Font size
WorksheetsGreek/Roman Mythology
Total questions: 80
Worksheet time: 43mins
This princess of Argos was locked in a tower by her father, King Acrisius. Afterward, Zeus impregnated her by transforming himself into a golden shower. Name this mother of the Greek hero Perseus.
Andromeda
Danaë
Europa
Io
This daughter of Priam and Hecuba was loved by Apollo. Agamemnon won her at the Trojan War's conclusion, and she was murdered alongside him by Aegisthus and Clytemnestra. Identify this prophetess, whose true predictions no one ever believed.
Helen
Cassandra
Polyxena
Laodice
With Jupiter and Juno, this deity was a member of the Capitoline triad. Among her areas of patronage were professions, handicrafts, and arts. Identify this Roman war goddess, the counterpart of Athena.
Diana
Minerva
Venus
Vesta
This Greek deity's name derives from the word for "foam"--an appropriate choice, as one myth claims she arose from sea foam. An Olympian, she was married to Hephaestus, but bore Phobos, Deimos, and Eros by Ares. Who was this goddess of fertility and love?
Hera
Aphrodite
Demeter
Artemis
One story claims this mythological man was punished for attempting to steal ambrosia and nectar, the respective food and drink of the gods. Another myth says he killed his son, Pelops, and served him to the gods. Who stood in a river that receded when he tried to drink, and reached for fruit that was always just out of his grasp?
Sisyphus
Tantalus
Ixion
Prometheus
This wife of King Tyndareus bore him two children, Clytemnestra and Castor. At the same time, she gave birth--or possibly hatched--Pollux and Helen, whom Zeus fathered in disguise. Name this woman, who met Zeus when he took the form of a swan.
Danaë
Leda
Europa
Io
This mythological warrior's funeral and burial form the conclusion of Homer's Iliad. Because he slew Patroclus, Achilles killed him and dragged his body around the walls of Troy. Give the name of this husband of Andromache and eldest son of Priam and Hecuba.
Paris
Hector
Aeneas
Deiphobus
Lesser-known features of this mythological monster include a serpent tail and snakes' heads growing from his back. Except for the time Orpheus's music charmed him to sleep, he refused entry to the Underworld, and ate anyone who tried to escape from it. Who was this three-headed guard dog of Hades?
Hydra
Cerberus
Chimera
Sphinx
This younger son of Atreus served under his brother Agamemnon in the Trojan War. Following the conflict, he returned to Sparta with his wife, whose abduction by Paris sparked the war. Name this husband of Helen of Troy.
Odysseus
Menelaus
Diomedes
Ajax
This son of Rhea Silvia and grandson of Alba Longa's king was, along with his twin brother, fathered by the god Mars. He built a wall for the city he co-founded, and killed his brother when he jumped over it. Identify this co-founder of Rome and brother of Remus.
Aeneas
Romulus
Numa
Ancus
This mythological being was an attendant of Artemis, and created the Hippocrene Spring when his hoof struck a rock, and was born when drops of Medusa's blood escaped upon her beheading. Give the name of this winged horse.
Bellerophon
Pegasus
Hippogriff
Sleipnir
This mythological man, whose name means "skillfully wrought," was banished from Athens after throwing his nephew from the Acropolis. He fashioned the wooden bull in which Queen Pasiphaë mated with the Cretan Bull, producing the Minotaur. Who created the Labyrinth, as well as the wax wings he and his son, Icarus, used to escape it?
Prometheus
Daedalus
Hephaestus
Talos
This mythological figure's proper name was Asterion, meaning "starry one." He received annual tributes from Athenian youth, and was housed in a special construction that Daedalus built at King Minos's request. Identify this hybrid Cretan resident slain by Theseus, who was the offspring of Pasiphaë and a bull.
Centaur
The Minotaur
Sphinx
Chimera
Ancient Greek art depicted this god as an old man holding either a sickle or a curved sword. He used that tool to castrate his father Uranus, and later swallowed all but one of the children he had with Rhea. Name this youngest Titan, whose defeat by Zeus ushered in the age of the Olympians.
