Achilles' Heel

Meaning: A person's weak spot.

Greek Myth: A hero of the Trojan War, Achilles was a Greek hero whose mother Thetis was a
Nereid, or sea goddess. Since Achilles was destined to die young, Thetis dipped him into the
river Styx, which would render him invincible. However, she had held him by the heel, thus
leaving a vulnerable area. He would later die, as prophesized, by an arrow to his heel.
Adonis
Meaning: A handsome young man.
Greek Myth:A product of incest, Adonis was a beautiful youth whom the goddess of love,
Aphrodite, eventually fell in love with. Adonis was tragically killed by Aphrodites other lover
Ares , diguised as a boar.
Also used to indicate a beautiful male: Apollo (god of music and prophesy)

Amazon
Meaning: A strong, husky woman
Greek Myth: From a race, as the Greeks described them, of warrior women. The word Amazon
itself is Greek for "breastless", and it was widely believed Amazons severed a breast in order to
shoot an arrow with greater ease.Yowch!

Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts...

Meaning: Be weary of anyone offering something; they may have an ulterior motive.
Greek Myth: Though it may have been Virgil in his masterpiece the Aeneid who immortalized
this phrase ( Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes..." I fear Greeks even bearing gifts"), it can
initially be attributed to the Trojan Horse and the "gift" the goddess Athene gave Priam's
barricaded city. The horse contained armed men who sacked Troy during the night.
Caught Between Scylla & Charybdis
Meaning: A difficult choice where either decision could end in disaster. More familiar as "Caught
between a rock and a hard place" "between the devil and the deep blue sea".
Greek Myth: The hero Odysseus spent nine years returning home after the Trojan War. Along his
voyage by sea, he came upon Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla was an enormous sea monster with

numerous hands and six dog heads sprouting from her body; she ate men alive. Charybdis was a
tremendous whirlpool that digested ships whole. Since the only way to get home was to choose
either route, Odysseus had to decide on one horror or the other. He chose Scylla, losing six
crewmen to Scylla's hunger.

Chaos/Chaotic
Meaning: Disorderly, extreme confusion
Greek Myth: According to the Latin poet Ovid, who relayed the the myths of Greece and Rome
in his Metamorphoses, the gap which all the universe sprung from. Chaos represented the
disorder before the gods; eventually, Chaos begot the beginning of it.

Dog as Man's Best Friend or Faithful Companian

Meaning: Self-explanatory
Greek Myth: Many ancient cultures treated the dog as a scavanger. One classic example is the
belief that any dissodent's body, such as Jezebel, should be "thrown to the dogs" after death. But
one story overrides such belief of the dog: when Odysseus returned home in disguise, his faithful
dog, who had patiently awaited his return though near death, managed to stay alive to see his
master--and was practically the only one who recognized him. On its deathbed, it managed to
look up at its master and wag its tail in appreciation. Now that's loyalty.

Elysium Fields
Meaning: Paradise
Greek Myth: The Greeks did not believe in a heaven and hell per se; instead, their dead went to
the realm of the god Hades. Elysium, also known as "Isle of the Blessed", was where the
exceptional humans were sent; most mere mortals became mere "shades" upon their deaths. A
few worthless beings ended their being in Tartarus, the closest equivalent to hell in Greek
mythology.

The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships

Meaning: Any one person causing disaster, especially war.

Greek Myth: This is a direct reference to Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world.
The abduction of her by the Trojan prince Paris caused Menelaus, her husband, to declare war on
Troy. Because of prior alliances, eventually all of the Argives (Greeks) were involved; thus,
Helen's beauty had "launched a thousand ships" into war.

Fate
Meaning: Evitable, predestined turn of events.
Greek Myth: The Fates were three sisters: Lachesis (lot), Clotho (the spinner), and Atropos (not
to be turned). Based on the Greek notion of the "thread of life", the Fates are representated as
spinners. Lachesis allots each man a length of the thread of life, Clotho spins it, and Atropos
severs it. No one not even Zeus, ruler of the gods could alter their decisions.
Food of the Gods
Meaning: Lucious, unbelievably delicious delicacies.
Greek Myth: Nector and ambrosia were what the gods normally ate (they could, of course, eat
almost anything, including humans). If a mortal were to eat the ambrosia (nector was the drink)
he or she would be rendered immortal.
Fury
Meaning: Intense, uncontrollable anger.
Greek Myth: The Furies were the "avengers", so to speak, of crimes. They would pursue anyone
with bloodstained hands; they are particularly cruel to Orestes after the murder of Clytemnestra,
his mother. Some scholars believe the Furies represent one's own tormented conscious.
Giant/Titan
Meaning: Large, massive beings
Greek Myth: Giants were an enormous race whose existence began when Uranus, the first king
of gods, was castrated by his son Cronus. Cronus was a Titan and the father of the gods; the
Titans were therefore the "original" gods and actually aunts and uncles of them. Both Giants and
Titans went to war with the gods, with the gods crushing both.
Gordian Knots
Meaning: An extremely perplexing puzzle or problem.

