Adam Frederick

Mythology
By:  EDITH HAMILTON
(Report on book - To help understand the formularized writings of EDITH HAMILTON)

The Earth and Man coming into existence

- There was only chaos, then, Night and Erebus came. Then came the child, Love, who was followed by the creation of Earth. From mother Earth and Father Heaven sprang the Gaea and the Ouranos. They were monsters, three with a hundred hands and fifty heads, and the other were Cyclops. The Titans were then created. Father Heaven imprisoned the Hundred-handed, fifty-headed monsters in the Earth. Cronus, one of the Titans, wounded his father, and from his blood came The Giants and The Furies. So Cronus ruled.

Zeus (Jupiter): He indulged himself in life. He was a protector of oaths. Zeus’s mother was Rhea, his father was Cronus (Saturn), who was told that one day, one of his children would take rule from him. He devoured all his children to prevent this fate. When Zeus came though, Zeus’ mother hid him away. Zeus forced Cronus to disgorge the five earlier children. Zeus, with his brothers and sisters, fought against Cronus and won, after releasing the hundred-handed monsters, and gaining Prometheus as an ally. Hera was Zeus’s wife, whom he cheated on with mortal maidens many times.

Prometheus and Epimetheus: Epimetheus, the less wise of the two, was given, with his bother, the task of human creation. Acting on his first impulse, he gave animals the physical means to survive, while leaving the humans with very little. His brother, Prometheus, seeing this, in order to give an advantage to the humans, gave them a ‘nobler shape’ and fire. Prometheus was later tortured for keeping a secret from Zeus. Later he was saved, when Chiron suffered for him and Hercules saved him.

It was also said that the gods made the humans in certain races corresponding to the metals. The first was the gold race, the best of the metals, and the further down the line, the lesser the quality the metal and the race that went with the metal. The 5th race came, the men of iron, and Zeus planned to destroy them, once they became totally corrupted. Another story is that humans arose from the stone of earth. In these myths, they all agree that women came about later then men.

Pandora's Box: Pandora was the first woman, a punishment for men by Zeus and the other gods, and a revenge for being suckered into receiving only the fat and bones in animal sacrifices. Two stories came about. One is that Pandora was given a wicked nature and would herself be a plague to men. Another is Pandora was given a box, and having such a curiosity, even though the gods forbade it, she opened it, and upon doing this she released plagues, sorrow, and mischief on mankind. The only good from the box was hope.

Olympus: A place atop the largest mountain where the gods would meet and feast on ambrosia.

Hera (Juno): Hera, wife of Zeus, was rash in many ways. She was cruel to any maiden who was involved with her husband, be it by free will or not. She tried getting her way over her husband’s when it came to disagreements such as taking sides in the Trojan war. She took wrath upon mortals, like in the judgment of Paris. She was the Protector of Marriage. Her daughter was the one women would look to for help at the time of child birth.

Poseidon (Neptune): To sea men, he was all important, being the ruler of the sea. His part, in many stories, varied from small to large. In the myth of Iphigenia among the Taurians, he played a small part in the getaway. In the Trojan war, he played a slightly larger part. His part was even bigger in the adventures of Odysseus.

Hades (Pluto): He was the Ruler of the Dead and third brother among Olympians. Hades himself did not do much other than sit back and watch. He mostly took part in myths by being sought after to retrieve people that had died. For the most part though, he enjoyed the ones that came down and interacted with him, to thwart him, or to plead to him. In one case though, he took to the surface and came back with Persephone, who was to become his wife. There was an attempt to get Persephone back, which failed miserably.

Pallas Athena (Minerva): The Goddess of the City, protector of civilized life, and of handicrafts and agriculture, came from Zeus’s head, full grown with armor. She played a part in the Trojan war and the death of Hector. Being the Goddess of War to some, she was most likely to appear in the myths of war. She was chief of the three virgin goddesses.

Phoebus Apollo: The God of Light and of Truth, was the son of Zeus and Leto. He was the advice giver, and whenever someone needed an answer, they would go to Delphi, to the Parnassus, and ask Apollo’s oracle for it. Apollo’s oracle played a part in many stories, being the one that people went to for answers. Fate was an unbroken melody back then, and the ones that were to know it, could not change it. In the adventures of Odysseus, Apollo killed all of Odysseus’s companions for eating his oxen.

