Cassandra or Kassandra ( Ancient Greek: Κασσάνδρα, pronounced [kas:ándra], also Κασάνδρα, and sometimes referred to as Alexandra) [2] in Greek mythology was a Trojan priestess dedicated to the god Apollo and fated by him to utter true prophecies but never to be believed.
Full Answer
Is Percy Jackson a real character in Greek mythology?
Percy Jackson’s Greek mythology is at least as “real” as any of the other extant Greek mythology. The Greek myths came from an oral tradition. Everyone had their own versions of the stories, and the stories mutated and mutated again every time they were retold.
Was Cassiopeia A goddess in Greek mythology?
Cassiopeia was a queen in ancient Greek mythology. According to legend, she boasted she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs called the Nereids. Her boast angered Poseidon, god of the sea, who sent a sea monster, Cetus, to ravage the kingdom.
Who is the goddess of memory in Greek mythology?
- Oceanus (god of rivers)
- Hyperion (god of light)
- Theia (goddess of sight)
- Themis (goddess of justice)
- Mnemosyne (goddess of memory)
- Tethys (goddess of water)
How many goddesses were there in Greek mythology?
What are the 6 Greek gods?
- APOLLO: God of the sun, the light, music and prophecy.
- ARES: God of War.
- DIONYSUS: God of wine, winemaking, fertility and theatre.
- HEPHAISTOS: God of Fire, Metalworking and Sculpture.
- HERMES: God of Travel, Hospitality and Trade.
- POSEIDON: God of the Sea.
Is there a goddess named Cassandra?
As a mythical figure Cassandra was one of the princesses of Ancient Troy. Her father was Priam and her mother was Hecuba. She was very beautufil like a goddess and she was the woman with the ability of foreseeing the future.
Is Cassandra Greek or Roman?
Cassandra, in Greek mythology, the daughter of Priam, the last king of Troy, and his wife Hecuba. In Homer's Iliad, she is the most beautiful of Priam's daughters but not a prophetess.
What happened to Cassandra in Greek mythology?
When Troy fell to the Greeks, Cassandra tried to find a shelter in Athena's Temple, but she was brutally abducted by Ajax and was brought to Agamemnon as a concubine. Cassandra died in Mycenae, murdered along with Agamemnon by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus.
Why was Cassandra cursed Greek mythology?
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was cursed for her ability to predict the future. No one listened to her. One of the consequences was the ruinous fall of Troy to the Greeks. She herself was captured, and then killed.
Is the name Cassandra Greek?
Cassandra is a feminine name of Greek origin meaning "shining upon man." This is a Latinized version of the Greek Kassandra—a name shared with a Trojan princess who was given the gift of prophecies by Apollo but cursed so that no one would believe her.
What God is Cassandra?
god ApolloCassandra or Kassandra (Ancient Greek: Κασσάνδρα, pronounced [kas:ándra], also Κασάνδρα, and sometimes referred to as Alexandra) in Greek mythology was a Trojan priestess dedicated to the god Apollo and fated by him to utter true prophecies but never to be believed.
Why was Cassandra killed?
Why Was Cassandra Killed On The Society? It's revealed that Dewey — who, tbh, up until this point didn't have much to add to the show — killed Cassandra in hopes of making Harry (Alex Fitzalan) happy.
What powers does Cassandra have?
Abilities. Cassandra possesses skills in horseback riding, fencing, archery, athletics, and other skills in combat; which she had learned for being the daughter of the Captain of the Guards.
Who was Cassandra in love with?
According to the Myth, Cassandra was shockingly beautiful. As fate would have it, when Apollo saw Cassandra, he fell madly in love with her. When Apollo made sexual advances toward her, she shunned him. Finally, she gave in to his advances on one condition: he would grant her the gift of prophecy.
Why is Cassandra called Cassandra?
Its name is inspired on priestess Cassandra of Greek mythology, who had the gift of prophecy and predicted the Trojan Horse deception.
What was Cassandra famous for?
The term originates in Greek mythology. Cassandra was a daughter of Priam, the King of Troy. Struck by her beauty, Apollo provided her with the gift of prophecy, but when Cassandra refused Apollo's romantic advances, he placed a curse ensuring that nobody would believe her warnings.
Who violates Cassandra and is punished by Athena?
AJAX [ay'jaks] or AIAS, son of OILEUS [o-il'e-us], was prince of Locris and a leading warrior whose chief role in the saga occurred in the sack of Troy, when he violated Cassandra, who had taken refuge at the altar of Athena. He died during the return home, having offended both Athena and Poseidon.
Who is Cassandra in the mythology?
Mythological prophet and princess of Troy. Cassandra by Evelyn De Morgan (1898, London); Cassandra in front of the burning city of Troy. "Cassandra and Ajax", 550 BC. Cassandra or Kassandra ( Ancient Greek: Κασσάνδρα, pronounced [kassándra], also Κασάνδρα ), (sometimes referred to as Alexandra ), was a Trojan priestess of Apollo in Greek mythology ...
