US Cities With Greek Names | USA.GreekReporter.com US Cities With Greek Names US Cities With Greek Names By - Feb 9, 2013 More than 100 cities and villages across the USA have been named after Greek cities, mythological heroes and historical figures of ancient and modern times. This is a short list of the biggest and most well known American cities bearing Greek names across the Atlantic. Olympia is the capital city of the state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It has 46,500 residents and it is named after the sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, the most famous games in history. Athens is a name you can find in several cities in the states of Georgia, Ohio, Alabama, Indiana, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania. There is also a New Athens in Illinois and an Athens County in Ohio. The name of the Greek capital and ancient goddess Athena seems particularly popular in the USA.

Arcadia is yet another Greek origin name found in various states including California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin. The home of ancient Greek god Pan and the praised unspoiled natural environment of the Peloponnese region has been a source of inspiration in the USA. The name of the famous ship that carried Jason and the Argonauts to the Golden Fleece, Argo, is a small town in Texas, while Arion the poet who was kidnapped by pirates and was miraculously saved by dophins is remembered in both Iowa and Ohio. You can also find replicas of the important Greek port city of Corinth in Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, Texas and Vermont. The famous city state of ancient Greece known for its disciplined warriors and its unique social system, Sparta, has reemerged in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin. Titan Atlas who was punished by Zeus to bear the weight of the heavens on his shoulders is remembered in Atlanta cities in Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,Missouri , Nebraska, New York, Texas.

There is also the name Atlas in Michigan and Kansas, and the name Atlantic City in New Jersey. Troy the ancient city of the Trojan War described in Homer’s epic The Iliad has been a source of inspiration for cities and residences in Alabama, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. The home of Ulysses Ithaca has been used in Nebraska, New York and Ohio, while a city in central Texas was named after Ulysses’ faithful wife Penelope. Echo, the ancient Greek mountain nymph that fell in love and had her heart broken by Narcissus, gave her name to cities in Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, Utah. Cities bearing the name of ancient epic poet Homer are found in the states of Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio. The name of Greece’s biggest island Crete has been used in cities both in Illinois and Nebraska, while Delphi, where the famous ancient oracle once was, inspired the residents of Indiana, Kentucky and New York as well.

Finally, Greece has given its name to the town of Greece in Monroe County, New York, United States. With a population of 96,095 according to the 2010 census, the Town of Greece was established in 1822 from part of the Town of Gates and was previously called Northampton. The name Greece was selected because of the then contemporary struggle of Greece for independence from the Ottoman Empire. TAGS what about cities ending with polis like Minneapolis, Indianapolis… then the Navy’s Annapolis. Still that link. Then there are those with the names like Phoenix, an ancient Hellenic bird… Chris Moutzikis What about the city Macedonia in Ohio? I’m sure there are many more from other parts of Greece outside Attica and the Peleponeese. Gary Welch I happen to live in the Town of Greece mentioned at the end of the article. I don’t think that the name was chosen because of the Greek struggle for independence, a lot of new place names were needed around that time as the area was settled and it was fashionable to use the names of foreign locations.

The Town of Sweden, where I was born and grew up, is not far away and was established a couple of years after Greece. There is also a Town of Riga and a place named Egypt in Monroe County. How athens got its name - Athens Athens Greece ATHENS How Athens Got its Name Long before it became a great city and the birthplace of democracy, the area of Athens must have been a very beautiful place. Otherwise one cannot explain how some of the most important ancient gods dueled to give it their name. In the end it was Poseidon, the god of the sea and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who reached the final round. Zeus, out of whose head Athena was born, in order to avoid a violent encounter between the two gods, declared that each should make an offer to the new city and its name would go to the god whose offer would be accepted by the citizens. It must have been quite a sight, with all the Olympian gods sitting on one side and the citizens on the other while Athena and Poseidon stood in the middle, ready for the naming competition. Poseidon, who was Zeus' brother and uncle of Athena, came first and struck the rock of the Acropolis, opening a spring of water.

This was interpreted as an indication that Poseidon was offering the new city success in war and at sea. Then Athena came forward and dropped a seed to the ground. It immediately turned into an olive tree. This was meant to indicate that the goddess was offering the new city the fruits of peace and wisdom, which the citizens accepted and named their city Athens, while the owl, the bird connected with Athena and signified wisdom, became the pet animal of the Athenians. This is why when money was invented and Athenians adopted as their currency the drachma, they used to have the profile of Athena on the one side and the owl on the other. The Athenian drachma became very popular among the people living along the shores of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Red Sea. In some cases, the drachma remained the official exchange instrument for centuries after Athens ceased to exist as a free city-state. In Yemen, in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, the drachma was the only accepted currency until the establishment of the Moslem religion in the seventh century of our era. Please share your opinion of it with other travelers. Write a review!

