Mythology/Questions Answered by Expert Maria

SubjectDate Asked
Mythology: Hades and nymphs2/2/2012
  Q: Did Hades have any nymphs that accompanied him?
  A: Hades (Greek Άδης transliterated as “Aïdes”, “the Unseen”, also called Pluto, or ...
roman mythology-origin of new year's resolution1/2/2012
  Q: I am writing an article on new year's resolution and read in a couple places, the origin stems from ...
  A: What really stems from Roman mythology is the myth of Janus (Latin, “Ianus” from “ianua”, door, ...
Information on Zeus11/10/2011
  Q: I need to find reliable information about the Greek god in mythology, Zeus. I would like to know ...
  A: Here are some websites where you can find reliable information about Zeus and his role in Greek ...
Greek Myth Pronunciation8/8/2011
  Q: I am looking for the correct pronunciation for the following six Greek myth terms. To the right of ...
  A: Here’s the correct pronunciation of the six mythological Greek names you mention. Each of them is a ...
greek mythology name11/18/2010
  Q: My question is what did the people who actually practiced Greek Mythology call themselves. Like ...
  A: You are right: the ancient Greeks did not think at all that their gods /goddesses were mythology ...
Pandora's Box10/28/2010
  Q: I was wondering if you could inform me how the Pandora's Box myth has evolved and what its modern ...
  A: Pandora's Box myth is an archetype/ an example of the weaknesses of humans who are not able to tame ...
Greek god of invention and machines10/25/2010
  Q: I have been doing some research on the Greek gods (mostly over the internet) and am trying to find ...
  A: In Greek mythology it was just Hermes that was considered the Greek god of invention and commerce, ...
gods10/20/2010
  Q: who is hestia?
  A: Hestia (Greek, Ἑστία) was the Greek virgin-goddess of the hearth fire and ...
HERMES9/2/2010
  Q: I have a question. Can you tell me anything/all about hermes and the myth/myths hes in???????
  A: actually it would be too long to talk about all the myths where the Greek Hermes (Mercurius, in ...
mythology animal8/7/2010
  Q: Ok. I have a silly question. Is there any animals in mythology that represent "true love or "love ...
  A: In Greco-Roman mythology, it was the dove - sacred to Aphrodite (Venus, in Latin), the goddess of ...
greek mythology oresteia7/30/2010
  Q: electra calls orestes " four loves in one " what does this mean
  A: In Aeschylus' Libation Bearers (The Choephoroi), lines 238 ff. Electra calls her brother Orestes ...
Apollo's Arrow6/30/2010
  Q: Are you familiar with the word Pytholem or Pitholem as the name of Apollo's arrow...the fastest ...
  A: I think that you refer to the adjective “Pythian “ (ancient Greek ...
Roman and Greek Gods and Goddesses3/23/2010
  Q: I am doing a research paper for my language arts 10 class about the similarities and differences ...
  A: I’ll start saying that, if you want to make a comparison between ancient Greek and Roman religious ...
Pivotal Greek Myth3/11/2010
  Q: I am witting a Final for my AP English class about Greek Mythology. I have two different questions. ...
  A: First of all I have to tell you that I can only give you some suggestions you yourself shall ...
Acceptable sacrifices/ offerings2/17/2010
  Q: I am working on a prodject about the greeks gods. My teacher is giving extra credit for alternative ...
  A: Yes, there were some offerings to the Greek gods that don’t involve animal slaughter. Although in ...
greek mythology2/10/2010
  Q: i'm writing a story for a friend, and i was wondering... i know there were plants of death and such, ...
  A: Here are the Greek mythological plants of the dead: 1-ASPHODEL. This spring-flowering perennial ...
Mythology2/2/2010
  Q: I am currently writing a musical and I need to do some research. I am trying to find out if there ...
  A: actually I know of some goddesses who fell in love with mortal men like e.g. Selene, the Greek ...
The greek god of war12/18/2009
  Q: Okay in an English class we were asked to do a project on a subject we really enjoyed. I chose Greek ...
  A: Here are my answers: 1.“Was Ares truly hated by all gods?” ANSWER: Yes, the savage and sanguinary ...
