Mythology a summary myths we have read

Troy – death of Patroclus 8	Qualities 2
Achilles goes on strike / Greeks do badly / Thetis asked Zeus for Greeks to be punished for upsetting Ach / Ach refuses gifts from Ag / Trojans get to Greek camp / Trojans set fire to a Greek ship / Patroclus persuades Ach to let him wear Ach’s armour / Patroclus looks like Achilles so Trojans are scared, retreat / Ach tells Patroclus ‘stay away from Hector, don’t chase Trojans’ / Patroclus challenges Hector by walls of Troy and gets killed / Hector takes armour	Patroclus – brave Achilles – selfish Patroclus – too ‘heroic’, chases personal glory and dies
Troy – death of Hector 8	Qualities 2
Achilles’ mum [Thetis] gets new armour for Achilles / Asks god of fire [Hephaestus] to make it / Achilles wants REVENGE for Patroclus’ death / makes peace with Agamemnon / gets his slavegirl [Briseis] back / Achilles leads Greeks again and routs Trojans / Athene tricks Hector into thinking his brother [Deiphobus] was standing with him / Hector waits outside walls for Achilles / Achilles kills Hector / ties body to chariot / drags him round Troy 3 times	Gods – deceitful, Athene tricks Hector into staying out Hector – foolish to do one-to-one with Achilles – GLORY Achilles – angry but defiles Hector’s body, breaks rules

Troy – Wooden Horse 8	Qualities 2
Horse hollow Men inside Ships hidden [island Tenedos] Empty beach Greek liar [Sinon] Priest ‘lies!’ throws spear Sea snakes chomp [priest + 2 sons] Horse taken into Troy Party Greeks open gates Signal Other Greeks return – SACK TROY	Cunning in hiding Bravery in horse Deceit in lying Blasphemy in misusing gods

HERCULES: son of Zeus and Alcmene. Strong and lots of adventures. In rage kills his wife and kids and to make amends has to do 10 Labours for King Eurystheus [Tiryns]. ‘Cheats’ in two so ends up doing 12: 1.Lion 2.Hydra 3.Hind 4.Boar 5.Stables 6.Birds 7.Bull 8.Mares 9.Amazon Belt 10.Geryon cattle 11.Golden Apples 12.Cerberus.

Hercules – Lernaean Hydra 8	Cheated? 2
Swamp/lair in middle Snake many heads (9 or 50) Uses club or club/sword Thump slice pop pop [2 new heads] Friend helps (Iolaus) Torch Thump slice sizzle [no new heads] Giant crab (Hera) Thump crunch Last head immortal Buries last head Dips arrows in venomous blood	Yes – help from friend Iolaus No – stuffed without help – and who said no help? Also ‘cheated’ – Birds – Athene gives him rattle Stables – paid for work so it doesn’t count

Hercules – Golden Apples 8

Qualities 2

Apples belong to Hera Behind unclimbable wall Guarded by giant serpent Nymphs of Hesperides (West) stay in garden Hercules asks Atlas to get apples Hercules shoots serpent Hercules holds sky for Atlas Atlas gets apples, doesn’t want to return Hercules ‘I’m uncomfortable – show me’ Atlas tricked, shows Hercules how to hold sky Hercules leaves him BONUS Hercules doesn’t know way Has to catch Proteus Proteus changes shape many ways Fire, lion, water Hercules keeps hold Proteus gives up + tells him

Cunning – tricks Atlas Strong – holds up sky Persistent – outwrestles Proteus

Hercules – Cerberus 8	Most difficult? 2
Cerberus – 3 headed dog Cerberus – lives in Underworld Charon takes Hercules across Styx Meets Hades + Persephone Hades ‘take him if you overcome him’ Hades ‘no kill’ Overcomes Cerberus Sees Medusa – ghost Sees Theseus – butt stuck to rock – frees him Takes Cerberus to bad king [Eurystheus] King jumps into pot Takes dog back to Hades	Yes – Underworld – no return allowed No – Hades nice to him [Another task] harder than Cerberus because __________