Artemis (Diana): The ‘Huntsman-in-chief‘, was a lover of the woods. She was the youth protector, but oddly enough, in one story, Actaeon, a prince, happened to wander into the goddess when she was bathing, and by all means, he did not mean to insult her, but as soon as she saw him, she turned him into a deer. He ran and his dogs caught him and tore him to pieces. She played a part in the Trojan war by keeping the Greek fleet from traveling to Troy till the sacrifice of Iphigenia was made.

Aphrodite (Venus): She was the Goddess of Love and Beauty. Men and gods both acted strange in her presence. She was thought to have been made of sea foam. Another way of her coming into creation was being born to Zeus and Dione. Her husband was Hephaestus. She was the cause of the Trojan war. She played a part in many stories by having her son, Cupid, come down and make someone fall in love, and because of love, some people in stories did unwise things.

Hermes (Mercury): Son to Zeus and Maia, he was the messenger of Zeus. He had winged sandals, so he flew. He created the lyre, which was a recompense for stealing the herds of Apollo’s when he was a day old. He was the protector of traders. He was the guide for the dead.

Ares (Mars): God of war, son of Zeus and Hera, he was said to be the incarnate curse of the mortals. He is followed by a train of attendants, which includes the Goddess of War. The Romans liked him more than the Greeks. In the Trojan war, he is found fighting alongside the Trojans until wounded. In one story, he was the lover of Aphrodite.

Hephaestus (Vulcan and Mulciber): The God of Fire, in one case, son of Zeus and Hera, in another, Hera’s creation in retaliation for Zeus’s Athena, was cast out of heaven either because of his deformation, or because of Zeus’s anger. He is a workman, a smith with handmaidens that he made out of gold. His forge is under a volcano.

Hestia (Vesta): Zeus’s sister, a virgin goddess, was the Goddess of Hearth, the symbol of home. There was an offering to her at every meal. Each city had a hearth for her, and the flame there was never allowed to be put out.

Demeter (Ceres) and Persephone (Proserpine): Demeter was the Goddess of Corn, and her daughter, Persephone, was the Goddess of Spring. One day, Hades came up to earth from below, and with the help of his brother Zeus, stole Persephone, and brought her down to the underworld to be his wife. Demeter left Olympus, and came to Earth, in a disguise. After meeting a family there, she acted as a babysitter and tried to give a child, Demophoon, immortal youth. One night though, the mother came in and saw what she was doing and screamed. So Demeter did not give the child immortal youth, just honor throughout his life. She left the family, but not before showing them who she truly was. The town built her a temple to win back her heart. When it was built, Demeter sat there, longing for her lost daughter. There was a year where nothing sprang up, nothing grew. Zeus sent all the god’s to her, one by one, to get her back, but finally he sent Hermes to Hades to ask for Persephone. Hades knew he must obey so he gave Persephone a pomegranate seed to eat, which would make her return to him. So Demeter had to see her daughter go to the underworld for four months every year. Demeter let fruit grow again. She instructed men how to sow corn. So Persephone was about all spring and summertime, but when winter came, she left to the underworld. These two goddesses were the ones to turn to for compassion.

Dionysus or Bacchus: Son to Zeus and Semele, he was from Thebes. He was the 1st god to be born from a mortal. His mother died when she saw the true Zeus. This was a wish of Semele’s given by Hera. Zeus had sworn by the River Styx that whatever she wish she would have. When Semele died, Zeus rescued her child, and hid it, with the nymphs’ help, from Hera. Dionysus was the God of the Vine, living by sun and water. He was accepted everywhere, and he taught the culture of the vine. The king of Thrace, at the time, opposed Dionysus and he was punished for it later. As the god of wine, he could be kind of cruel. From him came Maenads, people frenzied with wine. They tore apart the wild creatures they found. The king of Thebes, Pentheus, cousin to Dionysus, imprisoned him, and as he did, he was told that Dionysus was a god by the old blind prophet, Teiresias. Pentheus, seeing the strange looking figure that told him so, did not believe it. Pentheus ignored all hints that Dionysus was a divinity. Dionysus, after trying twice to convince Pentheus he was a god, gave up on Pentheus and left. Many of the Theban women joined the Maenads by now. Pentheus pursued Dionysus. Dionysus made Pentheus look like a mountain lion, and the Maenads rushed after him, his mother first. Pentheus was finally made aware that Dionysus was a god. The women, after they tore him limb from limb, had their sense restored. Thus, the God of Wine can be a joy-god or heartless, savage, and brutal god. His followers also thought that the vine showed that death did not end all.

