Dark Night Full of Lights Online Quiz | Greek Myth

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. He was king of Aethiopia, father of Andromeda and husband of Kassiopeia. He shares his name with a constellation. Who is he?

Answer: Cepheus

Cepheus is a constellation, which is visible in the Northern Hemisphere throughout the whole year. It was first spotted and observed by Greek astronomer Ptolemy and is one of the modern 88 constellations.

Cepheus was the son of Agenor and husband of Kassiopeia. Because of the arrogance of his wife, Kassiopeia, and her repeated claims that their daughter, Andromeda, bested in beauty the Nereids, the gods and especially Poseidon, became enraged.

2. According to the legend, this unique horse was foaled by Medusa. It also shares its name with a constellation. What is it?

Answer: Pegasus

Pegasus is visible in both Northern and Southern Hemisphere. It is the 7th biggest constellation and contains The Great Square.

Pegasus was a male horse (stallion) with wings. It was sired by Poseidon. Without Pegasus' help, Bellerophon may never have killed the Chimera or defeated the Amazons.

3. She was chained to a rock to be sacrificed to a sea monster and was saved by Perseus. She also shares her name with a constellation. Who is she?

Answer: Andromeda

Andromeda constellation serves as the home of the galaxy with the same name. It is visible in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Andromeda was the daughter of Cepheus, the Aethiopian king, and Cassiopeia. Her mother's arrogance led to the enragement of the gods. Poseidon sent Cetus, a sea monster, to pillage the kingdom. Cepheus, after consulting an oracle, ordered her to be sacrificed to the monster. She was saved by Perseus and became his wife.

4. He was the founder of a race of beasts known as Ixionidae, that lived in the foot of Mount Pelion. Moreover, he shares his name with a constellation. Who is he?

Answer: Centaurus

Centaurus is visible in Southern Hemisphere. One of its stars, the Alpha Centauri, is the closest star to our Sun. The brightness of the constellation's stars is due to where it is located in the Milky Way.

The Centaurs were unusual creatures, with a man's head and a horse's body. The most important of them, Chiron, was the teacher of Achilles.

5. It was the sacred bird of Apollo. Its wings were originally silver, but were turned black when it delivered its patron bad news. It also shares its name with a constellation. What is it?

Answer: Corvus, the Crow

The constellation was first observed by Ptolemy. Its name in Latin means "crow". All its eleven stars can be seen by the unaided eye. It is visible in Southern Hemisphere.

Corvus was held in high esteem by Apollo, his patron. But one day, he stated that Apollo's mistress, Coronis, was disloyal to the god. Angered, Apollo changed the color of Cornvus' feathers from silver to black.

6. He was the son of Ares, who was transformed into the river Padus and took its place to the sky. According to another legend, he was Orpheus, who, after his death was placed at heavens, with his beloved harp. Who is he?

Answer: Cygnus, the Swan

Cygnus is one of the most prominent constellations in the Milky Way. It contains the Northern Cross and it is visible in the Northern Hemisphere.

Many personnel of Greek myth bear the name Cygnus, or Cycnus. One example is the son of Ares mentioned in the question. Another legend says that Cygnus was the son of Poseidon and Calyce. He got that name because his mother left him alone at the banks of a river, where local fishermen rescued him and named him Cygnus, the Greek Word for swan, because a swan was flying close to him.

7. In Greek mythology it was Ladon, the monster that guarded the Golden Apples and was killed by Hercules when the hero completed the 11th labor. What kind of creature was it, that shares its name with a constellation?

Answer: Draco, the Dragon

Draco is visible in the Northern Hemisphere. Many observers consider it never-setting (circumpolar). It contains the northern pole of the ecliptic.

There is no such name, however, in Greek mythology. The real Draco was Ladon, a creature depicted as a reptile. It was the guard of the Hesperides' Garden with the famed Golden Apples. Hercules, while on the 11th labor, learned from Prometheus (having freed him from Caucasus, where he was kept prisoner by Zeus) that Ladon guarded the Apples and managed to kill him.

8. A sacred seacreature of Greek mythology, it saved Arion, a kitharode, when he was thrown into the sea by the treacherous sailors of the ship that was to carry him to Corinth. It shares its name with a constellation. What is it?

Answer: Delphinus, the Dolphin

Delphinus is visible in the Northern Hemisphere. It is near the celestial equator. It is the 69th biggest constellation, meaning its size is small.

Dolphins played an important role in Greek mythology. For instance, Poseidon desired Amphitrite as his bride, she made her way to Caucasus. Delphinus, sent by Poseidon, convinced her to marry the god of sea. Gratified, Poseidon made him a constellation.

9. This instrument was invented by Hermes, who gave it as a gift to his brother, Apollo. It became a symbol of the god. It also shares its name with a constellation. What is it?

Answer: Lyra, the Harp

Lyra is visible in both Hemispheres, but mostly in the Northern one. It contains Vega, one of the brightest stars in night sky. Its size is comparatively small.

A lyra belonged to Orpheus, too. The kitharode, after the loss of his beloved wife, Eurydice, started wandering around the World playing the instrument. He was slain by the Bacchaides, a group of Dionysus' followers, because he had ceased worshiping the gods. Zeus ordered both the lyra and Orpheus to be made constellations.

10. It is the emblem of Artemis and Apollo. It is also a symbol of Eros. It shares its name with a constellation. What is it?

Answer: Sagitta, the Arrow

Sagitta is visible throughout the whole globe, except the Antarctic Circle. It has the third smallest area of all constellations.

Sagitta was used by Hercules. With this weapon he killed the Eagle of Zeus, that was, on a daily basis, eating Prometheus' liver, during his 11th labor. As a reward for his salvation, Prometheus gave Hercules information about the Garden of Hesperides and the Golden Apples.

Source: Author DeepHistory

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Dark Night Full of Lights Trivia Quiz

The quiz is about personnel or objects of Greek mythology that gave their name to constellations. Good luck and have fun!

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>