MythologyTrivia Questions & Answers
90 mythology trivia questions, each with the correct answer and a short explanation.
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Each question reveals the answer and a quick explanation below it.
1. In Greek mythology, who is the king of the gods?
Answer: Zeus. Zeus is the king of the gods in Greek mythology.
2. Who wrote the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey?
Answer: Homer. Homer is credited with the ancient Greek epics the Iliad and the Odyssey.
3. In Greek mythology, who was the messenger of the gods?
Answer: Hermes. Hermes served as the swift messenger of the Olympian gods.
4. In Norse mythology, what is the name of the world-encircling serpent that bites its own tail?
Answer: Jormungandr. Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent and offspring of Loki, is so vast it encircles the world and grasps its own tail.
5. In Greek mythology, which Titan was condemned to hold up the sky for eternity?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was sentenced by Zeus to hold up the heavens (the sky) after the Titanomachy.
6. In Egyptian mythology, which god was associated with the afterlife and depicted with the head of a jackal?
Answer: Anubis. Anubis, the jackal-headed god, presided over mummification and the afterlife.
7. Which mythological figure stole fire from the gods and was punished by being chained to a rock?
Answer: Prometheus. Prometheus stole fire from the Greek gods and was condemned by Zeus to be chained to a rock where an eagle ate his liver daily.
8. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god of the sun before Helios took that role?
Answer: Hyperion. Hyperion was the original Titan god associated with the sun and heavenly light, father of Helios.
9. In Greek mythology, who was the ferryman who transported souls across the river Styx to the underworld?
Answer: Charon. Charon was the divine ferryman of the dead, who required a coin (obol) placed in the mouth of the deceased as payment for passage.
10. Which Titaness was the mother of Apollo and Artemis by Zeus?
Answer: Leto. Leto, daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe, bore Apollo and Artemis to Zeus.
11. What did Theseus use to find his way back out of the Labyrinth after killing the Minotaur?
Answer: A ball of thread. Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of thread to unwind so he could retrace his path out of the Labyrinth.
12. Who was the primordial goddess of the dawn in Greek mythology?
Answer: Eos. Eos was the goddess of the dawn, sister of Helios (sun) and Selene (moon).
13. Which hero's only vulnerable spot was his heel, where his mother held him while dipping him in the Styx?
Answer: Achilles. Achilles was made invulnerable except for the heel by which his mother Thetis held him in the River Styx.
14. What was the name of the many-headed serpent that Heracles slew as his second labor?
Answer: The Lernaean Hydra. The Lernaean Hydra was the many-headed serpent Heracles destroyed as his second labor.
15. Who flew too close to the sun on wings of wax and feathers and fell into the sea?
Answer: Icarus. Icarus ignored his father Daedalus's warning, flew too near the sun, and his wax wings melted, drowning him.
16. Which musician descended to the Underworld to retrieve his wife Eurydice?
Answer: Orpheus. Orpheus, the legendary musician, journeyed to the Underworld in an attempt to bring back his wife Eurydice.
17. From the foam of the sea near which place was Aphrodite said to have been born in Hesiod's account?
Answer: Cyprus. In Hesiod's Theogony, Aphrodite rose from sea foam and came ashore at Cyprus.
18. Who was the king punished in the Underworld with eternal hunger and thirst, food and water forever out of reach?
Answer: Tantalus. Tantalus stood in water beneath fruit that always receded, doomed to eternal hunger and thirst.
19. Which goddess sprang fully grown and armored from the head of Zeus?
Answer: Athena. Athena was born fully grown and clad in armor from the head of Zeus.
20. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan condemned to hold up the sky — not to carry the Earth on his back?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was punished by Zeus to hold up the heavens (celestial sphere), a task commonly misrepresented as carrying the Earth on his shoulders.
21. In Greek mythology, what gift did Cassandra receive from Apollo that came paired with an inescapable curse?
Answer: Prophecy no one would believe. Apollo granted Cassandra the gift of prophecy, but when she rejected him he cursed her so that no one would ever believe her predictions.
22. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan condemned to hold up the heavens for eternity?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was punished by Zeus to stand at the western edge of the Earth and hold up the celestial heavens on his shoulders forever.
23. In Norse mythology, what is the name of the serpent that gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil?
Answer: Nidhogg. Nidhogg is the dragon/serpent in Norse mythology that perpetually gnaws at the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil.