Greek capital - definition of Greek capital by The Free Dictionary Greek capital - definition of Greek capital by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Wikipedia . ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun 1.

Greek capital - the capital and largest city of Greece; named after Athena (its patron goddess); "in the 5th century BC ancient Athens was the world's most powerful and civilized city" Athens , Athinai , capital of Greece Parthenon - the main temple of the goddess Athena; built on the acropolis in Athens more than 400 years B.C.; example of Doric architecture Ellas , Greece , Hellenic Republic - a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil Areopagus - a hill to the to the west of the Athenian acropolis where met the highest governmental council of ancient Athens and later a judicial court Dipylon , Dipylon gate - a gateway to the west of ancient Athens near which a distinctive style of pottery has been found Athenian - a resident of Athens Plato - ancient Athenian philosopher; pupil of Socrates; teacher of Aristotle (428-347 BC) US cities with Greek names US cities with Greek names Have you ever thought how many US cities with Greek names exist? You will be surprised to know that there are more than one hundred American cities with Greek names.

Statistics show that there are just 16 cities with the name Athens in the United States, as well as 26 American cities containing the Greek name Troy in their name. We have put together a list of US cities with Greek names deriving mostly from the Greek mythology and history. US cities with Greek names Achille in Oklahoma and Achilles, Virginia. Achilles was the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, killed only when an arrow struck his heel, the only vulnerable spot on his body. Amazonia in Missouri (The Amazons in Greek mythology were a ferocious race of warrior women) Antioch in California. The city was named after the Ancient Greek Town Antiocheia, which was located in South Turkey, near the borders with Syria. The modern town of Antakya has been built near the ruins of Antioch. Apollo in Pennsylvania, North Apollo in Pennsylvania, Apollo Beach in Florida. Apollo was the Olympian god of music and light.

Arcadia in California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin (Arcadia was a famous place in ancient Greece and a prefecture in the Peloponnese in modern Greece.) Ares Peak, New Mexico (Ares is the Greek God of War) Argo, Texas (Argo was the name of the famous ship that Jason and the Argonauts used to sail on their voyage to get the Golden Fleece) Argos, Indiana (the name of Ulysses’ dog and a region in south Peloponnese) Arion in Iowa and Ohio (Arion was the poet tossed overboard by Pirates who was saved by a dolphin) Athens, the capital city of Greece, is named after the goddess Athena: You can find the Greek name Athens in cities in the States of: Georgia, Ohio, Alabama, Indiana, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania. There is also a New Athens in Illinois and an Athens County in Ohio NOTE. Atlas was the hapless Titan who was doomed to support the heavens on his shoulder forever.

Many variations of his name have given us a number of American cities and town names: Atlanta in Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,Missouri , Nebraska, New York, Texas. There is also the name Atlas in Michigan and Kansas, and the name Atlantic City in New Jersey Atlantic Beach, Florida Attica, New York Calypso, North Carolina (The Nymph Calypso was a witch who tried to convince the hero Odysseus to stay with her on her island, rather than sailing home) Cassandra, Pennsylvania (Cassandra was the seer who was cursed by Apollo, so that her prophecies were never believed) Castor, Louisiana (Castor and Polux were famous twins of Greek mythology) Clio in Alabama, California, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, South Carolina, West Virginia. Clio was one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology Corfu, a small town in New York. Corfu is the English name of the Greek island of Kerkyra and its principal city. Corinth in Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, Texas, Vermont. Corinth is an important city almost 80km away from Athens. Crete in Illinois and Nebraska.

Crete is the island where Zeus was raised as a baby and the largest island in Greece. Daphne, Alabama (Daphne was a beautiful woman who was pursued by the god Apollo. She turned into a laurel tree in order to escape from his advances.) Delphi in Indiana, Kentucky and New York. Delphi was the most known Oracle in the ancient years. Dike in Iowa and Texas. Dike (Diki) was the Greek mythological personification of Justice Echo, Louisiana, Minnesota , Oregon, Texas, Utah. Echo was the beautiful maiden who fell in love with the vain Narcissus and was reduced to just an echo Eros in Louisiana and Arizona. Eros was the Greek god of love Hades Creek, Washington. Hades was the feared god of the Underworld Hector in Arkansas, California, New York. Hector was the brave Trojan prince who fought on the Trojan side against the Greeks during the Trojan War. He was killed by Achilles Helen, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, West Virginia And Helenville in Wisconsin. Helen of Troy was the most beautiful woman on earth, and the cause of the Trojan War. Helen is a very common name in Greek: Eleni.

