ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPRSTU–Z

A to Aegyptus Aello to Agesilaus I Agesilaus II to Akhaia Akhaian to Alkman Alkmene to Anaetius Anakeion to Apaturia Apeliotes to Argos Argus to Arkhidike Arkhilokhos to Astyanax Astydameia to Azov

Agesilaus II to Akhaia

Agesilaus II
Agesilaos II

The nineteenth Eurypontidai king of the city of Sparta (ruled 399-360 BCE).

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon and the other was required to be a descendant of king Agis I (respectively known as the Eurypontidai and the Agiadai).

Although lame, Agesilaus was a dynamic and resourceful leader; he died commanding a military expedition against the Persians circa 360 BCE.

Agesilaus was the subject of Xenophon’s historic text Agesilaus.

Agesilaus I
Agesilaos I

The fifth Agiadai king of the city of Sparta (ruled circa 815-785 BCE).

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Agis I and the other was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon (respectively known as the Agiadai and the Eurypontidai).

Very little is known about Agesilaus I and the dates given for his rule are extrapolations and should be used only as approximations.

Agesipolis III

The twenty-ninth Agiadai king of the city of Sparta (ruled from 219-215 BCE).

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Agis I and the other was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon (respectively known as the Agiadai and the Eurypontidai).

Beginning with Leonidas I, the sixteenth Agiadai king who ruled from 490-480 BCE, the names and dates for the Spartan kings became a part of the historical record and are generally accepted as factual.

Prior to Leonidas I the dates for the Spartan kings are extrapolated back from historical times to approximate the time periods in which each king ruled.

Agesipolis II

The twenty-second Agiadai king of the city of Sparta (ruled from 371-370 BCE).

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Agis I and the other was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon (respectively known as the Agiadai and the Eurypontidai).

Beginning with Leonidas I, the sixteenth Agiadai king who ruled from 490-480 BCE, the names and dates for the Spartan kings became a part of the historical record and are generally accepted as factual.

Prior to Leonidas I the dates for the Spartan kings are extrapolated back from historical times to approximate the time periods in which each king ruled.

Agesipolis I

The twentieth Agiadai king of the city of Sparta (ruled from 395-380 BCE).

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Agis I and the other was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon (respectively known as the Agiadai and the Eurypontidai).

Beginning with Leonidas I, the sixteenth Agiadai king who ruled from 490-480 BCE, the names and dates for the Spartan kings became a part of the historical record and are generally accepted as factual.

Prior to Leonidas I the dates for the Spartan kings are extrapolated back from historical times to approximate the time periods in which each king ruled.

Agiadai

The family name for the descendants of one of the first kings of the city of Sparta, king Agis I.

The dates of his rule are not known for certain but we can assume that he ruled circa 930-900.

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Agis I and the other was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon; their families were respectively known as the Agiadai and the Eurypontidai.

The Agiadai are also referred to as the Agiads.

Agis III

The twenty-first Eurypontidai king of the city of Sparta (ruled 338-331 BCE).

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon and the other was required to be a descendant of king Agis I (respectively known as the Eurypontidai and the Agiadai).

Agis II

The eighteenth Eurypontidai king of the city of Sparta (ruled 427-399 BCE).

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon and the other was required to be a descendant of king Agis I (respectively known as the Eurypontidai and the Agiadai).

Agis IV

The twenty-fifth Eurypontidai king of the city of Sparta (ruled 244-241 BCE).

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon and the other was required to be a descendant of king Agis I (respectively known as the Eurypontidai and the Agiadai).

Agis I

The first and eponymous Agiadai king of the city of Sparta (ruled circa 930-900 BCE).

Sparta traditionally had two kings who ruled jointly; one king was required to be a descendant of king Agis I and the other was required to be a descendant of king Eurypon (respectively known as the Agiadai and the Eurypontidai).

Very little is known about Agis I and the dates given for his rule are extrapolations and should be used only as approximations.

Aglaia

One of the Graces who represented splendor, beauty and adornment.

Aglaia was the mother of the Greek soldier, Nireus.

Her sisters are: Euphrosyne and Thalia.

Aglaophon of Thasos

A painter from the island of Thasos circa fifth or sixth century BCE.

Aglaophon was the father and teacher of Polygnotus.

Agnostic

A person who believes God is unknowable; from the Greek word Agnotos, i.e. not known.

Agon (1)

In ancient Greece, a contest in which prizes were awarded for a variety of events: athletic, dramatic, musical, poetic and artistic.

Agon (2)

In Greek comedy, a formalized debate or argumentation.

