After the heroes had bathed and eaten Aeetes asked them why they had come, to which they replied that they were there for the golden fleece and would do anything to get it back.
* This request angered Aeetes, and he declared that if they completed his trial, which he himself had done previously, they could have his fleece.
* The trial was dangerous, Jason had to wrangle and yolk two bronze-hooved fire breathing bulls, use them to plow a field, which was to be sowed with dragon teeth. The sown dragon teeth could then spring forth an army of the dead, which Jason would then need to fight off.
* Jason accepted the challenge and went back to his boat with his crew for the night. In the night a grandson of Aeetes came and advised them to find favor in Medea's eyes, for her magic could help them greatly.
* At that time Medea was contemplating suicide, being so ashamed of her love for a man her father detested. But she got a new lust for life and was determined to help Jason, which she aimed to do with a magic ointment made from the plants that sprouted when Prometheus' blood dripped to the Earth. This ointment would protect whoever had it rubbed onto their weapon for a whole day from any danger, and when she ran into the prince Jason had saved, she promptly agreed to assist Jason.
* Jason and Medea met and were instantly in love, with Jason inviting her to accompany him back to Greece after the fleece was acquired. She also advised him to throw a stone in the midst of the skeletons if they tried to overwhelm him, as this would cause them to fight to the death with one another.
* Jason successfully completed the trial, but Aeetes was not willing to part with the fleece and planned to kill the heroes. Medea warned them of her father's treachery and told them she would lull the giant serpent that guarded the fleece to sleep and allow the heroes to make off with it, which they did successfully.
* Medea's brother Apsyrtus perused the heroes with a large army and there are several explanations to how
	+ One is Medea lured him to a secret meeting, promising to return and fleece and return home, but in this meeting Jason struck down Apsyrtus.
	+ Another is that Medea cut her brother up into many pieces and threw his body overboard, forcing the king to stop the pursuit to recover the body parts.
	+ Another is that Apsyrtus simply defected and joined the Argonauts.
* After escaping the heroes ran into the obstacle of Scylla and Charybdis, but Hera had sea nymphs guide their ship past these obstacles
* Next came Crete, where Medea warned them about Talus, the last remaining member of the bronze race who's body was entirely bronze save his heel. Medea then prayed for the hounds of hell to assist her, and as she prayed Talus grazed his ankle and bled out.
* When they arrived back home Jason found and Pelias had forced his father to commit suicide, the grief of which killed his mother. He then pled Medea's help, which she happily provided. She called Pelias' daughters together and told them they could make their father young again by cutting up his body and putting it in a pot of boiling water, which she demonstrated by doing so with a old ram, which sprang forth a young sheep.
* When the daughters attempted this with Pelias' body, Medea disappeared, thus not allowing Pelias to be resurrected.
* Afterwards however Jason sought to marry the princess of Corinth after having two children with Medea, and she was banished from Corinth as the king feared for his daughter's life after Medea cursed the princess.
* Jason they came to Medea in her exile and claimed Aphrodite had helped him, not Medea, and blamed her for all her problems, not himself. He offered her gold to stay out of his life, which she refused.
* She then sent a robe anointed with poised to Jason's bride, which melted her body away upon her wearing it.
* She also killed her own two sons, fearing she could never care for them in exile.
* Then upon Jason's roof she flew into the air in a dragon-drawn chariot and left him cursing her and blaming her for all that had happened, never himself.

#### Four Great Adventures

##### Phaethon - Ovid

* The story begins with Phaethon, who's mother was the oceanid Clymene, approaching the Helios' palace, which was made of ivory, encrusted with jewels, and around it the day never darkened. Phaethon approached to ask if Helios' was his father, which Helios confirmed and told him, swearing on the river Styx, that he could grant whatever was requested of the boy.
* The boy requested that he take his father's place in the chariot for one day. Helios tried his best to dissuade the boy, but had to allow him to do so in the end. Helios said no mortal could guide the chariot, and that none of the gods, not even Zeus himself, could drive the chariot.
* The boy of course could not control the horses, so they ran all about and scorched the Earth upon coming to close to it, which caused Gaia to plead for assistance, which Zeus provided in the form of a thunderbolt which killed the boy.
* He fell into a river where naiads built a tomb for him beneath the surface. Phaethon's sisters, the Heliades, mourned for him by the bank of the river and became poplars

##### Pegasus and Bellerophon

* In the city of Corinth ruled Glaucus, who was son of Sisyphus, the man forced to roll a boulder in Hades forever. He fathered Bellerophon with the woman Eurynome (not the Oceanid), though it was rumored that Poseidon himself was the father. Eurynome was highly favored of the gods, especially Athena, and was blessed with great wisdom and considered a peer of the gods. Glaucus was not so favored, his feeding of human flesh to his horses to make them more monstrous in battle angered the gods and one day he was thrown from his chariot and consumed by his own horses.
* Bellerophon's greatest wish was to have the horse Pegasus, which sprang from the Gorgon's blood when Perseus killed her.
* After confiding with a seer, he was advised to sleep in the temple of Athena, as gods often assist men in their dreams. In his sleep Athena presented him with the golden bridle to tame Pegasus, and succeeded in doing so.
* From that day he flew about in his bronze armor on the steed, but one day accidentally killed his brother, and went to king Proteus of Argos to be purified. While at his palace, Proteus' wife Anteia came onto Bellerophon but was turned away, which angered her and she demanded Bellerophon be killed, saying he wronged her. The king would not do so directly, for Bellerophon had been his guest, and instead sent him to the king of Lycia (region in Anatolia) with a letter which, unbeknownst to Bellerophon, demanded he be killed.
* The king entertained Bellerophon for several days before opening the letter, and upon reading it also refused to kill him directly for he had been his guest. He instead asked Bellerophon to kill the Chimaera, which was a female creature.
* Bellerophon killed Chimaera easily be firing arrows at the beast while soaring over his head. In another book it was said Bellerophon fired lead-laden arrows into the beasts mouthm which melted from the heat and suffocated the creature.
* Bellerophon was also sent to defeat the Solymi and Amazonians by Proteus, which he did with ease and in doing do turned Proteus' wrath away from him and he even allowed Bellerophon to marry his daughter.
* But one day Bellerophon attempted to ride up to Olympus to be one of the gods, but the wiser Pegasus threw his rider, who afterward became forever hated by the gods and wandered the Earth in exile and solitude until he died. Pegasus however joined Zeus' other steeds in his stables, and was even said to have carried to Zeus his lightning bolts when needed.

##### Otus and Ephialtes

* Otus and Ephialtes were twin giants, but unlike old giants were quite normal looking. They were sons of Poseidon and wanted to take down the gods themselves. They even captured Ares at one point, who was alter freed by Hermes, and threatened to bring about all sort destruction. This of course angered Zeus who wanted to strike the two down, but Poseidon's pleadings and promises to keep the two in check spared them. The two brothers were kept in check to a degree, but began to plot the capture of Artemis.
* They searched all over for Artemis and finally found her. They chased her across the sea's surface (as the brothers could walk on water) and on Naxos almost caught her. She however summoned a magnificent white deer which distracted the two andcaused them to split up trying to capture her. They two got on her flanks and threw their spears at the beast. However at the last second the beast leaped away and the two brother's spears struck one another and both died.

##### Daedalus

* Daedalus was the man who created the labyrinth to house the minotaur on Crete.
* He had secretly helped Theseus navigate the labyrinth as well, but king Minos correctly deducted that Daedalus had betrayed him and imprisoned both him and his son Icarus in the maze. Even Daedalus could not escape the maze, so he created some wings to escape. He warned his son about going too high or too low, but Icarus disregarded this advice and upon flying too high the winds fell apart and he died.
* Daedalus made it safely to Sicily and was welcomed by the kind. Minos then put forth a contest with a large prize to whomever could thread a string through a spiraled shell to draw out Daedalus as only he could solve such a puzzle. Daedalus did just that, attaching a string to an ant which then went through the whole shell and came out a hole on the other end Daedalus had made.
* This then drew Minos to Sicily, who then demanded Daedalus. The King of Sicily did not give up Daedalus, and in the struggle Minos was killed.

### Heroes Before the Trojan War

#### Perseus

* The story begins with king Acrisius of Argos, who has his only child, a daughter named Danae, shut up in a bronze house sunk into the Earth save a small hole in the roof.
* This was done because it was prophesied at Delphi that his daughter would have a son that would kill him, and he had to have her locked away and not killed as doing so would incur the wrath of the gods
* Zeus than visited Danae in a golden rain and conceived with her a son named Perseus. Perseus was discovered and him along with his mother were put into a chest and thrown into the sea.
* They eventually washed up onto an island and were discovered by Dictys, a fisherman, who freed them from the large chest
* When Perseus was fully grown Dicty's brother, the ruler of the island named Polydectes, saw Danae and fell in love with her, but wanted to get her son out of the way.
* Polydectus planned on having Perseus go and attempt to retrieve the head of Medusa, and tricked Perseus into doing so by mentioning his desire for the head and inviting Perseus to his bachelor party more or less, and Perseus having nothing to give as the customary gift voluntarily declared he would retrieve the head.
* He went to the Oralces of Delphi, who guided him to the island of Dodona, where he was informed he was under the protection of the gods.
* Some time later he was visited by Hermes, who instructed to Perseus that he must visit the Graeae to learn of the location of the Nymphs of the North, who had something in their procession that Perseus was in need of. Hermes also sad he himself would guide Perseus
* He was given an indestructible sword by Hermes and Athena gave him a reflective bronze shield to aid him as well.
* Hermes instructed Perseus to run forward and grab the Graeae's one eye when one was passing it to another, and that he is to demand the location of the northern nymphs in exchange for their eye. The plan worked and the Graeae told him to visit the Hyperboreans
* The Hyperboreans were gracious hosts and fetched for Perseus the tools he needed, winged sandals, a magic wallet, and a helmet which made the wearer invisible. Upon receiving these Hermes and Perseus flew to the gorgon's island.
* All three were asleep when Perseus found them, and Hermes and Athena both helped identify which of the three was Medusa. The other two were immortal, but all three looked the same, they had large wings, snakes for hair, and golden scales all over their bodies.
* Perseus hovered over Medusa, struck her head off, placed it in the wallet, and escaped the wrath of the other two sisters with his invisible helm
* Perseus then traveled to Ethiopia and rescued Andromeda daughter of Queen Cassiopeia, who had bragged to be more beautiful than the naiads themselves. this brought down the wrath of the gods who caused large serpent to destroy the people save Andromeda was sacrificed. Perseus found her chained on a cliff near the sea and right as the serpent was going to devour her he smote off its head and the two married.
* He then returned to the island and found Dicty's wife dead and learned Polydectus forced the two into hiding in his fury over Danae's refusal to marry him. Perseus then stormed into the kings hall and turned all present to stone with Medusa's head.
* He then made Dicty king and returned to his homeland, but found his father had been forced to flee. He then went to an athletic contest in the north and in the process of throwing a discus accidentally killed his father Acrisius with an accidental blow to the head.
* He then lived happily ever after with Andromeda and bore a son with her, Electryon, who was Hercules' grandfather.

#### Theseus

·        Theseus was an Athenian-born hero

·        Aegeus, the king of Athens, was his father but left Theseus in the care of his mother in a city in southern Greece. He left a sword and a pair of sandals in a a hollow covered with a large stone, and instructed the mother to send their son to the hollow when he was older and if he could roll back the stone, the contents were his and he could be sent to Athens to be claimed by Aegeus as his son.

·        Hercules was Aegeus’ cousin and role model, and when given the opprotunity to travel via boat to Athens to meet his father he declined and sought to go by foot, a much more dangerous route.