Narcissus: The flower was either created by Zeus to help his brother distract Persephone or came from a beautiful youth, who had rejected Echo and fallen in love with himself, and pined away looking at his reflection.

Hyacinthus: A flower from a youth who was killed accidentally by kinsmen.

Adonis: This flower was created from a youths blood. Adonis, the youth, was loved by Aphrodite and Persephone, and spent time between the two. He was killed by a boar.

Cupid & Psyche: Psyche was the youngest of three daughters to a king. Men forgot about Venus and worshiped Psyche because for her beauty. Venus sent cupid to make her fall in love with a horrible creature, but he, Cupid, instead, fell in love with her. Psyche was sent to a hilltop where Cupid brought her down to beautiful home. She later tried to see her husband, with fear that he was wretched, but only found a beautiful young man. In doing so, she spilt some oil on cupid, and he fled. Psyche was then put into trials by Venus. She completed them. and then, again united with cupid.

Pyramus & Thisbe: The two were neighbors. Their families forbid their love, so one night they met at a certain spot. Thisbe saw a lion and fled leaving part of her garments. the lion ripped it apart. When Pyramus got there, he though she was dead, so he killed himself. When Thisbe returned, she did the same, seeing what had happened.

Orpheus & Eurydice: Orpheus was a great musician wed to Eurydice. She died, stung by a viper, one day after the wedding. He went down to Hades, and with his music, got her back. He wasn’t to look back at her until they reached the upper world. When he was out, he looked at her, but she wasn’t yet out. She fell back in. The gods would not let him down a second time while living. The maenads later killed Orpheus.

Ceyx & Alcyone: Ceyx, the son of Lucifer, was wed to Aeolus, the daughter of the King of the Winds. Ceyx had to go on a voyage. His ship sank and he drowned. Alcyone was later informed in a dream of what had happened.

Pygmalion & Galtea: Pygmalion disliked women. He made a sculpture of a perfect women. He fell in love with it. Venus made the statue, Galtea, come alive. The two wed and had a son, Paphos.

Baucis & Philemon: When Zeus and Hermes came down to find how hospitable the people of Phrygia were, they were degusted. After being rejected from many houses, they found a very small one where two old people lived, Baucis and Philemon. For their hospitality they were rewarded by being given a temple, which they served at, and then being turned into to trees of the same trunk, but different type.

Endymion: The moon loved him, came down and kissed him, giving him everlasting slumber, so that he would always be there for her.

Daphne: She hated love and marriage. Apollo chased her, and when she called for help to her father, a river god, she was turned into a tree

Alpheus & Arethusa: Alpheus, a river god, chased after Arethusa after seeing her bathe. Arethusa called to Artemis for help, and then, was turned into a spring of water.

Pelias: A unrightfully king, had been warned, by a prophet, that a kinsmen would kill him. Jason, his cousin, came to him, asking for his scepter and throne. Pelias, wanting the kingdom, had planned something evil. He sent Jason on The Quest of the Golden Fleece. Jason agreed to do this. Many heroes joined in the quest. They included Hercules, great hero; Orpheus, the master musician; Castor and his brother Polux; Achilles’ father, and many more.

The ship they set sail on was named Argo. Their first stop was Lemnos, a place where there were no men. They were welcomed with gifts and food. Hercules left the quest, searching for his lost armor- bearer, who had been drawn down under water, never to be seen again, by a water nymph that saw his beauty, and wished to kiss him.

Phineus: The Argonauts next encountered a prophet, Phineus. The prophet had foretold what Zeus was going to do. Zeus angered at this, had his hounds, the Harpies, swoop down and defile any food that he would try to eat. The prophet knew that only two men could defend him, and they were the sons of Boreas. They agreed and made a plan. The Harpies fell into the trap, defiling the food and leaving. The brother’s followed and caught up with them. The two struck at them with their swords, but just then, Iris, the rainbow messenger of the gods, told them The Harpies would never trouble Phineus again. So afterwards they feasted and Phineus gave them advice on their perils to come. He told them how to test the clashing rocks. The next morning, they sent a dove through the clashing rocks, and it barely made it. So they started through and made it.

