AKHERON: River in Epirus in northwestern Greece, supposed to lead
to the Underworld. Popular etymology connected it with the
Greek word akhos (“woe”) as the “river of sorrow.”

AMPHION: Early mythical king of Thebes, who helps build the city by
the power of his magical lyre that causes the stones to leap
spontaneously into their places in the walls. He is the husband
of Niobe (q.v.).

ANTIGONE: Incestuously born daughter of the former king of Thebes,
Oidipous, and his wife (and mother) Iokaste, and sister of Is-
mene, Eteokles, and Polyneikes (qq.v.). She is betrothed to
Kreon's son, Haimon (q.v.).

APHRODITE: Olympian goddess of love. Often regarded as the mother
of the god Eros, the personified force of erotic desire.

ARES: Olympian god, son of Zeus and Hera. The god of war, he is
often imagined as violent and destructive and so is associated
by the early Greeks with Thrace and the warlike Thracians.

ARGOS (ADJ., ARGIVE): Major city of northern Peloponnesos and the
ally of Polyneikes (q.v.) in his attempt to overthrow his brother,
Eteokles (q.v.), and win back the throne of Thebes.

ATHENA: See PALLAS.

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