Cut the Gordian knot

常见英语词汇背后的希腊神话故事1.The Heel of Achilles 亦作The Achilles' Heel唯一弱点；薄弱环节；要害The Heel of Achilles直译是“阿基里斯的脚踵”，是个在欧洲广泛流行的国际性成语。

它源自荷马史诗Iliad中的希腊神话故事。

阿基里斯是希腊联军里最英勇善战的骁将，也是荷马史诗Iliad里的主要人物之一。

传说他是希腊密耳弥多涅斯人的国王珀琉斯和海神的女儿西蒂斯所生的儿子。

阿基里斯瓜瓜坠地以后，母亲想使儿子健壮永生，把他放在火里锻炼，又捏着他的脚踵倒浸在冥河(Styx)圣水里浸泡。

因此阿基里斯浑身象钢筋铁骨，刀枪不入，只有脚踵部位被母亲的手捏住，没有沾到冥河圣水，成为他的唯一要害。

在特洛伊战争中，阿基里斯骁勇无敌，所向披靡，杀死了特洛伊主将，著名英雄赫克托耳(Hector)，而特洛伊的任何武器都无法伤害他的身躯。

后来，太阳神阿波罗(Apollo)把阿基里斯的弱点告诉了特洛伊王子帕里斯，阿基里斯终于被帕里斯诱到城门口，用暗箭射中他的脚踵，负伤而死。

因此，the heel of Achilles,也称the Achilles' heel，常用以表示a weak point in something that is otherwise without fault;the weakest spot等意思。

2.Helen of Troy 直译"特洛伊的海伦"，源自源自荷马史诗Iliad中的希腊神话故事。

Helen是希腊的绝世佳人，美艳无比，嫁给希腊南部邦城斯巴达国王墨涅俄斯(Menelaus)为妻。

后来，特洛伊王子帕里斯奉命出事希腊，在斯巴达国王那里做客，他在爱与美之神阿芙罗狄蒂的帮助下，趁着墨涅俄斯外出之际，诱走海伦，还带走了很多财宝。

此事激起了希腊各部族的公愤，墨涅俄斯发誓说，宁死也要夺回海轮，报仇雪恨。

为此，在希腊各城邦英雄的赞助下，调集十万大军和1180条战船，组成了希腊联军，公推墨涅俄斯的哥哥阿枷门农(Agamemnon)为联军统帅，浩浩荡荡，跨海东征，攻打特洛伊城，企图用武力夺回海轮。

1. a wolf in sheep’s clothing此语源自<<伊索寓言>>,直译为“披着羊皮的狼”,也可表示这些意义“伪装成朋友的敌人;貌善心毒的人,伪君子”等. 该成语涉及这样一则故事:一只狼披着羊皮混到羊群里去了,欺骗了羊羔,并把羊羔吃了.又见<<新约.马太福音>>第七章有如此一说: “你们要防备假先知.他们到你们这里来,外面披着羊皮, 里面却是残暴的狼.”例句：Mrs Martin trusted the lawyer until she realized that he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.马丁太太原来很信任那个律师，后来才认清他是个披着羊皮的狼。

Mr Black was fooled by the salesman’s manner until he showed that he was really a wolf in sheep’s clothing，by selling Mr Black a car that was falling apart. 布莱克先生被推销员愚弄了，后来才发现原来推销员貌善心毒的人。

他卖给布莱克先生的是一辆要垮的小汽车。

2. a dog in the manger此成语源自<<伊索寓言>>,含贬义.该成语涉及这则故事:一只狗躺在马槽里,马或牛来吃食时,它却不让,但狗自己又不能吃.LDC认为该成语指“自己不能享用又不让别人享用的人”. 我们一般选择此译法: “占着茅坑不拉屎(的人)。

例句：I’d like to ask you to consider it again and not to be a dog in the manger . 我劝你还是再考虑考虑，不要干那既损人又不利己的事。

3.to carry coals to Newcastle此语与法国谚语“运水入河”相当,可译为“多此一举”.纽卡斯尔(Newcastle)是英国的产煤基地.例句：It would be like carrying coals to Newcastle if another bank opened in this street ; there are three here now .如果再在这条街上开一家银行，那可真是多此一举，因为这条街目前已经有三家银行了。

Idiom成语：cuttheGordianknot
Cut the Gordian knot 这个成语，源于古代希腊的历史传说，主人公是 Alexander the Great，中文称为亚历山大大帝，被视为历史上最著名的Conqueror之一，曾征服欧洲、非洲、亚洲的大片领土。

