Transformations Trivia

1. After Zeus had shown interest in the nymph, Callisto, Hera turned her into a large ferocious beast - an act which was to be the cause of Callisto's death. Into which animal was Callisto transformed?

From Quiz Unnatural Selection

Answer: A bear

The interest Zeus had shown in Callisto developed and she became pregnant with his child. In order to escape the view of his wife, Zeus disguised himself as Artemis, to whom Callisto belonged. When noticeably pregnant, Callisto was both expelled by Artemis and punished by Hera, who turned Callisto into a bear. When Callisto's son (named Arcas) had grown up, he encountered his mother during a hunt and, unknowingly, killed her. The sadness of Zeus after this series of events caused him to take Callisto and her son and place them in the sky as the Great and Little Bears (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor).

From Quiz Transformed into a tree

Answer: laurel

Daphne, who was a follower of the virgin goddess Artemis, rejected all suitors. The most insistent of them was Apollo, who chased her through the woods. Daphne asked her father, the river god Peneus, to transform her into a tree. The tree - laurel - became the sacred tree of Apollo.

From Quiz Floral Arrangements Formerly Known As Men

Answer: Narcissus

This name is the origin of the English word "narcissist," which means someone that loves himself disproportionately.

From Quiz Unnatural Selection

Answer: Leto

Leto (or Latona, as she was known in Roman mythology) was forced by Hera to wander thirsty with her newborn twins, Apollo and Artemis. The reason for this was anger on Hera's part, that Zeus had once again had sexual relations with another woman. The reason for Leto's anger with the men of Lycia was that they refused to let her drink their water. When Leto tried to drink, they stirred up the mud so as to make it undrinkable. Leto exclaimed to the heavens, "may they never quit that pool, but pass their lives there!" and so, they were turned to frogs.

From Quiz Transformed into a tree

Answer: Acantha

Apollo actually tried to rape Acantha. As she defended herself, she scratched his face. That's why acanthus - the tree she was transformed into - is "sun-loving" but thorny.

From Quiz Floral Arrangements Formerly Known As Men

Answer: Echo

Daphne was loved by Apollo, who was scorned in turn. Galatea was a sea nymph who was loved by the cyclops Polyphemus. Mnemosyne was the goddess of memory and the mother of the Muses.

From Quiz Unnatural Selection

Answer: Birds

Despite the warnings from his wife, Ceyx decided to sail to Claros in order to consult the oracle, Apollo. His wife, Halcyone, was right to try and warn her husband not to go, as his ship was consumed by the sea during a storm and he was killed. It was said that the boat was destroyed by Zeus, who disliked the fact that Ceyx often compared himself to the father of the gods. It was judged, by Hera, that it was better to deliver the sad news to Halcyone rather than to keep her in the dark as to the fate of her husband. The news was delivered in a dream by Morpheus, son of Hypnos. Halcyone's grief was so extreme that the gods had pity and allowed both to live as halcyon birds (tree kingfishers). It was said that Aeolus, ruler of the winds and father of Halcyone, would calm the winds of the sea for seven days a year to allow Halcyone to brood over her nest. This gave rise to the expression, "halcyon days".

From Quiz Transformed into a tree

Answer: Pan

Another version of this myth says that two gods: Pan and Boreas fought over her. When she chose Pan, the goat-god, Boreas, the god of the North wind, threw her against a rock, killing her instantly. The earth goddess Gaea transformed Pitys into the pine tree. The Greek word "pitys" means pine.

From Quiz Floral Arrangements Formerly Known As Men

Answer: Hera

Hera was furious with Echo because she had distracted her while Zeus went behind her back with his lover. For this deed, Echo was punished to only be able to repeat the last words of others, and never speak original words of her own.

From Quiz Unnatural Selection

Answer: Ants

The reason for the fall of Aeacus' kingdom was that its people were struck down with a plague, as a result of Hera's anger over the island (Aegina) being named after one of her rivals. King Aeacus prayed to Zeus to either let him die with his men or replenish his island. Zeus responded and transformed myrmex ants into what became known as the Myrmidons. The Myrmidons were as hard-working as the ants and so helped rebuild the island. The men were later offered to Aeacus' ally, King Cephalus, during his war with King Minos of Crete.

From Quiz Transformed into a tree

Answer: Adonis

Myrrha, under the cover of darkness, had an incestuous relationship with her father Theias, the king of Smyrna. When he discovered it, he wanted to kill her. But Myrrha managed to escape and the goddess Aphrodite turned her into a myrrh tree.

From Quiz Floral Arrangements Formerly Known As Men

Answer: Hyacinthus

Hyacinthus was in a friendly competition with the god Apollo, when the discus swerved off course and killed the poor lad.

From Quiz Transformed into a tree

Answer: Cyparissus

Cyparissus was Apollo's lover. He killed his beloved deer, a gift from Apollo, by accident. The cypress tree, into which he was changed, became associated with mourning and burial.