Colchis: They reached Colchis, The country of the Golden Fleece, by sunset. Hera worried for them and asked for Aphrodite’s help. Aphrodite was surprised, but agreed.

Medea: They planned for Cupid to make the daughter of the Colchian king, Medea, fall in love with Jason. The group arrived at the palace, unseen because of a mist Hera surrounded them with, and they were welcomed in to the king. Medea saw Jason, and immediately fell in love due to Cupid’s arrow. The king asked the travelers who they were and why they had come. They told him they were from Greece and they wanted the Golden Fleece.

Jason’s Task: The king didn’t like this, so he told Jason that he wanted him to yoke two fire-breathing bulls with bronze feet, and to use them to plow a field. Then, throw the teeth of a dragon while he was plowing, and from them, men fully armored with dragon teeth would emerge, and he must cut them all down. The heroes returned to the ship. One of the king’s grandsons told Jason to go to Medea, and try to win her over to get her help. Medea decided to help Jason, and give him an ointment made from a plant that arose from prometheus’ blood, which would make him invincible for a day. Her Nephew told her what he wanted and she agreed. When Jason and Medea met, she gave him the ointment, and told him how to use it. She also said to throw a huge rock in the dragon-toothed men’s midst.

Leaving Colchis: Jason did what the King asked. The king was bitter, and started planning treachery Medea went to Jason and told him she wanted to go with him to his country. Jason stole the Golden Fleece and left right away with Medea. The king sent a fleet after them. Medea killed her brother, and the fleet stopped.

Talus: They came to Crete, and were met with a creature of bronze, except for one ankle, Talus. Talus died, cutting his ankle lifting a rock to throw at the Argonauts.

Returning Home: Once in Greece, the heroes went home. Jason found that Pelias had made his father kill himself, and his mother had died of grief. Medea told Pelias’ daughters how to make him young again. They did what Medea told the to do, but their father died instead.

Jason’s Treachery: All that Medea did though, was not enough to stop Jason from being a traitor to her. They went to Corinth after Pelias’ death, and had two sons. Medea, even though she had been exiled, was happy. Jason though, decided to marry the daughter of the king of Corinth. Medea threatened the kings daughter. Medea was exiled for the threat. Jason offered her gold, and told her that she should be happy. Medea told him of all she did for him. Jason said it was Aphrodite who made her fall in love with him. Jason also said that her exile was her fault only. Medea didn’t except the gold. Medea sought revenge, and decided to kill Jason’s wife. She sent her sons to Jason’s wife with a gift, a robe with an anointed poison. As soon as Jason’s wife put it on, she died. Medea then killed her sons, and as Jason came with revenge on his mind, she flew off in a dragon drawn chariot.

Phaethon: He traveled to the sun-god’s palace, and asked the sun-god if he was his father. The sun-god said yes, and that whatever he wanted of him, would be done. So Phaethon asked to ride his chariot over the sky. The sun-god, reluctant, let him do so, having sworn by the river Styx. Phaethon lost control of the chariot at the start. He eventually burned up, and fell from the chariot. He fell in the river Eridanus, and was pitied by the Naiads, who gave him a burial.

Pegasus & Bellerophon: Bellerophon wanted Pegasus, a horse that had arisen from Medusa’s blood. Bellerophon was given a golden bridle from the gods, which he used on Pegasus. He became Pegasus’ master. Bellephron had to go through some trials in order to be cleansed after killing his brother. He tried to fly to Olympus, but Pegasus threw him off. Bellerophon wandered for a while then died. Pegasus ended up the bringer of thunder and lighting to Zeus.

Otus & Ephialtes: The two were hansom Giants who tried to prove themselves better than the gods. Their father was Poseidon, who saved them from Zeus’ thunderbolt. They went after Artemis. Artemis tricked them into killing each other.

Daedalus: He created the labyrinth of Crete. He helped Theseus get out of it, and was punished by being put into it with his son. He made wings to get out. His son flew to high, and the wings fell apart. He fell to his death in the sea. Minos then put forth a reward for whoever can put a thread through a certain kind of shell to find Daedalus. It worked and Minos went to seize him. The king Daedalus was with refused to let him go, and in a contest, Minos was killed.