·        As he traveled he killed all bandits he came accross, generally by the manner they themselves killed their victims.

o  Sciron – Thre him off a cliff into the sea

o  Sinis – Attatched him to two pines bent parallel with the ground and then let go

o  Procrustes – Attatched him the bed he used to kill his own victims, where he would stretch out those two short or chop off the excess of those too tall

·        Medea was present at Athens when Theseus had arrived, and had a great deal fo control over Aegeus. Aegeus did not know Theseus was his son when he first arrived, and feared for his throne so great was Theseus’ popularity. Medea supplied the poison to kill Theseus with, but luckily Theseus drew his sword upon arriving, informing Aegeus that Theseus was his son and causing him to not go forward with his plan. Upon seeing this Medea fled to Asia.

·        Years prior king Minos of Crete’s only son Androgeus had been sent on a dangerous quest by Aegeus to kill a powerful bull, which got Androgeus killed. Minos was furious, he invaded Athens, conquered and city, and declared that every nine years 7 young men and 7 young women were to be sent to Crete to be killed by the minotaur or he would rze the city to the ground.

·        The minotaur was the son of Pasiphae and a great magnificent bull. This bull had been given to Minos by Poseidon himself who commanded that it be sacrificed to him. Minos could not bear to do so, which angered Poseidon and he made Pasiphae fall in love with the bull and mate with it. It was then confined to Daedalus’ labrynth

·        Theseus offered to be one of the next victims, which were due to be sent in a couple of days. He infomred his father of his plan to kill the minotaur and told him that if his ship returned with black sails, he had died, and white sails if he lived.

·        The young Athenians were always paraded about the city prior to being sacrificed, and when this occured Minos’ daughter Ariadne fell in love with him, and sought Daedalus’ help in escaping his mase, the advise of which was to unravel a ball of yarn as he went to keep track of his steps. Ariadne told Theseus she would provide assistance if he promised to take her back, which he agreed to.

·        Theseus boldly sought out the minotaur when he entered to maze and found it asleep. He fell upon it and pummeled it to death with is fists. With the yarn he then led the other Athenians to safety and swiftly departed with Ariadne.

·        On the way home they stopped on Naxos, and either Theseus left her in her sleep or she died of sickness. In the story were she was abandoned, Dionysus showed up and comforted the girl.

·        Upon returning home the white sails were not hoisted up, forgotten in either Theseus’ joy in his success or his grief over Ariadne.

·        Upon seeing the black sails Aegeus threw himself off the Acropolis into the sea, which was thereafter named the Aegean in his honor. Upon his death Theseus was now king of Athens

* Theseus however di not was to be a despot, and instead helped establish of commonwealth democracy of sorts, being only commander-in-chief of Athens, but leaving the governance to the people.
* He then waged war against the Thebans who had refused to give proper burial to the dead from a recent war of theirs. He however did not destroy or loot Thebes, but rather after defeating their armies they buried the dead and departed back for Athens.
* Theseus helped Oedipus in his dying days, allowing him to die in comfort. After Hercules had killed his family in madness, only Theseus stood by his side and talked him out of suicide.
* Theseus later went to the land of the Amazonians and took one of them, their queen Hippolyta, to wife. With her he had a son, Hippolytus. The Amazonians later invaded Attica and attempted to get their queen back but Theseus drove them out of his lands.
* He also was a member of the Argonauts for a while, and took part in the Calydonian Boar Hunt, where he saved his friend Pirithous, as he did many times throughout his life. Pirithous had an adventurer's spirit but was usually not very successful. He was also king of Lapithae.
* At Pirithous' wedding feast, centaurs attempted to carry off his bride and many other women. Theseus and the other men of Lapithae however were able to drive them out of the country, but Pirithous' bride died in the struggle.
* The two then set out to retrieve wives for themselves. Theseus captured Helen, then just a child, to be his once she was grown. Her brothers, Castor and Pollux, set out after her and marched against the town she was taken to. They retrieved her but by the time they got there Theseus had already left to assist Pirithous in his own pursuit.
* Pirithous set his eyes on Persephone herself and when they entered the underworld Hades knew of their attentions but sought to toy with them. He gestured the two to a couple of chairs in the palace, and upon sitting in them were frozen in place. These were the Chairs of Forgetfulness, and who sat in them went completely numb in the mind and were stuck. Hercules eventually freed his cousin, but Pirithous could not be freed by Hercules, as Hades knew Pirithous was the one who planned the whole thing and would not let him leave. Thus Pirithous sits in that chair to this day.
* Hippolytus was sent to the same southern town Theseus grew up in and was raised to be a strong and beautiful young man. He despised the rich and vain, among the gods Aphrodite was his least favorite and he worshipped Artemis. He cared not for women either. When Theseus and his new wife Phaedra, Ariadne's sister, came to visit him when he had grown, Aphrodite put a great jealousy and lust in her heart for Hippolytus, who took no heed of her for he cared not for women.
* Phaedra sought to hill herself for her wicked lust, but her handmaid sought to save her and beseeched Hippolytus to show her love and keep her from killing herself. Hippolytus refused to do so, and thus Phaedra killed herself, and in a letter left for Theseus accuses Hippolytus of trying to rape her and being the cause of her suicide.
* Theseus then cursed and exiled his son. As he was riding away Poseidon caused a large sphere or monster to rise from the ocean and frighten his horses, causing them to crash the chariot and mortally would Hippolytus. As he was dying in the palace Artemis revealed the treachery of both Aphrodite and Phaedra to Theseus, leaving him heartbroken as his son died.
* Later while in the palace of his friend King Lycomedes his host killed him by unknown means for for unknown reasons. After this death the people of Athens honored him greatly and built ad grand tomb for him.

#### Hercules

* Hercules was the most famous and beloved her to all Greeks, save the Athenians who were quite different from the other Greeks and had Theseus has their favorite. This was because not only was Theseus a great warrior, but he was also a very intelligent and strategic man. Hercules was more in line with the rest of Greece's values, he was a great warrior, extremely brave, and honorable.
* Hercules' earliest story was of him helping the gods defeat the giants in the Gigantomachy, where he utilized his arrows to turn the battle.
* Once the Oracle at Delhi would not give Hercules a response to her question, so he carried off her tripod/chair and declared he would set up his own oracle. Apollo then fought Hercules for this and the fighting did not cease until Zeus intervened. Apollo respected Hercules' boldness and had his oracle answer Hercules' question.
* Hercules was not very intelligent however, at one point threatening to shoot the sun because it was too hot and threatening the waves when they were too frenzied when he was on a ship.
* He was also very emotional, going into short outbursts of rage often, but always submitting to any penitence or punishment that was required of him when he came to.
* Hercules was born in Thebes. He was son of Zeus and Alcmena, and Alcmena's husband, Amphitryon was his step-father and helped raise him. He was a great general as well and Hercules' name when he was young was Alcides. Alcmena did not try to be unfaithful however, Zeus visited her in the form of her husband while he was away. She also bore a son with Amphitryon, her son Iphicles.
* Hera was quite angry at Zeus' infidelity, and concentrated all her anger on Hercules.
* One night she went serpents to kill Hercules in his sleep when him and Iphicles were children. But Hercules quickly strangled both serpents and a blind seer in the town proclaimed that Hercules would be the savior of all mankind.
* He had quite a normal upbringing for the most part being educated in fencing, driving, and wrestling. He did not like music however, and once unintentionally brained his lute instructor with his lute in a fit of rage.
* By the time he was 18 he had already killed the Thespian lion, and wore its pelt as a cape/hood.
* He later defeated the Minyans, who had been extracting tribute from the Thebans. They gave him their princess Megara to wife, but tragically Hera caused Hercules to go into a fit of madness and in it he unknowingly killed Megara and his 3 sons.
* He was horrified, and attempted to kill himself. Theseus however stopped him from doing so and took him to Athens. Despite so many telling him it was not his fault, that he was not in his right mind when he killed his family, he could not be consoled. He then visited the Oracle and Delhi and was told he needed to pay a great and terrible penance to be pure again. She commanded him to go to his cousin Eurystheus, the king of Mycenae, and do whatever he commanded.
* Eurystheus, likely under the influence of Hera, then gave Hercules 12 labors
	1. Kill the Lion of Nemea (Nemean Lion). His pelt could not be pierced with weapons so Hercules strangled the beast. Upon bringing the carcass back Eurystheus became fearful and stopped allowing Hercules to enter to city, giving orders from afar.
	2. Kill the Hydra of Lerna, who had one immortal head and all the others would split into two upon being chopped off. His nephew Iolaus helped him by cauterizing then necks of the mortal heads with a torch as Hercules chopped them off. Hercules then buried the immortal head under a great rock.
	3. Retrieve the golden-horned stag of Cerynitia, which was sacred to Artemis, and bring it back alive. This took Hercules a whole year to accomplish.
	4. Capture the great boar of Erymanthus, which Hercules did by chasing the boar around, exhausting it greatly and then driving it into deep snow and trapping it.
	5. Clean the stables of Augeas (Augean Stables) which housed thousands of cattle in one day. Hercules did this by diverting two large rivers into the stable, flooding and cleaning them.
	6. Drive away the Stymphalian birds of Stymphalus. Athena drove them out of their nests and Hercules shot them all with his arrows. The birds had bronze feathers which could be launched at enemies, ate human flesh, and even had poisonous dung.
	7. Fetch the bull of Minos on Crete, the father of the minotaur.
	8. Retrieve the man-eating mares of Thrace. They belonged to King Diomedes, who was killed by Hercules thus allowing him to make off with the mares unopposed.
	9. Retrieve the golden girdle of Hippolyta. Hippolyta herself gave him no trouble, but Hera stirred up the other Amazonians into thinking he wanted to carry her off and began to attack him and his crew. Thinking Hippolyta responsible he killed her instantly and successfully drove back the Amazonian attackers.
	10. Retrieve the cattle of Geryon on Erythia. Geryon was a monster with three bodies. Hercules did so successfully, and on the way also put up the Pillars of Hercules on both sides of the Strait of Gibralter
	11. Retrieve the golden apples of the Hesperides. Hercules did not know the location of their tree, but Atlas did, and agreed to hold up the heavens for him while he retrieved them. Atlas returned with the apples but refued to take back the heavens. Hercules asked Atlas to take the heavens on his back for just a moment so he could get a pad, and as Atlas shouldered the load Hercules left with the apples.
	12. Retrieve Cerberus from the underworld. Pluto allowed Hercules to do so, but only if he used no weapons. He forced the creature to submit and carried him back to Eurystheus then made Hercules bring the dog back as he did not want it in the city. During this time in the underworld Hercules also freed Theseus from the Chair of Forgetfulness.
* Antaeus - giant who wrestled random individuals and upon beating them would kill them and roof his temple with their skills. He was a giant and was more or less invincible and unbeatable as long as his feet touched the ground. Hercules defeated him by lifting him in the air and strangling him.
* Achelous - River god who fought with Hercules over the woman Deianira. Achelous did not want to fight Hercules but eventually took on the form of a bull to fight Hercules, who quite easily subdued him and broke off his horns, allowing him to have the hand of Deianira.
* Hercules also killed the eagle that tortured Prometheus and freed him in the Caucus mountains on his way to get the golden apples of the Hesperides.
* Hercules served Queen Omphale of Lydia for several years at Zeus' demand for him accidentally killing a friend of his for an insult. She submitted him to woman's work and made him dress as a woman as well.
* Admetus and Alcestis - Admetus was a very good friend of Hercules and Apollo as well, for Apollo was forced to be his servant for a year due to his killing of the cylopses. Apollo told him he was about to die and went to the fates to ask that the life of Admetus be spared. The fates would allow it however if someone gave their life in his place, and only Alcestis would do so. So she died and Hercules arrived at his palace, without knowing the circumstances, in the midst of her mourning. Ademtus did his best to not burden Hercules with his mourning and was a very gracious host. Hercules got drunk however and made a large ruckus, and upon being informed by one of the servants that the queen had died HErcules was very sorrowful and wrestled death himself to bring Alcestis back for Admetus.
* The son of Eurytus was the man Hercules had killed earlier and been forced for work for Omphale for years as a result. Hercules was extremely mad at Eurytus and after being free of Omphale's servitude he raised an army, stormed Eurytus' kingdom, and killed the king.
* The Centaur Nessus - A centaur and ferryman who had earlier in Hercules and Deianira's marriage had been hired to ferry Deianira accross a river. Halfway across however he insulted her and her shrieks were answered by Hercules' bow. As Nessus was dying, he told Deianira that his blood was a love charm and she collected some.
* After Hercules' conquest of Eurytus' kingdom, he sent home many captive maidens, one of which was said to have caught the eye of Hercules. Deianira then anointed a robe with the blood and sent it to Hercules to try to win him back. But the blood was not a love potion but a deadly poison, and when he first felt the pain her hurled Deianira's servant into the sea. He did not die instantly however, but was in terrible agony and upon hearing what had happened Deianira killed herself. He then had a great pyre built to die on and end his misery and has his faithful servant Philoctetes torch the pyre, but before doing so was gifted Hercules' bow.
* Hercules died and dwelt with the Olympians, even reconciling himself with Hera and marrying her daughter Hebe.