Muses12/14/2009
  Q: I am having a hard time finding any information on the nine daughters of Zeus, who were the muses. ...
  A: The genealogy of the Muses is not the same in all writers. The most common notion was that they were ...
zeus12/1/2009
  Q: how many different relationships did Zeus have besides Hera
  A: It is quite difficult to list all the relationships Zeus, the King of the Gods, had besides his wife ...
Similarities between Greek and Roman Mythology11/18/2009
  Q: I am attempting to write a college research paper on classical mythology. From what I understand, ...
  A: First of all I have to point out that in the earliest times, i.e. from Rome's foundation in 753 BC, ...
Mythology Forum7/4/2009
  Q: You might remember I fired off a long question to you last time. This time you'll be thankful to ...
  A: I’m sorry, but I really don’t know any reliable Mythology forum with in-depth thorough discussions ...
xanthus5/4/2009
  Q: i had a very vivid and realistic dream about a satyr. i won't go into all the details. i asked him ...
  A: In Greek mythology Xanthus(Greek:Ξάνθος /Xanthos, meaning “yellow”/” ...
Roman State Religion - Sacrafice5/3/2009
  Q: I'm doing a project for my latin class on the Roman State Religion and I was doing some reaserch and ...
  A: What you call “multiple animal sacrifices” is what in Latin was called “Suovetaurilia”, which was ...
Greek Mythology2/1/2009
  Q: Where was Atlas from, or where did he reside before being exiled?
  A: Actually in Greek mythology there is no reliable information about the place of origin of Atlas, as ...
greek/roman mythology12/7/2008
  Q: what is greek's impact on roman mythology?
  A: The original religion of the early Romans was quite modified by the assimilation of vast amount of ...
Question about Rhiannon12/3/2008
  Q: I am curious about Rhiannon. Who is she and why is she so important? Much thanks from a fellow ...
  A: I'm sorry, but I cannot help you simply because Rhiannon belongs to CELTIC Mythology which however ...
Mythological Doomsdays11/13/2008
  Q: In my world mythology class we've just started discussing Norse Mythology and the concept of ...
  A: In Greek/Roman mythology, whch is my field of expertise, there is no doomsday, i.e. no final ...
Roman Mythology10/14/2008
  Q: what can be some smaller questions that all are based on my bigger question how Roman mythology is ...
  A: Roman mythology is different from Greek mythology especially if we consider those divinities that ...
goats in greek mythology10/10/2008
  Q: I'm starting to research the mythos of goats, and interested in figuring out where to start. I have ...
  A: Here are some links related to the goats that often recur in Greek myths, as you can see below, ...
Nyx costume8/6/2008
  Q: i dont know if you can help me with this, as I'm looking at nyx from a wiccan standpoint, but here ...
  A: In Greek / Roman mythology which is my field of expertise (view my profile) the goddess Nyx ...
Tartarus/Tartaros6/29/2008
  Q: I'm writing this novel and came across some questions that i havnt been able to find the answers to ...
  A: The Tartarus Gates, i.e. the mythical gateway to hell, were in the lowest region of the underworld, ...
Versions of the Bellerophon myth6/17/2008
  Q: I have read two versions of Bellerophon (1) Homer's Iliad 6. (2) Library of Apollodorus. I can ...
  A: Granted that there are often different versions of the same myth simply because the ancient Greek ...
Greek Mythology today4/30/2008
  Q: How has Greek mythology affect the modern society?
  A: Actually modern society has been not affected by Greek mythology apart from some references to ...
Dyonisis4/5/2008
  Q: Can you tell me where I can find the story of Dyonisis - I can find fragments of his story but none ...
  A: First of all I have to point out that ancient Greek mythology has often many versions of the same ...
question about oddyssey1/11/2008
  Q: I'd like to know on which copy are based the Homer"s Oddyssey we read nowadays. Thanks
  A: The earliest known text of Homer’s Odyssey is the so-called ‘Peisistratean edition’, which was ...
literature12/31/2007
  Q: do you think that Virgil deplored the historical civil war that had just ended in Rome or that he ...