Hercules, California. Hercules (Heracles) was the greatest hero of ancient Greece. He performed the famous 12 labors Hesperia, California Hesperia was the Greek deity who personified the Evening Hesperus, Colorado. Hesperus was the elusive god who personified the Evening Homer in Alaska, Georgiar, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio. Homer was the ancient poet and writer who gave us the famous books the Iliad and the Odyssey Irene, South Dakota and Texas. Irene is a Greek name and the personification of Peace. Iris, South Carolina. Iris was the Greek goddess of the Rainbow Ithaca, Nebraska, New York, Ohio. Ithaca was the island home of the Trojan War hero, Odysseus; the Odyssey by Homer detailed his voyage back home to Ithaca Macedonia in Ohio. Macedonia is the Northern part of Greece and the birthplace of Alexander the Great. Marathon, New York. The city of Marathon was the setting for a magnificent battle, and where we get the modern day race called the marathon Medusa, New York.

Medusa was the monster who would turn to stone whomever happened to look upon her Mentor, Minnesota and Ohio. Mentor was a famous tutor/teacher in ancient Greek mythology Mount Olympus was the lofty home of the ancient gods. From Olympus we get place names such as: Olympic Valley in California, Olympia Heights in Florida, Olympia Fields in Illinois. These names could also originate from the area of Ancient Olympia, where the Olympic Games were taking place in the ancient years. Muse, Pennsylvania. The nine Muses in Greek mythology were the ones who inspired the arts, sciences, music and all things cultural Notus, Idaho.Notus was another wind god, this one the South Wind Orestes, Indiana. Orestes was the tragic figure who killed his mother, Clytaemnestra, and was pursued by the Furies, in the tragedy Oresteia by Aeschylus Orion, Illinois and Michigan. Orion was a giant in Greek mythology who was placed in the stars as the Constellation Orion Pandora, Ohio and Texas. Pandora (all-gifted) was the first mortal woman. Her curiosity made her open up a jar (box), which unleashed all the world’s evils upon the earth Parthenon, Arkansas.

The Parthenon in Athens is the splendid temple at the Acropolis, built in honor of the great goddess Athena Penelope, Texas. Penelope was the faithful wife to Odysseus, of Trojan War and Odyssey fame Sparta in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin. Sparta was a famous city state in ancient Greece, renowned for its highly disciplined and ferocious warriors Syracuse in New York. Syracuse is a city in the island of Sicily in Italy. It was founded by Corinthians in 8th century BC and it was the birthplace of the famous engineer Archimedes. Thebes, Illinois. Thebes was another famous city state, with a storied mythical history Troy in Alabama, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia. Troy was the ancient mythological city where the famous Trojan War took place Ulysses, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Pennsylvania.

Ulysses was the Roman name for Odysseus, hero of Homer’s epic The Odyssey. Urania, Louisiana. Urania was the one of the nine Muses, the Greek Muse of astronomy, astrology and Universal love Uranus, Alaska. Uranus (Sky) was an original Titan, husband to Gaea (Mother Earth). Ypsilanti in Michigan. The town was named after Demetrios Ypsilantis, the brother of Alexander Ypsilantis, a leader of Filiki Eteria. Zephyrhills, Florida and Zephyr in Nevada and Texas. Zephyr was one of the wind gods, the West Wind This is a short list of the US cities with Greek names; there are even more towns and villages with modern Greek names or Ancient Greek names.

Mythology of geography Quiz - By popestcyril Description Name of the location World's 2nd longest river, named after a tribe of warlike women who lived in Scytha, near the Black Sea Arkansas town named after the famous temple to Athena built on the Acropolis in Athens Pennsylvania town named after the Roman god of war North African mountains named for the Titan condemned to carry the world on his shoulders Washington's capital named for the home of the gods in Greek myth Georgia and New York towns named after a city of ancient Greece from which Oedipus fled Tennessee town named after the capital of ancient Egypt Ohio town named after the first mortal woman in Greek mythology Antarctic mountain located on Ross Island, an active volcano named for the dark place through which the souls of the dead had to pass on their way to Hades Greek capital named after the goddess of wisdom, its patron goddess Virginia town named after the sulking heroic warrior of Homer's Illiad US State capital named for a creature that consumed itself in fire, then resurrected itself from its ashes New York city named for Odysseus' homeland, the site of Cornell University Sierra Nevada peak named after the female sea monster that ate sailors who escaped the danger of the whirlpool called Charybidis