Greek Myth: Legend mixes with mythology with this term. King Gordius of Phrygia tied the
knot and it was destined that whomever could untie it revealed himself as the future lord of Asia.
After many frustrating attempts to untie it, Alexander the Great finally sliced the knot with his
sword, proving it would take brute force to eventually capture Asia. Thus, to cut the Gordian
knot means to solve a puzzle in a powerful, decisive manner.
Gorgon/Medusa
Meaning: A severely ugly woman.
Greek Myth: The Gorgons were three sisters who were so repulsive looking that their very gaze
would turn a man to stone. Although they had apparently always been that way, there is a myth
that one sister, Medusa, actually had been beautiful once; she was caught making love to the god
Poseidon in the temple of Athena. Athena caught the lovers and immediately changed Medusa
into a horrid Gorgon.
To Harp
Meaning: Incessantly bother.
Greek Myth: Jason, in quest for the golden fleece, encounters King Phineus, who is continually
tormented by Harpies. The Harpies are winged creatures whose origins might actually represent
wind spirits. To King Phineus, the Harpies are grotesque women who constantly snatch his food
and drink and will not let him be.

Herculean Effort
Meaning: A mighty try
Greek Myth: Heracles, not Hercules (the Roman/Latin name), as you may know from the campy
TV series, was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. What the "action pack" show may not tell
you is that Heracles was obligated to fulfill twelve tasks, called the Labors of Heracles. Any
effort we nowadays may deem as tremendous can be attributed as "Herculean", or great, and is
associated with the Labors.
Hermaphrodite
Meaning: Possessing both male and female genitalia.
Greek Myth: Hermaphroditus was the son of Hermes and Aphrodite. The nymph Salmacis fell in
love with him, but he rejected her. She entertwined her arms around him and held tight; the gods
molded the two bodies together, never to part. Two sexes became one.

Hot as Hades
Meaning: Sweltering heat
Greek Myth: As previously mentioned, Hades was the ruler of the underworld, and the Greeks
did not have a concept of heaven or hell. However, it might be deduced that perhaps the real
origin of this saying may be more appropriately changed to "hot as Tartarus", since that was the
place in Hades's realm where punishment was dealt and would have been surely "hot".

Hounds of Hell
Meaning: Allegory for evil, or the pursuit by evil
Greek Myth: Again, in reference to Hades's kingdom, Cerberus was a dog who guarded the
entrance to the netherworld. There weren't really any "hounds", but Cerberus is often depicted
with threesometimes fiftyheads.

A Judgement of Paris

Meaning: Any difficult decision.

Greek Myth: Paris, a Trojan prince, was given the impossible task of deciding which goddess-Athena, Aphrodite, or Herawas the most beautiful. All three tried bribes, but Aphrodite'sthe
love of the most beautiful mortal woman in the worldwas the most enticing. Of course, Paris
(and Troy) gained the other goddesses' animosity, and the judgement of Paris proved fatal to his
city.

Leave No Stone Unturned

Meaning: Search every minute detail
Greek Myth: Eurystheus, the king responsible for Heracles's twelve labors, eventually goes after
Heracles's sons following his death. He wants "no stone left unturned" in finding and killing
them. Euripedes, better known for his masterpiece The Bacchae, wrote a play with this catchphrase included in it.

A Labyrinth
Meaning: An elaborate maze
Greek Myth: Queen Pasiphae gave birth to a horrible half-man, half-bull creature called the
Minotaur. To conceal this monster, King Minos had the master craftsman Daedalus build the
labyrinth. Because seven youths and seven maidens from Athens were sacraficed to this beast
every year, the labyrinth was a series of perplexing hallways and corridors that no one could
escape. Eventually Theseus (with the aid of Ariadne, whom he eventually dumped) did kill the
Minotaur and escaped the labyrinth.