#### Atalanta

* Was born to a father that didn't want her, and left her to due in the wilderness. However a she bear found her, nursed her, and raised her until some hunters found her and took them in.
* She was an extremely skilled huntress, and once two centaurs sought to capture her and make her theirs, but instead of fleeing she simply took both down with her bow.
* Atalanta also took place in the Claydonian Boar hunt. The hunt was organized by King Oeneus, who had the beast set on his country by Artemis as he forgot her when offering the first fruits of the harvest.
* At this event King Oeneus' son, Meleager, fell in love with her. However Atalanta's intention was never to marry, for she didn't care much for men except to have them as hunting companions when necessary.
* The hunt proved quite dangerous, two men were killed quickly by the boar and another one by a stray javelin. Atalanta was the first to wound the beast, which she did with an arrow. Meleager went in and stabbed the beast in the heart after Atalanta wounded it, and gave the pelt to Atalanta, recognizing the kill as hers.
* The fates prophesied to Althea, Meleager's mother, that her son would live as long as a burning log in her hearth did not turn to ash. Althea naturally quenched the flame and hid the log in a chest. However, upon hearing that Meleager had killed two of her brothers, Meleager's uncles, she burned the log which killed Meleager, and in despair Althea hung herself.
* Atalanta was said to have been among the crew of the Argo by some, but likely was not as she was never mentioned doing anything in the story. Also after Jason and Medea caused Pelias' death, funeral games were held in his honor and during this in a wrestling contest Atalanta beat Peleus, the father of Achilles.
* Later she reconciled and moved in with her parents, and had many suitors, She declared that whatever man could beat her in a foot race, she would marry, knowing it to be impossible. She beat many men, but one day Melanion came along and beat her. He had Aphrodite on his side, she gave him three golden apples that were irresistible to all that saw them.
* She generally raced nude, allowing her to move more freely and also distract her opponent. Melanion was able to beat her by dropping the golden apples off the path as he ran, which caused Atalanta to pick them up and detour off the path. Later the tow were turned into lions, likely due to the pair affronting either Zeus or Aphrodite.
* Before the two became lions they had a son, who's name was Parthenopaeus.

## Part 4

### The Trojan War

* Troy was located on the eastern end of the Mediterranean

#### The Judgement of Paris

* King Peleus and Thetis, the parents of Achilles, were getting married but the goddess Eris was the sole god not invited. In revenge she threw into the banquet hall a golden apple with "To the Fairest" inscribed on it.
* All goddesses wanted it, but the contest was narrowed down to Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite.
* Zeus was asked to judge, but did not want to and instead directed the three goddesses towards Paris, who at the time was living away from Troy with the nymph Oenone as it was prophesied to his father that he would bring about the fall of Troy.
* The contest ultimately became a bribe conquest however
	+ Hera - Promised he'd be lord over Europe and Asia
	+ Athena - Promised to lead him to victory against the Greeks and lay Greece to ruin
	+ Aphrodite - Promised him the fairest maiden, this was the bribe Paris chose

#### The Trojan War

* Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda. and sibling of Castor and Pollux
* King Tyndareus, husband Leda, feared to choose a suitor as there were so many and he was afraid the other would unite against him in anger if a victor was chosen.
* The king required all of the suitors to swear an oath that they would support whatever husband was chosen. He then chose Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon, and made him king of Sparta.
* Aphrodite then directed Paris to the house of Menelaus. The bonds between host and guest were so strong that Menelaus left for Crete completely trusting that Paris would not do anything to offend him as he was away. But Paris without honor stole Helen away.
* Essentially all Greek chieftains and rulers were eager to wage war against Troy, except the ruler of Ithaca, Odysseus, and Achilles.
* A wise messenger was then dispatched to get Odysseus back. Odysseus was faking madness to get out of the war, plowing fields and planting salt rather than seed. The messenger however put Odysseus' song in the way of the plow, and when Odysseus swerved to avoid his son, his rouse was finished and her departed to join the rest of the Greeks.
* Achilles mother knew if Achilles departed for Troy, he would die, so she hid him among the women of King Lycomedes' court where he pretended to be one of the women of the court. Odysseus was sent to retrieve him as disguised as a peddler came into the palace fine women's products as well swords and daggers. When he saw all the women flock to the fine ornaments and perfumes, and one alone flocking to the weapons, he knew it was Achilles and convinced him to join the Greeks.
* The Greek fleet of 1,000 ships met at Aulis, but could not depart because of strong winds. Calchus, a soothsayer, declared Artemis was angry because a hare and her young had been killed by the Greeks, and that the sacrifice of Agamemnon's eldest daughter Iphigenia was the only thing that could calm the storms and Artemis' wrath.
* Agamemnon wrote home and called for Iphigenia to came to where the army was stationed to be wed to Achilles as a way of luring her in. As soon as she was sacrificed the north wind ceased to blow.
* Protesilaus was the first man to step upon Trojan shores, which was very brave of him as it was prophesied the first to step ashore would die. When he was killed be a Trojan spear his funeral was very grand and he was celebrated greatly. The Greeks even convinced Hermes to raise him from the dead to visit his wife, but when he left her presence she killed herself to join him.
* Priam and Hecuba - King and queen of Troy
* Hector - The bravest and most noble of all soldiers on Earth, and second only to Achilles in fighting prowess
* Andromache - Wife of Hector
* The Trojan War went on for nine years, until a feud between Achilles and Agamemnon turned the tide in favor of the Trojans.
* The feud was over a trojan woman, Chryseis, who was a daughter of one of Apollo's priest who had been carried away by the Greeks. Her father begged her return, but Agamemnon would not relent, so Apollo heeded her father's prayers and with her arrows brought pestilence upon the Greeks, which killed many.
* The prophet Calchas declared that the only way to relieve the pestilence was to give Chryseis back, which angered Agamemnon greatly and he declared he would have a replacement. He had Briseis seized by a couple of servants of his. Achilles confronted the servants, saying he would not kill them and let them take Briseis as they were simply obeying orders, but to tell Agamemnon he would pay.
* Loyalties of the Gods during the Trojan War:
	+ Zeus - Trojans but tried to remain neutral
	+ Hera and Athena - Greeks due to Paris not choosing them
	+ Aphrodite and Ares - Trojans, as Aphrodite was chosen by Paris and Ares always sided with Aphrodite
	+ Apollo and Artemis - Trojans, liked Hector
	+ Poseidon - Greeks, respected their sea-faring prowess
* Thetis was greatly angered about Achilles being robbed of his prize as he was, and pleaded Zeus to side with the Trojans
* Zeus could not resist Thetis, and even threatened Hera with violence when she protested his decision
* Zeus sent to Agamemnon in a dream a false promise of victory if he attacked the next morning, which of course would be without Achilles as he was still angry. What followed was the fiercest battle yet of the war.
* Finally the two armies separated, with Paris and Menelaus left alone to fight a duel to decide outcome of the war.
* Paris struck first but was easily parried by Menelaus. Paris was under the protection of Menelaus, who had his sword broken in the midst of the fight without it even being swung. He however easily overcame Paris with his bare hands, throwing him about and dragging him towards Greek lines. However Aphrodite caused Paris to fall free of his grasp and in a cloud took him back to safety behind Trojan walls.
* Menelaus demanded the Trojan soldiers give up Paris, and they would have gladly for they hated him, but he was not among them so they could not.
* Agamemnon declared Menelaus victor and demanded Helen, which the Trojans would have done had not Athena urged an archer to violate the truce and fire an arrow at Menelaus. The wound injured him only slightly, but infuriated the Greeks who rushed to Trojan lines. Many died and Strife, Destruction, and Terror caused the bloodfury of both sides to boil.
* Ajax and Diomedes were the greatest Greek soldiers that day, killing many Trojans. Diomedes almost killed Aeneas, one of the greatest Trojan warriors and son of Aphrodite herself. As Diomedes was about to strike him down Aphrodite herself came to aid him, but Diomedes knew her to be a coward goddess and struck her, forcing her to retreat back to Olympus, much to Zeus; delight, Apollo however was able to take Aeneas back to Troy where he was healed by Artemis.
* Diomedes continued to tear through Trojan ranks until he saw Ares himself fighting along side Hector. At the sight of him he called for a retreat. Hera then went to Olympus and asked Zeus' permission to drive Ares from the battlefield, which he gave, as both hated their own son.
* Hera then put courage in Diomedes' heart and he was able to hurl a spear into Ares, who bellowed so loudly that he scared both Greek and Trojan alike.
* Ares then went back to Olympus as complained to Zeus, who said he was as unbearable as his mother and demanded he cease his complaints. With Ares gone the Trojans retreated again.
* Athena's anger towards the Trojans was shown soon after. Hectors brother, who has in touch with the will of the gods, urged Hector to ask his mother to offer up her best robe to placate Athena's anger and spare the city. Hector and his mother both did as they were asked, but Athena, so angry at Paris' insult to her honor, did not hear the prayer.
* After this Hector bid a final farewell to his wife Andromache and son Astyanax. She pleaded him not to go, but he said he could not be a coward and had to go. Before he left he held his arms out to his son, who was at first startled due to his helmet making him look scary. He then held his son after removing the helmet, and prayed to Zeus to make his son's name far greater than his one day. He then lift his wife and child and went out to battle.
* Hector's nickname was Tamer of Horses, and upon returning to the fight killed many Greeks from his chariot and nearly drove them back to their ships. At this point Zeus, on the side of the Trojans, was the only divine force on the battlefield, having commanded all other gods to stay on Olympus.
* After the brutal day if fighting, Nestor the eldest of the Greek chieftains, blamed the wronging of Achilles for the horrid day, and to this even Agamemnon agreed. He sent Odysseus and a couple other chiefs, along with Briseis and many other gifts to Achilles' tent to try to regain his allegiance. He was with Patroclus, his dear friend, at the time and refused to rejoin the fight, stating his plan to sail back home to Greece.
* Hera, still determined to help the Greeks and punish Paris, decided to sway Zeus with her beauty. She did everything possible to make herself as beautiful as possible, even adorning Aphrodite's magic girdle, and went to Zeus, completely distracting him and giving a window for her to use a sleep potion on him. This caused the tide to turn in favor of the Greeks. Ajax even knocked Hector to the ground, but not before Aeneas could take him to safety.
* However, Zeus awakened and saw the battle turning in favor of the Greeks, and would have beat Hera except she explained she had nothing to do with it, and that Poseidon was actually the cause of the Greeks advances (though Hera begged Poseidon to join the fight). Zeus then sent Iris to Poseidon with his command to withdraw at once, which Poseidon promptly obeyed.
* Apollo then rejoined the fight, healing Hector and going into battle with him, putting the Trojans on the verge of total victory until Patroclus, in Achilles' armor (with Achilles' permission) joined the fight alongside the Myrmidons.
* Patroclus died fighting Hector, and had Achilles' armor stripped by him and adorned by Hector. Thetis tried to comfort Achilles in his great anger, but knew she could not hold him back this time. She only asked he wait till morning to attack, and in the morning gave to him weapons and armor crafted by Hephaestus himself.
* Achilles led the Greek assault, even fighting the Trojan river god Scamander when he tried to stop him. The gods themselves were all fighting one another, much to Zeus; amusement. Athena downed Ares, Hera bested Artemis and stole her bow, and Poseidon was trying to taunt Apollo into a fight, but Apollo knew it was of no use and that Hector was doomed.
* Troy's gates were flung open and her army poured into the city, but Hector alone remained outside the walls knowing he had to face Achilles eventually. Achilles along with Athena, chased him around the city three times, until Athena appeared to Hector in the form of his brother. This caused Hector to believe he had an ally and he stopped to face Achilles, but then Athena withdrew, and Hector knew he was alone, abandoned by all, even Apollo himself.
* "There are no covenants between sheep and wolves, not between you and me."
* Achilles easily killed Hector, knowing the openings in the armor and running his spear through an opening in the neck. Hector's dying breaths were used to ask that his body be returned, which Achilles refused and even said he would devour his flesh if he could bring himself to do so. Achilles then dragged Hector's body around the walls of Troy behind his chariot.
* The gods were generally angry at the poor treatment of corpses, though Athena, Hera, and Poseidon were not too displeased in this instance.
* He then sent Iris to tell Priam to go ask for his son's body, telling him that though Achilles was angry and violent, he was not evil.
* Priam set off for the Greek camp with a large load of treasure, Hermes himself led him in the guise of a Greek youth.
* Priam very humbly begged for his son's body. the humility of which touched Achilles and all there. Achilles then had the body washed, anointed, and dressed in a robe to hide to wounds from his father. Achilles then said he'd hold back the armies of the Greeks to give time for grieving and Hector's funeral, which lasted nine days.
* Helen was especially saddened by Hector's death. All of Troy hated her for being cause of the war, but regardless Hector was still very kind to her, with Helen even describing him as her only friend.
* With Hector's funeral the Iliad ends. After Hectors body was burned they drenched the flame with wine, gathered the bones, and placed them within a golden urn, which they pilled under a great mound of stones.