Atlas
Cronus
Prometheus
Oceanus
This mythological man, who could make trees and rocks dance, saved the Argonauts from being tempted by the Sirens' song. He was a gifted musician, and possibly received his first lyre from the god Apollo. Name this man, who unsuccessfully tried to rescue his wife Eurydice from the Underworld.
Apollo
Orpheus
Amphion
Linus
This mythological king was butchered on an altar by Neoptolemus, Achilles' son. He was the father of the prophetess Cassandra, as well as numerous sons, including his favorites: Hector and Paris. Name this Trojan king.
Laomedon
Priam
Anchises
Dardanus
This mythological woman lends her name to a jewelry manufacturer known for its customizable charm bracelets, and to a moon of Saturn. Hephaestus fashioned her from earth because Zeus wished to punish Prometheus for bringing fire to humanity. Depending on the myth, who inadvertently released evil into the world when she opened either a jar or a box?
Psyche
Pandora
Epimetheus
Pyrrha
This mythological giant's name was followed by Panoptes, Greek for "all-seeing." Hera charged him with guarding the princess-turned-heifer Io, but Hermes slew him before he could complete the task. Name this giant, whose 100 eyes Hera transferred into the peacock's tail.
Cyclops
Argus
Geryon
Antaeus
This mythological king of Phrygia grew a donkey's ears after deeming Pan a better musician than Apollo. His kind treatment of the satyr Silenus earned him a wish from Dionysus, but he reversed that wish by bathing in the Pactolus River. Identify this mythological man who, for a time, turned everything he touched to gold.
Croesus
Midas
Gyges
Candaules
This Roman deity relinquished his initial sphere of freshwater, which was later taken up by his consort Salacia. Instead, he was depicted with a trident, and sometimes with a dolphin. Who was the Roman god of the sea?
Jupiter
Neptune
Vulcan
Mercury
Some Romans identified this god with Orcus or Dis, while others gave him a name meaning "wealth giver." Like his Greek counterpart, he kidnapped a beautiful young goddess, feeding her a pomegranate seed to keep her with him. Give the name of the Roman god of the Underworld.
Jupiter
Pluto
Mars
Mercury
Like her Greek counterpart, this Roman goddess was later identified with Cybele. Like Vesta, her ancient shrine in the Regia was tended by Vestal Virgins, and the timing of her festivals reflected her partnership with Saturn. Name this Roman counterpart of Rhea, who was the mother of Jupiter.
Juno
Ops
Ceres
Diana
One legend says that this man betrayed Troy to the Greeks during the Trojan War. More common myths say that he led the surviving Trojans following the war, before courting the Carthaginian queen Dido. Name this mortal son of Venus, the hero of a Roman epic by Virgil.
Hector
Aeneas
Anchises
Ascanius
These mythological characters were sometimes referred to as the Parcae or Moirai. Named Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, they were responsible for determining the amount of misery each person was allotted. Identify these spinning, measuring, and cutting goddesses, and sisters, who also decided the length of each person's life.
The Graces
The Fates
The Muses
The Furies
This mythological man likely symbolized nature's dormancy in winter and revival in spring. One story claims Artemis caused a wild boar to kill him when he ventured into her hunting domain. Name this beautiful youth, who spent part of the year in the Underworld with Persephone, and part with Aphrodite.
Narcissus
Adonis
Hyacinthus
Ganymede
Some ancient Greeks used this name for the father of the monster Typhon. Others used the word for the abyss below Hades in which Zeus imprisoned the Titans. Give this word that, eventually, encompassed the entire underworld.
Erebus
Tartarus
Styx
Acheron
According to Metamorphoses, this woman was the daughter of Idmon, a Lydian dyer of purple. She fashioned a beautiful tapestry, but attempted to hang herself when Athena angrily
Arachne
Athena
Idmon
Lydia
One myth makes this goddess the mother of the half-bird, half-woman Sirens. She is occasionally associated with flute playing and lyric poetry. Which Muse is the patron of dancing?