Lesbian
Meaning: A homosexual female
Greek Myth: Again, this more based on legend than mythology. Inhabitants of the Greek island
of Lesbos were Lesbians, and there was no sexual connotations attributed to them. Perhaps
today's meaning refers to one of the famous Lesbians, Sappho, a poet whose works involve the
deep, meaingful relationships between females.

Midas Touch
Meaning: A person who always is lucky is said to have the Midas touch.
Greek Myth: Perhaps one of mythology's most famous tales is that of King Midas, who was
granted the wish that everything he touched turned to gold. However, he soon realized that he
could not eat, or drink, or even hug his daughter. Wisely, he rescinded his wish, and by
immercing himself in the river Pactolus, lost the "golden touch".

Modern-day Medea
Meaning: A vengeful, often cruel, woman
Greek Myth: Medea is a fascinating figure in mythology. Some see her as a tragic heroine dissed
by a typical chauvenist pig male, others view her as an evil sorceress with a vengeful heart.
Euripedes makes either case in his brilliant play Medea: After helping Argonauts acquire the
Golden Fleece, she leaves her family (by killing her brother and scattering his limbs in the sea
for her father) and marries Jason. Jason soon dumps her for a younger princess, claiming it is for
the future of their two young sons. Medea, naturally, is furious. She murders her children and
leaves a devastated Jason via a serpent-drawn chariot.

Nemesis
Meaning: An adversary, enemy, obstacle
Greek Myth: The personification of retribution, Nemesis was a goddess sent to cause irritation
and justification to those who deserved it.

Odyssey
Meaning: A adventure, journey
Greek Myth: From the classical epic by Homer, the Odyssey. The hero Odysseus is returning
from the Trojan War; it takes him nine long years. Along the way, he has a multitude of
adventuresfrom the Lotus-Eaters to Cyclops.

Oedipus (Electra) Complex

Meaning: A son's (daughter's) attachment to his mother (her father).
Greek Myth: Freud made this term almost a household phrase, but he was borrowing it from the
tragic poet Sophocles and Sophocles's immortal play Oedipus Tyrannos. More commonly known
as Oedipus Rex(again, the Latin), Oedipus (which means "swollen foot") was left to die as a
baby after a horrific prophesy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Well, you'll
have to read the play for the particulars but suffice is to say it came true, hence Freud's
interpretation. Electra, the "female Oedipus", was the daughter of Agamemnon. When her
mother Clytemnestra murdered him, Electra swore vengence in Agamemnon's honor and her
relentless obsession was ultimately the cause of Clytemnestra's death. Both Sophocles and
Euripedes wrote plays that bear her name.

Pandora's Box
Meaning: To open a Pandora's box means to introduce yourself to trouble.
Greek Myth: Zeus was disgusted with man and decided to inflict him with the worst trouble
imaginable: the creation of woman. Hephaestus molded the woman from clay, and the goddesses
bestowed gifts of charm and beauty to her. Zeus then gave her to Epimetheus (whose name

means "afterthought") to marry, with a beautiful box (or jar) of evils as her dowry. Although told
not to open it, she inevitably did, with only Hope flying out as salvage.

Phobias
Meaning: Fear
Greek Myth: Phobos is the Greek word for fear, but originally Phobos was a son of Ares who
was, indeed, the representation of fear, essentially in battles. He and his brother Deimos (panic)
eventually became names of moons of Mars (the Roman version of Ares).

Trojan Horse
Meaning: Subversion or destruction from a seemingly serene person, people, or object,
especially from the inside
Greek Myth: The Trojan Horse was related by the Latin genius Virgil in the Aeneid. The Trojans
were barricaded within their city walls while the Achaeans (Greeks) lay in wait outside. An
enormous wooden horse is brought within the city; a gift from the gods, the Trojans believe,
despite warnings from the princess Cassandra and the priest Laocoon. During the night, hidden
soldiers from the horse's belly emerged and sacked the city. See also Greeks bearing gifts.
Ajax

Ajax was a Greek warrior famous for

his participation in the Trojan War. But
long after Troy was torn down into
pieces, Ajax is still pretty famous, only
as a popular kitchen and bathroom
cleanser.

Amazon

Amazon warriors are objects of fear during in Greek Mythology. They are known to be a race of
fierce lady warriors. In one other part of the world, its known to be a great river teeming with
life. Today, Amazon is known to be an online shopping center and bookseller.

Eos

Eos is the Greek goddess of the dawn. For the Romans, she was Aurora. Today, we know Eos as
a line of cameras developed by Canon.