在离开家乡希腊半岛到处征战之初，Alexander曾来到位于今天土耳其的一个名为 Gordium的市镇；当地有一个著名的 Knot 绳结，非常复杂；根据传说，能够解开这个绳结的人，将会征服亚洲的大片领土。

很多人都曾经费力尝试，但都没有解开这个Gordian knot；Alexander的解决方案是，拔出佩刀，把绳结割断，从而解开了Gordian knot.
英语中的 Knot
在今天的英语中，Cut the Gordian knot 是一种比喻，含义是：To solve a notoriously difficult problem in a quick and decisive manner，有此像中文所说的“快刀斩乱麻”。

Gordian knot 虽然最为著名，但英语文化中和 Knot相关的各种成语和用法，更多是来源于航海领域。

在19世纪以前的风帆时代，航海船只上经常要使用各式绳索；Tie knots 打各种各样的绳结，是水手们的必备技能。

英语中有 Learn one’s ropes的说法，就是源于水手学员的这门基础功课。

另外，在英语文化中，Knot 还会让人想到，在公元5世纪日耳曼部落迁移到英格兰之前、在英国各地居住的 Celts 民族。

当年的 Celtic culture 留下了大量带有Knot绳结装饰图案的文物遗迹，今天在各种装饰造型中仍然经常使用。

1 希腊神话典故在英语中的妙用希腊神话典故在英语中的妙用人们在口头或书面表达自己的思想情感时经常使用典故。

典故通常是指古书中的故事或词语。

例如，“破釜沉舟”这个典故出自《史记•项羽本纪》，指把船凿沉，打破饭锅，与强敌决一死战，后比喻为下决心干到底。

作者如能巧妙地运用典故，不仅会使文章在叙事、状物、绘景、写人上多姿多彩，而且寓意深刻，令人回味。

英语中的典故也非常丰富。

我们经常在文学作品和演讲中碰到。

如果读者对典故的出处和内涵不甚了解，就无法准确地理解其寓意，无法欣赏其魅力。

众所周知，古希腊文明是人类文明史上一颗璀璨的明珠，她为人类留下了一大批珍贵的文化遗产，对世界文明的发展产生了深远的影响。

希腊神话就是这些珍贵的文化遗产中的一部分。

希腊神话中众多的故事和词语现在已经成为英语语言中的常用词汇和成语。

下面选取了12个例句。

这12个句子都含有出自希腊神话中的典故。

这些典故用词不多，但内涵丰富，寓意深刻。

在此我们追根溯源，探讨其本义，分析其现在的所喻所指，以飨读者。

1．Thanks to her agent，a veritable Pygmalion，she was transformed from an ugly duckling into a Hollywood beauty.皮格马利翁（Pygmalion）是塞浦路斯国（Cyprus）国王，也是一位雕刻家。

他爱上了自己所雕塑的少女像（Galatea），爱与美的女神阿佛洛狄特（Aphrodite）见其感情真挚，赋予雕像以生命，使两人结为夫妻。

Pygmalion现在喻指“对他人或物抱有积极主动、热切期盼态度的人”。

例句中Pygmalion正是取了该意。

1968年罗森塔尔（R.Rosenthal）与雅各布森（K．Jacobson）发表了一份名为《教室中的皮格马利翁》（Pygmalion in the Classroom）的研究报告。