The classifications into which modern scholars have divided Old Comedy are usually expressed in six elements:

  1. Prologue (setting the theme of the play),
  2. Parodos (introduction of the chorus),
  3. Agon (argumentation),
  4. Parabasis (choral ode),
  5. Episodes (resolving the Agon) and
  6. Exodos (celebratory conclusion).
Agora (1)

The name literally means “an assembly of the people” as opposed to “an assembly of chiefs.”

The term Agora was used in both the formal and general sense:

  1. To name the people’s council of any town,
  2. The name of the area where the council met and
  3. A common term for the market-place in any ancient Greek town.
Agora (2)

A Greek town on the narrow peninsula known as the Khersonese (Chersonese) in the district of Thrake (Thrace).

Agriope

Another name for the wife of Orpheus who was usually known as Eurydike (Eurydice).

She was a tree nymph, a dryad.

She was pursued by Apollon’s son, Aristaios and, as she was fleeing, she was bitten by a poisonous snake and died.

After her death, Orpheus was so distraught that he ventured into the Underworld in an attempt to bring her back to the sunlight.

Orpheus used his wit and talent to charm Hades (lord of the Underworld) and Agriope (Eurydike) was allowed to return to the surface of the earth provided that Orpheus lead the way and not look back to see if she was following him.

At the very last moment Orpheus was compelled to look around and, by doing so, Agriope (Eurydike) was returned to the land of the dead and lost to Orpheus until he also died.

Agrios
Agrius

Agrios, Latinos and Telegonos were the sons of Odysseus and the nymph, Kirke (Circe).

Agrius

One of the Giants who was imprisoned under Mount Aetna after the failed attempt by the Giants to overthrow the Olympians.

Agro

Tilled land, soil.

Agron

The son of Ninus and a descendant of Herakles (Heracles).

Agron was the first descendant of Herakles to rule the Persian capital, Sardis.

The rule of the Heraklidae, i.e. the descendants of Herakles, lasted 505 years.

Aguieus

A name for Apollon as Guardian of the Streets.

Also, Aguieus was the name of a pillar set up in front of buildings to evoke Apollon’s protection.

Aia
Aea

The original name for Kolkhis (Colchis).

Aia was an ancient country that bordered the eastern edge of the Euxine (Black Sea) south of the Caucasus Mountains.

Aia is best known as the land of the Golden Fleece and the realm of king Aietes (Aeetes).

Aiaia
Aeaea

The island inhabited by the beautiful nymph, Kirke (Circe).

The location of Aiaia is thought to be off the west coast of Italy north and west of Mount Vesuvius.

After seven years on the island, Zeus commanded Kirke to allow Odysseus to leave and resume his journey home to Ithaka (Ithaca).

Aias (1)
Ajax

Telamonian Aias, i.e. Aias, the son of Telamon (and Eriboea).

When Herakles (Heracles) was being entertained by Telamon, he prayed that Telamon would have a son; at that moment, Zeus sent an omen in the form of an eagle to signify his blessing; the name Aias is taken from the word for eagle, i.e. aetos.

Aias was a Greek hero during the Trojan War and said to be the largest man in the Greek army.

There is a popular story in which Aias is said to have killed himself out of jealously when Odysseus was awarded the armor of the fallen Akhilleus (Achilles) but, in The Odyssey (book 4, lines 500-511), Aias is said to have drowned because he mocked the Immortals and Poseidon (lord of the Sea) shattered the island where Aias committed the blasphemy, sending the hero to the bottom of the sea.

The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

Aias (2)

The son of Oileus and Eriopis and half-brother of Medon; also called Lesser Aias.

Aias was the king of Lorkis (Lorcis).

He was the Greek hero who fought side-by-side with his friend, Telamonian Aias; the names of the two men are often confused but unlike Telamonian Aias, Lesser Aias was slight of build and was clad in linen instead of bronze.

Aias was the best man with a spear in the Greek army.

Aides
Aidas

Another name for Hades (lord of the Underworld).

The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

Aidoneus (1)

A name for Hades (lord of the Underworld).

The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

Aidoneus (2)

A king of the city of Thesprotia in the district of Epirus.

The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

Aidoneus (3)

The eccentric king of the Molossians.

Aidoneus was named after the lord of the Dead, Hades, his wife was named Persephone, his daughter was named Kore (Core) and his dog was named Kerberos (Cerberus).

When Pirithous and Theseus went to the town of Aphidnus to kidnap Kore, Aidoneus had his dog kill Pirithous and took Theseus captive.