#### Fall of Troy

* The story of the fall of Troy is largely provided by Virgil in the Aeneid.
* Roman poets like Virgil saw war as the most noble endeavors a man could undertake, the Greeks did not romanticize it in the same way, offering a more gloomy outlook.
* Achilles' last battle was against Prince Memnon of the Ethiopians. Shortly after killing him, Troy's forces fell back to the walls where Paris, with Apollo's guidance, was able to strike Achilles in his heel, the only part of his body that had not been dipped in the river Styx.
* Ajax carried his body off the battlefield while Odysseus remained behind and held the front line. Achilles' ashes were put into the same urn that contained Patroclus' ashes.
* In a secret vote it was determined that Odysseus should inherit Achilles' armor. In a rage Ajax sought to kill Menelaus, Agamemnon, and Odysseus, but as he entered the king's tent, Athena set madness upon him and he believed the sheep to be his targets. He killed many of them and beat a large ram to death in his tent with his own hands, thinking it was Odysseus. Upon coming to himself, he realized how foolish he would look to the others upon them waking, and killed himself with his sword. This deprived him of a pyre funeral, as those who committed suicide were not honored so he was simply buried.
* The Greeks were demoralized after Ajax's death, and consulted Calchas, who had no words from the gods but knew the Trojans had their own prophet who knew the future, Helenus. He was successfully captured by Odysseus, and told the Greeks they would only win if one fought among them with the Arrows of Hercules. This was Philoctetes, who on the was to Troy had been bitten by a serpent and left behind on an island as the rest moved on.
* Odysseus was dispatched to retrieve Philoctetes, and successfully stole his bow and arrows. Eventually the thought of leaving him without his bow was too much so he went back and convinced him to join them. Greek physicians successfully healed him and the first Trojan he stuck was Paris himself.
* The poison was killing him so they rushed him to Oenone, or some say Helen went to beg for an antidote from him. In wither scenario Oenone refused, leading to Paris dying and her committing suicide.
* Within Troy there was a statue of Athena called the Palladium, which they learned kept the city from being conquered as long as it remained within Troy's walls. Diomedes and Odysseus were able to scale the cities walls and successfully steal the statue, which was primarily Diomedes' doing.
* Odysseus was left to plan the next phase which was the creation of a large wooden horse, that would be left behind and the Greeks feigned withdrawal from the lands of Troy. Odysseus, along with Neoptolemus and other Greek chieftains hid in the horse.
* When the Trojans awoke they found the horse at their gates and the Greek camp empty save it for a man purposefully left behind, Sinon.
* When the Trojans seized Sinon, he told them that Athena had been displeased at the Greeks for stealing her statue, and to appease her it was demanded that they leave behind one soul as a sacrifice of sorts and depart from the land. The Greeks had left the horse behind as a means of bringing destruction upon the Trojans. It was an offering to Athena, and its immense size was to discourage the Trojans from brining it into their city, and instead cause them to destroy it and bring Athena's wrath upon them.
* Few Trojans only doubted the story. One was Priam's daughter Cassandra, but she was cursed to have no one listen to her and she left for the city. The prophet Laocoön and his sons however remained and claimed the horse was a curse and must be destroyed. Poseidon then sent serpents which grabbed the prophet and his sons, crushed the life out of them, and slithered into Athena's temple. This assured all the Trojans that surely the horse must be brought into the city.
* At nightfall after great celebration among the Trojans, the Greek chieftains snuck out of the horse and threw the city's gates open and began setting the town ablaze. Near the gates and the city center the Trojans were massacred but on the outskirts fierce and desperate fighting occurred. The Trojans were tearing down their own roofs to be thrown down on Greek soldiers, and Trojans even began disguising themselves in the armor of fallen Greeks to confuse them.
* Priam's palace was breeched and he was killed by Neoptolemus in front of his own family.
* Aeneas was the only Trojan leader to escape the massacre, led out of the city by his mother Aphrodite with his son and old father. His wife unfortunately could not be saved. Helen was also spared by Aphrodite, who softened Menelaus' heart and he gladly received her upon finding her.
* Andromache had her infant son Astyanax taken from her and he was thrown from the towers of Troy to his death, Hecuba's daughter Polyxena was killed on Achilles' grave and with that last sacrifice the Greeks departed.

#### The Adventures of Odysseus

* Priam had a daughter taken captive by the Greeks, Cassandra. Apollo loved her and blessed her with foresight, but when she refused his love he cursed her, causing no one to ever believe her prophesies.
* She tried the warn the Trojans of every trick of the Greeks to no avail, and knowing the coming sacking of Troy she clung to Athena's image in the temple, seeking her protection. The Greeks however did not honor her sanctuary and Ajax the Lesser tore her from the image and dragged her out of the temple, which angered the goddess greatly.
* She protested to Poseidon and he agreed to assist her in her vengeance. He caused a mighty storm to destroy and scatter the Greek fleet, Menelaus was blown off-course to Egypt, and Ajax the Lesser had his boat sunk, and clinging to a rock he proclaimed to god could kill him, which angered Poseidon and he cleaved the rock to which he clung in two, causing him to drown.
* Odysseus of course went the most off-course, and was home away for 20 years before he returned home to Ithaca, 10 fighting the Trojans, and 10 returning home from Poseidon's storm.
* During this time Odysseus' son Telemachus and wife Penelope never did lose hope. However, they were the only ones who believed he was still alive so many suitors came. They lived in his palace, ordering his servants around and eating all the food, refusing to leave until Penelope consented to marrying one of them.
* Penelope told them she would chose one of them when she finished weaving a funeral shroud for Laertes, Odysseus' father. They consented but she unwove what she wove during the day each night to prolong to process, until a maidservant informed the suitors, enraging them greatly in the 10th year of Odysseus' Odyssey.
* Athena favored Odysseus greatly prior to the sacrilege at Troy. So after 10 years had passed she felt very sorry for Odysseus, who was a captive of Calypso. Poseidon however was still angry but one day left Olympus to party with the Ethiopians. She then pleaded with the other gods to assist Odysseus, to which they agreed, sending Hermes to inform Calypso that Odysseus must be set free Athena also greatly favored Telemachus and appeared to him in the form of an old man. Telemachus was a very gracious host, and during their conversation Athena informed him that Nestor and Menelaus were the most likely sources for information on Odysseus' whereabouts.
* He tried to gather a crew for the journey to no avail and prayed to Athena for assistance. She appeared to him in the form of Mentor, one of Odysseus' most trusted advisors. She said a swift ship would be prepared for him in the morning, and Telemachus silently departed and boarded the ship and sailed for Pylos, Nestor's home.
* Nestor did not know where Odysseus was, but sent Telemachus with one of his sons to Sparta to ask Menelaus. Menelaus learned while in Egypt that Odysseus was kept captive by Calpyso. He learned this from Proteus, a shape-shifting god. His daughter told Menelaus and his men that they could only escape the island of Pharos, and also learned whatever they pleased, if they could hold and bind him. Menelaus and 3 other men hid in holes around the sport Proteus usually rested in the form of a seal. They then burst out and seized him, Proteus turned into all kinds of creatures and shapes, a lion, a dragon, and even a tree. He eventually recognized defeat and told the men that which they sought.
* Hermes at the time was informing Calypso of Zeus; command. She was quite angry at the thought but not wanting his wrath consented. She allowed him to build a ship and stocked it for him with many provisions.
* However as he was sailing away Poseidon had returned from Ethiopia and was angered that Odysseus was freed. He attempted to sink the ship, but before he could do so Ino, a minor goddess of the sea and former princess of Thebes, gave him her veil, which protected him form any harm in the sea, and told him to swim ashore.
* He swam for two days and night, and finally came to shore, sleeping in a tree for the night. Poseidon was content, and left allowing for Athena to protect him once again. The island belonged to the Phaeacians, ruled by Alcinous and his wife Acrete. Alcinous was the official ruler, but knew Acrete to be very wise so he let her decide on important matters. They also had a daughter, Nausicaa, and while she was washing the palace linen with her handmaidens near the shore they came upon Odysseus, who scared away all the women except Nausicaa, who treated him kindly, giving him food, clothing, and oil for a bath. She then gave him a ride to the city, but asked that he come to the palace a bit behind her so as not to cause any rumors to circulate,
* He then recounted his journey to the Phaeacian nobles:
	+ 10 days after the storm they came upon the lotus eaters. Few among the crew actually ate the flowers, but those who ate the honey-flavored flowers lost all longing for home and had to be dragged, weeping, back onto the ships by those who had not eaten.
	+ Polyphemus' island.
	+ Country of King Aeolus, who gave Odysseus a leather bag of winds, which after leaving the island some of the crew opened, thinking there was gold inside, and instead created a terrible tempast.
	+ The tempest blew the crew towards the island of the Laestrygons, a race of large cannibals, which destroyed every ship in the fleet except Odysseus' own.
	+ After this they reached Aeaea, the land of Circe. She turned all of Odysseus' scouting party, save one man, into pigs. The lone survivor informed Odysseus who ventured out to save his men. On the way Hermes, in the disguise of a young man, gave him an herb which made him invulnerable to Circe's magic. After dining with her she tried to change him into a pig, but failed due to the herb. This put her in a state of awe and she fell in love with Odysseus, changed his men back into humans, and entertained the whole crew for a year.
	+ Before they departed a year later, Circe, with her magic, learned that in order for them to find their way home, they must consult the ghost of the Theban prophet Teiresias by reaching the shores of Persephone and entering Hades. Ghosts loved the taste of blood, so Odysseus was to fill a pit with goats blood and drive off all other approaching ghost to consult him.
	+ Teiresias then came and drank, and upon finishing told Odysseus that he was the beware the killing of the oxen of the sun, as this would spell certain doom. He also assured Odysseus would return home, but return to dangerous circumstances. After he left many other ghosts flocked to the blood and spoke with Odysseus, among them was Ajax and Achilles.
	+ Circe had instructed them to go past the island of the sirens, where Odysseus, while bound, was the only one not to have his ears plugged with wax and was greatly enchanted with the signing, trying with all his might to break his bands and swim towards them until they passed.
	+ Next they came upon Scylla and Charybdis. They passed safely as did Aeneas and the Argonauts, but lost six men to Scylla.
	+ They then came upon the island where the oxen lived, and while Odysseus was away the men killed and ate them. As soon as they left the island a thunderbolt shattered the ship and killed all save Odysseus, who eventually drifted to the island of Calypso.
* After finishing his tale the nobles very graciously got him a ship home and loaded it with gifts. Sleep quickly overtook Odysseus and when he woke, he found himself abandoned on a beach, the crew had abandoned him and took the treasure, but nonetheless he had reached Ithica, where Athena, in the form of a young man, greeted him.
* Odysseus went to a swineherd and dined with him, and learned of the situation at the palace. Telemachus was prompted by Athena to visit the swineherd first thing after landing. After the swineherd departed to inform Penelope of her son's arrival, Odysseus disclosed to his son that he was his father and the two had a tender reunion.
* Upon entering the palace, Odysseus' old dog, Argos, recognized his master immediately and wagged his tale. Unfortunately Odysseus could not interact with the dog as it could arouse suspicion, and weeping he turned away and as he did the dog died.
* Penelope at the time approached the suitors, looking very lovely and told them that they were to court her properly if she were to make a decision, and all the men had their pages bring many gifts to the palace.
* Penelope then met with Odysseus, not recognizing him after the many years, and treated him very kindly. Eurycleia, a nurse who had cared for Odysseus when he was a babe, was then asked to wash his feet and upon doing so recognized Odysseus by a scar on his foot, and promised to stay silent.
* Penelope the next morning set up a contest for the men, promising her hand to whoever could string the bow and shoot it through twelve rings (sometimes said to be axe heads) in a line. The boy was very difficult to bend, and no suitors succeeded in even bending it. Telemachus likely could have at least bent it, but was told by Odysseus to feign giving up when his attempt came up.
* While this was happening Odysseus bade a couple of swineherds who had had revealed himself to with the scar, to close up all the palace doors and remove the suitor's weapons from the room.
* Odysseus then stepped forward and requested that he try his hand at the contest, which was met by uproar from the suitors but Telemachus would not hear it and gave his father the bow. He effortlessly bent the bow, fired through all rings, and then revealed himself to all.
* He then went to work, killing all suitors with his bow while Telemachus held them back with his spear.
* The last two remaining were the priest and bard of the suitors. The priest was killed but the bard was allowed to live for he had a beautiful voice.
* Eurycleia the woke Penelope after the slaughter and informed her that Odysseus had returned and killed all the suitors, which was met with great skepticism from the queen.
* Nonetheless she came downstairs and saw a princely man by the hearth, not fully recognizing him and being quite hesitant to embrace him, drawing an outcry from Telemachus. Odysseus bade his son the leave, and said the following line to his wife.
* "We will find each other but presently."
* After the whole ordeal the whole land rejoiced at their king's return.