  A: Actually this question has nothing to do with mythology and then would not have been asked in this ...
to the fairest (ancient Greek text translation)12/16/2007
  Q: could you please tell me how to write `to the fairest', in ancient Greek letters. (as in the ...
  A: First of all I’m afraid you cannot read the Greek letters of the words “ Ôç êáëëßóôç “(small ...
gods12/11/2007
  Q: could you please tell me something about pre-Hellenic gods /goddesses? Thanks in advance. Nancy
  A: in the pre-Hellenic times, i.e. before the arrival in Greece of Indo-European peoples (the Dorians, ...
The Saturnalia11/29/2007
  Q: What's the Saturnalia? Can you give some info on this matter? Many thanks!
  A: Saturnalia was the winter festival at which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of ...
sources11/29/2007
  Q: What are the oldest surviving sources of Greek myth? Where are they kept? What condition are they ...
  A: The oldest existing copy of Homer's Iliad is in Venezia (Venice, Italy), at the Biblioteca ...
sources11/28/2007
  Q: What are the oldest surviving sources of Greek myth? Where are they kept? What condition are they ...
  A: Though your question is extremely broad and it would need a very long and detailed answer, as I’ve ...
classical mythology11/19/2007
  Q: What is the relationship of the word "phlegmatic" to classical mythology ?
  A: First of all the adjective "phlegmatic" has NOTHING to do with classical Greco/Roman mythology. ...
roman mythology/greek mythology11/11/2007
  Q: I know that the Romans got a lot of their myths from the Greeks. But are there any myths that are ...
  A: Among the Roman gods who were not completely identical with their Greek counterparts I can mention ...
Antaeus10/27/2007
  Q: I had some questions pertaining to the character Antaeus. What sources could I check to find out ...
  A: The primary sources on Antaeus, a huge Libyan giant, slain by Hercules, are the following: ...
English10/25/2007
  Q: How is the "Grim Reaper" referred to in Ancient Roman Mythology?
  A: Actually the so-called “Grim Reaper”, i.e. the personification of death usually portrayed as a ...
sword...10/22/2007
  Q: could you please tell me what the sword that Perseus used to behead Medusa was called please? i'm ...
  A: The sword Hermes gave Perseus to attack Medusa was a sickle-sword which could not be bent or broken. ...
ancient history10/15/2007
  Q: How did jason get across the ithsmus between the Aegean Sea & the Black Sea to get to Colchis? Do ...
  A: Medea killed her rival Glauce, the daughter of King Creon of Corinth, by sending her a poisoned ...
ancient history10/14/2007
  Q: How did jason get across the ithsmus between the Aegean Sea & the Black Sea to get to Colchis? Do ...
  A: first of all between the Aegean Sea & the Black Sea there was NO ISTHMUS and then Jason, the ...
Roman Mythology10/5/2007
  Q: I need an expert on Roman Mythology for a class project. If you have any resources I could use, ...
  A: You can see the following sites: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/8991/roman.html ...
Cyclops10/4/2007
  Q: How did the cyclops become a cyclops?
  A: I suppose you want to know the reason why the Cyclopes had a single round eye in the middle of ...
Help10/3/2007
  Q: In roman mythology i am having trouble trying to find a basic myth about the apocolypse. I hvae ...
  A: Actually in Roman mythology there is no basic myth about the Apocalypse as a total devastation ...
greek mythology9/23/2007
  Q: who were the creation gods of greek mythology?
  A: Greek mythology tells that the god CHAOS (Greek word meaning “void” as an empty space) was the ...
Nymphs9/15/2007
  Q: can you tell me please what you know about Castalia, Cyane, Kleodora and Kirra? Many thanks in ...
  A: CASTALIA, the daughter of river god Achelous, was a Greek nymph loved by Apollo. She fled from him ...
Icarus9/13/2007
  Q: Who was Icarus' mother? Do you know anything about her? Thanks.
  A: FOLLOW UP Just a little remark with regard to your ratings: try to consult any other expert in ...
The Fates7/31/2007
  Q: Are there any symbols associated with the fates?
  A: In Greek mythology the Fates, or Moirae, i.e. Clotho , Lachesis and Atropos, the goddesses who ...
