Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

38 results found

Mentor, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Mentor mĕnˈtər, –tôrˌ [key], in Greek mythology, friend of Odysseus and tutor of Telemachus. On several occasions in the Odyssey, Athena assumes Mentor's form to give advice to Telemachus or Od...

Calypso, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Calypso kəlĭpˈsō [key], nymph, daughter of Atlas, in Homer's Odyssey. She lived on the island of Ogygia and there entertained Odysseus for seven years. Although she offered to make him immortal if...

Philoctetes

(Encyclopedia)Philoctetes fĭlŏktēˈtēz [key], in Greek mythology, son of Poias. He acquired, by gift, the bow and arrow of Hercules by lighting the pyre on which the hero was consumed alive. On his way to the T...

Ajax

(Encyclopedia)Ajax āˈjăks [key], Gr. Aias, in Greek mythology. 1 Hero of the Trojan War, son of Telamon, thus called the Telamonian Ajax, also called Ajax the Greater. In the Iliad he is represented as a giganti...

Itháki

(Encyclopedia)Itháki ĭthˈəkə [key], island, c.37 sq mi (96 sq km), W Greece, one of the Ionian Islands. It is mountainous, ...

Autolycus, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Autolycus, in Greek mythology, the son of Hermes, from whom he received special powers in thieving and trickery. According to one legend Autolycus stole from Sisyphus, who revenged himself by seducing...

Alcinoüs

(Encyclopedia)Alcinoüs ălsĭnˈōəs [key], in Greek mythology, king of Phaeacia, father of Nausicaä. He aided Odysseus in his journey back to Ithaca. In the story of Jason, he protects Jason and Medea from the ...

Phaeacia

(Encyclopedia)Phaeacia fēāˈshə [key], in Greek mythology, island of Scheria (location unknown). It was inhabited by a seafaring people who were hospitable to sailors and fond of joyous, luxurious living. When O...

Leontini

(Encyclopedia)Leontini lēəntīˈnī [key], ancient city, E Sicily, c.20 mi (32 km) S of Catania. It was (729 b.c.) a colony of Chalcidians from the island of Naxos and passed (5th cent. b.c.) under the rule of Sy...

Homer

(Encyclopedia)Homer, principal figure of ancient Greek literature; the first European poet. The Odyssey is written in 24 books and begins nearly ten years after the fall of Troy. In the first part, Telemachus, Od...

Browse by Subject