A Modern Connection with Greek or Roman Myth
A Modern Connection with Greek or Roman Myth
Many English words are connected with ancient Greek mythology in some way.
Instructions:
1. Choose ten (10) words from the list below.
2. Find the mythological word that seems similar(from the list of mythological words and explanations)
3. Look up the definition of each of the ten words in a dictionary.
4. Write the definition of the word that shows the connection to mythology.
5. Beside it, write the word and explanation from ancient Greek mythology.
ExampIe: Word and Meaning: titantic = very large, gigantic
Mythological Connection = the Titans - giant gods
Words:
| 1. atlas | 2. atrophy | 3. cereal | 4. cerebral | 5. chaos | 6. chronology |
| 7. echo | 8. furious | 9. halcyon | 10. harp | 11. helium | 12. herculean |
| 13. hydrant | 14. hypnotic | 15. labyrinth | 16. lethal | 17. lethargic | 18. mercurial |
| 19. morphine | 20. panic | 21. phobia | 22. psychology | 23. python | 24. siren |
| 25. somnolent | 26. stentorian | 27. tantalize | 28. typhoon | 29. volcano | 30. vulcanize |
Mythological Connections:
Alcyone - daughter of Aeolus who married King Ceyx and then threw herself into the sea when she learned he had drowned. They were both transformed into kingfishers (alkyon)which, according to legend, build their nests and hatch their eggs on the Aegean Sea during a short period of calm waters
Atlas - The Titan who was made to hold up the heavens.
Atropos - one of the Three Fates (Moirai): the cutter of the thread of life; inflexible
Cerberus - the three-headed dog which guarded the entrance to Hades
Ceres (Demeter) - goddess of grain and growing
Chaos - the beginning of creation
Cronos - Titan; ruler of the universe; represented time
Echo - a nymph punished by Hera for talking too much; punishment was that she could speak only the last word someone else spoke
Heracles - a very strong Greek hero; became a god after he had performed 12 tasks
Hydra - many headed serpent slain by Heracles; water snake of Greek mythology
Hypnos - one of the gods of sleep and of dreams
Labyrinth - a building made by Daedulus to imprison the minotaur
Lethe - river of forgetfulness; one of the rivers one crossed to reach Hades
Mercury (Hermes) - messenger of the gods, noted for his speed
Morpheus - a god of sleep
Pan - a shepherd with a man's head and torso, goat's legs and horns. Liked to frighten humans.
Phobos - son of Ares; god of fear
Python - a monstrous serpent killed by Apollo
Somnos - a god of sleep
Stentor - a herald of the gods noted for his loud voice
Tantalus - son of Zeus and Pluto who was punished by the gods for his pride; in Hades he was placed neck deep in water which receded every time he went to drink. When he tried to reach the fruit which grew on the branches above him, the fruit moved out of reach.
The Furies - formed from Uranus blood; were spirits of revenge
The Sirens - nymphs who captured sailors by singing and luring them into the rocks
Typhon - a monster with 100 snake heads of fire; lost a fierce battle with Zeus
Vulcan (Hephaestus) - god of fire; blacksmith for the gods