Hercules – Nemean Lion 8	Qualities 2
‘Kill terrifying lion’ Wait at lion cave 2 entrances Lion – bulletproof skin Arrow no effect Club no effect Strangle him Lose thumb Skins lion with lion claw Wears skin	Brave – taking on lion Strong – strangling it and wrestling it Persistent – won’t give up

Hercules – Augeian Stables 8	Qualities 2
‘Clean stables of King Augeas’ [ruler of Elis] 3000 oxen Stables not cleaned for 10 years Has to do task in one day King offered 1/10^th of herd as reward Hercules digs channel through stables Diverts river [Alpheus] through stables Augeas refuses to pay Hercules drives him out and makes son king	Clever – rivers Strong – digging channels Thoughtful – putting rivers back to usual course Mistake – in taking up offer of payment, Hercules breaks rules

Hercules – Stymphalian Birds 8	Cheat? 2
Task – drive away big flock of birds at lake Birds have bronze beaks Birds have bronze feathers which they drop on people [Vicious man eating birds] Athene lends him bronze castanets Hercules climbs nearby hill Scares birds into air with castanet noise Shoots them with arrows Drives them away	Athene helps him – cheating? Too many birds to do it any other way Divine help doesn’t count?

Hercules – Amazonian Belt 8	Qualities 2
Task – get belt of Amazonian queen (Hippolyte) Amazons are tribe of women warriors Belt given to queen by Ares Wore it across her chest Hercules travels with friends Hippolyte welcoming, offers belt Hera becomes Amazon woman Hera persuades women men are baddies Amazons attack men Hercules kills Hippolyte Hercules takes belt, men escape	Peaceful at first Diplomatic – charms Hippolyte into wanting to give belt Careful – takes boatload of men Decisive – when battle starts, kills Hippolyte Too violent – why kill Hippolyte when she liked him?

JASON: son of King Aeson and Alcimede. Pelias, Jason’s uncle, takes power in Iolcus. Jason taken away to safety. ‘Beware man with one sandal’. Jason returns after losing sandal in river. ‘What would you ask someone who you thought was going to kill you?’ asked Pelias. ‘Send him for the Golden Fleece,’ said Jason. ‘Go get,’ says Pelias.

Jason – Journey to Colchis 8

Why hero 2

1.Harpies Blind king [Phineus] knows way Starving king Table of food Harpies – half woman half bird Steal food from him Poo on food Sons of wind god chase Harpies off King tells them way 2.Hercules Crew get off to fix oar Hercules’ mate [Hylas] goes for walk Water nymph fancies mate Pulls him into pond Hercules looks for him Leave without Hercules 3.Women on Lemnos Island with no men Women invite crew home One bloke finds out – Women intend to kill men Bloke tells crew They escape 4. Clashing Rocks Rocks like automatic doors Crush anything that goes through Jason releases dove Just gets through minus tailfeather They row as rocks reopen Athene gives push Just get through minus back bit of boat Rocks never move again

Brave Supported by gods Does Mission Impossible But minor compared to big heroes – it’s mainly Medea really

Jason – Fleece in Colchis (Medea) 8	View of Medea 2
King Aeetes gives 3 tasks Bulls – bronze, fire, yoke Medea magic ointment Seeds – dragon teeth Seeds – have to be sown Warriors – kill Medea says ‘throw stone’ Warriors attack stone then each other Medea leads him to Fleece at night Fleece – guarded by dragon Medea – sleepy dragon drug [or Orpheus music sleep] Kill/avoid dragon Escape on ship	[Nicer] In love with Jason, chooses him over family Helps Jason with bull Helps Jason with warriors [Nastier] Butchers brother – bit of a psycho Betrays family and country