### The Adventures of Aeneas

* The stories of Aeneas primarily come form the Aeneid, the greatest of Latin poems that was written by Virgil in response to the Pax Augusta, a golden age for Rome that followed Augustus taking over and thus the story was written with patriotic fervor and the story is very grand, for Virgil wanted to create a Latin hero worthy of Rome's glory.

#### From Troy to Italy

* After the fall of Troy Aeneas traveled alone for a long while to reach Italy where he defeated those who apposed his arrival and married a princess.
* While there he also founded a city, Alba Longa, where Romulus and Remus were said to have been born,
* Aeneas was one of many Trojans looking to found new cities following the fall of Troy, he was told in a dream to set out for the unknown land of Italy and there he would find prosperity.
	+ First stop was the island of the Harpies, where unlike the Greeks they were not very successful in combat and were driven away,
	+ Helenus and Andromache's island. Andromache was originally given to Neoptolemus, Achilles' son, after Troy fell, but he left her and married Hermione, daughter of Helen and she herself then married Helenus, a Trojan prophet. They were treated with great hospitality, and Helenus advised them to land on the West coast of Italy, for the Easy was full of Greeks. He also advised them to go around Sicily rather than between Sicily and Italy for there dwelled Scylla and Charybdis (one of several locations of theirs mentioned in ancient writings.)
	+ They then landed on Sicily while rounding it, almost dying the the process. They were only saved due to the warnings of one of Ulysses' men who had been living on the island since he was unintentionally abandoned by the crew. He told them to fly to the ships and depart as quickly as possible. They only scarcely avoided Polyphemus, and had been washing his wounded eye as they left and almost caught their ships as they were rowing away.
	+ After leaving they were hit by a huge storm caused by Juno. Juno of course hated Trojans due to Paris' judgement, but especially Aeneas as the Fates had told her the city Aeneas would found, Rome, would eventually destroy Carthage he favorite city.
	+ June had Aeolus stir up the winds, promising him a beautiful nymph as a wife, and they blew the men all the way near Carthage. They would have sunk and died, had not Neptune intervened and reprimanded Aeolus, for he did not like Juno messing with his domain, the sea.
	+ Juno then planned to have Aeneas fall in love with Dido, the founder and ruler of Carthage, to detract him from his voyage to Italy. Venus however suspected this and dispatched Cupid to make Dido fall in love with Aeneas after being reassured by Jupitar that nothing would interfere with Aeneas founding Rome, but she just wanted to be sure Dido's love for Aeneas would be on her terms.
	+ Aeneas and his friend Achates left the shipwreck and were guided by Venus, in the guise of a huntress, to the city. She had them protected by an invisible mist so they would make it their safely.
	+ Did received him gladly, and the two fell in love. Dido cared greatly for Aeneas and provided him and his crew with all they could ever want, even having the Carthaginians recognize Aeneas as an equal of hers.
	+ Eventually Jupitar dispatched Mercury to shake Aeneas from his contentment. Mercury told Aeneas he had to depart and fulfil his destiny, words Aeneas took to heart, though he feared greatly how Dido would take it.
	+ She did not take it very well, although she did not do anything to prevent his departure save begging. Him and his men departed that same night, and that same night as well Dido killed herself out of sorrow.

#### The Descent into the Lower World

* Soon after they left Carthage the pilot of the ship, Palinurus, died.
* Helenus had advised him to seek out the Sibyl of Cumae if he was in need of help, and he did soon after the pilot died.
* She advised Aeneas to go into the underworld and speak with his father Anchises, who died shortly before the great storm. However she advised him that while the path down to Hades was actually quite easy, the path out was extremely difficult.
* Achetes and Aeneas first had to retrieve the golden bough (branch) of a tree in order to gain entrance, which was easy enough. Aeneas then took it to the Sybil, and the two departed for the underworld.
* Before they entered the cavern to the underworld, the Sybil sacrificed 4 black bulls to Hecate, which caused the Earth to rumble and dogs to howl in the distance.
* On the way down they passed by the personifications of disease, war, discord, and many others and reached the shore of Charon's ferry. He initially refused them passage, but upon seeing the golden bough he allowed them to board. Like others before them they were able to placate Cerberus with some cake and they arrived safely to the other side of the river. They passed Minos and the Fields of Mourning where the souls of those who had committed suicide because of love were doomed to dwell. It was full of myrtle trees, and there Aeneas saw Dido, who refused to talk to or even acknowledge him. They then passed near the realm of Rhadamanthus, a judge and punisher of the dead, and reached the Elysian Fields where his father was,
* Upon meeting his father he showed his son the river Lethe, which souls who were to be born again drank from so they forget all that happened in their past life. He pointed out the many waiting the cross who were to be their descendants, and all the great deeds they would accomplish. He then gave his son some advice for the road ahead and for the establishment of their settlements. With that the Sybil and Aeneas departed back to the surface.

#### The War in Italy

* The Trojans arrived in Italy and were at first treated well by King Latinus and Latium, for he was told he was to wed his daughter, Lavenia, to only a foreigner by his father, as doing so would lead to the creation of a race that would rule the Earth.
* However Juno sent the Fury Alecto to stir up the hearts of the king's wife and the primary suitor to the princess, King Turnus of the Rutulians.
* Juno also guided Ascanius to kill a deer that was very tame and beloved by the farmers in the area, which enraged them greatly and they set out to destroy the Trojans as well.
* With all these enemies arraying themselves against the Trojans, King Latinus hid in his palace to let things play out. He could not open the temple doors of Janus, as was custom when war was upon the people, so Juno did it herself.
* The River god Tiber warned Aeneas in a dream to go to the city of Evander, which was destined to become Rome.
* Aeneas and a few men visited and were warmly greeted, Evander explained that after Jupitar had defeated Saturn, Saturn and fled there and made the area a lush, civilized place.
* Evander the next morning advised Aeneas to seek help from the Etruscans, who bitterly hated their former ruler Turnus.
* Back in the city the Trojans were badly outnumbered.
* Euryalus and Nisus, two young Trojan warriors, sought to break through enemy lines and reach Aeneas. They silently killed many sleeping soldiers to carve a path through the camp, but were eventually spotted and pursued. They eventually were caught and died fighting.
* Eventually Aeneas returns with a large Etruscan army and a huge war erupts that lasts a long time. Eventually the poem ends with Aeneas killing Turnus, marrying Lavinia, and the writer being told the two's marriage would mark the beginning of Rome.

### The Great Families of Mythology

#### The House of Atreus

* Members
	+ Agamemnon
	+ Clytemnestra - Wife of Agamemnon
	+ Iphigenia, Orestes, Electra - Children of Agamemnon
	+ Menelaus
	+ Tantalus - Cause of the houses misfortunes throughout history

##### Tantulus and Niobe

* Tantalus was a son of Zeus and was highly honored by all, even the gods themselves who allowed him to dine with them at Olympus.
* HIs great crime was killing his only son Pelops, and serving him to the gods. He thought they would be unaware of what they were eating, but they were quite aware, except one of the goddesses, either Demeter or Thetis, inadvertently ate part of his shoulder
* Tantulus was severely punished, he was put by a pool in Hades. Whenever he tried to drink from the water, it would drain away from his hand, and whenever he tried to eat from the fruit trees that surrounded the pool, the branches would shift away, leaving him to forever starve.
* Pelops was restored to life, and given a new ivory shoulder to replace the one eaten.
* The myth itself was actually not very well received by the Greeks, who did not like the idea of their gods being cannibals.
* Later Pelops would attempt to win the hand of princess Hippodamia. Her father never wanted her to marry, so he forced all suitors to race him in a chariot race, with a loss resulting in their execution. His horses were very fierce, a gift from Area, but Pelops was confident with his horses, a gift from Poseidon himself.
* Hippodamia however was quite taken with Pelops before the race so she had her father's charioteer, Myrtilus, sabotage the bolts in her fathers chariot, which of course caused him to loose the race. Later Pelops would kill Myrtilus and was cursed by him as he died.
* Pelops' daughter Niobe, suffered greatly. She had seven sons and seven daughters with Amphion, a son of Zeus and very gifted musician, who built the walls of Thebes by playing his lyre and having the rocks themselves move and from the wall.
* She was very prideful, and demanded that the people of Thebes worship her, saying she, with her many children, was much greater than Leto herself. This of course angered her children, Artemis and Apollo, and they struck dead all her children, and as she wept, she was turned into a stone that always would be moist with tears.
* Pelops later had two other sons, Ateus and Thyestes. Thyestes cheater with his brothers wife, which outraged Atreus so much that he cut Thyestes two children limb from limb and served them to his brother. He unknowingly ate his own children, and was extremely distraught, but could do nothing for revenge for Atreus was king and he was not,