24. In Greek mythology, which goddess was born fully armored from the forehead of Zeus?
Answer: Athena. Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare, was born fully grown and armored from the forehead of Zeus after he swallowed her pregnant mother Metis.
25. In Greek mythology, what was the name of the river in the underworld that caused complete forgetfulness when drunk?
Answer: Lethe. Lethe was the river of oblivion in Hades; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
26. In Greek mythology, who was the first mortal woman, created by Hephaestus on Zeus's orders?
Answer: Pandora. Pandora was crafted by Hephaestus at Zeus's command as punishment to humanity after Prometheus stole fire.
27. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god of time, often confused with Zeus's father Cronus?
Answer: Chronos. Chronos was the primordial god of time in Greek mythology, distinct from Cronus the Titan king who was Zeus's father.
28. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god of time, often confused with the god Cronus?
Answer: Chronos. Chronos is the personification of time in Greek mythology, distinct from Cronus the Titan king, though frequently conflated.
29. In Greek mythology, which river in the underworld caused complete forgetfulness when its water was drunk?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
30. In Greek mythology, what is the name of the river in the underworld whose waters caused complete forgetfulness?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
31. In Greek mythology, which river in the underworld caused souls to forget their earthly lives upon drinking from it?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls drank from it to forget their previous lives before reincarnation.
32. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan condemned to hold up the celestial spheres — not the sky itself?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was condemned to hold up the celestial axis or heavens (ouranos), a punishment often mischaracterized as carrying the Earth itself.
33. In Greek mythology, what creature had the body of a lion, the head of a human, and the tail of a scorpion?
Answer: Manticore. The Manticore, originating in Persian legend and adopted by Greeks, combined a human head, lion body, and scorpion or dragon tail, unlike the Sphinx which lacks the scorpion tail.
34. In Greek mythology, which river in the underworld caused souls who drank from it to forget their earthly lives?
Answer: Lethe. The river Lethe, meaning 'oblivion,' caused complete forgetfulness when souls drank from it before reincarnation, contrasting with the Styx sworn by gods.
35. In Norse mythology, which creature gnaws perpetually at the roots of Yggdrasil?
Answer: Níðhöggr. Níðhöggr is the dragon or serpent in Norse myth that continuously gnaws at the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil.
36. In Greek mythology, Tiresias was transformed into a woman for seven years after striking which creatures with his staff?
Answer: Serpents. According to myth, Tiresias struck two copulating serpents and was turned into a woman; striking them again seven years later restored his male form.
37. In Greek mythology, what was the name of the river in the underworld whose waters caused complete forgetfulness when drunk?
Answer: Lethe. Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls drank from it before reincarnation to forget their previous lives.
38. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan condemned to hold up the sky — NOT the earth — for eternity?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was punished by Zeus to hold up the celestial sphere (the sky/heavens), not the Earth itself, a common misconception.
39. In Greek mythology, which river in the underworld was said to cause complete forgetfulness when souls drank from it?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion in Hades; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
40. In Greek mythology, who was the ferryman who transported souls across the river Styx?
Answer: Charon. Charon was the ferryman of Hades who carried souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron.
41. In Greek mythology, what was the name of the river in Hades whose waters caused complete forgetfulness?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion in the underworld; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
42. In Greek mythology, which river in the Underworld caused the dead to forget their earthly life when they drank from it?
Answer: Lethe. The river Lethe (meaning 'oblivion') caused souls of the dead to forget their mortal lives upon drinking its waters.
43. In Greek mythology, which river of the underworld was associated with forgetfulness, causing souls to lose their memories?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion in Hades; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
44. In Greek mythology, which figure completed 12 labors but was famously killed by a poisoned garment?
Answer: Heracles. Heracles (Hercules) completed the 12 labors and was ultimately killed when his wife Deianeira unwittingly gave him the Shirt of Nessus, soaked in Hydra-poisoned centaur blood.
45. In Greek mythology, who was the god of the forge and fire?
Answer: Hephaestus. Hephaestus was the Greek god of fire, blacksmiths, and craftsmen, known for his divine forge on Olympus.
46. In Greek mythology, which river in the Underworld was associated with hate or the oath of the gods?
Answer: Styx. The Styx was the river by which the gods swore their most binding oaths, and it was associated with hatred and detestation.
47. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god of time and the father of the Olympian gods?
Answer: Cronus. Cronus was the leader of the Titans and father of Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and other Olympians, often associated with the harvest and time.
48. In Greek mythology, which river in the underworld was associated with forgetfulness, causing souls to lose their memories?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
49. In Greek mythology, what was the name of the three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to the underworld?
Answer: Cerberus. Cerberus was the multi-headed dog of Hades that prevented the dead from leaving and the living from entering the underworld.
50. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god specifically associated with afterthought and rash action?
Answer: Epimetheus. Epimetheus, whose name means 'afterthought,' was the Titan who carelessly distributed animal traits and left humans defenseless before Prometheus intervened.
51. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god of forethought and the one credited with giving fire to humanity?
Answer: Prometheus. Prometheus, whose name means 'forethought,' stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, for which Zeus had him bound to a rock.
52. In Norse mythology, what is the name of the squirrel that runs up and down Yggdrasil carrying messages between the eagle and the serpent Níðhöggr?
Answer: Ratatoskr. Ratatoskr is the squirrel in Norse mythology that runs along Yggdrasil stirring strife between the eagle at the top and the serpent at the roots.
53. Which ancient Greek mythological figure was condemned to push a boulder uphill for eternity only to watch it roll back down?
Answer: Sisyphus. Sisyphus was punished by the gods for his chronic deceitfulness; Tantalus was made to stand in water under fruit he could never reach, and Ixion was bound to a spinning wheel.
54. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god of time before Cronus took that role in later traditions?
Answer: Aion. Aion was the Hellenistic deity of cyclical, eternal time, distinct from Chronos and often conflated with him only in later periods.
55. Which ancient civilization built the city of Teotihuacan, whose builders remain unknown to historians?
Answer: The identity is genuinely unknown. Teotihuacan predates the Aztecs who named it; the actual founding civilization remains unidentified — even the Aztecs found it abandoned and mysterious.
56. In Greek mythology, who was the god of the west wind?
Answer: Zephyrus. Zephyrus was the Greek god of the west wind, often depicted as gentle and associated with spring; Boreas was the north wind.
57. In Norse mythology, which creature gnaws perpetually at the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil?
Answer: Nidhogg. Nidhogg is the great serpent or dragon that eternally gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil, representing a force of chaos and destruction in Norse cosmology.
58. In Greek mythology, what was the name of the river in the underworld whose waters caused complete forgetfulness?
Answer: Lethe. Lethe was the river of oblivion in Hades; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation, in contrast to the Styx which was used for oaths.
59. In Greek mythology, who was the goddess of discord who triggered the chain of events leading to the Trojan War?
Answer: Eris. Eris, goddess of discord, threw the golden Apple of Discord inscribed 'for the fairest,' sparking the divine dispute that ultimately led to the Trojan War.
60. In Greek mythology, what did Prometheus steal from the gods to give to humanity?
Answer: Fire. Prometheus stole fire from the forge of Hephaestus on Mount Olympus and gave it to humankind.
61. In Greek mythology, what was the name of the river in the Underworld whose waters granted complete forgetfulness?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls of the dead drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
62. In Greek mythology, which river in the underworld caused complete forgetfulness when souls drank from it?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
63. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan condemned to hold up the celestial spheres for eternity?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was punished by Zeus to bear the heavens on his shoulders; he is often depicted holding a celestial sphere, not the Earth as is commonly misunderstood.
64. In Greek mythology, which river in the Underworld caused total forgetfulness when souls drank from it?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion in Hades; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
65. In Greek mythology, which river in the Underworld was associated with forgetfulness?
Answer: Lethe. Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
66. Which ancient civilization built the city of Teotihuacan, whose builders remain uncertain to this day?
Answer: Teotihuacanos. Teotihuacan was built by a still-unidentified pre-Columbian people collectively called the Teotihuacanos; the Aztecs arrived centuries after its abandonment.
67. In Greek mythology, which river of the underworld was said to be the river of forgetfulness?
Answer: Lethe. Lethe was the underworld river whose waters caused complete forgetfulness; souls drank from it before reincarnation.
68. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan responsible for holding up the celestial sphere?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was condemned by Zeus to hold up the heavens (the celestial sphere) for eternity after the Titans' defeat.