Euterpe
Terpsichore
Melpomene
Thalia
This Roman deity was also known as Bona Dea. She presided over the fertility of flocks, fields, and woodlands. Identify this goddess, whose name is paired with flora when describing a region's animals and plants.
Ceres
Fauna
Flora
Pomona
This mythological nymph was an attendant of Artemis, and the mother of Arcas. She swore to remain unwed, but after having Zeus's child, she was punished by Hera. Identify this woman, who died when Artemis mistook her for a real bear.
Io
Callisto
Europa
Daphne
This Roman goddess's name is similar to the Latin words for "sky" and "daylight." She was a fertility deity who also presided over domestic animals and, eventually, the moon. Name this Roman counterpart of Artemis.
Juno
Diana
Minerva
Vesta
With Hecate and Proserpina, this goddess was sometimes deemed an aspect of Rome's triple goddess. She was also the complement of Sol, the sun god. Give the name of this Roman moon goddess, the equivalent of the Greek Selene.
Diana
Luna
Aurora
Victoria
Like her sister Hera, this daughter of Cronus and Rhea was sometimes worshiped as a goddess of fertility and childbirth. She was frequently depicted carrying a basket filled with flowers, fruit, and grains. Name this Greek goddess of agriculture, whose daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades.
Hestia
Demeter
Hera
Athena
These mythological goddesses were the daughters of either Nyx and Erebus or Uranus and Gaea. Sometimes called the Eumenides, their names were Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera. Identify these goddesses of vengeance, who pursued and punished the wicked.
The Graces
The Furies
The Muses
The Harpies
In addition to composing, this Roman god, whose temples were all located outside cities, was the father of a fire-breathing monster. The husband of Venus, his forge was located on Sicily, underneath Mount Etna. Who was the Roman deity of blacksmiths and fire, who lends his name to a process for strengthening tires, and a planet on Star Trek?
Mars
Vulcan
Neptune
Mercury
The name of this mythological body of water, upon which the Greek gods swore their most binding oaths, means "shuddering." Thetis nearly made her infant son immortal by dipping him into its waters. Identify this river, across which Charon ferried the souls of the dead to the Underworld.
Lethe
Styx
Acheron
Cocytus
The Greek poet Hesiod named these three sons of Uranus and Gaea Arges, Brontes, and Steropes. They forged Zeus's thunderbolts and worked for Hephaestus before being slain by Apollo. Give the name for these one-eyed giants.
Titans
Cyclops
Hecatoncheires
Giants
This religious sect teaches that the "New Jerusalem" of Zion will be built in Independence, Missouri, where its followers first settled in 1831. Adherents believe in the Bible, but also a companion book that its namesake prophet recorded on golden plates. Name this religion founded by Joseph Smith and relocated to Utah by his successor, Brigham Young.
Jehovah's Witnesses
Mormonism
Seventh-day Adventists
Christian Science
Early followers of this woman claimed that, while Christ embodied the masculine half of God, she embodied the female half. After emigrating from England, she established a community near Albany, New York, where men and women lived separately and worshiped charismatically. Name this founder of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, better known as the Shakers.
Mary Baker Eddy
Mother Ann Lee
Ellen G. White
Aimee Semple McPherson
This biblical monarch oversaw the construction of a temple from stone, cedar of Lebanon, and gold. After praying for an understanding heart that would help him rule justly, he was told by the Queen of Sheba, "Thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard." Identify this man, who succeeded his father David as Israel's king.
Saul
Solomon
Rehoboam
Jeroboam
Among Sunnis, this religious title is synonymous with caliph. Ali and the successive holders of this title are, according to Shi'ites, the true possessors of insights first given to Muhammad. What is this four-letter word, which can also apply to a mosque's officiating priest?
