Mythology Words

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Instructions: Discover everyday English words that trace their origins back to Greek and Roman mythology!

1.
The word 'atlas' — meaning a book of maps — comes from which mythological figure?
A
Atlas, the Titan who held up the sky
B
Apollo, god of the sun
C
Ares, god of war
D
Athena, goddess of wisdom
2.
The word 'narcissism' derives from the myth of Narcissus. What happened to him?
A
He was turned into a tree
B
He defeated a monster
C
He fell in love with his own reflection
D
He was struck by lightning
3.
Which planet and mythological god gave us the word 'mercurial,' meaning changeable or volatile?
A
Mercury
B
Mars
C
Saturn
D
Jupiter
4.
The word 'odyssey,' meaning a long and eventful journey, comes from which Greek epic?
A
The Republic
B
The Odyssey by Homer
C
The Iliad
D
The Aeneid
5.
What mythological creature gives us the word 'chimera,' meaning a fanciful or impossible idea?
A
A fire-breathing creature with a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail
B
A three-headed dog
C
A one-eyed giant
D
A winged horse
6.
The word 'volcano' derives from Vulcan, the Roman god of what?
A
Fire and metalworking
B
Water
C
Thunder
D
Agriculture
7.
What does 'herculean' mean, derived from the hero Hercules?
A
Unusually fast
B
Extremely weak
C
Requiring great strength or effort
D
Very intelligent
8.
The word 'panic' comes from Pan, the Greek god of what?
A
Cooking
B
The wild, shepherds, and flocks
C
The sea
D
Music and poetry
9.
Which mythological figure inspired the word 'tantalize,' meaning to torment with something unattainable?
A
Tantalus, condemned to stand in water that receded when he tried to drink
B
Theseus, who killed the Minotaur
C
Prometheus, who stole fire
D
Orpheus, who played the lyre
10.
The word 'cereal' comes from Ceres, the Roman goddess of what?
A
Harvest and agriculture
B
Wisdom
C
The moon
D
Love and beauty
11.
What does 'Achilles' heel' refer to, based on the myth of Achilles?
A
A battle strategy
B
A type of footwear
C
A person's area of weakness or vulnerability
D
A strong armor
12.
The word 'muse' — meaning a source of inspiration — comes from the Muses. How many Muses were there in Greek mythology?
A
Twelve
B
Seven
C
Three
D
Nine
13.
Which mythological box gives us a phrase meaning 'a source of many unforeseen troubles'?
A
The Trojan Horse
B
The Golden Fleece
C
Pandora's Box
D
The Ark of the Covenant
14.
The word 'echo' comes from a Greek nymph named Echo. What was her punishment?
A
She was made invisible
B
She was trapped in a cave forever
C
She could only repeat what others said
D
She was turned to stone
15.
The word 'jovial,' meaning cheerful and good-humored, derives from Jove. Who was Jove?
A
A famous Roman poet
B
Another name for Jupiter, king of the Roman gods
C
The god of wine
D
The god of love

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