The Greek mountain that the gods lived on; the top, of which, is always covered with snow. ΓÇóTARTARUS
The deepest part of Underworld where the prisoners, those that were wicked during their life, were kept.ΓÇóMAENADS
Women who celebrated Dionysus' rites. When they were excited by wine and god's presence, they ran through the hills drawing wild animals with their hands. They wore pantherskin and they grasped a thyrsus, a stick wound with vines and ivy.ΓÇóPYTHIA
Apollo temple priestess in Delphi. She was called this in memory of the Python snake, who protected the Gaea oracle. Apollo beat the snake and to honour Gaea, he decided that the temple priestess be a woman who was called "Pythia". Pythia pronounced the responses, as she was inspired by God.ΓÇóAMBROSIA
The food of gods and divine horses. Doves took it into the Hesperides garden. It was used to prepare a very perfumed unguent, which gave immortality to men, and preserved dead bodies.ΓÇóNECTAR
Gods drink which gave immortality. Hebe, youth goddess, served it to gods.ΓÇóTUNIC
A linen or wool garment. It was short for men and long for women. It had the shape of a sack and had a belt.ΓÇóCHLAMYS
This is a short mantle that men wore on the tunic and was laced on the right shoulder.ΓÇóPEPLUM
The women's garment that was worn on the tunic. It was made from one rectangular length of material and was draped under the right arm and laced on the left shoulder.ΓÇóSIRENS
The old companions of Persephone. They were changed into monsters, because they didn't defend her when Hades abducted her. They were half woman and half bird, like the Harpies. They lived on an island near Sicily. Their song was very sweet and bewitched sailors causing them to be shipwrecked.ΓÇóHARPIES
These are half women, and half bird monsters. They were held responsible for the disappearance of everything that couldn't be found.ΓÇóMEDUSA
One of the three Gorgons. She was killed by Perseus and she was decapitated. Her head was given to Athena to put the middle of her shield. Pegasus was born from Medusa's blood.ΓÇóGORGONS
They are Steno, Euriale and Medusa. According to some traditions they were beautiful, while other traditions describe them as winged monsters with fangs, forked tongues, bronze claws and snake hair. Their glance changed men in stone. They lived on the shores of the Ocean in the Far East.ΓÇóPEGASUS
The winged and immortal horse. It was born from Medusa's blood and was tamed by the hero Bellerophonte.ΓÇóLAUREL
Apollo considered it a sacred plant. It adorns the god lyre, the quiver, and the poets' head. Daphne changed herself into a laurel to escape from Apollo's love.ΓÇóLYRE
An old stringed instrument. Hermes made the first lyre with a tortoise shell by adding seven strings. The strings, however, were stolen from Apollo's bow and arrows. When he was found out, he played the lyre so well that god forgave him. Hermes gave back the bow and the arrows and he gave, as a present, the lyre to Apollo.ΓÇóARACNE
A young woman who was very skilled into the weaving. She challenged Athena to compete against her. Their tapestries were both excellent, but Athena tore Aracne's tapestry and then she changed Aracne into a spider.ΓÇóLEDA
She was the king of Sparta, Tyndareus' wife. She was loved by Zeus and because of this reason he changed himself into a swan. She was the mother of the Dioskouroi: Castor and Pollux, of Helen and Klytemnestra.ΓÇóIO
A priestess of Hera. Zeus fell in love with her, but Hera changed her into a white heifer (= young cow). Io was tormented by a horse-fly sent by Hera and travelled all over the earth without stopping. She was controlled by Argus, the shepherd with one hundred eyes who never slept. During the wanderings of the heifer, she arrived at a sea, named after her, the Ionian Sea, and finally in Egypt. When she arrived in Egypt, Zeus caught her up and transformed her back into a woman.ΓÇóEUROPA
She was the daughter of Agenor, the Phoenician king. She was loved by Zeus, who changed himself into a tame white bull. Europa jumped on the bull's back and it took her to Crete. Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon were born from their union. Zeus gave her three presents: a lance that never missed the mark; a dog that never prey escape and a bronze man who defended the Crete Island from its enemies.ΓÇóDANAE
She was the daughter of Acrisius, the Argus king. He put her in a bronze tower, because according to a prophecy Danae's son would have killed his grandfather. Zeus fell in love with her, and for this reason he changed himself into golden rain. Perseus was born from their union. Acrisius then put his daughter and his grandson in a sealed boat and left them in the middle of the sea. The boat arrived in a island where a fisherman saved them. The island king wanted to marry Danae and he sent Perseus away. Perseus had to take Medusa's head. While he was away his mother was locked up in a temple without food so that she gave up. When Perseus came back, he changed the king and his court into stone statues.ΓÇóALCMENA
She was Amphitryon's wife. Zeus fell in love with her and he changed himself into Amphitryon. Heracles was born from their union. He had to become a brave hero so that he could help gods to fight against the Giants.ΓÇóHERACLES
He was Zeus' and Alcmena's son. From the cradle he gave proof of his strength. In fact, he strangled two snakes that had been sent by Hera. When he served Eurystheus, he did the famous twelve labours. He dressed like a woman when he served Queen Onfale and he spun with her maids for three years. After other exploits he married Deianira. She made him wear poisoned clothing by mistake. When he was at the point of death, Heracles threw himself on the fire, but Zeus made him immortal. Heracles is described as a very muscular man who wears the skin of the first lion he killed and carries a club.ΓÇóCLUB
A knotted stick used by Heracles.ΓÇóTITANS
These are gigantic creatures. They were born from the union of Uranus (the Heaven) with Gaea (the Earth). They ruled the world before the gods. The most important ones are: Cronus, Rhea, Oceanus, Tethys, Mnemosyne. Also Elio, Prometheus and Atlas are considered as Titans. When Zeus deprived his father Cronus of his power, there was a battle. The Titans lost and they fell into the Hades behind bronze doors. These doors were guarded by the Giants. Although some Titans didn't take part in the war.ΓÇóCASTOR and POLLUX
They are called Dioskouroi, which means "Zeus' sons" of which only Pollux was immortal. They watched after sailors and appeared to them as fires. Together they took part in many adventures. Castor was mortally wounded during a battle and Zeus suggested to Pollux that he shared his immortality with his twin. Thus each one took turns spending one day each in Olympus and one day in the Underworld.ΓÇóCENTAURS
They were half men and half horse. They were rough and savage, except Chiron, who was wise and kind and educated many gods.ΓÇóCYCLOPS
They were giants with only an eye in the middle of their forehead. They were born from Uranus and Gaea. They were imprisoned in the Underworld, but Zeus freed them. The Cyclops became workmen and forged his thunderbolts, the trident of Poseidon and the helmet of the invisibility of Hades. A group of Cyclops built the walls of Mycenae.ΓÇóSILENUS
He was the son of Pan and a Nymph. He was depicted as a hairy, bald, fat old man with a horse's tail and ears. Riding a donkey. He was famous for his wisdom and he took the Maenads and Dionysus to their parties.ΓÇóPHOEBUS (APOLLO)
The son of Zeus and Leto. He was the god of music, poetry, art, farming and health. His arrows could cause or cure diseases. He was depicted driving a chariot pulled by horses. This chariot was symbolized by the sun, that crossed the sky and it was preceded by Eos, goddess of the dawn. Apollo always kept his lyre near him. The swan, the wolf, the olive, the palm and the laurel were dedicated to him.ΓÇóARES (MARS)
He was the god of war, son of Zeus and Hera. He took part in every battle together with his sister Eris, goddess of contention, and his sons Deimos and Fobos, gods of Panic and Terr