Aidos

The personification of Modesty, Respect and Shame.

In the poem, Works and Days (line 200), Hesiod explains to his brother that when Aidos (Shame) and Nemesis (Indignation) are gone from the earth there will be sorrow and no defense against evil.

The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

Aietes
Aeetes

The son of Helios (the Sun) and the Okeanid, Perseis.

Aietes was the legendary king of Kolkhis (Colchis) and the husband of Eidyia; with Eidyia, he was the father of Medea and Khalkiope (Chalciope) and with the nymph, Asterodeia, he was the father of a son named Apsyrtos; he was the brother of the sorceress nymph, Kirke (Circe).

Aietes is most famous for giving sanctuary to Phrixus when he came to Kolkhis on the flying ram with the Golden Fleece; Phrixus sacrificed the magical ram and placed its Golden Fleece in the Garden of Ares where it was guarded by a dragon.

When Iason (Jason) and the Argonauts arrived in Kolkhis and asked for the Fleece, Aietes was furious; Aietes decided that it would not be wise to blatantly refuse Iason’s request for the Golden Fleece, so he cunningly challenged Iason to demonstrate his strength by harnessing two fierce supernatural, bronze-footed bulls to a plow a field and sow the dragon’s teeth of Kadmus (Cadmus); the dragon’s teeth would grow into warriors and then Iason would have to fight and kill the Earth-Born warriors.

As the niece of Kirke and the priestess of the Earth-Goddess, Hekate (Hecate), Medea possessed magical powers; she used her powers to protect Iason and he successfully subdued the bulls, plowed a field, planted the dragon’s teeth and killed the Earth-Born warriors.

Aietes was again furious but he was bound by his promise to give Iason the Golden Fleece; Medea was afraid to stay in Kolkhis because she knew that when her father found out that she had helped Iason he would vent his wrath on her; Medea led Iason to the Golden Fleece and used her supernatural powers to bewitch the guardian dragon.

When the Argonauts fled Kolkhis with the Golden Fleece, Medea went with them; Aietes sent his fleet, led by his son Apsyrtos, to overtake Medea and bring her back for punishment; Apsyrtos was led into a trap by Medea and killed by Iason.

When Aietes found out that the Argonauts were being protected by the king of the Phaiakians (Phaeacians), Alkinoos (Alcinous), he demanded the return of his daughter; king Alkinoos, being wise and fair, declared that if Medea was unmarried she was still subject to her father’s will but if she was married, she was responsible only to her husband; Iason and Medea were married and Aietes was left without a son, without the Golden Fleece and, perhaps most painfully, betrayed by his daughter.

The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

Aigialeia

The wife of the Greek soldier, Diomedes and daughter of Adrastus.

Aigialeus
Aegialeus

The son of Adrastus and the only casualty when the Epigoni captured the city of Thebes.

Adrastus, who was already an old man, supposedly died of grief at the death of his beloved son, Aigialeus.

Aigikoreis
Aigicoreis

The name of one of the four oldest tribes of Ionia.

The name literally means Goat-Herds or Goat-Feeders.

The other tribes were known as:

Argadeis (Workmen or Laborers);

Oplites (Hoplites) (Men in Armor); and

Teleontes (Geleontes) (Farmers).

The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

Aigisthos
Aegisthus

The son of Thyestes and the cousin of Agamemnon.

When Agamemnon returned from the siege of Troy, Aigisthos conspired with Agamemnon’s wife, Klytemnestra (Clytemnestra), to murder Agamemnon.

In The Odyssey, Aigisthos set a trap for Agamemnon and killed him without the assistance of Klytemnestra; whether Aigisthos was acting of his own free will or whether he was simply a pawn of the Immortals is a matter of debate; his uncle, Atreus, had killed Aigisthos’ brothers and sisters in a blood feud with Aigisthos’ father, Thyestes, and his participation in Agamemnon’s murder was either divine revenge or a selfish attempt to get Agamemnon out of the way so he could marry Klytemnestra.

The play, Agamemnon, by Aeskhylus is much more dramatic and has Klytemnestra single-handedly murdering Agamemnon while the captive sorceress, Kassandra (Cassandra), tries unsuccessfully to warn Agamemnon of his impending doom.

Aigisthos was finally killed by Agamemnon’s son, Orestes.

Aigle

The daughter of Panopeus and, according to Plutarkh (Plutarch), Theseus might have abandoned Ariadne for Aigle after Ariadne helped him escape the labyrinth of her father, king Minos.

Aigokeros

The constellation Capricorn.

