Arcadian Nights

by John Spurling

  Agenor Intended bridegroom for Andromeda, turned to stone by Medusa’s head.

  Aigisthos Son of Thyestes, first cousin of Agamemnon and lover of Clytemnestra, he helped her murder Agamemnon on his return from the Trojan War.

  Ajax

  1. Mighty Greek warrior in the Trojan War. Son of Telamon, King of Salamis. Defeated by Odysseus in the contest for the arms of the dead Achilles, Ajax went mad and killed himself.

  2. Greek warrior of the same name in the Trojan War, known as ‘the lesser Ajax’. Son of Oileus, king of the Locrians. On the voyage home from Troy, his ship was wrecked and he was drowned.

  Akamas Son of Theseus and Phaedra.

  Akrisios King of Argos, son of Abas and great-grandson of Danaos. Akrisios’ daughter was Danaë, who was visited by Zeus in the form of a shower of gold and bore Perseus.

  Alcestis Queen of Pherai, wife of Admetos. When he was claimed by Death she took his place and was saved by Herakles.

  Alkmene Mother of Herakles by Zeus and of Iphikles by her husband Amphitryon.

  Alpheios River and river god in the Peloponnese. The river rises in Arcadia and flows westward into the Ionian Sea. The river god fell in love with the sea-nymph Arethousa and pursued her across the sea towards Sicily.

  Amazons A legendary tribe of female warriors living on the south coast of the Black Sea.

  Amphitryon Husband of Alkmene, father of Iphikles and stepfather of Herakles.

  Anaxibia Agamemnon’s sister, wife to Strophios, king of Phokis and mother of Pylades. Gave asylum to her young nephew Orestes after he had been smuggled out of Mycenae.

  Anchises Mortal lover of the goddess Aphrodite, by whom he had a son, Aeneas, one of the Trojan warriors in the Trojan War. When Troy was sacked by the Greeks, Aeneas carried his father, by now an old man, out of the burning city and escaped.

  Androgeos Son of King Minos of Crete, waylaid and murdered as he left Athens after his victories in the Panathenaic Games.

  Andromeda Daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia, she was rescued from a sea monster by Perseus and married him.

  Antaios A huge man, son of Poseidon and Gaia, living in Libya. He wrestled with every stranger who came his way and used their skulls to build a temple to his father. But he met his match in Herakles.

  Antigone Incestuous daughter of Oedipus, king of Thebes, and his mother Iokaste. Her brothers were on opposite sides in a battle to capture Thebes. The attacking side was defeated and their uncle Creon, Oedipus’ successor as king of Thebes, refused to allow the losing brother, Polyneikes, to be buried. Antigone defied her uncle and buried him. She was punished by being walled up in a cave, where she committed suicide with her lover, Haimon, Creon’s son. Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone tells this story.

  Antiope Queen of the Amazons, succeeding her sister Hippolyte. Captured by Theseus and Peirithoös and became Theseus’ lover, bearing him a son, Hippolytos.

  Aphrodite Goddess of love, daughter of Zeus, known to the Romans as ‘Venus’.

  Apollo God of the sun, of the arts, of prophecy, medicine and disease.

  Arcadia In ancient times the territory in the middle of the Peloponnese, without access to the sea. In modern Greece, a province extended to include Kynouria on the western coast of the Gulf of Argos.

  Ares The god of war, son of Zeus and Hera. Like his half-brother Apollo, he was on the Trojan side in their war with the Greeks, though Homer has him ignominiously defeated when he joins the battle. He and Aphrodite, married to Hephaistos, were lovers. In some accounts he was the father of the Amazons. The Romans called him ‘Mars’.

  Argonauts The company of Greek heroes, under the leadership of Jason, who sailed in the ship Argo to steal the Golden Fleece from Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea.

  Ariadne Daughter of King Minos of Crete, who helped Theseus escape after he had killed the Minotaur. On their way back to Athens, she was left behind on the island of Naxos, but rescued by an even more powerful and prestigious lover – the god Dionysos.

  Artemis Goddess of hunting, twin sister of Apollo, connected with the moon as he with the sun. Known to the Romans as ‘Diana’.

  Asclepios Son of Apollo by a mortal woman, taught medicine by the centaur Chiron, Asclepios was so good at healing that he could even bring patients back from the dead. Fearing that if this went on people would never die, Zeus killed him with a flash of lightning.