From Quiz Floral Arrangements Formerly Known As Men

Answer: Apollo

Another version of this story is that the West Wind, Zephyr, was jealous of Apollo and the attention he was giving to Hyacinthus, and blew the discus into the path of the boy.

From Quiz Transformed into a tree

Answer: Dryope

Dryope was the daughter of Eurytus and Iole's half-sister. The lotus tree that caused her death was actually the nymph Lotis who was changed into it, when running away from Priapus. The tree was named after her.

From Quiz Unnatural Selection

Answer: Why he had lost his bees

Aristaeus was a beekeeper and son of the water nymph, Cyrene. He asked his mother what he should do after his swarm of bees had suddenly died. He was told to go to Proteus, who was very wise and would be able to tell him why his bees had died. However, Proteus would not give up information willingly and so would have to be restricted by chains and not released until he spoke. This would be challenging as Proteus, whilst restricted, was likely to transform into terrifying beasts in an attempt to escape. Aristaeus did this and found that his bees were killed by nymphs who were angry over the death of their companion, Eurydice. He was also told that he should build four altars for the nymphs and should sacrifice four bulls and four cows in their name. He did this and returned nine days later to find a new swarm of bees occupying the carcasses of the dead animals.

From Quiz Transformed into a tree

Answer: almond

Demophon was delayed, but eventually returned - too late, alas. The almond tree symbolizes love and fidelity in the Greek mythology.

From Quiz Transformations in Mythology

Answer: a spider

Arachne was turned into a spider. The word Arachnophobia, fear of spiders, is derived from Arachne's name.

From Quiz Floral Arrangements Formerly Known As Men

Answer: gored by a boar

Adonis was on a hunt without Aphrodite one day, and when he struck the boar, it was only slightly injured, and rushed him.

From Quiz Unnatural Selection

Answer: Leda

Zeus' disguise of a swan was, again, an attempt to sleep with a woman whilst keeping his wife in the dark. Leda did not give birth to Castor and Pollux live, but laid an egg, from which the twins hatched. Their sister was Helen (of Troy). Castor was known for his skill with horses and Pollux with boxing. After their travels on the Argo, they entered a war with the brothers Idas and Lynceus - a war which claimed the life of Castor. Pollux later gave his own life to be with his brother. Zeus placed them in the night sky as the constellation, Gemini.

From Quiz Transformed into a tree

Answer: Leucothoe

Leucothoe was the daughter of the king Orchamus. Helios, the god of sun, in order to gain access to her bedroom, disguised himself as her mother. A nymph Clytie, a former lover of Helios, was the one who reported the love affair to the king.

From Quiz Floral Arrangements Formerly Known As Men

Answer: anemone

The anemone is a blood-red flower that sprang up from each drop of Adonis' blood on the ground.

From Quiz Women in Greek Mythology II: the Metamorphosed

Answer: Arethusa

Before she was transformed, the nymph managed to flee as far as Sicily, where there is (now) a spring bearing the name Arethusa. The legend has it that Alpheus mingled his riverine waters with those of Arethusa's well, and that this is the explanation why native Greek flowers bloom in just that place in Sicily. It is also said that a wooden cup thrown into the Alpheus bobbed up again in Arethusa's spring. It is certainly true that the Alpheus runs part of its course underground. Alpheus and Arethusa are the subject of many poems, including one by {Shelley;} and Alpheus is the sacred river Alph running through the caverns measureless to man of Coleridge's Kubla Kahn. (Of the wrong answers, Rhodope could also appear as a subject of this quiz. She was transformed into a mountain for the insolence of assuming Hera's name.)

From Quiz Unnatural Selection

Answer: A grasshopper

Tithonus was son of Laomedon, King of Troy. He was very beautiful and caught the eye of the goddess of the dawn, Eos (or Aurora in Roman mythology). Eos was able to convince Zeus to grant Tithonus immortality, but as he did not have everlasting youth, his hair became white and he became lame. Distraught, Eos locked him away in a cellar. It is thought that his wails can still be heard, even though he cannot be seen. Their son, Memnon, fought in the Trojan War and was killed by Achilles. It is said that morning dew is the tears of Eos over the loss of her son.

From Quiz Transformed into a tree

Answer: oak and linden

Philemon and Baucis were the only ones who welcomed Zeus, wandering in disguise, to their house. As a reward, the god granted them their final wish.

From Quiz Transformations in Mythology

Answer: a cloud

After coupling with the Nephele, the cloud shaped as Hera, a boy named Centaurus was born.

From Quiz Women in Greek Mythology II: the Metamorphosed

Answer: Leucippe

The name Leucippe or Leuce means 'white,' like the tree she became. The poplar was thenceforth sacred to Hades (rapist gods apparently frequently suffer from some sort of cognitive dissonance which causes them to 'honor' their victims). (Of the wrong answers, Minthe could also appear as a subject of this quiz. She was likewise beloved of Hades, but jealous Persephone transformed her into the herb mint, so that she would forever be trodden upon.)

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Last Updated Oct 26 2024 5:49 AM

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