69. The word 'volcano' derives from the name of the Roman god of which domain?
Answer: Fire and forge. Volcano comes from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, metalworking, and the forge, whose name was also given to a volcanic island off Sicily.
70. In Norse mythology, which animal perpetually gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil?
Answer: Níðhöggr. Níðhöggr is the dragon/serpent that eternally gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil, the world tree, in Norse cosmology.
71. In Greek mythology, who was the god of the underworld?
Answer: Hades. Hades was the Greek god who ruled the underworld, the realm of the dead, distinct from his brothers Zeus and Poseidon who ruled sky and sea.
72. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan who held up the celestial sphere — not the Earth — on his shoulders?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was condemned to hold up the celestial heavens, not the Earth itself, though popular art often depicts it differently.
73. In Greek mythology, which river in the Underworld caused souls to forget their earthly life upon drinking from it?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls drank from it to forget their past lives before reincarnation.
74. The ancient city of Carthage was located in which modern-day country?
Answer: Tunisia. Carthage was a major Phoenician city-state whose ruins are located near modern Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.
75. In Norse mythology, which creature gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil continuously?
Answer: Níðhöggr. Níðhöggr is the serpent/dragon that perpetually gnaws at the roots of the world-tree Yggdrasil in Norse cosmology.
76. Which ancient Greek myth features a craftsman who constructed wings from feathers and wax for himself and his son?
Answer: Daedalus. Daedalus built the famous wings to escape Crete; his son Icarus famously flew too close to the sun, melting the wax.
77. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan condemned to hold up the sky for eternity?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was punished by Zeus to bear the heavens on his shoulders after the Titans lost the war against the Olympians.
78. In Greek mythology, which Titan was condemned to hold up the sky — not the Earth — as punishment?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was condemned to hold up the celestial sphere (the sky/heavens), not the Earth as commonly misrepresented in popular culture.
79. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan responsible for holding up the celestial sphere, often misidentified as holding the Earth?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was condemned to hold up the sky (celestial sphere), not the Earth — a common modern misconception in popular depictions.
80. In Norse mythology, which creature gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil to weaken the world-tree?
Answer: Nidhogg. Nidhogg (Níðhöggr) is the serpent/dragon that perpetually gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil in Norse cosmology.
81. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god who held up the celestial sphere — NOT sentenced to carry the Earth?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was condemned to hold up the celestial heavens (not the Earth as commonly depicted); Prometheus was punished separately for giving fire to humans.
82. In Norse mythology, what is the name of the giant serpent that encircles the world?
Answer: Jormungandr. Jormungandr, also called the Midgard Serpent, is so large it encircles all of Midgard and bites its own tail; it is destined to kill Thor at Ragnarok.
83. The mythological figure Prometheus is credited with stealing what from the Greek gods to give to humanity?
Answer: Fire. In Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to mortals, for which Zeus condemned him to eternal torment.
84. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god of time often confused with Cronus?
Answer: Chronos. Chronos was the primordial deity personifying time, frequently conflated with the Titan Cronus (father of Zeus) though they are distinct figures.
85. In Norse mythology, what is the name of the great world serpent that encircles the earth and bites its own tail?
Answer: Jörmungandr. Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent and offspring of Loki, encircles Midgard and grasps its own tail.
86. In Greek mythology, which figure was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity, only for it to roll back each time near the summit?
Answer: Sisyphus. Sisyphus, punished by the gods for his deceitfulness, was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill in Tartarus, only for it to roll back down repeatedly.
87. In Greek mythology, who were the three Fates (Moirai) collectively responsible for?
Answer: Controlling the thread of mortal life. The Moirai — Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos — spun, measured, and cut the thread of each mortal's life.
88. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan god who held up the celestial heavens, often confused with holding the Earth?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was condemned to hold up the sky (celestial sphere), not the Earth itself, though modern depictions often show the latter.
89. In Greek mythology, who was the Titan condemned to hold up the sky — not the earth — as punishment?
Answer: Atlas. Atlas was condemned by Zeus to hold up the heavens (Uranus), not the earth itself, a common misconception popularized by later artistic depictions.
90. In Greek mythology, which river in the Underworld caused total forgetfulness when its water was drunk?
Answer: Lethe. The Lethe was the river of oblivion; souls drank from it to forget their earthly lives before reincarnation.
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