Medusa, A Love Story (The Loves of Olympus) (38 page)

Read Medusa, A Love Story (The Loves of Olympus) Online

Authors: Sasha Summers

Hoplite
– Greek infantrymen

Kleros
– a plot of land passed down through the family. A man cannot marry without having a kleros.

Linothorax
– armor worn by more military leaders or affluent soldiers. Made of thick padded leather, fabric covered in metal scales of metal – depending upon the soldiers ability to pay. Not all soldiers could afford armor.

Oikos
– the household – not the house itself but the property, livestock, family and slaves

Peplos
– a full length tunic worn by women, usually made from one large piece of fabric to be pinned, sewn or draped.

Peltasts
&
Psiloi
– foot soldiers without extensive training

Salamis, the Battle of
–The straits of Salamis are a narrow water channel. The Greeks did lure the Persians here, trap them and defeat them.

Shades
– souls or ghosts

Strategoi
– ten generals chosen from ten Greek tribes

Themistocles
– Athenian statesman responsible for creating Athens’ fleet of triremes.

Thermopylae, the Battle of
– the battle fought by King Leonidas and his soldiers (Spartans/Spartiates) against the invading Persians. While there is much conjecture as to how many Leonidas had with him (300, 1000, 3000?), he and his troops were significantly outnumbered and still managed to last days against their Persian foe. This battle caused outrage across Greece, building strong anti-Persian sentiment and prompting them to take evasive measures.

Trireme
– a ship, propelled by three rows of oars, possibly 25 or more oars, on each side.

Xiphos
– soldier’s short sword used as a secondary weapon to the spear/doru.

Levels of the Underworld
:

Elysium or Elysian Fields – reserved for heroes or special mortals, this was ‘Heaven’ to the Greeks.

Asphodel Fields – Most occupied level of the Underworld, it was neutral – shades that came here had neither good nor bad

Tartarus – Feared by all, this was ‘Hell’ to the Greeks.

Rivers into the Underworld
:

River Acheron – River of Woe

Lethe River – River of Forgetfulness

The River Styx – River of Hate

Pyriphlegethon – River of Fire

Cocytus River – River of Wailing