MYTHS DAY 39 through 13

Myth 9 - Fearless

1. Why did Phaethon go to see Apollo? He was Apollo’s son, and he wanted to

drive the sun chariot across the sky.

2. Why must Apollo give Phaethon his wish even though he knows it will end in disaster?

He swore by the River Styx to do anything that Phaethon asked.

3. What went wrong?

Phaethon was not big or strong enough to keep the horses under control.

4. What was Phaethon’s fate?

Phaethon was killed by one of Jupiter’s thunderbolts.

5. What effects did Phaethon’s wild ride have upon the earth?

His ride created a desert and a frozen place.

Myth 10 – A Mother’s Love

1. Who is Ceres/Demeter and what modern holiday still has remnants of the ancient festivals to celebrate her (hint we do the modern version in late November)?

She is the goddess of agriculture. Thanksgiving is the modern holiday.

2. Who is Proserpina/Persephone? She was Demeter’s only daughter.

3. What happened to her?

Hades/Pluto/Dis grabbed her and took her to the underworld to be his queen.

4. What final decision was made regarding Persephone?

She had to stay in the underworld for six months out of the year and was allowed to be with her mother the other six months.

5. What does this myth explain? It explains why the seasons change.

Myth 11 – The Golden Touch

1. What good deed did Midas do for Bacchus?

Midas gave Bacchus a feast. 2. What is the “Midas touch”, and how

did Midas get it? Midas wished that everything he would

touch would turn to gold, and Bacchus granted his wish.

3. What is the moral or lesson that this story teaches?

The moral is be careful what you wish for.

Myth 12 – Io

1. Zeus has an affair with Io, and Hera finds out and becomes very angry. What does Zeus do to try to protect Io?

He turns her into a beautiful white heifer (young female bovine).

2. Whom did Hera send to guard Io? Hera sends Argus, who has a hundred

eyes, to guard Io.

3. How did Mercury outwit the watchman?

Mercury plays music and tells long stories until all of Argus’ eyes close in sleep. Then he cuts off Argus’ head.

4. What does this myth explain? This myth explains how the peacock got

eyes on its tail.

Myth 13 – Weaving and Pride

1. What was Arachne’s skill of which she was overly proud?

Arachne was a very good weaver. 2. Who does Arachne say that she is

better that at this skill? Arachne dares to say that she is a better

weaver than Athena/Minerva herself.

3. What does the goddess warn Arachne about?

Athena/Minerva warns Arachne not to be arrogant.

4. What happens to Arachne ? She gets into a weaving contest with

Athena/Minerva, invokes the goddess’ anger, and is turned into a spider.

5. What does this myth explain?

This myth explains where spiders came from.