 Georgia and Kentucky towns named after the ancient city-state of which Menelaus was king Ohio town named after the guardian and teacher of Telemachus North Carolina town named after Atlas' daughter on whose island, Ogygia, Odysseus shipwrecked and stayed 7 years Illinois town named after a Mediterranean Sea island on which Rhea hid Zeus in a secret cave on Mount Ida or Mount Dicte West Virginia town named after the Roman god of the dead and ruler of the underworld Alabama town named after Jason's ship that sailed in search of the Golden Fleece Iowa and Michigan towns named after the largest of the Dodecanese islands where the 100-foot-high statue called Colossus was located Description Iowa town named after the god of thunder in Norse mythology Mississippi town named for the Greek goddess of flowers and gardens Sierra Nevada peak named after the whirlpool on the Italian side of the Strait of Messina Indiana town named after the seat of an oracle of Apollo Nebraska and Texas towns named for Roman goddess of love and beauty Oregon town named after the Greek goddess of wisdom and the arts Alaskan town named after the poet who wrote the Iliad and Odyssey Alabama town named after the Greek muse of history Georgia town named after the half-e

agle, half-lion creature of Greek mythology California town whose name is the ancient Greek name meaning 'land of the evening,' given by Aeneas to Italy; the Romans gave the name to Spain Florida town named after the wife and sister of Jupiter Louisiana town named after the twin brother of Pollux in Greek myth California town named after the god of the sun, prophecy, music, medicine, and poetry California town named after the Roman goddess of agriculture Arkansas town named for Priam's son whom Achilles killed during the Trojan War Famous London music hall whose name comes from Pallas Athena Continent named after Agenor's beautiful daughter with whom Zeus fell in love when he saw her in a meadow Georgia and Nebraska towns named for the Roman goddess of the hearth North Dakota town named after the 100-eyed giant who guarded Io US river with the same name as an ancient Italian tribe whose females were allegedly seized and raped by Roman soldiers during the reign of Romulus Kansas and Nebraska towns using the Latin name for Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and leader of the Greeks during the Trojan War Description Athena Greek Goddess ,Greece Zethos Athena Athena literally only had one parent, her father Zeus , from whose head she was born.

Zeus suffered a terrible headache when Hephaistos hit him over the head with a sledgehammer and opened his scull. Out came the full-grown Athena in full armour with a cry of war.She was usually called Pallas Athena or Parthenos, virgin, being a virgin goddess. Greece's capital Athens and the temple Parthenon were both dedicated to and named after her. Interestingly, when Greece became Christian the Parthenon was in stead converted into the church of another Virgin: Mary, mother of Jesus.The most important celebration of Athens was the Panathenea, dedicated to the goddess and held every four years. According to myth, Athena had earned the title of patron goddess of Athens after a competition against Poseidon , who also wanted the city. Poseidon gave the Athenians a well, but it was useless since its water was from the sea. Athena then gave the people the first olivetree, a much more useful gift. This made her the winner. On the Acropolis there was originally a wooden statue of Athena, a xoanon, that was dressed by the women of the city. According to legend, there was also an olive tree there, as well as a salty well.

When the Persians burned down the tree in 480BC it had grown a foot the very next day.She was the goddess of war, but not in the same way as Ares. Also being the goddess of wisdom, she was the patron of tactics and strategic war. She also protected the cities, industries, agriculture, spinning and weaving as well as the arts and the crafts. Athena had also given much to humanity: the plough, the flute, the wagon, shipbuilding, animaltaming and shoemaking. In a way, she can be credited with having provided Man with all the knowledge needed for the foundation of a civilization.She was always depicted in military armour, and on her breast plate was the face of the Gorgon Medusa since Perseus had offered her head after killing the monster. The owl was the animal that symbolis-ed her and the Acropolis was said to be full of owls in ancient Athens.The Roman equivalent to Athena was Minerva.

Athena also had many epithets: Aeantis, Aethyia, Agoraea, Alalcomeneis, Alcidemos, Alcis, Alea, Ambulia, Anemotis, Apaturia, Archegetis, Areia, Aristobula, Asia, Axiopoenos, Boulaea, Celeutheia, Chalcioecos, Chalintis, Chryse, Cissaea, Colocasia, Coria, Coryphasia, Cranaea, Cydonia, Cynthia, Cyparissia, Ergane, Hellotia, Hippia, Hippolaitis, Hygieia, Ilias, Ismenia, Itonia, Larissaea, Lindia, Longatis, Narcaea, Nedusia, Nike, Oleria, Onca, Oxyderces, Paeonia, Pallenius, Panachaea, Poseia, Parthenos, Phratria, Polias, Poliatis, Poliouchos, Promachorma, Promachos, Pronaea, Saitis, Salpinx, Scilluntia, Sciras, Soteira, Sthen

ias, Telchinia, Tihrone, Tritogeneia, Tritonia, Zosteria.