Tithonus6/27/2007
  Q: We all know Tithonus didn't have eternal youth; but I'm wondering, for how many years, approx, did ...
  A: Sorry, but no one is able to tell us for how many years Tithonus, who was given eternal life by ...
two yolks in one egg6/22/2007
  Q: is there an omen to this
  A: In many cultures the egg, and especially one egg with two yolks, was regarded as a symbol of ...
Gods of war6/6/2007
  Q: What are the Roman and Greek Gods and/or Goddess of war?
  A: The major GREEK god of war was ARES, the son of Zeus and Hera, while the major Greek goddess of war ...
Poseidon's Seahorses5/11/2007
  Q: Poseidon drove a chariot drawn by horses variously described as:"foam white with brazen hooves and ...
  A: For these chariot horses we neither have a Greek name nor a Latin translation, since no ancient ...
Greek sacrifices4/29/2007
  Q: Why did the Greek sacrifice animals.
  A: The Greeks sacrificed animals simply because this was the ritual in ancient times when people had ...
snakes in greek Mythology4/22/2007
  Q: what does snake means in Ancient Greek mythology?
  A: In ancient Crete, i.e. in ancient Greek mythology, there was the so-called Snake Goddess, perhaps ...
I need some help please4/5/2007
  Q: My name is Andrew Thompson and I need some help with my expert project for my English class. If ...
  A: With regard to Titanomachy, i.e. the war between Zeus and the Titans, a race of godlike giants who ...
Greek Mythology on Hermes4/4/2007
  Q: Could you tell me what Hermes usually wore?
  A: Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia, the messenger of the gods , but also the god of commerce, land ...
pegasus4/3/2007
  Q: i was just wondering if there was anymore information about pegasus and the life of this mythical ...
  A: Here are some websites where you can get information about Pegasus, the mythical winged horse born ...
goddess eris1/29/2007
  Q: My inlaws are Greek and we started talking about the different mythological figures. Some mentioned ...
  A: Eris which in ancient Greek means “discord”,“strife” was exactly the Greek goddess of discord and ...
Omens & Signs11/9/2006
  Q: Do you know what omens and signs the ancient Greeks had back then?
  A: Omens, i.e. signs and symbols, usually of prophetic significance, as they warned of good or evil to ...
The most popular11/1/2006
  Q: If you had to choose one mythological Greek/Roman creature that was the most known throughout the ...
  A: If I had to choose one mythological Greek/Roman creature that was the most known throughout the ...
greek mythology9/28/2006
  Q: I was sure that the Creon from Oedipus and the Creon from Medea were the same person. But now I am ...
  A: actually in Greek mythology there were two kings named Creon : Creon, king of Thebes, and Creon, ...
Mythology9/13/2006
  Q: How did the Argonauts lose Hercules? How did the Symplegades and how did Jason escape its danger? ...
  A: here are the answers you need. - “How did the Argonauts lose Hercules?” They lost Hercules because ...
Greek Mythology8/25/2006
  Q: Does the greek mythology tell something about justice system, trials or hearing.
  A: The only allusion to justice system and trials we find in Greek mythology is related to the story of ...
roman mythology8/13/2006
  Q: what are the difnificance of roman mytholgy?
  A: This is a very broad question that would need a very long and detailed answer as Roman mythology was ...
greek mythology8/3/2006
  Q: I am just curious. is there any story in greek mythology that gives emphasis on leadership and the ...
  A: In Greek mythology there are many heroes like Herakles, the greatest of the Greek heroes, famed for ...
Sacrifices to the Greek gods.6/23/2006
  Q: Maria, Someone told me recently that each Greek god and goddess had specific preferences for their ...
  A: Here are my answers to your questions: -1st.”What was to be sacrificed?” The most basic sacrifice ...
Iliad6/1/2006
  Q: what does Hera use to deceive Zeus in Iliad 14, in her famous deception of Zeus?
  A: In Homer’s Iliad 14 Hera uses the following expedients to deceive her husband Zeus and prevent him ...
Greek Mythology and Careers4/20/2006
  Q: I am a licensed marriage and family therapist in California. I have a client who is a junior in ...