这项研究的目的在于纠正教师的偏见。

戈尔迪乌姆之结公元前334年，亚历山大大帝率大军来到了小亚细亚的北部城市戈尔迪乌姆。

在小亚细亚的北部城市戈尔迪乌姆的卫城上，矗立着宙斯神庙。

神庙之中，有一辆献给宙斯的战车。

这可不是一辆普通的战车，在它的车轭和车辕之间，用山茱萸绳结成了一个绳扣，绳扣上看不出绳头和绳尾，要想解开它，简直比登天还难。

神谕说，如果谁能解开这个结，那么他就会成为亚细亚之王。

这便是有名的戈尔迪乌姆之结（Gordian knot）。

几百年来，戈尔迪乌姆之结难住了世界上所有的智者和巧手工匠。

亚历山大大帝对这个传说很感兴趣，于是命人带他去看这个神秘之结。

他见到了车，见到了绳，但见不到绳头和绳尾。

他明白若按正常途径，是解不开这个结的。

他凝视绳结，猛然之间拔出宝剑，手起剑落，绳结破碎。

在场的人惊呆了，继而发出雷鸣般的欢呼声，齐声赞誉亚历山大是超凡的神人。

亚历山大最终也成为「千古一帝」。

在希腊神话里，有一个普通农民成为国王的传说，这个农民叫戈尔迪（Gordius）。

有一次，戈尔迪在耕地时，一只鹰落在了牛轭上，一位女预言家说此事预兆着他将要掌握王权。

果然不久，弗瑞吉亚（Phrygia）人就死了国王，他们祈求神示（oracle）谁将成为他们的国王，神示说：他们最先遇到的乘牛车的人就是他们的国王。

而此时，戈尔迪正好赶着牛车进城，弗瑞吉亚人就拥戴他为国王。

戈尔迪登基后，为了感谢神恩，就把那辆给他带来好运的牛车存到圣殿里，献给众神，他用极其复杂的结子把牛轭牢牢地系在牛车上，这就是所谓的戈尔迪之结（the Gordian knot）。

神示说：谁能解开此结，谁就可以统治东方。

但许多人都试过了，无人能解开这个结。

几个世纪之后，希腊半岛出现了一位胆略过人、年轻有为的国王，他名叫亚历山大（Alexander, 356-323 B.C.），亚历山大统一了希腊全境之后，以征服者的姿态来到弗瑞吉亚，当有人告知戈尔迪之结极其预言时，他笑了笑说“就让我来执行这个任务吧。

海格力斯(Heracles)：希腊神话中最伟大的英雄，阿尔克墨涅和宙斯所生的儿子，以力大闻名。

宙斯(Zeus)：克洛诺斯和瑞亚之子；掌管天界，是第三任神王。

哈得斯(Hades)：宙斯的兄弟；掌管冥府，同时也是财富之神；有一顶可以隐身的帽子；残忍，可怕，但很守信。

赫柏(Hebe)：宙斯和赫拉之女；青春女神，是俄林波斯山的斟酒女郎。

后嫁给海格力斯为妻。

潘(Pan)：赫尔墨斯之子；山林之神；张着一对羊角和一双羊蹄。

是个出色的作曲家和笛子演奏家。

快乐和顽皮的神，经常和山林的女仙们跳舞。

然而，由于他丑陋的外表，总找不到老婆。

美惠三女神(TheGraces)：宙斯和欧律诺墨的女儿；众神的歌舞演员，为人间带来诸美；分别是:阿格莱亚(Aglaia，光辉女神)，欧佛洛绪涅(Euphrosyne，欢乐女神)，塔利亚(Thalia，激励女神)。

? 珀伽索斯(Pegasus)：飞马；波塞冬与墨杜萨所生，当珀耳修斯割下墨杜萨的头时，与克律萨俄耳一起从墨杜萨头中跳出。

1)Achilles heel ——“致命的地方”或“最薄弱的环节”2) A herculean task ——任务艰巨, 工程浩大3)An apple of discord ——争端, 祸根4)Between Scylla and Charybdis ——进退维谷, 左右为难5)Damon and Pythias ——生死之交, 莫逆之交6)Pandora’s box ——潘多拉的盒子, 灾难的根源7)Sisyphean ——西西弗斯的, 永远做不完的, 徒劳的8)The sword of Damocles ——达摩克利斯之剑, 降临的危险, 形势危急9)Titans ——提坦, 力大无比的人, 巨人, （学术界、政界的）巨头10)Trojan horse ——特洛伊木马, 内部颠夜者, 奸细11)Helen of Troy ——直译“特洛伊的海伦”,红颜祸水;倾国美女12)Greek Gift ( s) ——直译“希腊人的礼物”;阴谋害人的礼物,黄鼠狼拜年,不安好心13)A Penelope’s Web 或The Web of Penelope ——直译为“珀涅罗珀的织物”;故意拖延的策略,永远做不完的工作14)Swan Song ——直译“天鹅之歌”;最后杰作,绝笔15)Win/ Gain Laurels ——获得荣誉;赢得声望16)Under the Ro se ——秘密地;私下地,暗中17)The Augean Stable ( s) ——直译“奥吉亚斯的牛圈”;肮脏的地方,藏垢纳秽之所,积弊18)A Procrustean Bed ——直译“普洛克路斯忒斯的床”;削足适履,使穿小鞋19)A Gordian Knot ——直译“戈耳迪之结”;难解的结,难题,难点20)Cut the Gordian Knot ——直译“斩断戈耳迪之结”; 快刀斩乱麻;果断处置。