Aigokeros literally means, Goat-Horned.

The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

Aineias
Aeneas

The son of the mortal Ankhises (Anchises) and Aphrodite (goddess of Love).

His name might be translated as Awful, i.e. the Greek word ainos.

Aineias sailed with Alexandros (Paris) when he went to Sparta and kidnapped Helen.

When the Greeks arrived at Troy, one of the first things that Akhilleus (Achilles) did was to steal the cattle of Aineias.

Aineias fought in the defense the city of Troy and was one of the few survivors when the city fell to the Greeks.

Zeus promised that Aineias and his descendants would be the rulers of Troy after the reign of Priam was ended; the lord of the Sea, Poseidon, entered the battle of Troy to save Aineias when the young hero became too aggressive and wanted to fight Akhilleus.

There are several accounts of Aineias’ fate after the fall of Troy:

  1. During the siege of Troy, Aineias was constantly protected by Aphrodite and was able to escape with his father, his wife, Kreusa (Creusa), and his son, Iulus;
  2. Aineias was captured by the son of Akhilleus, Neoptolemus; and
  3. The Romans later claimed that Aineias had escaped to Italy and that his ancestors founded Rome, this story is told in the epic poem Aeneid by Virgil.
  • Iliad, book 2, line 820 and 822; book 5, lines 312+, 468 and 534; book 13, lines 459+; book 20, lines 307 and 325-336)
  • Theogony, line 1008
  • Hymn to Aphrodite, line 198
  • Kypria, fragment 1
  • Little Iliad, fragment 14
  • Sack of Ilion, fragment 1
  • Aiolos (1)
    Aeolus

    Legendary founder of the Aeolian nation; a son of Hellen and father of Alkyone (Alcyone), Athamas, Kalyke (Calyce), Kanake (Canace), Makareos (Macareus), Salmoneus and Sisyphus; his brothers were Xuthus and Doris.

    Aiolos (2)
    Aeolus

    The lord of the winds who was given his powers by Zeus; he lived on the floating island of Aeolia which is assumed to be located slightly north of the island of Sicily.

    Aeolus is most famous in mythology for assisting Odysseus in his quest to return home after the fall of the city of Troy; Aiolos put the winds into a container and told Odysseus not to open it until he was safely at home; members of Odysseus’ crew opened the container hoping to find treasure and unleashed the winds which drove them back to the island of Aeolia; Aiolos refused to help Odysseus again and his ships were left to the merciless winds.

    Aiolos (3)
    Aeolus

    The son of Kretheus (Cretheus) and the father of Aeson, thus he was the grandfather of the famous adventurer,Iason (Jason).

    Aiora

    A festival of ancient Attika (Attica) at which dolls were swung from trees to commemorate Erigone’s suicide by hanging.

    From the Greek word, aiora, i.e. swing.

    When mortal men were first exposed to wine, they became drunk and killed Erigone’s father, Ikarius (Icarius); Erigone was so grief stricken that she hanged herself from a tree.

    The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

    Aisa

    The goddess of Destiny

    Aisa is similar to the original goddess of Fate, Moira.

    The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

    Aisepos (1)

    One of the twin sons of Boukolion and the nymph, Abarbare.

    Aisepos and his brother, Pedasos, were killed by the Greek soldier, Euryalos, while defending the city of Troy.

    Aisepos (2)

    A river god.

    One of the sons of Okeanos (Ocean) and Tethys.

    The Aisepos River flows into the Propontis (Sea of Marmara) from the Phrygian mainland.

    Zeus gave the Rivers, Apollon and the Okeanids the special obligation of having the young in their keeping.

    Aison

    The son of Kretheus (Cretheus) and the father of Iason (Jason).

    When Iason and the Argonauts returned from their quest for the Golden Fleece, Aison was forced to commit suicide by king Pelias; as revenge for the death of Aison, Iason’s wife, the sorceress Medea, tricked Pelias’ daughters into killing their father in order to make him immortal.

    The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

    Aithalides
    Aethalides

    The son of Hermes and Eupolemeia.

    Aithalides was one of the Argonauts and the half-brother of the Argonauts, Erytos and Ekhion (Echion).

    Because of his indelible memory, Aithalides was the herald of the Argonauts.

    Aither
    Aether

    The child of Erebus (Darkness) and Nyx (Night).

    Aither was conceived with Hemera (Day).

    Aither literally means Brighter Purer Air, i.e. the sky above as opposed to the lower atmosphere.

    The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

    Aithon
    Aethon

    One of the chariot horses of the Trojan hero, Hektor (Hector).