  A: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I cannot help you. In fact, you can ask me any question about Greek and ...
Greek Mythology11/21/2005
  Q: -Please Answer As Soon As Posible- What got you interested in Greek Mythology?Why? If you wanted ...
  A: 1-What got you interested in Greek Mythology?Why? ANSWER: Because I am interested in Greek and ...
Medea10/16/2005
  Q: I would like to know more about Helios' role in the tragedy of Medea, was his only role sending the ...
  A: In Euripides “Medea” Helios has no significant role. He simply provides his chariot, drawn by ...
Greek Mythology6/10/2005
  Q: I'm writing a modern day story based on the Jason and Medea myth in the style of an Agatha Christie ...
  A: I think you can use the name Teiresias (or Tiresias), though he was not a detective in the true ...
schooling5/24/2005
  Q: Were there colleges in the mythological period?
  A: Absolutely NOT, of course, if you refer to early Greek mythology which comprises the collected ...
Narkissos4/14/2005
  Q: Maria, There are far too many differing accounts of the myth of Narkissos. My understanding is that ...
  A: the original, authentic source of the Narkissos myth is the account we read in KONON, an obscure ...
eleusinian mysteries3/4/2005
  Q: Do you know anything about the signifigance of the penis in the eleusinian mysteries or in greater ...
  A: In Ancient Greece, fertility was very important and in Ancient Greek art, there is a lot of phallus ...
Trojan Horse2/19/2005
  Q: Can you tell me the earliest literary reference to the Trojan Horse? Most of the references I have ...
  A: the earliest literary reference to the Trojan Horse is Homer's Odyssey, book 8, lines 492 ff. where ...
Oedipus1/21/2005
  Q: What did Oedipus do after he learned the truth of his father? What did Jocasta do? How do the ...
  A: Here are the answers you need. 1-What did Oedipus do after he learned the truth of his father? ...
I want to know about "Orphisme literature"10/24/2004
  Q: I have a class at University about Greek mythology. Studying, I have known the word, Orphisme. The ...
  A: Here are some books about Orphic Mysteries or Orphism. -Orpheus & Greek religion: A study of the ...
mythology8/30/2004
  Q: How did geography effect Greek and/or Roman mythology?
  A: Generally speaking, geography has had some effects on classical mythology, especially because some ...
Leto8/29/2004
  Q: was leto in great pain when she gave birth to apollo and artemis?
  A: Yes, the pain of giving birth lasted in fact for nine nights and nine days. An exhausted Leto after ...
Lyrics7/15/2004
  Q: Looking for the meaning behind lyrics to a song, "Drops of Jupiter" by Train. The lyric reads, "Now ...
  A: Actually I do not know this song, but maybe the expression “drops of Jupiter” refers to a Greek ...
christianism4/10/2004
  Q: How is that thr romans became christians, how did it happen?
  A: Actually this question would need a very long and detailed answer, given the complexity of the ...
Pentheus & Agave3/3/2004
  Q: Who exactly are Pentheus and Agave? Briefly what are they known for? What's their significance? ...
  A: In Greek mythology, Pentheus was the king of Thebes,while Agave, Cadmus' daughter, was his mother. ...
The old lady at the spinning wheel10/10/2003
  Q: What is the meaning behind the old lady at the spinning wheel? Thanks for your help.
  A: In Greek mythology the old lady at the spinning wheel is Clotho, one of three goddesses (Fates)who ...
HELEN AND ALEXANDER8/5/2003
  Q: HELEN AND ALEXANDER Hi again Maria! Do you know QUO VADIS? It's probably my all time favourite ...
  A: I do know “Quo vadis” by Henrik Sienkiewicz and I've read this novel many years ago. So, Helen and ...
The Story of Persephone7/20/2003
  Q: My friend and I are having a debate regarding the number of pomegranate seeds, which Persephone ate ...
  A: Actually it's impossible to give a definite answer to this question as there are different versions ...

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Maria

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Greek and Roman mythology are my area of expertise.

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Over 25 years teaching experience.

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I received my Ph.D. from Genova University (Italy).

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