有内涵!出自神话的词汇,你懂几个每个词都是一个故事，有的源自希腊神话、圣经，有的典出西方名著。

熟悉这些词汇，对理解英美文学帮助可不小呢。

Promethean [prə'mi:θjən] fire普罗米修斯之火▌含义智慧创新、文明开化的力量。

▌典故普罗米修斯，Prometheus [prəu'mi:θju:s]，是最具智慧的神明之一。

他胆识过人，能未卜先知，名字便有“先见”（forethought）的意思。

普罗米修斯从天庭盗火给了人类，使人间有了火种；他又传授各种技艺知识，使人间有了文化。

所以，普罗米修斯之火就指智慧创新、文明开化的力量。

而普罗米修斯一词也被用于指代勇于创造、大胆创新的人物。

▌例句I wonder from where he got the Promethean fire to produce such amasterpiece.不知道他从哪里得来的创意和灵感，创作出这样的杰作。

Ford was akind of Promethean figure, taking a revolutionary new technology out of the hands of the élite and giving it directly to the people.福特可谓是普罗米修斯式的人物，他从社会精英的手中夺走革命性新技术直接反哺给社会大众。

Pandora's [pæn'dɔ:rə] Box潘多拉的盒子▌含义灾祸之源。

“Open Pandora’s Box”即“引发种种祸患”。

▌典故潘多拉是希腊神话中第一个尘世女子。

普罗米修斯盗天火给人间后，主神宙斯为惩罚人类，命令神用黏土塑成一个年轻美貌、虚伪狡诈的姑娘，取名“潘多拉”，意为“具有一切天赋的女人”。

宙斯把潘多拉送给普罗米修斯的弟弟厄庇墨透斯为妻，嫁妆是一个装满灾难和祸患的密封盒子。

希腊罗马神话复习一．单选（课文）10分二．判断（课文）10分三．表格（默写）20分四．名词解释（课后）20分C11.delphic: It relates to Delphi.It means ambiguous.2.Olypian: It relates to Olympian Gods.It means that some one is like agod,especially by being calm and not concerned about ordinary things.3.martial: It relates to Mars.It means something connected with war and fighting.4.nemesis: It relates to Nemesis.It means a punishment that is deserved and cannot be avoided.5.titanic:I t relates to Titans.It means something big ,strong and powerful.C21.Junoesque:It relates to Juno.It means someone is elegant and beautiful like Juno.2.Argus-eyed:It relates to Argus.It means someone is watchful and alert.3.satyr/satyriasis:It relates to Satyr.It means someone that has an abnormally intense sexual desire in men.4.mercurial:It relates to Mercury.It means having feelings that change suddenly and without warning.C41.chaotic:It relates to Chaos.It means messy and disorder.2.Pandora’s box:It relates to Pandora. It means the root of troubles.3.Promethean:It relates to Prometheus.It means a person who resembles Prometheus.C61.Dionysiac:It relates to Dionysus.It means Sensuality, debauchery, and revelry.C71.Midas’/ass’s ears:It relates to Midas.It means A secret that cannot be hid.It also menas someone is shallow and uninformed.2.Midas/the golden touch:It relates to Midas.It means touching a stone and turning it into gold.3.cut the Gordian knot:It relates to Alexander.It means solving a complex problem with a bold strike.C81.cereal:It relates to Ceres.It means grains.2.aureole:It relates to Aurora.It means a bright circle of light.1.Charon’s boat/ferry:It relates to Charon.It means some one is going to die.2.cross the Styx:It means some one is going to die.C121.gain/reap/win（one’s）laurels: It relates to Daphne. It means gaining one’s honors.2.Look to one’s laurels:It relates to Daphne.It means to work hard in order not to lose the achievement.3.rest/repose/retire/sit(back)on one’s laurels: It relates to Daphne.It means to satisfy with what you have achieved and stop trying.4.a Noble/poet laureate:It relates to Daphne.It means to be a noble price winner.C131.cupidity: It relates to Cupid.It means a very strong desire for something.2.erotic:It relates to Eros.It means sexual excitement.C141.Aphrodite’s girdle:It relates to Aphrodite.It means unlimited female sexuality.2.adonis:It relates to Adonis.It means some one is a handsome young man.C161.Narcissism:It relates to Narcissus.It means the habit of always thinking about yourself and admiring yourself.C171.Pygmalion effect:It relates to Pygmalion. It is a phenomenon in which the greater the expectation placed upon people ,the better they perform.C181.atlantean:It relates to Atalanta. It means strong ,powerful and gigantic.2.Mount one’s Pegasus: It relates to Pegasus.It means to write a poem.3.a chimera in one’s brain: It relates to Perseus.It means the fantasy in one’s mind.C201.the choice of Heracles: It relates to Heracles.It means some one is in a dilemma.2.Cleanse the Augean Stable:It relates to Augeas.It means to remove something totally.3.Herculean effort:It relates to Hercules.It means great effort.C211.sow dragon’s teeth: It means to provoke war by spreading dispute;or cultivate warriors or monster.2.a Cadmean/Pyrrhic victory:It relates to Cadmus.It means a victory that comes ata great cost.C221.sphinx riddle:It relates to Sphinx.It means a puzzle which is very difficult to solve.C241.the apple of discord: It means the root of the trouble and any subject of possible of contention or disagreement.2.Achilles’heel:It relates to Achilles.It means a weak point in something that is otherwise perfect.3.hector: It relates to Hector.It means tointimidate or dominate in a blustering way.4.Achilles and Patroclus:It relates to Achilles and Patroclus.It means male friendship, a heroic friendship.5.Fight like a Trojan:It means to fight with great determination.6.Sulky like Achilles in his tent: It relates to Achilles.It means sulky.7.a Trojan horse:It means the hidden danger.8.Myrmidon: It means a faithful follower who carries out orders without question.9.Helen of Trojan:It relates to Helen.It means the root of war; a beauty who ruins her country;a terrible disaster brought by somebody or something you like best.10.Greek gift:It means a gift with evil purpose of the enemy; a gift to murder.