Perseus: Perseus’ Mother, Danae, was the daughter of The king of Acrisius. Her father found out that she would have a son that would kill him, so he put her in a bronze house under the ground. Zeus came and made her pregnant. Her father found out, and made a giant chest, then cast it into the water with her and her baby inside, thinking it meant certain death.

Dictys: The chest reached land, and by some distinct power, a good fisherman, Dictys, found them. Dictys’ wife and himself cared for the two.

Polydectes: Dictys had a brother, Polydectes, the ruler of the island. He fell in love with Danae, but didn’t want her son. To get rid of Perseus, he told him that he wanted one of the Gorgons’ heads. Perseus said he would take the head of Medusa, one of the Gorgons, for Polydectes, as a wedding gift. The oak trees of Zeus told him he was under protection of the gods. As he wandered, he found Hermes. Hermes gave him a sword, which could not be bent or broken. Under advice from Hermes, he went to the Gray Women, stole away the eye they shared among the three, and they told him where the nymph’s abode was. Perseus then went to Hyperboreans. He found the road to Hyperboreans with help from Hermes. The people there were kind to him and gave him what he sought. From them he received winged sandals, a magic wallet that became the right size for anything to fit into it, and a cap which would make Perseus invisible. Athena gave Perseus a shield to see the Gorgons in the reflection. If he looked directly at them, he would be turn to stone. Perseus went and cut off Medusa’s head while she was asleep.

Andromeda: Perseus, on his way back, found a lovely maiden, Andromeda, who was to be devoured by a horrible sea serpent. He fell in love with her, and chopped the head off of the serpent. He ask Andromeda’s parents for her hand, and he got it. When Perseus returned, he found that his mother had refused to marry, and that her and Dictys were now taking refuge in a temple. Perseus also found out that the king was holding a banquet in the palace with all the men who favored him. He went to the palace, and with Medusa’s head, turned them all to stone. He made Dictys king of the island. Perseus, his mother, and Andromeda, returned to Greece to be reconciled to Acisius.

Acrisius’ Death: When they got there, no one could say where Acrisius was. Soon after, Perseus heard that the King of Larissa was holding an athletic contest. He joined in the disc-throwing event. When it was his turn he threw it, and it fell upon a spectator, his grandfather, Acrisius, who was there to visit the king. This killed Acrisius. Perseus and Andromeda had a son who was grandfather to Hercules. Medusa’s head went to Athena.

Theseus: Hercules was his cousin. He was sent away by his father, Aegeus, an Athenian king, until he could lift a certain rock, sheltering some Items. He did this and went to his father, by the most dangerous way - land. On his way he killed bandits, and all the great evil men.

Aegeus: He held banquet for him, planning to kill him because of his great popularity, not knowing he was his son. Medea, working with Aegeus, gave Theseus a cup of poison. Theseus though, at once drew his sword to show that he was the king’s son. Aegeus dashed the cup to the ground. The king declared Theseus his heir.

Crete: Theseus traveled to Crete to kill the Minotaur there, and stop the killing of young Athenians. Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, fell in love with Theseus, and helped him complete his task. She returned with him, but on the way Theseus either deserted her, or she died of sickness. When he finally sailed back to his home, he forgot to raise the flag that showed he had completed his task, and his father jumped off a cliff thinking Theseus was dead. Theseus then, not wanting to be king, accepted the office of commander in chief.

Theseus’ Adventures: He went to Thebes and had the helpless dead buried, defeated the Amazons when they were attacking, sailed upon The Argo in the Golden Fleece, killed a terrible boar, helped his friend Pirithous in many adventures, which included stealing Persephone from Hades. Hades had them sit in the chair of forgetfulness. Hercules came to save his cousin.

Hippolytus: Theseus had a son with Phaedra, Ariadne’s sister. The son, Hippolytus, was a hunter, loyal to his father. Hippolytus worshiped Artemis. Aphrodite was angry at him, probably because he scorned her, so she made Phaedra fall in love with him. He found out of this love and was disgusted. Theseus arrived back from his trip, and found out his wife was dead and she had written a letter saying that his son had laid violent hands on her. Theseus exiled him and cursed him. Poseidon mortally wounded Hippolytus with a sea serpent. Artemis then appeared and told Theseus the truth, that his wife had lied. Theseus’ son was brought in still breathing and said that it wasn’t his fault, it was Aphrodite’s. When Artemis vanished so did his son. Theseus death came by King Lycomedes after being exiled from Athens.

