For those of you who like that sort of thing, here’s my cheat sheet on some of my loose references.
Nikolaos Deimos
NIKOLAOS (Νικόλαος): Greek name meaning “victor of the people.”
DEIMOS (Δείμος): Greek name meaning “fear, terror.” In mythology, this is the name of a son of Ares and Aphrodite.
Executive VP of Mystikos Inc.
Aurelia
One of Nik’s numerous “cousins”, Aurelia is one of the daughters of the Anemoi, or wind gods. For those who really want to know, her dad is Boreas, the North wind, and bringer of cold winter air.
I cheated a bit on this one. The name Aurelia is actually Latin-based, not Greek, but given the parallels between Greek mythologies, I gave myself a bye. Aurelia is a feminine given name from the Latin family name Aurelius, which was derived from aureus meaning “golden”.
In ancient Greek religion and myth, the Anemoi (in Greek, Ἄνεμοι, “winds”) were Greek wind gods who were each ascribed a cardinal direction from which their respective winds came (see Classical compass winds), and were associated with various seasons and weather conditions.
Moirai – better known as the Fates, and in this story, Nik’s aunties.
In Greek mythology, the Moirai (Ancient Greek: Μοῖραι, “apportioners”) are often known in English as the Fates. Their number became fixed at three: Clotho (spinner), Lachesis (allotter), and Atropos (unturnable).
Atropos or Aisa (Ancient Greek: Ἄτροπος, “without turn”) in Greek mythology was one of the three Moirai, goddesses of fate and destiny. Atropos was the oldest of the Three Fates, and was known as the “inflexible” or “inevitable.” It was Atropos who chose the mechanism of death and ended the life of each mortal by cutting their thread with her “abhorred shears.”
Lachesis (Greek: Λάχεσις, “disposer of lots”, to obtain by lot, by fate, or by the will of the gods) was the second of the Three Fates. Normally seen clothed in white, Lachesis is the measurer of the thread woven by Clotho’s spindle, and in some texts, determines Destiny, or thread of life. Lachesis was the apportioner, deciding how long of a lifetime each person or being was allowed. She measured the thread of life with her rod. She is also said to choose a person’s destiny after a thread was measured. In mythology, it is said that she appears with her sisters within three days of a baby’s birth to decide its fate.
Clotho (Greek: Κλωθώ) is the youngest of the Three Fates. Clotho was responsible for spinning the thread of human life. She also made major decisions, such as when a person was born, thus in effect controlling people’s lives. This power enabled her not only to choose who was born, but also to decide when gods or mortals were to be saved or put to death.
Daedalus – (a.k.a. David Alles, head of R&D at Mystikos Inc)
DAEDALUS (Δαίδαλος): Greek name meaning “cunning worker.” In mythology, this is the name of the man who created the Labyrinth for King Minos of Crete, in which the Minotaur was kept and from which the hero Theseus escaped. The ultimate inventor and god of geeks everywhere.
Mytikas
The highest peak of Mt. Olympus, and the company logo of Mystikos Inc.
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located in the Olympus Range on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia. Mount Olympus is noted for its very rich flora with several species. It is a National Park of Greece and a World’s Biosphere Reserve. In Greek mythology, Olympus was regarded as the “home” of the Twelve Olympian gods of the ancient Greek world. It formed itself after the gods defeated the Titans in the Titan War, and soon the palace was inhabited by the gods. It is the setting of many Greek mythical stories.
Mystikos
No hidden meaning here. Just a cool name for a company owned and operated by Greek gods.
Phantasos – (a.k.a. Phil Atos)
Executive level management in Mystikos Inc.
In Greek mythology, Phantasos (“Apparition”) was the son of Hypnos and one of the Oneiroi (dream gods). He has the ability to appear in dreams in the form of inanimate objects.
Dionysus – (a.k.a. Mike Bacchalakis)
DIONYSOS (Διόνυσος): Greek name composed of the elements Dios “Zeus” and Nysa, hence “Zeus-Nysa,” i.e. “god of nymphs.” In mythology, this is the name of a god of revelry and the intoxicating effects of wine.
He was also known as Bacchus, the name adopted by the Romans
Helene
HELÉNĒ (Ἑλένη): Greek name probably derived from the word helénē, meaning “torch.” In mythology, this is the name of the most beautiful woman ever to exist whose abduction by Prince Paris caused the Trojan War.
Helene’s role in Mystikos Inc. is not entirely clear, but she is definitely highly thought of by Nik Deimos since he’s willing to entrust Ellie in her care.
Amaltheia
AMALTHEIA (Αμάλθεια): Greek name meaning “to soothe.”
Amaltheia becomes Ellie’s personal consultant at the enigmatic Mystikos spa.
Harmonia – (Harmony)
HARMONIA (Αρμονία): Greek name meaning “concord, harmony.” In mythology, this is the name of the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, and is the immortal goddess of harmony and tranquility. She is often associated with the love that unites all people as well.
Nik’s sister.
Jason Andonios
ANDONIOS (Ανδώνιος): Greek form of Latin Antonius, possibly meaning “invaluable”.
Nik’s VP replacement at the U.S. branch of Mystikos Inc.
Kronos
KRONOS (Κρόνος): Greek name meaning “time.” In mythology, this is the name of the Titan father of Zeus (and therefore, Nik’s great-grandfather).
Aphrodite
APHRODITE (Άφροδίτη): In mythology, this is the name of the goddess of love (and Nik’s mom).
Ares
ARES (Ἄρης): Greek myth name of the son of Zeus and Hêrâ, the god of war (and Nik’s dad).
Zeus
Zeus (Ancient Greek: Ζεύς) is the “Father of gods and men,” who rules the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father rules the family according to the ancient Greek religion. He is the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology.
Zeus is the father of Aphrodite by Dione (and therefore, Nik’s grandfather).
Psyche
In Greek mythology, Psyche (“breath” or “soul”) is the goddess of souls and the wife of Eros (Cupid), god of love.
The Muses – (Ancient Greek: Μοῦσαι)
In Greek mythology, the Muses are nine goddesses of inspiration covering everything from science and myth to literature and art. They rarely interacted with humans, preferring instead to live amongst themselves.
Kalliope
In Greek mythology, Kalliope (Calliope) was the muse of epic poetry, considered the leader of the nine muses.
Apollo – (A. Paul O’Malley)
Greek god of prophecy, art, music, medicine, law, beauty, and wisdom, and also a notorious immortal playboy. He is credited with teaching the Muses, his half-sisters.
I had a bit of fun with his “human” name here; did you catch it? Apollo is also associated with the Greek verb apollymi, which means “to destroy,” and A. Paul O’Malley seemed to fit quite nicely. ;-)
References:
http://www.20000-names.com/male_greek_name.htm
http://www.20000-names.com/female_greek_names.htm;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonia_(mythology)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliope
http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/Psykhe.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronis_(mythology)
https://www.behindthename.com/name/apollo
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About the Author
Abbie Zanders is the author of more than 35 published romance novels ranging from contemporary to paranormal and everything in between. She promises her readers two things: happily ever afters, always, and no cliffhangers, ever.
Born and raised in the mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, she has degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics. She worked for more than twenty-five years as a software engineer, designing and writing financial applications, though she has also held second jobs as a deli clerk, pub waitress, restaurant baker, and secretary that she draws upon to give real-life dimension to her characters.
Abbie has been crafting stories since elementary school, though she has only recently decided to start sharing them with others. When she's not escaping into another world of her own creation, she's a busy wife and mother of three, including a set of identical twins. Besides being an avid reader and writer, she loves animals (especially big dogs), American muscle cars, and 80's hair bands.
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