#### Agamemnon and His Children

* Agamemnon and Menelaus were the two sons of Atreas.
* Upon returning to Greece from Troy Agamemnon, some of his men, and Cassandra were murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aeisthus in Aeisthus' house. Aeisthus was then killed by Agamemnon's son Orestes. This was how the story was recounted in the Odyssey
* In other later retellings Aeisthus is revealed to be a son of Thyestes and that Clytemnestra murdered Agamemnon primarily to avenge Iphigenia.
* The murderous couple then took over rule of the kingdom. Agamemnon's son Orestes had been away at the time but Agamemnon's daughter Electra, was and though not killed was miserable in the palace with the new king and queen in the years afterwards.
* Eventually Orestes grew up and was troubled with the prospect of killing his mother and her lover, as avenging one's father was a sacred duty of every son, but to kill one's mother was a heinous crime as well. Upon visiting the Oracle of Delphi he was told to kill both of his father's murderers. Those who died and were not avenging were doomed to a miserable afterlife, making avenging his father so important.
* Orestes then snuck into the city with his cousin Phylades and found his sister at his father's tomb. It would have been a joyful reunion for both, but Orestes was too burdened by his upcoming trial to be joyful at all.
* Phylades and Orestes then snuck into the palace pretending to be messengers bringing news of Orestes' death. Orestes quickly killed Aeisthus, but hesitated in killing his mother. She at first sought to defend herself with a battle axe, but then discarded the idea and tried to dissuade him with her words, but to no avail.
* Orestes was visibly shaken after emerging from the room where he killed his mother, and all who were in the palace pittied him greatly for hwat he had to do.
* After the murder he was haunted by three women, all black with snakes for hair, for a long while. These were the furies, punishing him for his crime and forcing him to wander to many years alone.
* He was however very humble about the ordeal, accepting his punishment and in the process learning that any sin can be atoned for. He visited Athena's temple and plead forgiveness, taking all the fault for the murder not even accepting Apollo's attempts to take the blame upon himself. Athena was touched by his humility and grace, forgiving him of his crime, convincing the Furies to do the same, and ultimately lifting the curse from the House of Atreas.

##### Iphigenia Among the Taurians

* Deus ex machina - an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel.
* Generally Greeks disliked myths/stories where humans were sacrificed, which explains why Iphigenia's fate was changed by several poets.
* In retellings as Iphigenia was about to be sacrificed, she was taken away and replaced with a deer proxy. The winds ceased and the Greeks went on,
* She was taken to Crimea, the land of the Taurians at the time, and was a priestess in one of Artemis' temples, where any Greeks found in the country were sacrificed.
* One day, after many years of service, Phylades and Orestes were stopped by Iphigenia in the temple. They had come to carry away the statue of Artemis in the temple, which the Oracle at Delphi had told Orestes would relive him of his guilt over killing his mother.
* The two were later found a brought to Iphigenia to be prepared for sacrifice. She questioned them a bit and found out they were from Mycenae. Upon hearing this Iphigenia told them she would save them if they would deliver a letter for her. Orestes agreed, but stated that he must die, but Phylades was to be let go to go back to his sister Electra.
* Iphigenia gave Phylades the letter and asked that he give it to her brother Orestes, and that the letter was a plea for help. Phylades then promptly delivered the letter to Orestes, and upon realizing a seemingly impossible reunion was taking place the two siblings embraced one another.
* The three then devised an escape, and left the palace under the ruse of purifying the image of Artemis in the sea water and the two Greeks were Taurian attendants of the temple.
* But as they were leaving strong winds kept the ship from sailing out of the harbor. King Thoas and the other Taurians were preparing the seize the ship and slaughter its crew when Athena forbade them, saving the crew, who were finally able to escape when Poseidon calmed the waves.

#### The Royal House of Thebes

* Sophocles' greatest works were about the Royal House of Thebes, which included Oedipus Rex

##### Cadmus and his Children

* Cadmus was a brother of Europa, who was dispatched along with his brothers to search for her after she had been carried off, being told to return with her, or not at all.
* He went straight to the Heifer to inquire about his sister's whereabouts, but was told not not look for her any longer but to found his own city. He was to find a heifer in Delphi and follow it to find the location of his new city, which he did and eventually founded Thebes.
* Unfortunately at the spot a dragon killed all his companions, and upon killing the dragon he was told by Athena to sow its teeth into the soil, and upon doing so many armed men burst from the Earth and fought until there were but five standing, which along with Cadmus made Thebes a great city.
* He was said to have introduced the alphabet to Greece, and married Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite. She was given a beautiful necklace at her wedding, which all the gods attended, that was handcrafted by Hephaestus himself.
* They had four daughters and one son:
	+ Semele - Mother of Dionysus
	+ Ino - Stepmother of Phrixus, who upon jumping off a cliff into the sea with her son's body, was turned into a sea goddess along with her son. He son had earlier been killed by her husband in a rage.
	+ Agave - Driven to madness by Dionysus and strangled her own son to death, for she had been convinced he was a lion.
	+ Autonoe - Her son Actaeon died a very tragic death. He inadvertently came upon Artemis as she bathed in a spring. She flicked water off her hand and into his face, turning him into a stag and causing him to be torn apart by his own hunting dogs.
	+ After Agave killed her son Cadmus and Harmonia fled Thebes, but eventually were turned into serpents.

##### Oedipus

* Oedipus was a great grandson of Cadmus, and his tale comes entirely from Sophocles, except for the Sphinx's riddle, which he merely alludes to.
* Oedipus' parents were King Laius of Thebes and Jocasta. It was told to his father that he was to be killed by his one son so when Oedipus was born Laius had him left in the wilderness with his legs bound together.
* Years later Laius was killed, allegedly by a band of robbers, further adding to the kingdom's troubles, as the Sphinx was terrorizing the countryside, posing riddles to all she came across and devouring those who could not answer, which was everybody until she came across Oedipus.
* Oedipus had been saved and raised in Corinth by King Polybus, but upon hearing from the Oracle that he would kill his father he left Corinth so as not to kill Polybus.
* He sought out the Sphinx after leaving, feeling he did not have much to live for, but successfully solved the riddle, causing the Sphinx to kill herself, him to marry the widowed queen, and in turn to become King of Thebes
* Years later after he had two sons, a devastating famine hit the land. Oedipus dispatched a messenger to the Oracle, The Oracle said that if the killer of King Laius was punished, the famine would cease. Oedipus tried all he could to find the killer, eventually consulting the old bling prophet Teiresias.
* Upon asking who the killer was the prophet refused to answer, which disturbed Oedipus and eventually accused the prophet himself of taking part in the murder, explaining his silence. Eventually the prophet gave up his answer, saying Oedipus was the killer. This angered him greatly and he ordered the prophet out of his sight and to never enter his presence again.
* Him and Jocasta remained doubtful of the oracle's words. Until a messenger came announcing Polybus' death back in Corinth. The messenger also stated that he actually never had to fear killing Polybus, as he was not his father, as a child Oedipus had been given the the messenger by a servant of Laius. Terror struck Jocasta as she heard this and she fled from Oedipus' presence.
* The servant of Laius was then brought before Oedipus, but was very hesitant to saw what he knew. Eventually after being threatened by Oedipus he said he had given Oedipus to the servant of Polybus as a child rather than leaving it to die. With this Oedipus realized he truly had killed his own father and married his own mother. He searched frantically for Jocasta, and upon finding her dead in a bedroom, killed by her own hand, he blinded himself.

#### Antigone

* Oedipus had two sons, Polyneices and Eteocles, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. Despite the bizarre circumstances regarding their birth they were well accepted by society.
* After blinding himself Oedipus gave up the thrown, as did his oldest son Polyneices, and the Thebans thought it best too. Creon, Jocasta's brother, took the throne after Polyneices' resignation.
* Oedipus was at first treated well, but after a time Creon and Oedipus' two sons conspired to drive him from the city. Antigone went with her father to care for him, while Ismene stayed back at the palace to keep the two informed on what was happening in Thebes.
* Afterwards both the sons sought to be king, with Eteocles succeeding and Polyneices being driven from the city to Argos, where he tried to gather an army to march against Thebes.
* Eventually Oedipus and Antigone made it to Colonus, where Oedipus died. As he died the Oracle comforted him by saying blessings would flow to wherever he was buried, leading to Theseus of Athens to receive him with full honors. The two sister then returned to Thebes.
* They returned the Thebes to find it under siege, Polyneices and the 6 chieftains of Argos against the 7 gates of Thebes and their champions.
* It however had been prophesied that Thebes would be saved if Creon's younger son Menoecceus would die. Of course Creon refused this, and sent Menoecceus away before the townspeople found out and killed him themselves. Menoecceus however was not coward, and instead joined the battle, where he was killed immediately. After his death the two sides stalemated and the fate of the city was to be decided by combat between Polyneices and Eteocles.
* The two fought and killed one another, but as they died they reconciled with one another. Of the seven chieftains of Argos only Adrastus survived, who fled to Athens with his army.
* Creon declared that all who fought and died, Eteocles especially, would be given burial honors, except Polyneices. Dishonoring the dead was one of the greatest trespasses, and led to a curse being brought down on Creon's head. Creon helped ensure this would never happen by declaring that whoever buried Polyneices would be put to death.
* Ismene, as sad as she was over the prospect, dared not defy her uncle. Antigone however would not let her brother suffer through the afterlife, and buried her brother under the cover of duststorm and was able to perform a proper burial. However she was discovered by guards, brought to Creon, and then led to her death.

##### The Seven Against Thebes

* Polyneices was not the only one denied burial on the outskirts of Thebes. The five chieftains of Argos who had died in the battle were denied burial as well.
* Upon fleeing the battle Adrastus plead Theseus' help at Athens in compelling the Thebans to allow the burial of their dead. Theseus initially refused, but his mother Aethra, who sympathized greatly with the grieving mothers of the dead who had not received burial, asked her son to reconsider. Theseus agreed to put the mater to vote by assembly, and the assembly agreed to ask Thebes for the dead so they could be buried.
* Creon refused to hand over the dead however, forcing Theseus to march against the city. The Athenians were victories, and Theseus would not allow the city to be sacked and pillaged, only the bodies were taken which Theseus prepared himself for burial.
* Among Seven Against Thebes was Parthenopaeus, Atalanta's son as well as Tydeus, the father of Diomedes.
* The young sons of the Seven Against Thebes swore vengeance on the day of their fathers' funeral pyres, and 1- years later marched against the city and leveled it, killing the prophet Teiresias in the process and only leaving Harmonia's necklace intact. It was later taken to Delphi as an artifact and was show to pilgrims many years afterwards. The sons who marched against Thebes were known as the Epigoni.

#### The Royal House of Athens

##### Cecrops

* First king of Attica who was half-dragon, with his torso being human and his legs comprised of a dragon's legs and tail.
* He was said to have judged the contest between Athena and Poseidon regarding who's name Athens would bear. Poseidon created a freshwater spring and Athena the olive tree. Cecrops named Athena victor, which angered Poseidon and caused him to send a great flood.
* It is said that in the days prior to the contest, men and women could both vote, and all the women voted for Athena and all the men for Poseidon. There was one more women than men, so Athena won. After the flood the men were so bitter that they took suffrage from the women from that day onward.
* However some writers believed the Cecrops before the deluge was not related to the Athenian royal family, but lived after wards and was great-grandfather to Theseus.