    Hektor’s other horses were: Xanthos (Xanthus), Podargos (Podargus) and Lampos (Lampus).

    Aithregenes
    Aethregenes

    An epithet for Boreas (North Wind) meaning Born in Aither.

    Aithregenes was one of the sons of Eos (Dawn) and Astraios.

    The Ai (alpha iota) is a vowel-digraph that is pronounced as a short E.

    Ajax
    Aias

    Telamonian Aias, i.e. Aias, the son of Telamon.

    Aias was called Ajax by the Romans and for some unknown reason most writers insist on using his Roman name instead of his proper Greek name.

    Aias was a Greek hero of the Trojan War and said to be the largest man in the Greek army.

    There is a popular story in which Aias is said to have killed himself out of jealously when Odysseus was awarded the armor of the fallen Akhilleus (Achilles) but, in The Iliad (book 4, lines 500-511), Aias is said to have drowned because he mocked the Immortals and Poseidon (lord of the Sea) shattered the island where Aias committed the blasphemy, sending the hero to the bottom of the sea.

    Akademus
    Academus

    The hero who assisted Kastor (Castor) and Polydeukes (Polydeuces or Pollux) in the rescue of their sister, Helen, after she had been kidnapped by Theseus.

    Akademus revealed Helen’s hiding place to her brothers and allowed them to rescue her; sometimes this deed is attributed to another hero named Dekelus (Decelus).

    Akakallis
    Acacallis

    The daughter of Minos who was driven from her home by her father and came to dwell in Libya.

    Akakallis was the consort of Apollon with whom she had a son, Amphithemis.

    Akamas
    Acamas

    The son of Theseus and Phaedra; the brother of Demophon.

    Akanthus
    Acanthus

    The ornamental leaf design used to decorate the capitals of Corinthian Columns; the leaf design was copied from the plant Acanthus spinosa.

    Akarnania
    Acarnania

    The coastal region of the west-central part of ancient Greece; bounded by the Akhelous (Achelous) River on the south and the Gulf of Amurakia on the north.

    Akaste
    Acaste

    An Okeanid, i.e. one of the three thousand daughters of Okeanos (Ocean) and Tethys.

    Zeus gave the Okeanids, Apollon and the Rivers the special obligation of having the young in their keeping.

    Akastos
    Acastus

    The son of the king of Iolkos (Iolcos), Pelias, and Anaxibia.

    Akastos is most famous for his participation in the Kalydonian (Calydonian) Hunt but he also participated, against his father’s will, in the quest for the Golden Fleece with the Argonauts.

    His father, Pelias, was the man who sent Iason (Jason) and the Argonauts on the seemingly impossible quest for the Golden Fleece.

    When the Argonauts returned to Iolkos with the Fleece, Iason’s sorceress wife, Medea, induced Akastos’ sisters to kill Pelias in an attempt to restore his youth; as punishment, Akastos banished Iason and Medea from Iolkos.

    At the funeral games for his father, Akastos’ wife, Astydameia, became infatuated with another of the Argonauts, Peleus, and made unwanted advances towards him; when he rejected her, she lied to Akastos and as a result, Akastos had Peleus disarmed and abandoned him on Mount Pelion to die; the Centaur, Kheiron (Chiron) found Peleus and saved him from certain death on the mountain.

    His name may also be rendered as Akastus or Acastus.

    Akhaemenes (1)
    Achaemenes

    In Persia, the legendary ancestor of Kyrus (Cyrus), Kambyses (Cambyses) and Darius who founded the ruling family called the Achaemenids which lasted until the time of Alexander the Great (circa 330 BCE).

    Akhaemenes (2)
    Achaemenes

    In the Persian royal dynasty, the son of Darius who was the governor of Egypt during the rule of Xerxes (485-465 BCE) and also served as an admiral in the fleet of Xerxes during the invasion of Greece in 480 BCE.

    Akhaemenes was killed by Inarus the Libyan.

    Akhaemenids
    Achaemenids

    The first royal house of Persia which was founded by the legendary Akhaemenes (Achaemenes) and ended with Darius III at the hands of Alexander the Great (circa 330 BCE).

    Akhaia
    Achaea

    The name for the goddess, Demeter, in Attika (Attica).

    Agesilaus II to Akhaia

    A to Aegyptus Aello to Agesilaus I Agesilaus II to Akhaia Akhaian to Alkman Alkmene to Anaetius Anakeion to Apaturia Apeliotes to Argos Argus to Arkhidike Arkhilokhos to Astyanax Astydameia to Azov

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