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LearnEnglishfromtheancientGreekandRomanmythologyBasicinformationabouttheancientGreekandRomanmythology·Source（1）Homer'sEpic:IliadandOdyssey（2）Hesiod'sTheogony（3）ManystoriesaboutgodsandheroescreatedorprovidedbypoetsorwritersinancientGreece.·Feature（1）It’slikeasystem,formedbyaseriesofstories.（2）Therearesomemostimportantgods,andthereisacompletedsocial-relationshipnetamongthem.（3）It’sareflectionofthebroadandcompletedsociallife.DONOTIGNORESUCHAGREATTREASURE！TheancientGreekandRomanmythologyplaysaveryimportantroleinEnglish.Manywords,phrasesandidiomsaredeprivedfromit,andtheyarefamiliartoEnglishlearners.Haveyoueverpaidanyattentiontothem?ONE:people&objectsTWO:events/incidentsONE:berelatedtopeople&objects1、TitanswasthesonofGaeaandZeus.Hewasbigandstrong.SOTitanicmeanshuge,vastorpowerful.2、ThenineartsandsciencegodsintheancientGreekandRomanmythologyaregenerallycalledMuses.Musealwaysreferstopoet’s&artist’sinspiration,orthepersons&objectsthatstimulateinspiration.3、JoveisshortforJupiter,whoisthelordofallgods.（1）Peoplewouldsay“ByJove!”whentheyfeelsurprised.（2）JovianisusedtodescribesomeonewhohasthetemperamentofanemperorlikeJupiter.JovialisoftenusedtodescribethecharacterofSantaClausbecauseofitsmeaningofeasy-going，goodtemper，happymind.4、LaurelisthehollytreeofthesungodApollo,whoisalsoinchargeofprediction,medicine,music,poetandarchery.So,laurelbecomesthesymbolofgloryandhonor.torestonone’slaurels:besatisfiedwithwhathasbeengainedwithoutambitiontoachievemoreNobelLaureate：NobelPrizeWinner5、Prometheustaughtpeopleagreatdealofknowledgeandunprecedentedtechniques.InEnglish,promethean,asanadjective,meansnovelandoriginal.Furthermore,becausetheeaglewouldpeckatPrometheus’liverwhenhewaspunished,whichwasratherunbearable,prometheanalsomeansverypainful.TWO:berelatedtoevents/incidents1、InordertofindhissisterEuropa,CadmuskilledthedragonandfoundedthecityofThebes.Allofhisfamilieswerehurtmoreorlessowingtoit.Cadmeanvictory：victorythatisgainedwithlotsofloss2、WhilePenelope’husbandOdysseuswasoutonjourney,manymenproposedtoher.Shehadnochoicebuttopromisethatshewouldmarrysomeoneonceshefinishedweavingherfather-in-law’sclothes.However,duringthenightshealwaystookapartwhatshehadweavedintheday.ItlasteduntilOdysseuscameback.thewebofPenelope/Penelope’web:apieceofworkthatisdoingallthetimebutcanneverbefinished）3、NotlongafterAchilleswasborn,hismothersoakedhimintheriverStyxinhopethathecouldavoidanyhurtduringhislife.Nonetheless,hisfatherstoppedhismother’ssuchbehaviorbeforehisheelwassoakedintheriver.Asaresult,Achilles’heelbecametheonlypartthatcanbehurtandthusfinishhislife.Achilles’heel:fatalshortcomingsAnothercorrelativephrase:Achilles’tendon4、Sisyphuswasaskedtomoveaheavyandhugestonetothetopofareallyhighmountain,whichwasthepunishmentZeusgavehim.Inordertocompletesuchanexactingtask,hehadtoworkdayafterday.alaborofSisyphus/aSisypheantask/aSisypheantoil：endlesstoilwithnohappyending5、TantalusoncedismemberedhissonPelopsandboiledPelopstomakeamealforgodssothathecouldknowwhetherornotthegodscouldtellthemeatwasfromhumanbeingorsomeanimals.tantalizev.tease,stirupone’sinterestordesirebutdon’tsatisfyhimtantalizingadj.teasingAfterseeingwhatwereshowedbefore,Ithink,agreementcanbegainedthattheancientGreekandRomanmythologyissometreasureofknowledge,especiallyforEnglishlearners.Therearemanymorewordsorphraseswaitingforyoutofindout.Thechancemustbecherished!