  Athene Goddess of wisdom, of strategy and victory in war, industry and the arts, born from the head of Zeus. She was often sympathetic and helpful to mortal heroes, especially Perseus, Diomedes and Odysseus. Known to the Romans as ‘Minerva’.

  Athens Capital of modern Greece since 1834. In the fifth century BC a powerful city state and the heart of Greek culture.

  Atlas A Titan, brother of Prometheus, who fought with the other Titans against the Olympian gods and was defeated. His punishment was to stand on a mountain in North Africa and hold up the sky.

  Atreus King of Argos, son of Pelops and Hippodameia, father of Agamemnon and Menelaos. Constantly at odds with his brother Thyestes, the father of Aigisthos and Pelopeia, whom Atreus married as his third wife without knowing she was his niece.

  Augeias King of the Epeans and owner of the filthy cowsheds which Herakles cleaned as his fifth labour.

  Aulis Port on the coast of Boeotia, where the Greek fleets assembled before sailing across the Aegean to Troy.

  Bellerophon Corinthian prince, engaged to Aithra, princess of Troezen and later mother of Theseus. Riding the winged horse Pegasos, Bellerophon overcame the monster Chimaera and performed many heroic deeds. But becoming too audacious he tried to ride Pegasos to the top of Mount Olympos. The horse, stung by a gadfly, threw him back to earth and he ended as a crippled and half-crazed vagrant.

  Boreas The north wind.

  Cadmos Legendary founder of the city of Thebes. All the gods came to his wedding with Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite. Semele was their daughter.

  Calchas Greek priest and soothsayer who accompanied Agamemnon to the Trojan War and told him that he would have to sacrifice his daughter Iphigeneia to Artemis if he wanted the wind that was against them to change.

  Cancer The constellation of the crab, named after the giant crab which fastened on Herakles’ foot during his battle with the Lernaian Hydra.

  Cassandra Trojan princess, brought home to Mycenae by Agamemnon as one of his spoils of victory and murdered, like him, by Clytemnestra and Aegisthos.

  Cassiopeia Wife of Cepheus and mother of Andromeda. Foolishly boasted that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the Nereids.

  Castor Son of Leda, brother of Helen, twin of Polydeukes. Homer says his father was Tyndareus, some later storytellers make him the son of Zeus.

  Centaurs A mythical people, half-horses, half-men, living in Thessaly, until driven out by the Lapiths after their disgraceful behaviour at the Lapiths’ wedding feast for their king, Peirithoös.

  Cepheus Father of Andromeda, husband of Cassiopeia.

  Cerberos The enormous three-headed dog which guarded the gate of Hades.

  Charon The boatman who ferried the souls of the dead across the River Styx into Hades. He was paid with the coins which were placed between the lips of the dead before burial.

  Chimaera Fire-breathing female monster, part-lion, part-goat and part-dragon. Killed by Bellerophon.

  Chiron A centaur and, unlike the other centaurs, immortal as well as wise and civilised. He was taught medicine, prophecy, music, archery and gymnastics by the twin-gods Apollo and Artemis. His own pupils included Achilles, Diomedes and Jason and he was a friend of Herakles.

  Chrysothemis Daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, sister of Iphigeneia, Elektra and Orestes. She remained close to her mother in the years after her father’s murder and did not join her brother and sister in the murder of their mother.

  Clytemnestra Daughter of Tyndareus, King of Sparta, and his wife Leda, half-sister of Helen. Queen of Argos, wife of King Agamemnon.
While he was away at the Trojan War she ruled Argos with her lover Aigisthos and when her husband returned murdered him in the palace at Mycenae. She was murdered in turn by her son Orestes.

  Corinth A city-state on the north coast of the Peloponnese.

  Creon Brother of Oedipus and succeeded him as King of Thebes.

  Creousa Daughter of a king of Athens, raped by Apollo while gathering flowers on the Athenian Acropolis. She bore a son, Ion, in secret and Apollo had him transported to Delphi to serve in his temple there. When he had grown up, his origin was revealed and he became heir to the kingdom of Athens.

  Cronos The youngest Titan, son of Gaia and Ouranos. Father of Zeus, who castrated and dethroned him.

  Cyclops One-eyed giants, probably Titans, children of Ouranos and Gaia. Cronos threw them into Tartaros, but Zeus released them and they made thunderbolts for him, a helmet for Hades and a trident for Poseidon.

  Cyparissos Grandson of Herakles, lover of the god Apollo. Cyparissos was a keen hunter, but killed his favourite stag by mistake and was so grief-stricken that Apollo compassionately turned him into a cypress tree.