Greek Gods Greek Constellations Aquila The Eagle This is a bird who has the power to bring rain and is the keeper of Zeus' lightning bolts. Ara The Altar It was predicted that Cronus would die at the hand of his own child so he swallowed five of them as they were born. His wife, Rhea, and his mother-in-law, Gaia, protected the sixth child, Zeus, by giving Cronus a stone wrapped in a blanket instead of the baby. When Zeus grew up he poisoned his father which caused him to vomit up the other children. Then Zeus and his brothers fought a war with Cronus and the other Titans. During the war Zeus freed some Titans that Cronus had imprisoned. These allies included the Cyclopes who were expert metal workers. During a battle, the Cyclopes built an altar and burned a sacrifice so that the smoke would hide Zeus and his brothers as they attacked Cronus and the Titans. In gratitude, Zeus placed the altar in the sky at the horizon, under the Milky Way which now appears to be the rising smoke.

Argo Navis The Ship (Carina, Puppis, Vela) The Argo is the ship whose captain is Jason, and the crew is the Argonauts. The ship was a gift from Athena. Its maidenhead had the power of speech and advised Jason on occasions during his adventures. Aries The Ram The story of the ram begins with Zeus and Hera. Hera was courted by Ixion. Zeus tricked him into impregnating a cloud named Nephele that had been formed to look like Hera. Then, as punishment, Ixion was strapped to a flaming wheel and rolled around the sky for eternity (the ecliptic). The cloud Nephele had a child which was the first centaur. Nephele later had two children with Athamas, king of B�eotia. Athamas eventually tried to have the children killed. Hera sent a golden ram so the children could escape by riding its back. One of the children, Helle, fell off and died in the sea at a place called Hellespont. The other child, Phrixus, eventually sacrifice the ram to Zeus.

The skin of the ram developed special powers and is the same relic the is later sought by Jason and the Argonauts. Auriga The Charioteer Hephaestus impregnated Mother Earth with a child, Erichthonius, who was born with the lower body of a snake. Athena pitied the boy and raised him as her own son in the city of Athens where he eventually became king. He became famous for developing the four horse chariot. Often defending Athena's honor, Erichthonius the charioteer was eventually placed in the sky as a reward. Bo�tes The Bear Chaser Icarius was the first person to cultivate grapes and then make them into wine. After his death he was placed in the sky as the constellation Bo�tes by Dionysus in honor of his discovery. His dog, Maera, became the bright star Procyon in Canis Minor. Cancer The Crab The crab is one that pinched Hercules on the foot while he was fighting the Hydra. This pleased Hera who later placed him in the sky. Canis Major The Greater Dog He is one of two hunting dogs belonging to Orion the hunter.

The dogs were placed in the sky along with Orion when he was killed by the scorpion. Cassiopeia The Queen She is the very beautiful and very vain Queen of Ethiopia (Philistia). Gazing at herself in a mirror, she proclaimed to be more beautiful than the Nereids, which were sea nymphs. As punishment Poseiden demanded that the princess Andromeda be sacrificed to the sea monster, Cetus. After her daughter was saved by Perseus, Cassiopeia plotted with her daughter's ex-fianc�e Agenor to kill Perseus. Perseus used the Medusa's head to turn Cassiopeia, Agenor, and his men to stone. The constellations of Queen Cassiopeia and King Cepheus are facing each other's feet so they cannot speak to each other. Because the Queen insulted the sea nymphs, she never sets below the surface of the sea (as seen from northern latitudes.

The name "Cassiopeia" is a Phoenician phrase that means the "Rose-Colored Face." Centaurus The Centaur Chiron the centaur studied health and medicne until being accidentally shot by Hercules with an arrow that was poisoned by being dipped in the blood of Hydra. Chiron was in great pain. Meanwhile, Prometheus was being punished for giving mankind the knowlege of how to fire. Prometheus was bound to a rock in Tartarus where a vulture continuously pecked his liver. Prometheus could only be release if someone voluntarily took his place. Hercules asked that Prometheus be released and Chiron take his place so that only one of them would have to suffer. After Chiron took the place of Prometheus, Hercules shot the vulture with an arror, ending the torture. Chiron was later placed in the sky as a constellation by Zeus. Cepheus The King He is the king of Ethiopia (Philistia) and his wife the Queen is Cassiopeia. He was also one of the Argonauts that adventured with Jason.

Cetus The Sea Monster The monster Cetus is the mother of Phorcids who gave birth to many other monsters; the serpent-guard in the Garden of the Hesperides, the Gorgons, Cerberus the three-headed dog guardian of Hades, the Hydra, the Chimera and several others. Corona Borealis The Northern Crown Theseus went to Crete to kill the Minotaur with the help of his fiance princess Ariadne. She gave him a big ball of string. As he walked through the Labyrinth, Theseus unrolled the string. After he slew the Minotaur, he followed the string out of the maze. The crown was made for Princess Ariadne as a wedding present by the master smith Hephaestus. The seven stars in the constellation represent the seven maidens and seven youths that had been sacrificed to the Minotaur. It was placed in the sky after her death. Corvus The Crow Apollo sent the crow to get some pure water for a sacrifice he was preparing for Zeus. The crow stopped to eat some figs but they weren't very ripe so he waited for them to ripen. The crow returned with a water snake and claimed the snake was the reason for the delay.