Ayah
Imam
Mufti
Qadi
This religious leader, whose teachings inadvertently sparked a peasants' revolt, refused to recant his beliefs at the Diet of Worms. Among those beliefs was the idea of justification by faith, as well as the opposition to the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences. Name this writer of the Ninety-Five Theses.
John Calvin
Martin Luther
Huldrych Zwingli
John Knox
In Judaism, a special form of this food, challah, commemorates the manna that fell from heaven. An unleavened kind, matzo, is eaten at the Passover seder. What is this food which, in Christianity, forms half of the Eucharist?
Wine
Bread
Fish
Oil
This biblical man was a lifelong friend of Mark Antony, and obtained Roman citizenship when Julius Caesar granted it to his father. As King of Judaea, he was responsible for the construction of many theaters, aqueducts, and fortresses, but was also known as a tyrant. Name this king, who ordered the Massacre of the Innocents in hopes of killing the infant Jesus.
Herod Antipas
King Herod the Great
Pontius Pilate
Caiaphas
This ancient religion worships spirits that brought humanity into existence, and continue to guide human behavior by revealing universal truths. Followers celebrate the Spring and Autumn Festivals, and carry miniature shrines in the Annual Festival and Divine Procession. Identify this indigenous faith, whose two primary books are Records of Ancient Matters and Chronicles of Japan.
Buddhism
Shintoism
Taoism
Confucianism
This religion teaches that desire causes suffering, but can be overcome by following the Noble Eightfold Path. Followers hope to acquire good karma and eventually break the cycle of reincarnation by reaching nirvana. What is this Asian religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama?
Hinduism
Buddhism
Jainism
Sikhism
An important work in this religion is the Zhuangzi, which dates from around the 4th century B.C. Followers think good, evil, true, and false are concepts that arise when people lose sight of the universal oneness that permeates all things. Identify this Chinese belief system codified by Lao-tzu.
Confucianism
Taoism
Buddhism
Legalism
As of 2017, only two members of this North American sect survive, with both living at Sabbathday Lake in Maine. Founded by Ann Lee, its members lived in celibate communities, where they produced high-quality food, household goods, and furniture. Name this group who, like the Quakers, were known for the frenetic dancing included in their worship.
Amish
Shakers
Mennonites
Hutterites
Celebrities who have belonged to this denomination include Prince, Michael Jackson, and Venus and Serena Williams. Founded by Charles Taze Russell, its members refuse to vote, salute the flag, run for public office, or receive blood transfusions. Which religion publishes The Watchtower, and sends believers from door to door to proselytize?
Mormons
Jehovah's Witnesses
Seventh-day Adventists
Christian Scientists
On a 2017 Asian tour, this man visited heavily Buddhist Myanmar, and urged Bangladesh to welcome Rohingya refugees from that neighboring country. He also spoke against totalitarianism to leaders of Latin American nations--a poignant perspective, as he spent his first seventy-six years in Argentina. Who is this first Jesuit pope?
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Francis the First
Pope John Paul II
Pope Pius XII
This biblical figure stole his twin brother's birthright, and wrestled with an angel of the Lord until he received the name Israel. He became the ancestor of Israel's Twelve Tribes by fathering ten sons with Leah and two with Rachel. Name this brother of Esau, son of Isaac, and grandson of Abraham.
Joseph
Jacob
Judah
Benjamin
This 'Pied Piper of Dance' studied at the School of American Ballet under George Balanchine. He became the first African-American to dance classical ballet in the Soviet Union, and founded the National Ballet Company of Brazil. Who founded and ran the Dance Theatre of Harlem?
Alvin Ailey
Billy Graham
Martin Luther King Jr.
Jesse Jackson
In 18th-century Oxford, this man and his brother Charles were surrounded by followers called the Holy Club. He joined George Whitefield in evangelism, and led a movement within the Church of England that many viewed as a separate Protestant denomination. Name this man credited as the founder of Methodism.
