Epiblema – a woman’s shawl.
Himation – a thick cloak, large enough to be used as a blanket or folded into a pillow.
Hoplite – Greek infantryman.
Kline – a fainting couch or day bed used for social gatherings.
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.
Peltasts & Psiloi – foot soldiers without extensive training.
Peplos – a full length tunic worn by women, usually made from one large piece of fabric to be pinned, sewn or draped.
Shades – souls or ghosts.
Strategoi – ten generals chosen from ten Greek tribes.
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
Myths Revisited in For the Love of Hades
The Abduction of Persephone – According to most myths, Hades was taking a chariot ride, spied Persephone, and could not resist himself. He kidnapped her, took her to the Underworld, and kept her there until she’d eaten food grown in the Underworld, preventing her from ever being able to return permanently to Earth & Olympus.
Cerberus – The three headed dog of Hades was never three separate hounds. His job was to guard the entrance to the Underworld. He had a fondness for human flesh and a nasty temper. He was on the list of Hercules’ Twelve Labors and was carried from the Underworld by Hercules.
The Eleusinian Mysteries – Secret rites performed in honor of Persephone and Demeter. The Lesser Mysteries were performed for the harvest and the Greater Mysteries coincided with the planting season. The secrecy of these rites was kept so well that today’s scholars do not know the particulars of the actual rituals performed. So referring to them as Mysteries is very fitting.
Erysichthon and Demeter’s Sacred Grove – Erysichthon had nothing to do with Persephone, he was simply a king with an ego. He started chopping down Demeter’s sacred grove (and killed a wood nymph in the process). Demeter appeared to warn him from his course of action, but he ignored her. His goal: to build the most amazing feasting hall in existence. So Demeter cursed him with insatiable hunger and he did end up selling his daughter and eating himself.