  Daidalos Legendary Athenian engineer, artist and architect working for King Minos of Crete. He created the labyrinth for the Minotaur. Later, when he fell out with Minos and was not allowed to leave the island, he made wings for himself and his son Ikaros so as to fly to another country.

  Danaë Princess of Argos. Zeus visited her in the form of a shower of gold and begat Perseus.

  Danaos Twin brother of Aegyptos. He quarrelled with his brother and fled to Argos. Aegyptos sent his 50 sons to marry Danaos’ 50 daughters, but Danaos suspected treachery and told his daughters to kill their bridegrooms on the wedding night. All the Danaids did so, except for Hypermnestra who spared her husband Lynkeus. They had a son, Abas, whose son Akrisios was the father of Danaë.

  Deïaneira Daughter of Oeneus, King of Kalydon. Wife of Herakles and unwittingly caused his death.

  Delos Small island in the Aegean, legendary birthplace of the twin gods, Apollo and Artemis.

  Delphi Site on the southern slope of Mount Parnassos of the god Apollo’s principal temple, where his priestess and priests delivered oracles, usually ambiguous in meaning.

  Demeter Sister of Zeus and goddess of agriculture, organic growth and family life. Mother of Persephone by her brother Zeus. Known to the Romans as ‘Ceres’.

  Demophoön Son of Theseus and Phaedra.

  Deukalion

  1. Son of Prometheus. When Zeus, angry with the human race, caused a flood to wipe them out, Deukalion and his wife Pyrrha were advised to build a ship by Prometheus and survived. When the flood subsided and the ship grounded on Mount Parnassos, Deukalion sacrificed to Zeus and pleaded for the human race to be restored. Zeus consented.

  2. Son of King Minos of Crete.

  Diktys Fisherman on the island of Seriphos who rescued Danaë and Perseus from their floating chest.

  Diomedes

  1. Greek warrior in the Trojan War, a favourite of the goddess Athene.

  2. Son of the war god Ares and king of the Bistones in Thrace. His four man-eating mares were the target of Herakles’ eighth labour.

  Dionysos God of wine, fruitfulness and drunken frenzy. Son of Zeus and the Theban princess Semele. Known to the Romans and often to the Greeks too as ‘Bacchus’.

  Dryopes A Thessalian tribe, driven out of their territory by the Dorians. They migrated to various other parts of Greece, including the Peloponnese.

  Elektra Daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, she helped her brother Orestes kill their mother in revenge for their father’s murder.

  Eleusis A town in Attica, famous for its temple of Demeter, the goddess of plenty.

  Elis Kingdom, once known as Apia, in the north-west Peloponnese.

  Epidauros Open-air amphitheatre near the north-east coast of the Peloponnese. Part of the sanctuary of the gods of medicine, Apollo and his son Asklepios. This was a huge health and fitness centre, the ancient equivalent perhaps, since it was also a place for worship, of the modern Lourdes in France. The stone theatre, built in the fourth century BC, seats 14,000 and is the best preserved of all Greek theatres. It has perfect acoustics and is still in use in the summer.

  Erechtheus Another name for Erichthonios, but in later myths also his grandson.

  Erichthonios First king of Athens, son of the blacksmith god Hephaistos. Brought up in the temple of Athene and credited with building a temple to Athene on the Acropolis (now the Parthenon).

  Erinyes Also euphemistically known as Eumenides or ‘Kindly Ones’. Ancient goddesses of the earth, older than the Olympian gods, who pursued criminals, especially those failing in duty to their parents. They pursued Orestes relentlessly after he had killed his mother. The Romans called them ‘The Furies’.

  Eunomos Boy serving the guests at a party in Kalydon. He spilled water over Herakles, who angrily cuffed him and unintentionally killed him.

  Euripides Athenian tragic dramatist of the fifth century BC. Modernised tragedy by making it closer to everyday life and questioning the moral authority of the gods.

  Europa Phoenician princess who travelled from Asia to Crete on the back of a white bull which turned out to be Zeus. Their child was King Minos.

  Eurydice

  1. Wife of the musician Orpheus.

  2. Wife of King Akrisios, mother of Danaë, grandmother of Perseus.

  Eurystheus King of Argos. His palace was at Tiryns, from where he sent his cousin Herakles out on his twelve labours.