##### Procne and Philomena

* There two were sisters of Cecrops and had misfortunate lives.
* Procne married a man named Tereus, a son of Ares, and was quite a bad husband to her. For five years she did not see her homeland or family, she was stuck in Thrace, but eventually asked Tereus if she could visit her sister Philomena. Tereus consented, only the condition that he go to Athens and escort Philomena himself to Thrace.
* However upon seeing Philomena he fell in love, and told her that Procne had died in order to force her into a marriage with him. However she learned the truth shortly into the marriage, and threatened to tell the world of his deeds, causing him to be an outcast among men. This enraged him and he cut out her tongue and shut her up in a heavily guarded palace.
* There was not writing back then so it would seem Philomena really had no way of telling the world of Tereus' deeds. However craftsmen and women back in those days could tell marvelous stories through pottery, shields and armor, and in Philomena's case weaving, and she wove a beautiful tapestry depicting what had happened and sent it to Procne.
* Procne was outraged, so outraged she killed her son, Itys, and served him to Tereus. He attempted to kill the two, but before he could do so the three were turned into birds, Procne and nightingale, Philomena a Swallow, and Tereus a large ugly black bird with a large beak, possibly a hawk or hoopoe.

##### Procris and Cephalus

* Procris was a niece of Procne and Philomena and was married to Cephalus, grandson of Aeolus.
* One day Aurora, goddess of the dawn, kidnapped Cephalus to make him her own, but he was faithful and would not yield to her subductions, eventually forcing her to give the young man back. However upon parting with him she told him to make sure his wife had been faithful in his absence, causing him to go mad with curiosity.
* Upon returning he came back in disguise, and attempted to seduce Procris in the guise of a stranger, but for a long while was always rejected. However one day her rejection was less firm than usual, and in a rage Cephalus threw off his disguise and accused her of being unfaithful, outraging her and causing her to storm out.
* He quickly realized his folly, and after sometime finally won her back. But one day as they were hunting, Procris gave Cephalus her javelin that never missed its mark. They got separated and Cephalus threw the javelin at what he thought was a deer, but it was Procris, who died immediately with a pierced heart.

##### Orithyia and Boreas

* Orithyia was a sister of Procris and was loved by Boreas. However her father the Kong of Athens and the Athenian people in general opposed his attempts to court her, fearing a repeat of the fates of Procne and Philomena as Tereus had come from the North, and all people from the North were hated by the Athenians due to his treachery.
* However one day Boreas swept down and took Orithyia, and with her bore two heroes who went on the quest for the Golden Fleece, Zetes and Calais.

##### Creusa and Ion

* Creusa was a sister of Orithyia and Procris.
* One day while gathering flowers she wad abducted by Apollo and impregnated. As they time drew near for her to give birth Apollo was absent and was fearful of telling anyone of her pregnancy, as she would be labeled a whore and saying a god did the act was seen as a poor excuse and seldom believed.
* When she finally gave birth, which she did in the same cave she was raped in, she left the child to die. Upon returning a few days however the baby nor its clothing was found, nor remains. She assumed a large bird must have taken the child to die and eventually was married off to Xuthus by her father.
* One day he and her husband went to ask the Oracle if they could hope for a child, She went up to the oracle alone while he remained in the village below, and she came upon a young lad working at the temple named Ion.
* They talked a bit and he revealed that he was left on the temple's steps and raised by the priestess at the temple.
* She related her story and how she hated Apollo for what he did for her, drawing rebuke from the young man who said it must have been a man, not Apollo himself. He then forbade her of asking what had happened to her son when approaching to Oracle, for doing so would be accusing Apollo of Evil.
* As they were talking Xuthus entered and proclaimed that Apollo and declared that Ion was to be his son.
* Xuthus was then asked to meet with the priest again, and after he left a priestess brought to Ion the veil Creusa had been wearing when she was kidnapped and the clothing she had wrapped Ion in. Upon seeing these she secretly told Ion that the items were hers, and that Ion was her son.
* Ion at first believed her mad, but when Creusa was able to describe the jewels on the inside of the wrappings to Ion he began to believe her.
* At that moment Athena then appeared to the two, declaring on behalf of Apollo that the son was truly his, and hat he had brought him to the temple after he was abandoned. Athena also declared Ion was worthy to one day rule over her city.

## Part Six - Less Important Myths

#### Midas

* Midas was King of Phrygia, the land of roses, which blanketed his great gardens.
* One day the drunk Silenus was found, drink and asleep, in one the rose beds. He was brought before the king, who entertained him for ten days until he returned him to Bacchus, who in his gratitude promised to grant a wish for King Midas.
* King Midas wished that whatever he touched would turn to gold, but realized her error once the wood that touched his bands turned to gold, not allowing him to eat. He then went to Bacchus to ask for the gift to be take from him, and was told to bathe in the River Pactolus, which released him of the curse.
* Later he was an umpire, along with the mountain god Tmolus, in a music contest between Apollo and Pan. Tmolus chose Apollo, but Midas preferred Pan, angering Apollo and causing him to give Midas ass's ears. Midas hid these under a cap, and only his barber knew of them. He was sworn to secrecy on the matter, but could not contain it and one day whispered the secret into a hole a dug and promptly filled. Eventually however reeds grew in the spot, and when the wind blew they whispered Midas' secret.

#### Aesculapius

* There was a woman named Coronis whom Apollo loved. However she was unfaithful to him and cheated on him with a mortal. A raven brought the news to Apollo, who turned its white feathers into black ones in anger. He then had Coronis killed, either he did it or Artemis did it.
* Apollo however saved his nearly born child Aesculapius before the funeral pyre consumed her body.
* He was then take to Chiron to be raised, and quickly became his favorite pupil, as he preferred the art of medicine and healing over the usual hobbies of boys such as sports and fighting.
* He quickly surpassed his teacher, and was able to heal many maladies.
* One day he was paid a large sum to bring a boy back from the dead, which was likely Hippolytus, who became immortal as result of the treatment and was worshipped in Italy as a god.
* This great power angered Hades, who brought his complaints to Zeus, who killed Aescualpius him with a thunderbolt.
* this greatly angered Apollo, who slew the cyclopes, or the sons of the cyclopes, who forged Zeus's thunderbolts. As punishment was was forced to be a servant of King Admetus for 10 or so years.
* Aesculapius was eventually resurrected by Zeus and made immortal. He was widely worshipped and many temples of healing were built in his name. Snakes played an important part in the treatments, and were seen as the servants of Aesculapius.

#### The Danaids

* They were the fifty daughters of Danaus, a descendent of Io.
* The fifty sons of Aegyptus, Danaus' brother wanted to marry them, but the Danaids refused and fled with their father to Argos, where they were given refuge.
* Somehow eventually the women are forced into marriage, and each is given a dagger by Danaus and told to kill their husbands that night. All did so except Hypermnestra, who woke her new husband Lynceus and helped him flee.
* Danaus threw Hypermnestra into prison for breaking her oath. Her story either ended there or it is said she reunited with Lynceus and their son was Abas, a great-grandfather of Perseus.
* The other 49 danaids were imprisoned in Tartarus, and forced to carry leaky jars from a river for eternity, and returning back to the river to fill the pots when they were dry.

#### Glaucus and Scylla

* Glaucas was a simple fisherman, who one day while counting caught fish on a grassy slope saw, to his amazement, all the fish stir, get up, and flee back to the sea. He wondered if the grass caused this behavior, and ate a bit, which caused him to long terribly for the sea, which he promptly jumped into. Ocean and Tethys then made him a sea god by making 100 rivers flow onto him. When he awoke he was a green-haired sea god who's body ended in a fish tail, much like a mermaid.
* One day he caught sight of Scylla bathing in a bay he attempted to approach her. She fled to safety, at which point he tried to convince her he was not monster but a sea god who loved her. However his new form terrified her too much and she fled from him. He was distraught, and went to Circe to ask for a love potion, but in doing do Circe fell in love with him, but he would have nothing to do with her, proclaiming he only loved Scylla."
	+ Trees will cover the sea bottom and seaweed the mountain tops before I cease to love Scylla."
* This angered Circe greatly, who poured a dangerous poison into the bay where Scylla bathed. Upon entering the water Scylla became a monster. He became rooted to the rock in the bay where she had retreated from Glaucus, with serpent and dog heads protruding from her body instead of legs and she violently destroyed any ships who came her way in her anger.

#### Eurysichthon

* Eurysichthon was a man who felled a sacred oak of Ceres. He tried to get their servants to do so, but they feared committing such sacrilege so her did it himself, and as he did so blood sprout from the tree and as it died it told him Ceres would surely punish him.
* Upon hearing the news from dryads, Ceres sent for Famine, and asked her to possess Eursichthon so his hunger could never be satisfied, even in the act of eating. Famine obliged, wrapping her arms around him in his sleep and imbuing him with an insatiable hunger.
* He could never be satisfied with hunger, getting more hungry the more he ate until her had sold everything to buy more and more food, even his daughter Mestra. as she was about to be picked up by her new owner's ship she prayed to Poseidon, who transformed her into a fisherman and gave her the ability to morph into any form like Proteus. She was then able to not be spotted in the disguise and returned to her father, who kept maintained the cycle of selling her away for food money, and having her return to him in a different form. This occurred until he attempted to eat his own body and died.

##### Pomona and Vertumnus

* Both were Roman divinities
* Pomona was an odd nymph who cared not for the forests but rather orchards the the fruit they bore. She spent her days shunning men and only focusing on caring for the trees in her orchard.
* Many men longed for her, but Vertumnus was the most diligent, coming to her in a variety of disguises just to get a look at her. One day he came disguised as an old woman, and upon saying Pomona was more beautiful than the even the lovely fruit of the orchard, he kissed her, startling her greatly.
* He then remarked how her life would be much better with another, and that generally Venus was unkind to cold-hearted maidens, additionally giving the advice to not scorn Vertumnus' advances. He then threw off his disguise and revealed himself to be a handsome man, and from that day on her orchard had two gardeners.

#### Brief Myths Arranged Alphabetically

###### Amalthea

* One of the origin stories for the term Horn of Plenty or Cornucopia
* Was the goat, or nymph owner of the goat who's milk Zeus fed on as an infant
* Its horn was full of whatever food or drink one desired
* The Latins said the Cornucopia was horn of the river god Achelous that Hercules broke off while fighting him, as Achelous was in the form of a bull as he fought Hercules

###### The Amazons

* Also called menhaters
* They were not written about too often, statues of paintings depicted them far more often.
* They were said to live around the Caucuses and their capital was Themiscryra
* They often attempted to invade foreign lands, but were often repulsed by heroes such as Theseus and Bellerophon.
* They fought against the Greeks in the Trojan War, and their queen Penthesilea was killed by Achilles, who was deeply saddened by having to kill one so beautiful.
* Hippolyta was the queen of the Amazons when Hercules had to retrieve her girdle for his ninth labor. Was daughter of Ares and Otera, who created the Amazons and was their first queen,

###### Anymone

* One of the Danaids who was turned into a spring by Poseidon to save her from a pursuing Satyr who ambushed her as she was drawing water.

###### Antiope

* A princess of Thebes who bore two sons to Zeus, Zethus and Amphion.
* She left the two in the wilderness to avoid her father's wrath, but the two were saved and raised by a herdsman.
* Her aunt and uncle, the rulers of thebes, were cruel to her, and one day she fled and came upon the cottage where her sons lived and somehow she recognized her sons or her sons her, but either way they returned to Thebes and killed the cruel king and queen.

###### Arachne

* The story is told by Ovid
* Arachne was a peasant girl who claimed to be a better weaver than Minerva.
* Minerva demanded a contest be held and Arachne accepted the challange.
* Minerva lost, and in a rage tore up Arachne's tapestry and beat her with her own shuttle.
* Arachne then hung herself, but in her death Minerva transformed her into a spider.

###### Arion

* Skilled musician from Corinth who participated in a music contest held in Sicily.
* He was with his lyre skills and upon returning home his crew planned to kill him and take the prize.
* Apollo however warned him and told him to request to play a last song when confronted by the men.
* Arion did so, and upon finishing his song he jumped overboard and was taken away to safety by the dolphins that were drawn to the ship by his beautiful music.