Hermes

Hermes is the messenger of the Greek gods. Today, its known to the world as the maker of
expensive scarves and handbags. (Although Hermes was named after Thierry Hermes)

Janus

Janus, the two-faced god is the Roman god of vigilance and wisdom. Now, it is a name for a
high-profile investment company, just as Janus is vigilant and wise, the company keeps watch of
investments people make.

Mars

Mars is the Roman god of war. He is Ares

to the Greeks. Now, Mars is a well-known
candy bar company responsible for wars of
sweet taste in our mouths. (Although it was
named after its founder, Franklin Mars)

Olympus

Olympus is a great Greek mountain

said to be the residence of the gods.
Thus, the term Olympian was revered
as something exalted or majestic.
Today, Olympus is known to be a
camera maker, hoping to help you get
majestic shots.

Oracle
The Oracle was a mortal seer or psychic who often serves as bridge between gods and men.
Today, Oracle is known to be a manufacturer of database software. Oddly enough, Greek
Mythology is often ran into when finding great names for software companies. To wit, there is a
language named Delphi.

Trojan

When you live in the great city of Troy, you will be

called a Trojan. Troy was destroyed by the Greeks in
the great Trojan war as they fell through the Greek trap
by letting a gigantic wooden horse into the city
thinking it was a gift. Today, Trojan is a popular
condom brand. Oddly enough, using Trojan will
prevent you from letting inside unwanted horses using
its seemingly indestructible walls.

Teaching Virtue Through Greek Myths

One of the hidden benefits of studying Greek myths is to explore virtues. With these classic
stories, the lines between righteous and immoral behavior are clear cut, so that even young
children can recognize examples of the 4 cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude and
temperance.
how to study greek mythology in your homeschool with books from Candlewick Press
Using Greek Myths to Find Heroes and Villans
In Greek mythology, the lines between good and evil are very clear cut. Monsters are monsters,
while heroes are heroes. When you take a look at Heracles (Hercules is his Roman name), theres
no doubt in childrens mind that hes a good guy, performing noble deeds.
Medusa, on the other hand, is definitely a monster, poised to wreck havoc on anyone who crosses
her path.
study greek mythology in your homeschool
Understanding Human Nature Through Greek Myths

Ever deal with character issues in your home? Dealing with jealousy, back talking or other
trouble with your children?
The best way Ive found to tackle these tough topics? Reading stories about them, especially
ones found in the Greek myths.
Children can recognize an element of negativity in a story much better than they can emulate it
to you. Its a great way to role play and discuss reasons behind bad behavior.
An example? Rachel struggles with jealousy and fighting with her younger sister. One of our
resources for helping her talk this through? The story of Arachne and Athena.
study greek myths homeschool
Understanding Allusions in Literature with Greek Myths
Do you expect your children to study Shakespeare or other English literature as they grow older?
They will need at least a basic understanding of Greek mythology to assist them in studying
these great works.
Allusions to Greek myths (and their Roman counterparts) are everywhere, both in modern
literature and the classics. Think about these examples:
Mary Shelley incorporated the myth of Prometheus into her book Frankenstein. (also known as
The Modern Day Prometheus) C.S. Lewis Till We Have Faces is a retelling of the story of Cupid
and Psyche.
Are you a fan of Harry Potter? My kids giggle when they run upon nods to Greek mythology in
these tales, like Fluffy the Three Headed Dog (could this be Cerebus, guard dog for the
underworld?) and the centaurs in the forest.
Even Hermione owes her name to Greek mythology. Her namesake is the daughter of King
Menelaus of Sparta and Helen of Troy.
study the Iliad in your homeschool
Connecting the Dots in the World Around Us with Greek Mythology
If the understanding the allusions in literature and art doesnt sell you on exploring Greek
mythology in your family, think about other areas where a knowledge of these stories might
come in handy.
Embarking on a study of astronomy? Many constellations and celestial bodies have their basis in
Greek myths, while the US space program is namd for Apollo. In chemistry, the element niobium
is named after Niobe, daughter of King Tantalus.

Examining the ocean? Famous researcher Jacques Cousteau named his vessel Calypso, a nymph,
thought to be the daughter of the Titan Atlas. Visiting Yellowstone National Park? Iris Falls is
named for Iris, the mythological Greek goddess of the rainbow.
Without a knowledge of Greek myths, terms like Pandoras box, Achilles heel, Herculean feat,
the Midas touch, and nemesis dont make much sense.