Apollo knew the crow was lying and was angry. He turned the crow from white to black. Then he cursed the crow so it would always get a sore throat when the figs are ripe. Apollo placed the crow in the sky as a constellation to warn to others who might dare to to lie to him. Crater The Cup The people of the city of Eleusis were struck by a plague. To appease the gods and avoid the plague, a sacrifice was of a noble maiden was made each year. The king, Demonphon, didn't include his own daughters in the lottery. He got away with this for awhile but then a nobleman, Mastusius, objected. Demonphon sacrificed one of Mastusius' daughters without drawing lots. Mastusius sent an invitation to dinner to the king. When the king arrived, Mastusius served him a cup of wine that he had mixed with the blood of the king's daughters, whom he had murdered. When the murders were discovered, Mastusius was killed and thrown into the sea. The cup was placed in the sky to remind men that their evil deeds will not go unpunished.

Cygnus The Swan Pha�thon died when he fell out of the chariot of the Sun and into the River Eridanus. His brother Cygnus repeatedly dove in search of Pha�thon. In mercy, The gods transformed him into a swan. Delphinus The Dolphin Poseidon tried to convince one of the Nereids, Amphirite, to marry him. She hid in the Atlas mountains (Morocco) so Poseidon sent a dolphin to plead his case and she finally agreed to be a bride. The dolphin was rewarded with a place in the sky. Draco The Dragon The dragon protected the golden apples of the Hesperides, and the Golden Fleece in the Garden of Ares. Eridanus The River Pha�thon, son of Helios the Sun, tried to convince his father that he was able to drive the chariot of the Sun across the sky. His father knew that the idea was foolish and refused. Pha�thon took the reins anyway and tried to drive the chariot and its four firey horses. The horses felt the novice hand at the reins and raced across the sky, sometimes too high, sometimes too low, alternately freezing and burning the land below.

Zeus hurled one of his thunderbolts knocking Pha�thon out of the chariot. Pha�thon fell to earth and landed in the river Eridanus and drowned. The gods placed the river in the sky in memory of the event. Gemini The Twins The fraternal twins Castor and Pollux are the sons of Leda (the wife of a mortal named Tyndareus). Zeus had disguised himself as a swan and seduced Leda, who laid an egg from which Helen and Pollux were born. At the same time she also gave birth to Castor and Clytaemnestra, children of her husband Tyndareus. Since Pollux was the son of a Zeus, he was immortal, but Castor was mortal. The brothers grew close. At the Olympic games Castor was killed. Pollux asked Zeus to permit him to die so they could remain together. Zeus placed both of the boys in the sky. Hercules The Hero Hercules is the son of Zeus and a mortal woman named Alcmene, the granddaughter of Perseus and Andromeda. Hera, Zeus' wife, was jealous of Alcmene and attempted to kill Hercules many times but always failed.

Hercules performed many great feats which made him famous. He liberating Thebes from the Minyans, for which he was given the hand of Megara, Princess of Thebes. They had three sons. Then Hera had her revenge. She made Hercules temporarily insane and he killed his wife and the children. In punishment for the crime Hercules was given twelve impossible tasks. Only if he completed these tasks would he be a free man. One example of the tasks is that Hercules had to slay the Nemean lion who terrorized the valley of Nemea. But the task was to slay it bare handed. It took 30 days to strangle the animal. He skinned the beast and nailed the body to the sky (Leo). He wore the skin as a trophy. Another example is that he had to battle the Hydra, a multi-headed sea snake who lived in the marsh of Lerna. When he cut off one head, two more heads would grow in its place. Instead of cutting them, Hercules burned the heads off. Another task of Hercules was the theft of the golden apples of the Hesperides. They were guarded by Ladon, the dragon. Unable to safely approach the dragon, Hercules asked Atlas for help.

Atlas was an immortal and the father of the Hesperides, so he could manage the dragon. It was Atlas who was holding up the heavens on his shoulders so Hercules offered to hold the heavens for awhile in exchange for the help. Atlas got the apples, but then refuse to take back the burden. Hercules asked Atlas if he could just take it back briefly, so some padding could be found to make it more comfortable. Atlas took the heavens back, but Hercules picked up the apples and left. Hydra The Multi-Headed Monster As one head was severed by Hercules, two more took its place. Hercules burned each head to keep them from regenerating, until he reached the final head which he discovered is immortal. This one he buried under a rock. Leo The Lion Hera ordered the creation of the lion. It lived in a cave in the Nemean Mountains and killed people and cattle down in the valley. Hercules strangled the lion as one of his tasks. He wore the skin as a trophy. Lepus The Rabbit After importing a single pregnant hare to the island of Leros, the animals began breeding beyond control and soon led to a major infestation. The people of Leros eventually exterminated them from the island.