George Whitefield
John Wesley
Jonathan Edwards
Charles Finney
This member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles took charge of a relatively new religion after its founder was murdered. He led followers westward from Illinois and, in 1849, became governor of the provisional state of Deseret. Who was this second president of the Mormon church?
Joseph Smith
Brigham Young
Wilford Woodruff
Lorenzo Snow
This man's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize increased international pressure against his native country's and President P. W. Botha's administration. He recalled his time on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in No Future Without Forgiveness, and published a collection of his sermons under the title Hope and Suffering. Identify this recipient of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, a South African Anglican cleric who strongly opposed apartheid.
Nelson Mandela
Desmond Tutu
Steve Biko
Oliver Tambo
When the Bible lists names of Jesus's Apostles, this man's name is always mentioned last. He served as the group's treasurer, and is said to have sold his soul for thirty pieces of silver. Identify this betrayer of Jesus.
Peter
Judas Iscariot
Thomas
Bartholomew
In Judaism, the Torah is also known as the Five Books of this prophet. His brother Aaron initiated the Israelites' priestly line, but he himself received the Ten Commandments as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Identify this man who, as an infant, was left in a reed basket in the Nile River.
Abraham
Moses
David
Elijah
This monarch authorized a religious translation that drew on the Septuagint, as well as the work of William Tyndale. In 1603, he succeeded Elizabeth the First as head of the Church of England. Name this king, whose namesake biblical translation is still popular.
King Henry VIII
King James the First
King Charles I
King Edward VI
Depending on the lunar calendar, this Christian holy day falls between February 4 and March 11. In Western churches, it always falls six-and-a-half weeks before Easter. Identify this beginning of Lent, whose name comes from the practice of marking observers' foreheads.
Palm Sunday
Ash Wednesday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
This philosophy was formulated by the man whose birth name was Kong Fuzi. It advocated respect for previous generations' wisdom, emphasized the importance of education, and called for virtuous living. With precepts set forth in the Analects, identify this Chinese code of moral conduct.
Taoism
Confucianism
Legalism
Buddhism
This religious word derives from a Greek word meaning "living in the desert." It applied to the forerunners of monasticism, who retired from society to live solitary lives of religious contemplation. What is this word, which precedes "crab" in the name of a certain crustacean?
Monk
Hermit
Ascetic
Anchorite
This holiday, which was one of three biblical Pilgrim Festivals, begins five days after Yom Kippur. It begins on the 15th day of Tishri, in September or October, and is a harvest festival of double thanksgiving. Name this Feast of Tabernacles, which some Jews celebrate by building temporary booths.
Passover
Sukkoth
Shavuot
Rosh Hashanah
This holy day falls on the tenth day of Tishri, either September or October on the Gregorian calendar. It celebrates the day when Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the second set of Ten Commandments tablets, indicating forgiveness for the Israelites. Name this day of atonement during which Jews seek forgiveness.
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Passover
Sukkoth
This Christian celebration, sometimes called Whitsunday, marks the beginning of the Christian church's global mission. It commemorates the Holy Spirit's descent on the Apostles after Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. Which festival's name means "fiftieth day" in Greek because it occurs seven weeks after Easter?
Epiphany
Pentecost
Ascension Day
Trinity Sunday
This religious term means "blowing out," as a candle that has been extinguished. It describes the end of suffering--and of the desire that causes said suffering--and ends the cycle of reincarnation. Identify this blissful state aimed for by Buddhists.
Karma
Nirvana
Dharma
Samsara
This religion promotes the Seven Principles and Six Sources, and is symbolized by a flaming chalice. It has no creed, although it is based on teachings that God is one, and He will restore all of humanity at the end of time. Identify this liberal faith founded by the merger of two North American denominations in 1961.
Universalism
Unitarian Universalism
Unitarianism
Congregationalism
Adherents of this religion often describe their faith as sanatana dharma, meaning "eternal law," or as the Vedic religion. It has no founder, but is one of the world's oldest polytheistic religions, and calls its new year celebration Diwali. What is this primary religion of the Indian subcontinent?