Hercules: Hercules, son of Zeus and Alcena, was the strongest man on earth. Hercules endured more punishments than any man willingly. Hera was determined to kill Hercules, and when he was a year old, she sent two snakes to his crib. He strangled them. Hercules did not know his own strength.

Madness: He had a wife, Princess Megara, and three sons. Hera made him go mad and kill them all. Theseus stopped him from killing himself. He went to Delphi, and found out how to purify himself. He was told to go to king of Mycenae, Eurystheus, and tell him he would do whatever he demanded. The demands of the king were “the Labors of Hercules.” They were twelve labors in all.

Adventures after the Twelve Labors: He killed a wrestler that was rejuvenated if he touched the ground. He fought a river god who loved the girl he wanted to marry. He rescued a maiden who was to be devoured by a sea monster. He freed Prometheus.

Admetus: He wrestled Death to save a dead women, Admetus‘ wife, because of his guilt for being so rude. Alcestis had accepted death to prevent Admetus‘ own death.

Deianira: Hercules’ wife, Deianira, was given blood by a sea serpent, whom said whenever Hercules fell in love with another, to use this on him. Deianira heard that Hercules had fallen in love with another, so she, un-fearful, for she had a love-charm, sent a robe to Hercules anointed with the blood. This made him burn, but didn‘t kill him. When Deianira heard what this did to him, she killed herself. Hercules did the same by traveling to Mount Oeta. He was set on fire, and taken up to heaven where he reconciled with Hera, and married her daughter Hebe.

Atalanta: She wanted to sail on the Argo, gave the boar the first wound in the Calydonian boar hunt, Married a man, Melanion, who beat her in a foot race by throwing golden apples, and changed into a lioness. Before her husband and her turned into lions, she gave birth to Parthenopaes, one of the Seven against Thebes.

Judgment of Paris: Troy was the greatest city . The cause of it’s fall was The Judgment of Paris’. Eris, an unpopular goddess wanted to make trouble because she was left out of an important marriage, King Peleus and the sea nymph Thetis. She threw a golden apple into the hall marked for the fairest. Aphrodite, Hera, and Pallas Athena went after it. They asked Zeus to say who was the fairest, but he only told them to go to Paris, an excellent judge of beauty. They did this and they all tried to bribe him. He picked Aphrodite’s bribe, to have the fairest women in the world. The fairest woman in the world was Helen, but she was already married, and to prevent her from being taken away by anyone, her suitors had agreed that if any should take her away from whom she had chosen, they would punish him. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leda. Helen’s husband was Menelaus, whom Paris visited. When Paris was alone with Helen, he took her away. The chieftains decided to destroy Troy because of Paris.

Sailing To Troy: The thousands of ships of Greece couldn’t get to Troy because of the north winds. Artemis was the one behind this, and said that they must sacrifice Iphigenia, Agamemnon, the Commander in Chief’s daughter. This was done by Agamemnon, who said to his daughter that she was to be wed to Achilles, and that she was to come.

Arriving at Troy: The Greek fleet went to Troy, and Protesilaus jumped first on the land, and then was bound to die first. For this, he was honored when he fell by a Trojan spear. Priam, and Hecuba, the King and Queen of Troy, had many sons, one was Hector. It was ten years before Troy was destroyed, and in that ten years a couple things happened besides the usual battle.

Agamemnon: He lost his prize of honor, the daughter of the priest of Apollo. She was taken from him because they feared of Apollo. He decided to take Achilles’ prize of honor.

The Gods’ Part: At this point the gods had taken sides: Aphrodite, Ares, Apollo, Artemis, and Zeus favored the Trojans. Hera, Athena, and Poseidon favored the Greeks. Zeus sent a dream to Agamemnon to fight without Achilles and he would win. Zeus did this to help the Trojans. Agamemnon lost that battle. Next a fight between Paris and Menelaus had started. Paris was loosing, but Aphrodite saved him. The war would have ended with Menelaus getting Helen back, but Athena made one of the Trojans shoot at Menelaus, which broke the peace. Ajax and Diomedes, were the heroes of the Greeks and Hector and Prince Aeneas were the heroes of the Trojans. Aeneas was saved by his mother, Aphrodite, from Diomedes. Diomedes wounded Aphrodite, so Apollo then helped Aeneas escape. Ares fought against the Greeks, but Diomedes sent a spear at him, directed by Athena, and wounded him. Zeus ordered all gods to Olympus and him only be allowed down. So the Greeks were loosing.