  Eurytos

  1. A centaur who taught Herakles archery and tried to rape the bride of the King of the Lapiths.

  2. King of the Thessalian city of Oechalia, father of Iole.

  Evadne Attendant to Phaedra.

  Gaia Mother Earth, the first being to emerge from Chaos, giving birth to Ouranos (Heaven) and by him to most of the other primal beings, including the Titans. The youngest Titan, Cronos, was the father of Zeus and the other major Olympian gods.

  Ganymedes A beautiful youth from Asia Minor. Zeus fancied him and sent his eagle to carry Ganymedes up to Mount Olympos to be his cupbearer.

  Gorgons Three female monsters with wings, tusks, claws and serpents for hair, but otherwise more or less human faces. Two of them – Stheno and Euryale – were immortal, the third – Medusa – mortal. Whoever looked at their faces was turned to stone.

  Graiai Three immortal old women, sisters of the Gorgons. Their names were Pephredo, Enyo and Deino and they had only one eye and one tooth between them.

  Hades God of the underworld, also called ‘Hades’ by the Greeks. Brother of Zeus, he abducted his niece Persephone to be his queen in the underworld, causing his sister Demeter, Persephone’s mother, such grief that she gave up on her responsibility for agriculture, crops and all growing things. The result was famine and desolation on earth and a failure of human sacrifice to the gods. Zeus therefore intervened and Hades agreed to let Persephone back to earth for half the year and so inaugurate the seasons. The Romans called Hades ‘Pluto’ and Persephone ‘Proserpina’.

  Hebe Goddess of youth, daughter of Zeus and Hera.

  Hector Chief Trojan warrior, son of King Priam, brother of Paris, Cassandra and Polyxena. Killed by Achilles.

  Helen Legendary beauty, daughter of Zeus and Leda, queen of Sparta. She married Menelaos, brother of Agamemnon, but fell in love with a visiting prince from Troy, Paris. They eloped to Troy, causing Menelaos and his brother Agamemnon to raise a Greek army and spend ten years besieging Troy. When Troy was finally taken and sacked, Helen returned to Sparta with her husband Menelaos and settled down to enjoy home life again.

  Hephaistos Son of Zeus and Hera, the blacksmith god, lame and weak but married to Aphrodite, goddess of love, who cheated on him with Ares, the god of war. Hephaistos made a marvellously fine golden net which he threw over them when they were sleeping together and then brought the other gods to see them caught in each other’s arms. The Romans called him ‘Vulcan’.
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  Hera Queen of the gods, sister and wife of Zeus, goddess of marriage and childbirth. Because of her husband’s constant liaisons with other women, both mortal and immortal, she was frequently in a state of fury and vengefulness, which she relieved by punishing the women and their god-given children. Herakles was a particular target. She was known to the Romans as ‘Juno’.

  Herakleidai Descendants of Herakles who claimed the kingdom of Argos. They invaded several times and were driven off, but eventually succeeded in defeating and killing Tisamenos, son of Orestes, and ruled over most of the Peloponnese. This story probably has some foundation in fact, representing the Dorian invasions which brought an end to the Mycenaean civilisation around 1200-1100 BC.

  Herakles Legendary hero and demigod of superhuman strength from Argos in the Peloponnese. Son of Zeus and Alkmene. The Romans called him ‘Hercules’.

  Hermes Son of Zeus by Maia, daughter of the Titan Atlas. He was the gods’ messenger and, because of his cunning and smooth speech, the god of politicians, public speakers, thieves, con-men and media. The Romans called him ‘Mercury’.

  Herodotus Greek historian and traveller, active in the fifth century BC, ‘the father of history’.

  Hesiod Early Greek poet, author of Works and Days and Theogony, probably active in the eighth century BC.

  Hesperides Nymphs who guarded the golden apples given by Gaia to Hera when she married Zeus.

  Hippodameia

  1. Daughter of King Oinomaos of Elis, wife of Pelops, mother of Atreus and Thyestes.

  2. Bride of Peirithoös, king of the Lapiths.

  Hippolyte Queen of the Amazons, whose girdle, given her by the war god Ares, was acquired by Herakles as his ninth labour.

  Hippolytos Son of Theseus and the Amazon queen Antiope. His stepmother, Phaedra, fell in love with him with disastrous consequences for them both.

  Homer Epic poet, generally reckoned to be the author of both The Iliad and The Odyssey, but, since nothing is definitely known about him, almost as legendary as the characters and incidents of his great poems. Probably active in the eighth century BC on the east coast of the Aegean, then Greek, now Turkish.