Why?
Why does civilization first spring up in an area that is difficult to survive in?
Difficult places require cooperation to survive.
"Hippos" means "horse" and "potamos" means "river" so a hippopotamus is a river horse.
What is the very first thing the various Noah figures do upon reaching dry land?
Where does civilization (and by extension, writing) begin?
Mesopotamia
Which of the nine Muses would a traveling bard invoke when beginning to recite epic poetry?
Calliope
Why are most surviving ancient stories that were originally carved on clay tablets only available to us in fragmentary form?
The word "Mesopotamia" is built from two Greek roots: "mesos" and "potamos." What do these two words mean?
"Mesos" means "middle" and "potamos" means "river."
What does Ariadne give to Theseus to aid him in defeating the Minotaur?
Ariadne gives Theseus a ball of yarn to help him find his way back out of the labyrinth.
Where does King Minos keep the Minotaur?
In a maze-like labyrinth underneath his palace.
Which of Zeus' sisters is he married to?
Hera
Why do the Sumerian gods create Enkidu?
Because Gilgamesh oppresses his people and they cry out to the gods for help.
What does the suffix "-ology" mean?
"-ology" means the study of.
What does Eris (goddess of discord) leave as a "gift" at the wedding of Thetis and Peleus?
A golden apple.
Where do Paris' parents leave him immediately after his birth?
On a hillside to die.
Which Mesopotamian king placed the story of his exploits into the foundation of the wall of his city?
Gilgamesh
Why does Icarus die?
Against his father's advice, he flies too close to the sun which melts the wax holding his wings together.
Apollo is called "Smintheus." What does this mean?
"Smintheus" means "lord of the mice."
What Greek social-contractual relationship between guests and hosts enables Paris to be well-treated by Menelaus on his visit to Sparta?
Xenia
Where are the "Acheans" from?
What is now Greece.
Which Greek city-state had the misfortune of supplying the yearly 7 boys and 7 girls needed to feed the Minotaur?
Athens
Why does Poseidon punish King Minos?
Minos keeps for himself the bull Posiedon sends him for sacrifice.
What is an "epithet"?
An "epithet" is a descriptor added to (or used in place of) a character's name.
What are the five requirements of a quest?
(a) a quester,
(b) a place to go,
(c) a stated reason to go there,
(d) challenges and trials en route, and
(e) a real reason to go there.
Where does Thetis hold baby Achilles when she dips him in a river of the underworld?
Which Greek god is deformed as a result of having been thrown off Mount Olympus by Zeus in a fit of anger?
Hephaestus