Pleading to Achilles: Agamemnon sent Briseis back to Achilles to get him to fight again. Odysseus went to Achilles and asked him to take part in the war, but he was rejected.

Hera’s Trick: Hera went to Zeus looking lovely and made him sleep. When Zeus woke he found the Trojans in flight from the Greeks, and Hector out of the battle. Zeus turned to Hera, but she said it was Poseidon that had done him wrong. Zeus sent a message to Poseidon to leave the battle. Once again, the Trojans drove the Greeks to their ships.

Patroclus: Achilles’ friend, took Achilles armor, with Achilles’ consent, and his men, the Myrmidons, into battle. For a while, Patroclus fought well, but then, he fell by Hector’s spear. Hector took Achilles armor off Patroclus, tossing his own.

Achilles: Achilles had been told by his mother that he would die in this war, but when news reached Achilles that his friend was dead, he decided to fight. He received a new armor made by the god Hephaestus. The next battle Achilles killed Hector. Achilles threw a spear, which Athena had recovered for him, and hit Hector in the neck. He dragged Hector around the walls of Troy. The king went to Achilles asking for a burial. Achilles gave it to him, and nine days of lamenting started for Hector. Achilles killed Memnon, the prince of Ethiopia, and the leader of a large army that had come to help Troy. In that battle Achilles died. Paris struck with an arrow guided by Apollo, Achilles’ heel, his only weak point. Achilles armor went to Odysseus, and Ajax went mad because it and Athena. He killed himself seeing he had killed animals instead of the chieftains when he went mad.

War’s End: They used the bow of Hercules against the Trojans. Paris was wounded and later died. Finally came the Trojan horse. The plan was to make it look like the Greeks had retreated and had left the horse there and one man. The man told the Trojans that they would be to afraid to bring the horse in Troy. So they did, and when nightfall came, the people inside the Trojan horse opened the gate to the Greek army. This was done, and the Trojans were wiped out. The Trojans took on the armor of the dead Greeks, but they still lost.

Odysseus: On his voyage home from Troy, a storm struck the Greek fleet and Odysseus was lost because of Athena’s vengeance. It took ten more years for him to get back home, to his wife, who had many suitors that would not leave. He came upon a nymph named Calypso, and she would not let him leave. Finally the gods intervened. On the eighteenth day of sailing, Odysseus was struck by a huge storm by Poseidon, who had come back from Ethiopia. A goddess rose and told him his only hope was to swim to the island he saw. He made it to the Phaeacians country. They eventually took him home, where he killed the suitors for his wife. He was disguised as an old man, and had killed his suitors by stringing a bow, which none of the suitors could, and shooting them with the arrows. He did this with his son’s help, who he had shown his true identity to. Some of his adventures included getting away from a Cyclops, and resisting the power of a witch. His men died because they killed the herds of Apollo.

Aeneas: He is said to be the true founder of Rome. He escaped from Troy with many Trojans. Helenus, the Trojan prophet, told the party that their home was on the west coast of Italy. Hera was against them, but Aphrodite was for them. Cupid made Dido fall in love with Aeneas, when they had come to shore of escaping a storm. They had come ashore on Carthage, Hera‘s city, which was to be later destroyed by the Romans. Dido was the Queen there. Aeneas left Dido, and because of it, she killed herself. Aeneas traveled to the underworld to learn from his father Anchises. Aeneas and his party reached their destination, but then, because of Hera, they had to fight a war against the people there. It was Latin and Rutulian vs. the Trojans. Turnus, one of the leaders of the opposing armies, the one that also wanted Lavina‘s hand died. The war ended and Rome started. Aeneas married Lavinia.

Tantalus: He was the head of the family, the son of Zeus, and allowed to taste nectar and ambrosia. Tantalus was arrogant, and tried to make the gods into cannibals by boiling and serving his son, Pelops, to the gods. His son was later restored by the gods. Demeter or Thetis ate his shoulder, but in later history Greeks protested that story. Tantalus was to be forever hungry and thirsty. Tantalus’ descendants were marked out for misfortune.

Pelops: Married Hippodamia by racing her father. Pelops did not have a misfortunate life.

