This
syllabus is intended to help guide you in your preparation for the exam. It is
not the be all, end all; there can be information on the exam which is not
explicitly detailed on this syllabus. The material found here is a starting
point for study and should help you understand the scope of the exam and gauge
the difficulty of the material which could be on the exam.
I. Aphrodite A. Life 1. birth a. born of the sea-foam after the castration of Uranus b. born to Zeus and Dione 2. spouse- Hephaestus 3. progeny a. famous i. Aeneas (with Anchises) ii. Eros/ Cupid (with Ares) b. lesser known (e.g. Hermaphroditus) B. Episodes 1. Trojan War a. Judgment of Paris b. Aeneas 2.. Adonis 3. Tasks for Psyche 4. Revenge a. Hippolytus did not worship her, so she made his life stink b. Women of Lemnos did not worship her, so she made them stink 5. Help a. Hippomenes b. Pygmalion C. Identity 1. other names and epithets- Venus and Cytheria 2. symbols- dove, rose, myrtle tree 3. domain- love, beauty, and lust
II. Apollo A. Life 1. birth- Zeus and Leto, on the island of Delos 2. major romances/ rejections a. Daphne b. Marpessa c. Hyacinthus d. Cassandra 3. progeny a. famous i.Asclepius (with Coronis) ii. Orpheus (with the muse Calliope) b. lesser known (e.g. Ion) B. Episodes 1. Killing the Python 2. Serving Admetus 3. Walls of Troy 4. Music Contests a. Marsyas b. Pan C. Identity 1. other names and epithets- Phoebus and Lycian (“Wolf-God”) 2. symbol- lyre 3. domain- music, healing, youth, prophecy, archery
III. Ares A. Life 1. birth- Zeus and Hera 2. romances 3. progeny a. famous i. Eros, Deimos, and Phobus (with Aprhodite) ii. Romulus and Remus (with Rhea Silvia) b. lesser known (e.g. lots of mean Thracians) B. Episodes 1. Trojan War 2. Affair with Aphrodite 3. Murder Trial C. Identity 1. other names and epithets- Mars and Aphneius (“Bountiful”) 2. domain- war
IV. Artemis A. Life 1. birth- Zeus and Leto, on either Delos or Ortygia 2. romances- virgin goddess 3. progeny- none B. Episodes 1. Orion 2. Punishments a. Actaeon b. Agamemnon at Aulis c. Callisto d. Otis 3. Animals a. Calydonian Boar b. Cerynitian Hind c. Laelaps C. Identity 1. other names and epithets- Diana, Cynthia, Phoebe 2. symbols- silver bow, animals, moon 3. domain- hunting, childbirth, wildlife
V. Athena A. Life 1. birth a. Metis and Zeus b. sprang fully formed from Zeus’ head 2. romances- virgin goddess 3. progeny- none B. Episodes 1. Dispute over the city of Athens 2. Help a. Perseus b. Odysseus c. Bellerophon d. Heracles e. Jason 3. Punishment a. Arachne b. Medusa c. Ajax the Lesser 4. Trojan War a. Judgment of Paris b. Helping the Greeks C. Identity 1. other names and epithets- Minerva, Pallas, Promachus (“Champion”) 2. symbols- aegis, owl, olive tree 3. domain- war, arts, crafts, wisdom
VI. Dionysus A. Life 1. birth- a. Semele and Zeus’ thigh b. reared by Ino 2. spouse- Ariadne 3. progeny a. children with Ariadne b. Deianeira (with Althaea) B. Episodes 1. Pirates 2. Midas 3. Revenge- a. Pentheus b. Daughters of Minyas 4. Travels to India 5. Icarius and Erigone C. Identity 1. other names and epithets- Bacchus, Liber, “Twice-born” 2. symbols- thyrsus, vines, wine, crazed women (called Bacchae and Maenads) 3. domain- wine and vegetation
VII. Hephaestus A. Life 1. birth a. Zeus and Hera or just Hera b. his plummet to earth and injury 2. spouse a. Aphrodite b. Aglaea c. Charis 3. progeny- lesser known folks (many engineers) B. Episodes 1. Creations a. palaces b. throne c. jewelry d. armor for heroes 2. Trojan War C. Identity 1. other names and epithets- Vulcan and Mulciber 2. symbols- fire and volcanoes 3. domain- metal-working
VIII. Hermes A. Life 1. birth- Zeus and Maia 2. romances a. Aphrodite b. Herse 3. progeny a. famous i. Myrtilius ii. Pan b. lesser known (e.g. lots of heralds and clever people) B. Episodes 1. Killing Argus 2. Visiting Baucis and Philemon with Zeus 3. Help a. Perseus b. Priam c. Odysseus d. Deucalion e. Nephele 4. Messages from Zeus- a. Aeneas in Carthage b. Odysseus on Ogygia C. Identity 1. other names and epithets- Mercury, Argeophontes, Psychopompos 2. symbols- caduceus, winged sandals, wide-brimmed hat 3. domain- messenger of gods, travelers, liars, thieves, orators
IX. Episodes with multiple or all- A. Gigantomachy B. Orestia- 1. Apollo and Artemis punishing Niobe 2. Apollo and Athena in Orestes’ murder trial C. Aphrodite and Ares’ affair and its discovery by Hephaestus D. Apollo and Hermes 1. Hermes steals Apollo’s cattle 2. Hermes and Apollo exchange gifts- the lyre and caduceus E. Hephaestus’ amorous attentions towards Athena F. Dionysus’ help in getting Hephaestus on Mt. Olympus G. Pandora’s creation and adornment by the gods |