五．简答题20分C11.What did the ancient Greeks know about their world?The Greeks believed the earth to be flat and circular,their own country occupying the middle of it,the central point being either Mount Olympus,The earth is divided into two equal parts by the Sea.Around the earth flowed the River Ocean.2.To which place were mortals favored by the gods taken when they died?The Aethiopians.3.How did Zeus divide the rule of the world with his brother?Zeus’s portion was the heavens,Poseidon’s the ocean and Hades’s the realms of the dead.4.How was Venus married off to Vulcan?Jupiter gave her to Vulcan, in gratitude for the service he had rendered in forging thunderbolts.5.How did the Fates mete out human destiny?The three goddesses were assigned distinct task:Clotho spun the “thread”of human fate,Lachesis dispensed it and Atropos cut it.C21.What was Zeus’usual way of hiding his scandals?He raised a cloud to hide some of his doings that would not bear the light and He turned the girl into an animal.2.How did the musical instrument “panpipe”come into being?Pan fell in love with A nymph called Syrinx,who was a faithful worshipper of Artemis.He chased her to the bank of river .With the water nymph’s help,Syrinx was turned into reeds.Pan was so sad and he made an instrument with the reeds,which called Syrinx.And that is the panpipe.3.How can you account for Zeus’s promiscuity?The promiscuity of Zeus serves more than entertaining purposes.It is out of politicalpurpose.Men have a powerful ability to reproduce in order to reproduce more offspring, . For most of the people in the world flows his blood, is one of the methods can have more faithful follows.And the number of the faithful follows decide whether his regime is firm.C41.What was the direct cause of Prometheus’obtaining fire for man?When Epimetheus created man ,he had nothing left for him.2.What attitude toward women is shown through the story of Pandora?The story shows the ancient Greeks thought women were inferior and affiliated to men,and they were the root evil and trouble.3.Which age of man applies to our own age?Please elaborate.I think we are in the Iron Age.People work day and night and man’s character is more complex,though mixed with kindness, but more evil.Human wants to rule everything.People no longer trust each other.Married people do not love each other.Vows are regarded as dust.Kindness and justice are no longer seen as the norm of conduct, but merely violence.4.How is the first woman often described as a “lovely evil”?How does she compare with Eve in the Book of Genesis?Pandora is described as a “lovely evil”because she was the most beautiful and sweetest woman,but she opened box and made many evil things free.Both Pandora and Eve are beauties.They are also described as the root of troubles to take the blame for the male society.But they were created out of different purpose.Pandora was created as the cost of Prometheus stealing the fire for man.She symbolizes a great temptation and human misery.Eve is inferior and affiliated to the man and just like a slave and she was created to help man.5.Why did Zeus try to withhold fire from human beings?Because fire is a symbol for technology and civilization.A basic distinction in myth between raw & cooked and wild & civilized.As a revenge for Prometheus' earlier theft of the finest sacrificial portions.By withholding fire, Zeus makes the division of the sacrifice impracticable. The hu miliation of Zeus prompted him to take the extreme measure of withholding fire fr om mankind, without which man would soon be little more than animals.C61.What led to Bacchus’wanderings?Bacchus invented how to plant grapes and brew wine. He was wandering around and spread this kind of knowledge to bring people the joy of drinking.C71.How did Midas acquire the power of turning everything to gold?Because Midas rescued Bacchus’s teacher, Slilenus, and treated him hospitably, e ntertaininghim for ten days and nights with an unceasing round of jollity. In return, Bacchus g ave him thepower of turning everything to gold.C81.What made Hades fall in love with Proserpine?As signs of womanly beauty began to shine along side her childlike innocence, the adolescent goddess Persephone unwittingly attracted the attention of the Greek god Hades.2.Why was Venus displeased with Athena,Diana,and Proserpine?Because she thought all of them looked down upon the power of her and her son.3.What prevented Proserpine’s freedom from the Underworld?Three pomegranate.4.From what aspects can the Demeter myth be interpreted?Change of seasonsC91.Where are the different ghosts conveyed in the underworld?The evil ghosts will be sent to Tartarus.The virtuous ghosts will be sent to Elysium.2.Describe the difference between Elysium and Tartarus and the situation of their respective inhabitants?Elysium ,ruled over by Cronus, lies near Hades’dominions.It s a happy land of perpetual day,without cold or snow,where games,music,and revels never cease,and where the inhabitants may