The gods placed the hare in the sky as a reminder. Lupus The Wolf The she-wolf is sometimes the lover of the god Apollo, and at other times the lover of the centaur. Lyra The Harp Apollo invent the lyre using a turtle shell strung with strips of cow gut. He gave it to the god to Orpheus whose beautiful music could tame wild animals. Orpheus' wife Eurydice was chased by Aristaeus, a beekeeper, who was trying to kidnap her. Eurydice was bitten on the ankle by a snake and died. Orpheus descended to the realm of the dead to retrieve her soul. His song and music charmed the three-headed dog Cerberus, the ferry boatman Charon, and other creatures of the underworld. Persephone agreed to release the soul of his wife if Orpheus agreed to walk in front of her and take it on faith that she was following him. Just as he reached the light of the world Orpheus turned to see if Eurydice was behind him and she disappeared in a puff of smoke. After Orpheus died Zeus placed his lyre in the sky as a tribute.

Milky Way The Galaxy Cronus swallowed most of his children in an attempt to prevent the prophecy of his demise. In order to save one of them (Zeus), Rhea wrapped a stone in swaddling clothes and gave it to her husband to swallow instead. Cronus asked her to nurse the baby one more time before he swallowed it. Pressing the rock against her, the spurting milk became the Milky Way. Ophiuchus The Physician Asclepius (Ophiuchus) was raised by the centaur Chiron and was taught the art of medicine and healing. Asclepius became a great physician. He learned to make medicines from the poisons of snakes and plants. One of his remedies even caused the recently deceased to come back to life. This infuriating the god of the dead. Hades asked Zeus to stop Asclepius and he was struck with a thunderbolt. Then, in pity Zeus restored him to life and made him immortal. He was placed in the sky with a serpent. Orion The Hunter Orion was given as an infant to a poor shepherd, Irieus, who had showed hospitality to Zeus and Poseidon without knowing they were gods. Orion grew into a great hunter.

He eventually fell in love with Artemis, the moon goddess. Her brother Apollo became upset with her as she spent more and more time with Orion. It was her job to guide the moon across the sky and she began to neglect her duty. Apollo convinced Gaia that Orion and Artemis were killing too many anmials so Gaia sent the Scorpius the scorpion. Orion and Scorpius had a great battle and in the end both had been killed. Zeus placed Orion in the winter sky and Scorpius in the summer sky so they cannot see each other an thus not fight. Pegasus The Winged Horse Pegasus the famed winged mount of Perseus, was originally tamed by Bellerophone. One day Bellerophone tried to reach Mount Olympus, home of the gods, on the back of the winged horse. To stop him, Zeus sent a horsefly to sting Pegasus. The horse bucked and threw Bellerophone from his back. Perseus of Argolis There were two brothers, Acrisius and Proetus, who always quarreled with each other. Proetus became infatuated with his niece, Acrisius' daughter, Dana�.

Acrisius locked his daughter in a tower after hearing a prophecy that she would bear a son who would someday cause his death. Zeus fell in love with Dana� and she bore him a son, Perseus. Thinking that the child's father to be his brother, Acrisius locked both mother and child in a wooden ark and put them out to sea. The boat drifted to the island kingdom of Seriphos, which was ruled by Polydectes, The kind's brother Dictys, a fisherman, rescued them, and fell in love with Dana�. When Perseus grew up he had to defend his mother from king Polydectes who wanted Dana� for his wife. Polydectes pretended he was going to be married to another maiden, and asked Perseus to give him the head of the Medusa as a wedding gift. He assumed that attempting to kill the Medussa would be the end of Perseus. Perseus set about the task with the help of Athena and other gods. Athena gave him a shield that was shiny like a mirror. By walking backwards and looking at Medussa's reflection intead of gazing upon her directly, he avoided being turned to stone.

When Perseus severed her head, two winged horses flew from her neck, Pegasus, and Chrysaor. Flying on Pegasus, he saw below the beautiful princess Andromeda chained to a rock, about to be sacrificed to Cetus, a sea monster also known as The Kraken. Andromeda's mother, Cassiopeia, had angered Poseiden by claiming her beauty was greater than that of the Nereids. Appeasing the monster with the princess was the only way for Cepheus the king and Cassiopeia the queen to spare Ethiopia (Philistia). Perseus offered to kill Cetus in exchange for Andromeda's hand in marriage. After dispatching the monster, Perseus married Andromeda and flew her back to Seriphos. King Polydectes assumed that Perseus would be killed and decided to kidnap Dana� and force her into marriage. She hid in the temple of Athena. The king had the temple surrounded. Perseus used the head of Medussa to turn Polydectes and his generals to stone. The king's brother, Dictys the fisherman, became king.