Jason – Escape from Colchis 8	View of Medea 2
Jason + Medea sneak off at night Takes brother with them (kid) [Absyrtus] Faster ships – catching up [Medea kills brother] [Medea chops up brother] Medea throws brother in water King slows down to pick up brother Chases them round the Black Sea Land in a friendly area King protects them Sirens: Orpheus plays louder and more beautifully – drowns their song Talos: Crete – bronze giant attacks them with rocks. Medea cast a spell on him so he goes quiet, then removes bronze nail that keeps his blood in his one vein. He bleeds to death.	[Nicer] In love with Jason, chooses him over family Helps Jason with bull Helps Jason with warriors [Nastier] Butchers brother – bit of a psycho Betrays family and country
Jason – Medea later years 8	View of Medea 2
Jason + Medea return to Iolcus / Medea drains his dad Aeson of blood and adds magic herbs, makes him younger / Pelias bad king – says she can make him younger / shows daughters an old ram that she chops up, puts in a cauldron with herbs, reborn young / daughters chop up Pelias but no herbs / exiled to Corinth / Jason betrays Medea and marries Glauce [Creusa] daughter of king Creon / Medea gives wedding gift of poisoned dress / this kills Creusa + Creon / Medea kills her sons with Jason / flees to Athens	Helpful – makes Aeson younger Helpful – gets rid of Pelias Psycho – kills her own sons Psycho – poisons Creusa/Creon Psycho – gets daughters to kill their own father

THESEUS – son of Aethra of Troezen and Aegeus King of Athens. Aegeus goes home. Puts sandals and swords under rock – ‘when Jason moves rock, let him come’. Theseus comes to Athens, Medea tries to get him poisoned, but dad sees sword and knocks cup from hand. Theseus welcomed but wants to save Athens from Minos tribute.

Theseus – Journey to Athens ‘The Six Labours’ 8	Hero? 2
Sword under rock Meets Club Man (Periphetes) Thump with club Meets Pinebender (Sinis) Bend – tie – pyoing – rip Kills giant Crommyonian Sow Meets Turtle Man (Sciron) Wash feet, cliff, push off, feed turtle Pulls TM over cliff Meets Bearhug Man (Cercyon) Wrestles him and kills him Meets stretch or cut Bed Man (Procrustes) Puts Bed Man on his bed and cuts head off Gets to Athens	Like a mini-Hercules Tidies up bandits But all minor baddies And a bit tit for tat, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth behaviour

Theseus - Minotaur 8

Ariadne right to help? 2

Arrives [in Crete] with captives from Athens Ariadne loves Theseus [she’s daughter of King Minos] Maid gives him dagger and string Goes into maze String behind him Finds Minotaur Kills with sword Back out – follows string Ariadne lets him out Escapes with Ariadne Leaves her on island of Naxos (Ariadne meets + marries Dionysus) Black sail =’failed’ (white sail = ‘passed’) Dad [Aegeus] jumps off cliff

Disloyal to father and country? Athens to blame for it – son of king was murdered by Athenian She loves Theseus Human sacrifice not right

PERSEUS: son of Zeus and Danae. First hero. Grandpa Acrisius told he would be killed by grandson. So locked daughter in bronze chamber. Zeus comes in shower of gold. Acrisius puts daughter in box in sea. Rescued by Dictys in Seriphos. His brother Polydectes is king and loves Danae, tries to get rid of Perseus. Demands wedding presents, Perseus too poor, says name gift and I’ll get it. Polydectes says ‘Great, head of Medusa please.’

Perseus - Medusa 8

Help? 2

Bad King [uncle Polydectes] – Mission Impossible Athena + Hermes help Sword (Zeus) / sickle (Hermes) Flying sandals (Hermes) Bag (Tardis) Shiny shield Helmet of invisibility (Hades) Goes to 3 Graiae (witches) One eye, one tooth Nicks eye + tooth Witches give directions to Nymphs of Hesperides Hangs out with Nymphs Then on to Medusa Land Medusa – 3 Gorgon sisters in all 2 others immortal, winged, scaly heads Medusa – snakes on head Medusa – turns people to stone Gorgons asleep when arrives Invisible when kills her Looks at her via shield Flies off, chased by sisters [Pegasus grows from Medusa blood]

List all the help the gods gave him. He couldn’t have done it without divine help.