elect to be reborn on earth whenever they please.In Greek mythology ,T artarus is a deep chasm surrounded by three heavy curtain and three bronze doors.In Roman mythology,it is a vast river of lava.It is a painful place in where the Furies live.Inhabitants in it suffer a lot.C111.How were Atalanta and her husband changed into lions?They forgot to pay due honor to Venus and the goddess was provoked attheir ingratitude.She caused them to give offence to Cybele.Cybele tookfrom them their human form and turned them into animals of characters resembling their own.C121.what was the cause of Apollo’s love for Daphne?Cupid’s golden arrow struck Apollo’s heart.2.What did Peneus mean by “Your face will forbid it”?He meant Daphne’s wish would not come true because of her beautiful face.C131.What did the oracle of Apollo say about Psyche’s future husband?He said her future husband awaited he on the top of the mountain and he was a monster whom neither gods nor men could resist.2.What tempted Psyche to open the box she was bringing back to Venus?A longing desire to put the beauty on her cheeks to become more beautiful.3.What is the significance of the union of Cupid and Psyche?Love itself is really a happy and painful pursuit of the process,and the process of love must be ups and downs.C141.Why did Venus advise Adonis against attacking wild animals?Because the wild animals were dangerous and she didn’t want to lose her beloved Adonis.2.What did Venus do to commemorate her ill-fated lover?She changed his blood into short-loved flowers and its blossom open when the wind blows.C151.What aspect does this story show about love?The miserable and beautiful aspect of love.C161.What incurred Juno’s anger towards Echos?Her talk that contrived to detain Juno till Zeus and the nymphs made their escape.2.What was Juno’s punishment for her?No power to speak first.C181.What was the cause of Perseus’s adventures?Polydectes wanted an easy access to Danae and got rid of Perseus.So he sent Perseus to kill Medusa.2.How was Medusa killed?Perseus borrowed the shield from Minerva and winged shoes from Hermes,approached Medusa while she slept. He was guided by her image reflection in the bright shield and cut off her head.C191.How did the Argonauts pass through the Clashing Rocks?They went along the passage found by the dove they sent out and passed the Clashing Rocks safely.2.What made Medea kill her own children?The fury with jealousy and the thought to punish Jason further.C201.How did Heracles demonstrate his prowess in his infancy?He strangled two snakes which Zeus’jealous wife Hera had sent to attack him.2.What incident motivated the Labors of Heracles?He was told by the Delphic Oracle to serve Eurystheus for 12 years and win immortality by performing the labors the king imposed upon him.3.What does the last labor of Heracles symbolize?C211.What was the cause of Cadmus’adventures?Because his sister was carried away by Zeus,and his father commandedhim to go in search of his sister.C221.How did he kill his own s father?In order to avoid killing his father and married his mother of, he escaped from the Collins, on the way, he killed his father by accident.2.What do you know about the Sphinx riddle?Sphinx riddle is often used to describe the problems which are complex, mysteriou s and hard tounderstand.C241.Who presented the apple of discord and for what purpose?Eris was angry because she had been left out of the feast. She threw among the guest the apple of discord inscribed “for the fairest”to make an issue between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite.2.Why was Paris as a baby left in the wilderness to die?Because when her mother Hecuba was pregnant, she dreamed she was giving birth to a torch from which streamed hissing serpents and it would bring unfortunate and disasters to the kingdom.3.Why were the former suitors of Helen willing to help Menelaus in the war of reclaiming his wife from Troy?Because Helen’s father Tyndareus made all the suitors swear an oath to come to the aid of her husband if she should ever be abducted.4.What’s behind the reluctance of Odysseus and Achilles to join in the expedition?Their love to their families.5.What dose the argument between Agamemnon and Achilles show about their character?It showed Agamemnon was stubborn while Achilles was honest andstrong-minded.6.What brought Achilles back to the battlefield?His reconciliation with Achilles and his pride and glory.7.Why was Achilles so barbaric in his treatment of Hector’s corpse?Because he was so angry with what Hector had done.pare the values in the story with those that people hold today.Tow what extent are dignity, honor,glory,fame,and revenge still important?六．问答题20分1.Make a comparison between Dionysus and Apollo from their attributes, mottoes and spirits.2.What do you think is love ?Explain your opinion with the mythologies.(期中论文）C203.What heroic qualities dos Heracles possess?How does he differ from the other heroes like Jason and Perseus?C224.Do you believe in fate? To what degree are we in control of our own life?。