###### Aristaeus

* Keeper of bees and son of Apollo and a water nymph Cyrene.
* All his bees died one day and his mother advised him to seek out Proteus' advice, which could only be achieved by holding fast to him and he shifted forms.
* Aristaeus was able to best Proteus, and was advised to sacrifice some animals but leave their bodies on the alter for nine days and then return.
* Upon returning he found a hive of bees in the bodies, and once again had his bees back.

###### Callisto

* Daughter of Lycaon who was turned into a wolf when he served Zeus human flesh at a feast.
* She hunted with the band of Artemis and one day Zeus fell in love with her.
* This angered Hera, who turned her into a bear when her son was born.
* Much later she then placed Callisto into the path of her son as he was hunting, but before he could inadvertently shoot his own mother, Zeus placed her among the stars.

###### Chiron

* Mentor to many heroes including Achilles and Aesculapius, and an immortal centaur.
* Hercules accidentally killed him when he was visiting his friend Pholus, who allowed Hercules to drink from the communal wine of the centaurs.
* This angered the rest of them, who attacked Hercules. He easily killed them all, but in the process accidentally wounded Chiron with one of his poisoned arrows. Rather than let him live in agony forever Zeus permitted him to die.

###### Clytie

* Young girl who fell in love with Helios.
* She would sit outside where the god could see her and never took her eyes off the sun, following it across the horizon.
* Eventually she was turned into the first sunflower, a flower that always faces the sun.

###### Leto (Latona)

* Daughter of the tians Phoebe and Coeus.
* Zeus loved her but when the time came for her to give birth Zeus abandoned her for he feared Hera.
* All other lands feared Hera too and would not let Leto give birth on their soil
* Finally she came upon the unanchored island Delos, which moved with the waves.
* It welcomed her and she gave birth to Apollo and Atremis.
* It then became firmly anchored to the sea and turned from a barren island to a prosperous one that was adorned with Apollo's temple.

###### The Myrmidons

* Ants turned into brave, industrious, and loyal men by Zeus to replenish the land of Aegina after its population had been killed by a plague sent by Hera who was angry because Zeus loved its queen, Aegina.
* Her son Aeacus, grand-father of Hercules, prayed that his land might be saved and Zeus answered.
* They accompanied Achilles in the Trojan War and were extremely loyal to him,

###### Orion

* He was a large and strong hunter
* Was a huntsman of Artemis who was killed either because Aurora fell in love with him and she was jealous or he made Apollo angry and he tricked Artemis into killing him.
* He was then put into heaven as a constellation.

###### Sisyphus

* A king that was forced to endlessly role a boulder up a hill and let it roll down for disclosing to Asopus that he saw Zeus in the from of an eagle carrying off his daughter Aegina.
* Was said to originally have his punishment be that he was simply chained up in Tartarus, but upon tricking Thanatos into getting chained up himself and preventing death from occurring, the gods punished him further.
* Sometimes said to be the father of Odysseus

## Part Seven: The Mythology of the Norsemen

* Asgard is much different than most heavenly realms, as the inhabitants know one day their home will be destroyed
* Asgard and the hall Valhalla within welcomed soldiers who died bravely in combat.
* This gave Norsemen a unique perspective, as even in death they knew they had the ultimate of victory, and would welcome death.
* Much of the Teutonic culture in Western Europe and even Northern Europe was destroyed when the Christian missionaries took over. *Beowulf* in England and *Nibelungenlied* in German were a few of the notable works that survived, but the majority of Pagan-Germanic culture stems from the Elder Edda and the Younger Edda that were found in Iceland. The Elder Edda was written around the year 1300.
* The Elder Edda is most commonly know as the Poetic Edda, and the Younger Edda is commonly known as the Prose Edda.
* Young Edda is largely about how to proper prose and techniques in writing, but in its mythological content
* The Elder Edda contains many poems that are about the same topics, but not interconnected. There was no Homer equivalent among the Norse who brought it all together, thus their structure it times awkward and contains large amounts of more or less useless and dull information.

### The Stories of Signy and Sigurd

* Signy was daughter of Volsung and sister of Sigmund.
* One day her husband killed Volsung and one by one chained up Volsung's sons and had them devoured by wolves until only Sigmund was left
* Signy freed Sigmund and later in disguise the tow bore a child, Sinfiotli. Sigmund never knew Signy was the woman, and once Sinfiolti was old enough Signy sent hoim to his father and eventually them came back for revenge.
* All these years Signy was bearing Volsung children and acting like nothing was the matter. When Sinfiolti and Sigmund came they killed all of Signy's children and shut up Volsung in a burning house. As the house was burning Signy herself walked into the fires and perished, her purpose completed.
* A man named Siegfried was Sigurd's Germanic equivalent.
* Sigurd's story begins with the Valkryie Brynhild who was placed in a permanent slumber by Odin for disobeying him until a man woke her. Her sleeping body was surrounding by a ring of fire that only one with a brave heart would wake her. Sigurd, the son of Sigmund, does the very thing, forcing his horse through the flame and waking Brynhild. He then leaves her there and goes to Giukung lands and swears brotherhood with the king Gunnar.
* Gunnar's mother Giremhald, wants Sigurd to marry her daughter Gudrun, and gives Sigrun a potion that makes him forget Brynhild. Then with Griemhald's magic he rides through the flames with the appearance of Gunner (for he was not brave enough to do it himself) and sleeps with Brynhild. He then returns with her to the Guikungs and she marries Gunnar, totally unaware of the treachery.
* However in the midst of a quarrel Gunnar reveals the truth, and Brynhild declares that because Sigurd put his sword between them as they slept, that she was still Sigurds.
* She claimed that she could only be Gunnar's if Sigurd was killed. Gunnar could not do this himself because of the oath, and instead has a younger brother of his kill Sigurd in his sleep.
* Gudrun awoke distraught, and as Brynhild heard her screams she told the truth to Gunnar, that Sigurd truly was honorable and that she tricked him. With this she killed herself.
* The people of Kiukungs where afraid Gudrun would die of grief, for she was so sad she could not even weep. So one by one all the women told her of their sorrows, one said she lost all seven sons and her husband in one battle, and with no one to comfort her she dug their graves with her own hands.
* She then got closure to a degree, when one old woman lifted Sigurd's veil and put his head on Gudrun's lap. She was then able to cry and let everything out, her tears flowing down his face.

### The Norse Gods

* Greek gods differed greatly from Norse gods as they could not be heroic. They were immortal and could not feel pain, but all Norse gods knew their end would come by the hands of the giants at Ragnarok.
* Odin was a sky god like Zeus, but unlike Zeus was a very solitary figure, traveling the realms, clad in simple attire and a blue hood, looking for knowledge.
* Even at the feasts of the gods or in the halls of Valhalla Odin eats nothing, giving his food to his wolves and taking messages from his ravens Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Memory), who travel the realms gathering intel.
* His primary task, which weighed heavily on him, was to postpone Valhalla for as long as possible, making the pursuit of knowledge very important to him.
* Once at the Well of Wisdom, which was guarded by Mimir, he asked for a drink from the well. Mimir would only allow him to do so if he gave up one of his eyes, which Odin consented to,
* The knowledge and power of Runes came to him when he hung himself from a tree for 9 days, getting pierced with a spear as he hung.
* He passed on the knowledge of runes to men who used them to protect themselves.
* He also risked his life stealing the Skaldic Mead from the giants and giving to gift to men. Skaldic mead made any who drank from it a poet.
* "Val" translates to slain in the Norse tongue
* The Valkyries were the servants of Odin, in Valhalla they kept the drinking horns full, on Earth they chose who was the live in battle and who was to die, bringing those who died with honor and valor to Valhalla. They were also to fight among the Einherjar come Ragnarok. While among battlefield they rose brilliant horses in shining armor.

#### Baldr

* Was the most beloved of gods in heaven or on Eartj
* Was troubled with dreams about his impending death, and Frigga/Freyja sought to prevent this by making all living things and non-living materials, save the misletoe, from ever harming Baldr.
* Odin feared however this was not enough, and while all other gods believed he was safe, he went to Niflheim.
* While there he saw Hel/Hela's house lavishly decorated. One of the wise women down there told Odin it was prepared for Baldr impending arrival, confirming Odin's fears.
* The gods then started a contest in which the various gods threw their weapons at Baldr, testing his newfound invincibility. All where happy for him except Loki, a giant who was allowed to leave and enter Asgard as he pleased for him and Odin had made an oath of brotherhood.
* Loki then got some mistletoe and invited Baldr's blind brother Holder to the contest to throw a spear made of the mistletoe. Loki assisted him in his aim and the spear struck Baldr's heart, killing him.
* Baldur's brother Hermod was then dispatched to ask Hela to give Baldur back, and he immediately left on the horse Sleipnir.
* As they were preparing Baldur's funeral boat his wife Nanna died of grief in the process and they placed her body next to his, putting him out to sea and lighting the boat on fire.
* When Hermod asked Hela for Baldur, Hela agreed if everything, living and dead, mourned his passing. Everything mourned except for a single giantess, which is sometimes said to have been Loki in disguise, thus Baldr remained dead.
* He was punished by being placed in a cave with a venomous serpent above his head. It would drip poison on his face that was unimaginably painful. His wife Sigyn stayed by his side, cathing poison in a cup. But whenever she had to empty the cup some dripped on his face, causing him to roar which in turn caused the earth to shake, proving an explanation for earthquakes.

#### Thor

* God of thunder with Thursday named for him.

#### Freyr

* God over the fruits of the earth and fertility in general

#### Norse Goddesses

* In Norse mythology goddesses were much less important, none came even close to Athena in importance.
* Frigga was one of the more important ones. She was very secretive and reserved, often depicted spinning golden threads for a unknown purpose
* Freyja was the goddess of love, fertility to a degree, and of war. She was twin brother of Freyr and the namesake of Friday
* "The fierceness of men rules the fate of women."
* Hel was truly the only realm that belonged to women, midguard was for men, Valhalla for warriors, and Asgard for the gods, in which the male gods ruled.

### The Creation

* In the beginning only Niflheim and Muspelheim, in the far North and South respectively.
* Twelve rivers ran from Niflheim to the center of existence and from Muspelhiem fiery clouds. Niflheim's waters froze and became ice, which was then melted by the clouds of Muspelheim and turned into mist, which eventually gave up rain from which Ymir and the frost maidens were born,
* Ymir had a son named Borr, who in turn had 3 sons with the giantess Bestla. These sons were Odin, Ve, and Vili and one day they killed Ymir, forming the sea from his blood, and earth from his body/torso, the heavens from his skull. They then took his eyebrows and formed a wall around what was later called Midguard, and there they placed the first humans, dwarves, and elves.
* From the sparks of Muspelhiem the sun, moon, and stars were formed.
* From Yggdrasil (an ash tree) sprouted many branches, One led to Asgard, called Urda's well, that was so holy none could drink from it. The three Norns guarded it, who were similar to fates in Greeks mythology:
* The three Norns were Urda (the past), Verdani (the present), and Skuld (the future).
* EVeryday the gods would pass over the bi-frost and commit judgement upon the deeds of men as they watched on near the well.
* Beneath this same root was the Well of Knowledge, guarded by Mimir.
* Norse mythology is quite bleak, with the end of the world and the triumph of evil over good being inevitable. This likely draws from the fact that because winters were son long in the North, death was the norm for much of the vegetation.
* However one glimmer of hope offered by the Eddas is that once Odin falls and the Earth is destroyed one shall rise even stronger than Odin and rule over all.

### The Norse Wisdom

There exists many Norse writings that are akin to The Book of Proverbs, though less profound but generally have a bit more humor inserted into them.

"Tell one your thoughts but beware of two.

All know what is known to three."

"A silly man lies awake all night

Thinking of many things.

When the morning comes he is worn with care,

And his trouble is just as it was."

"None so good that he has no faults

None so wicked that he is worth naught."

"The mind knows only

what lies near the heart."

* "By race we are connected with the Norse; our culture goes back to the Greeks."