Perseus - Andromeda 8	Hero? 2
Perseus flying home with head in a bag Sees girl [Andromeda] chained to rock by sea King and family offering her as sacrifice He waits for monster [he’s invisible + flying] Monster sees shadow Dives on monster Kills monster Marries Andromeda Fiancé gets annoyed, enters with soldiers Perseus pulls out Medusa, all baddies to stone [Then home, turns uncle Polydectes to stone]	Yes – brave Yes – support of gods Yes – kills some major baddies

Theseus/Perseus – help from gods/women? 8

More dangerous baddie? 2

Theseus – girl (Ariadne) princess loves him Sent into labyrinth She gives him sword and string Without sword Minotaur would kill him Without string lost She lets him out She helps him leave Perseus – gods give him winged shoes (Hermes), Helmet (Hades), shield, sickle/sword, bag Gets advice from 3 Graiae Gets helps from nymphs of north Gets help from Athene Jason – witch princess (Medea) loves him Help from Medea – [Medea has help of Hecate, goddess of night] Talks king out of killing Jason Magic ointment for bulls Trick with stone/warriors Kills own brother Later, kills various other people

Medusa – turns people to stone, unknown place, immortal sisters who fly. (Mission Impossible but with gods’ help becomes easy). Minotaur – labyrinth un-get-out-of-able, Minotaur too dangerous. (Only needs a woman’s help to make the mission possible, not a god’s.) Colchis – Fire-breathing bronze bulls and Warriors would kill Jason. (Needs magic and witch to make mission possible.)

MYTHOLOGY QUESTIONS – PAST PAPERS

June 2015

1. 
   (i) Tell the story of Jason and the Harpies. (8)
   

(ii) Do you think this was Jason’s most difficult adventure during his voyage? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Explain what happened when Odysseus returned to his palace after his 20-year absence from Ithaca. (8)
   

(ii) How would you describe Odysseus’ character to someone who had never heard of him? Make two points and briefly explain your answers. (2)

January 2015

1. 
   (i) Tell briefly the stories of any two of Hercules’ labours. (8)
   

(ii) Which of your chosen labours do you think was more difficult? Give two reasons. (2)

2. 
   (i) Tell the story of Odysseus’ encounter with the Cyclops. (8)
   

(ii) Which qualities did Odysseus show in his encounter with the Cyclops? Make two points. (2)

November 2014

1. 
   (i) Tell the story of Theseus and the Minotaur from Ariadne’s point of view. (8)
   

(ii) Who do you think was the greater hero, Theseus or Jason? Give reasons for your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Tell the story of Odysseus in the Cyclops’ cave from the viewpoint of one of his surviving companions. (8)
   

(ii) Do you think Odysseus was a good leader during the Cyclops episode? Give reasons for your answer. (2)

June 2014

1. 
   (i) Tell the story of any one of Hercules’ labours. (8)
   

(ii) Of the other labours, which, in your opinion, was Hercules’ most difficult? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Tell the story of Odysseus’ encounter with the Cyclops. (8)
   

(ii) Which qualities did Odysseus show in his encounter with the Cyclops? Make two points. (2)

January 2014

1. 
   (i) Write a description of Perseus’ encounter with the Gorgons. (8)
   

(ii) What qualities did Perseus display during his adventures? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Write a description of Odysseus’ encounter with the Sirens. (8)
   

(ii) Do you think that the Sirens were the most dangerous of the monsters which Odysseus encountered? Explain your answer. (2)

November 2013

1. 
   (i) Describe Jason’s adventures in Colchis. (8)
   

(ii) Whose tasks do you think were harder, Jason’s or Hercules’? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Tell the story of how the Golden Apple led to the Trojan War. (8)
   

(ii) Do you think that Paris made a good decision? (2)

June 2013

1. 
   (i) Describe the contest of the axes devised by Penelope for her suitors. (8)
   

(ii) What qualities of Penelope do you admire? (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe the challenges set by King Aeetes for Jason. (8)
   

(ii) What qualities did Jason show in his quest for the fleece? (2)

January 2013

1. 
   (i) Describe any encounter which Odysseus had with a member of the opposite sex. (8)
   

(ii) Name two qualities which Odysseus showed during this encounter. (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe the escape of Jason and Medea from Colchis. (8)
   

(ii) What impression do you have of Medea from this episode? (2)

November 2012

1. 
   (i) Write a description of Jason’s encounter with the Clashing Rocks. (8)
   

(ii) What were the most impressive qualities that Jason showed in his quest for the Golden Fleece? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Write a description of Odysseus’ homecoming to Ithaca. (8)