Niobe: Pelops’ sister, married Amphion. Niobe told the people to worship her instead of Leto. She turned to stone right after watching her seven sons and seven daughters die.

Atreus and Thyestes: The sons of Pelops. Atreus made Thyestes eat his own two children unknowingly because Thyestes had fallen in love with his wife.

Agamemnon: was killed by his wife, when he returned from Troy, for killing his daughter.

Orestes & Iphigenia: Orestes killed his treacherous mother, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus. Orestes was cleansed of his guilt after wandering, and eventually coming to Athena. In another story Iphigenia is taken away from the alter table by Artemis, and given to the Taurians. She then becomes the cleanser of those who come to the land, before they are sacrificed. Orestes and his friend, Pylades, find her there. They were there searching for the sacred image of Artemis, which would clear Orestes guilt. They escape with help of the gods.

Cadmus: He was told by Apollo to found a city instead of looking for his sister Europa, which his father had told him to do. Apollo told him to kill a dragon, which guarded a spring, and with it’s teeth, sow them in with the Earth to make men. Then to use the men to make the city. He married the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, Harmonia.

Oedipus: He married his mother and killed his father, all unknowingly. So Jocasta his wife and mother killed herself when she found out. He poked his eyes out. He resigned.

Eteocles & Polyneices: Eteocles Became king. The older son, Polyneices, waged war against him for the crown. There were seven champions to attack the seven gates of Thebes. There was a sacrifice of Menoeceus for Thebes. Thebes eventually won, but refused to bury the dead. The Athenians made them bury the dead after defeating Thebes in another battle.

Antigone with Ismene: Antigone tried to bury her dead brother, Polyneices, and was sent to death because of it. Her sister tried to say she helped her sister, but wasn’t believed

Cecrops: He was the first king, and was said to be half man, half dragon. Cecrops decided the city belonged to Athena, and Poseidon punished the city for it.

Procne & Philomela: Procne married Tereus. Tereus fell in love with her younger sister, Philomela. Tereus told the Philomela that her sister had died. He then had a pretend marriage. Philomela found out and threatened him. Tereus cut out her tongue and imprisoned her. She wove a message to her sister. So the older sister, once she had found out, fed Tereus his kids and then fled with her younger sister. They were said to have turned into birds.

Procris & Cephalus: Procris married Cephalus. The goddess of Dawn fell in love with Cephalus, and after a while of keeping him away, she made him a disguise and told him to see if his wife was as faithful as he. So he went back and eventually got Procris to fall in love with him. He revealed himself and Procris was enraged. After a while she forgave him. Later Her husband accidentally hit and killed her with a javelin.

Orithyia & Boreas: Orithyia, one of Procris’ sisters was swept down by the north wind, Boreas, and had two children, Zetes and Calais

Creusa & Ion: Creusa was taken by Apollo and given a baby. She disposed of the child. Later she went with her husband to Delphi and found her child, ion. They accepted him as their own, or rather, the husband did.

Midas: Silenus was received by Midas after straying off from Bacchus. Midas brought him back, and Bacchus said whatever he wished for would come true. He wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. He then tried to eat, but couldn’t. He went back to Bacchus and got rid of the golden touch. Apollo changed Midas’ ears into ass ears.

Aesculapius: The son of Coronis, who was loved by Apollo, was given to Chiron as a babe. He learned, from Chiron, the way of medicine. He delivered someone from Hades, and for it was killed by Zeus. He was honored on Earth

The Danaids: Fifty women in all, all but Hypernestra, killed their husbands, who were also their cousins. In the underworld, as a punishment, they were to carry waters in vases that would leak, and always become empty before they reached their destination.

Glaucus & Scylla: Glaucus was a fisherman who tasted some grass that made him jump into the sea. He was turned into a sea god. He fell in love with the nymph Scylla who fled from him. Glaucus asked Circe for a love potion, but Circe fell in love with him. Circe turned Scylla into a monster.

Erysicthon: He cut down Ceres’ tree, and was punished by always being hungry. He devoured himself.

Pomona and Vertumnus: Pomona was a nymph that disliked the woods, but liked gardening. She did not want a man. Vertumnus came disguised as an old women, got to get near her. He explained, in the disguise, the vine and the grapes, how they were like men and women. He dropped his disguise and she fell in love with him.