Perseus took his wife and mother back to his birth home of Argolis where he became king as his grandfather Acrisius fled. Many years later, during the funeral games of a neighboring king, Perseus threw a discus that landed in a crowd of spectators, kiling Acrisius, thus fulfilling the prophesy that Acrisius would die at the hand of Dana�'s son. Pisces The Fishes Typhon was a monster who was in love with the beautiful goddess Aphrodite. He pursued her one day while she and her son Eros were walking along the bank of the Euphrates River. Some river nymphs protected them by transforming them into fishes. To show eternal appreciation, fishes were placed in the sky. Piscis Austrinus The Southern Fishes Aphrodite cast her spells on the goddess Derceto which made her fall in love with a mortal man. She had a daughter, Semiramis. Later, when the spell wore off, Derceto killed her husband, abandoned Semiramis and threw herself into a lake to drown. She was transformed into a fish and placed in the southern sky.

Pleiades The Sisters Atlas and a sea nymph named Pleione had seven daughters. Six of them were married to gods. One of them, Merope, was married to a mortal named Sisyphus. On their journey to Boeotia the sisters were pursued by Orion the hunter. Zeus turned them into doves and they flew into the sky. Orion continued to chase them for years up until his death. Zeus placed them in the sky just to the west of Orion where he can see them, but never catch up to them. Sagitta The Arrow The centaur Chiron was accidentally shot by his friend Hercules with an arrow dipped in the poisonous blood of the Hydra. Chiron was immortal and could not die but suffered endless pain from the poison. Hercules negotiated a plan for Chiron to trade places with Prometheus who was bound to a rock in Tartarus with a vulture eternally pecking at his liver. Prometheus could only be released if another immortal took his place. Hercules shot the vulture with an arrow thus ending the torture, and Chiron took his place. The arrow that killed the vulture was placed in the sky.

Sagittarius The Archer Crotus is a centaur and the son of Pan. He Lived on Mount Helicon and was a friend of the Muses. He invented the concept of applause as a sign of appreciation for a performance. The Muses asked Zeus to honor him with a constellation. Scorpius The Scorpion The scorpion was sent by Gaia to battle Orion because she felt the hunter was killing too many animals. When Orion and Scorpius killed each other, Zeus maintained peace in the sky by placing the hunter in the winter and the beast in the summer, so they can never see each other. Taurus The Bull Zeus turned himself into a large white bull and kidnapped Europa. He hid her on the island of Crete where she bore him several children, including King Minos. The constellation commemorates the adventure of Europa's abduction. Triangulum The Triangle Hades gave the island of Sicily to Ceres as compensation after he had abducted her daughter Proserpine as she was gathering flowers. The constellation is shaped liked the island and reminds Ceres the Hades loves Proserpine. Ursa Major The Greater Bear In the land of Arcadia, Zeus fell in love with the beautiful nymph Callisto.

Hera, upon hearing that Callisto had given Zeus a son named Arcas, turned Callisto into a bear. One day Callisto saw her son in the woods and attempted to approach but could only growl. Seeing the bear, Arcas drew his spear and prepared to attack. To protect Callisto, Zeus changed Arcas into a bear also and then placed them both in the northern sky swinging them up by their tails. This is why the tails are so long. Ursa Minor The Lesser Bear Arcas was about to kill his own mother, Callisto, who was transformed into a bear by Hera. Tragedy was avoided when he was also transformed into a bear, by Zeus, who then placed mother and son in the sky. Virgo The Young Maiden The maiden is Demeter (aka Ceres), goddess of crops, vegetation, fertility, and harvest. Her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped by Hades as she gathered flowers. Demeter retaliated by stopping the growth of all green plants. Zeus appointed the goddess Hecate to arbitrate a solution. Hecate ruled that if Core had not eaten any food while in the realm of the dead, she must be returned to her mother.

Unfortunately Persephone had eaten some pomegranate seeds. Demeter persisted with the suspension of plant growth until Zeus interfered again. He ordered that Persphone stay with Hades for only three months per year and the rest of the year she could spend with her mother. During the three months with Hades, the growth of plants is suspended which is winter. The appearance of the constellation in the spring signals the return of Persephone to Demeter and the new growth of crops.

Question: After which goddess is the the capital of Greece named?
Answer: Athena