Buddhism
Hinduism
Jainism
Sikhism
This religious holiday, which is celebrated during the first two days of Tishri, initiates a ten-day period known as the High Holy Days. It is called both the Day of Remembrance and the Day of Judgment, and celebrants eat bread and apples dipped in honey as omens of a sweet new year. Give the name of this September or October holiday, the Jewish New Year.
Yom Kippur
Rosh Hashanah
Passover
Sukkoth
Give the word for the pilgrimage to the holy Saudi Arabian city of Mecca.
Salat
Hajj
Zakat
Sawm
This religion's sacred text, whose name translates as "Most Holy Book," is the Kitab-i-Aqdas. It was written in 1873 by Bahaullah, an early follower of the religion's founder, the Bab. What is this monotheistic religion begun in 19th-century Persia?
Zoroastrianism
Baha'i
Manichaeism
Mandaeism
This follower of Lutheran reformer George Wishart originally studied for the Catholic priesthood at Glasgow University. John Calvin mentored him in Geneva, Switzerland, but he returned to his native country, whose Catholic monarch he worked to depose. What Protestant reformer established Presbyterianism as Scotland's national religion?
John Wesley
John Knox
John Calvin
John Wycliffe
This Christian doctrine was incorporated into the Council of Trent's documents in the mid-16th century. Martin Luther rejected this teaching, which deals with the issue of Christ's Real Presence. Name this Catholic doctrine which holds that the Eucharist transforms bread and wine into Christ's body and blood.
Consubstantiation
Transubstantiation
Impanation
Sacramental union
This religion, whose name means "conqueror," conceives of the universe as a center of souls located above a series of hells. Members purify their souls by practicing ahimsa, or nonviolence, toward all living things. What is this Indian religion associated with the sage Mahavira?
Buddhism
Jainism
Hinduism
Sikhism
In the New Testament, this name belonged to two of Jesus's Twelve Disciples. One was the son of Alphaeus, while the other, a son of Zebedee, was a member of Jesus's inner circle. Identify this five-letter name, which also belonged to the writer of a New Testament epistle who was purported to be Jesus's brother.
John
James
Peter
Andrew
In Bengal, this religious holiday features the Swing Festival, while many locations construct morning bonfires to represent a demoness's burning. Participants ignore gender and caste rules for the day, which occurs on a full-moon day in February or March. Give the name of this Hindu spring festival marked by colored water and powders being thrown on celebrants.
Diwali
Holi
Navaratri
Durga Puja
This one-time Congregationalist changed her religious views after encountering the healer Phineas P. Quimby. She founded a new denomination in 1879, whose "Mother Church" is located in Boston, and which adheres to the tenets she set forth in Science and Health. Name this founder of the Christian Science movement.
Ellen G. White
Mary Baker Eddy
Aimee Semple McPherson
Mother Ann Lee
This woman established a hospice, centers for the disabled and elderly, and a leper colony in her adopted homeland. She received the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work. Name this founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity in India, who...
Lesser-known sects of this religion include the Wahhabis and the Sufis. Sunnah, hadith, and sharia are all words associated with this Abrahamic religion. Give the name of this faith founded by the Prophet Muhammad.
Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Zoroastrianism
This capital of the Makkah administrative region is home to the Haram Mosque. That building's central courtyard contains the black stone cube called the Ka'bah, Islam's holiest shrine. Give the name of this Saudi Arabian city to which all Muslims hope to complete a pilgrimage.
Medina
Mecca
Jerusalem
Damascus
The first members of this religious sect were followers of a Swiss Mennonite leader in the 17th century. The Old Order consists of about 250,000 North American members who farm, quilt, and work as blacksmiths and carpenters. Name this group known for their bonnets, horses and buggies, separatism, and shunning of technology.
Mennonites
Amish
Hutterites
Brethren