1．Achilles’heel或the heel of Achilles阿喀琉斯(Achilles)是希腊神话中著名的英雄。

当他还是婴儿时,他的母亲特提斯(Thetis)为了使他刀枪不入,提着他的脚后跟在冥河里浸泡他。

他全身上下只有脚后跟没有浸湿,因此成为唯一脆弱的地方。

后来在特洛伊战争中,他被帕里斯(Paris)射中脚后跟阵亡。

“Achilles’heel”现在仍然经常使用,意思是唯一致命的弱点或缺陷2．An Apple of Discord争斗之源；不和之因；祸根An Apple of Discord直译为“纠纷的苹果”，出自荷马史诗Iliad中的希腊神话故事传说希腊阿耳戈英雄(Argonaut)珀琉斯(Peleus)和爱琴海海神涅柔斯的女儿西蒂斯(Thetis)在珀利翁山举行婚礼，大摆宴席。

他们邀请了奥林匹斯上(Olympus)的诸神参加喜筵，不知是有意还是无心，惟独没有邀请掌管争执的女神厄里斯(Eris)。

这位女神恼羞成怒，决定在这次喜筵上制造不和。

于是，她不请自来，并悄悄在筵席上放了一个金苹果，上面镌刻着“属于最美者”几个字。

天后赫拉(Hera)，智慧女神雅典娜(Athena)、爱与美之神阿芙罗狄蒂(Aphrodite)，都自以为最美，应得金苹果，获得“最美者”称号。

她们争执不下，闹到众神之父宙斯(Zeus)那里，但宙斯碍于难言之隐，不愿偏袒任何一方，就要她们去找特洛伊的王子帕里斯(Paris)评判。

三位女神为了获得金苹果，都各自私许帕里斯以某种好处：赫拉许给他以广袤国土和掌握富饶财宝的权利，雅典娜许以文武全才和胜利的荣誉，阿芙罗狄蒂则许他成为世界上最美艳女子的丈夫。

年青的帕里斯在富贵、荣誉和美女之间选择了后者，便把金苹果判给爱与美之神。

为此，赫拉和雅典娜怀恨帕里斯，连带也憎恨整个特洛伊人。

后来阿芙罗狄蒂为了履行诺言，帮助帕里斯拐走了斯巴达国王墨涅俄斯的王后---绝世美女海伦(Helen)，从而引起了历时10年的特洛伊战争。