What did Cassandra predict?
Cassandra made many predictions, all disbelieved except one , when she foresaw who Paris was and proclaimed that he was her abandoned brother. Cassandra foresaw that Paris’ abduction of Helen for his wife would bring about the Trojan War and warned Paris not to go to Sparta. Helenus echoed her prophecy, but his warnings were ignored. Cassandra saw Helen coming into Troy when Paris returned home from Sparta. Though the people rejoiced, Cassandra furiously snatched away Helen's golden veil and tore at her hair, for she foresaw that Helen's arrival would bring the city's destruction in the Trojan War.
Why did Coroebus and Othronus come to Troy's aid?
Coroebus and Othronus came to the aid of Troy during the Trojan War out of love for Cassandra and in exchange for her hand in marriage, but both were killed. According to one account, Priam offered Cassandra to Telephus ’s son Eurypylus, in order to induce Eurypylus to fight on the side of the Trojans.
What did Cassandra do in The Fall of Troy?
In The Fall of Troy, told by Quintus Smyrnaeus, Cassandra had attempted to warn the Trojan people that Greek warriors were hiding in the Trojan Horse while they were celebrating their victory over the Greeks with feasting. They disbelieved her, calling her names and degrading her with insults. She grabbed an axe in one hand and a burning torch in her other, and ran towards the Trojan Horse, intent on destroying the Greeks herself, but the Trojans stopped her. The Greeks hiding inside the Horse were relieved, but alarmed by how clearly she had divined their plan.
Why was Cassandra cursed?
Cassandra was given the gift of prophecy, but was also cursed by the god Apollo so that her true prophecies would not be believed. Many versions of the myth relate that she incurred the god's wrath by refusing him sex, after promising herself to him in exchange for the power of prophecy.
Why did Cassandra's image turn its eyes away?
In one account, this caused her image to give forth a sound that shook the floor of the temple at the sight of Cassandra's rape , and her image turned its eyes away as Cassandra was violated, although others found this account too bold.
What was inside the chest of Cassandra?
In some versions, Cassandra intentionally left a chest behind in Troy, with a curse on whichever Greek opened it first. Inside the chest was an image of Dionysus, made by Hephaestus and presented to the Trojans by Zeus.
Who is Cassandra in Greek mythology?
Myths / Mortals / Cassandra. Cassandra was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, lords of Troy, in Greek mythology. She was also known as Alexandra. According to one myth, god Apollo gave her the gift of foretelling the future and then tried to sleep with her.
Who was Cassandra?
Cassandra was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, lords of Troy, in Greek mythology. She was also known as Alexandra.
Who was Cassandra in Greek mythology?
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In Greek mythology, Cassandra was a daughter of King Priam and of Queen Hecuba of Troy. She was the most beautiful of Priam’s daughter and an inspired prophetess.
Who was Cassandra given a prize to?
After the Greek victory, Cassandra was given a prize to the Greek leader Agamemnon, the son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope of Mycenae. Later, she returned to Greece with him and their twin boys, Teledamus and Pelops.
Where is Cassandra's tomb?
Cassandra's burial place was believed to be located at Amyclae or Mycenae. The two towns disputed the possession of the prophetess' grave. Heinrich Schliemann, a German archaeologist considered to be the modern discoverer of prehistoric Greece, was certain that he found Cassandra's tomb during his excavations at Mycenae. In one of the circle's graves at the site, Schliemann found the remains of a woman and two infants.
Who does not believe Cassandra?
Even when Cassandra stands before the palace in Argos, foretelling her imminent death and that of Agamemnon, no one believes her. The chorus of elders claims they cannot or must no believe her. (Aeschylus’ Agamemnon (1072-1330).
What was Cassandra's prediction?
Another Cassandra’s prediction was also a serious warning. The prophetess predicted Troy's defeat and warned the Trojans not to accept the Greek gift of the Trojan horse, but once again her prophecy was ignored. Greek troops hid inside the Trojan horse suddenly appeared and captured the city of Troy.
Why is the myth of Cassandra used?
The myth of Cassandra has been used by contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and political scientists to explain the condition of valid truths being disregarded and disbelieved. Let’s take a closer look at Cassandra and explore how her myth has changed and grown over the centuries.
How did Cassandra take revenge on the Greeks?
Meanwhile, Cassandra took revenge on the Greeks by leaving behind a chest that invoked madness upon those who opened it.
Why did Apollo curse Cassandra?
Due to his admiration and affection, he gave Cassandra the powers of prophesying and foretelling. Despite Apollo’s favors, Cassandra could not reciprocate his feelings, and rejected his advances towards her. This angered Apollo, and he cursed her powers, so that no one would believe her prophecies.
Why are environmental activists called Cassandras?
Individual environmental activists are termed Cassandras if their warnings and foretellings are mocked. In the corporate world, the name Cassandra is used to refer to those who can predict rises, falls, and crashes of the stock market.
What did Cassandra do to stop Paris from going to Sparta?
When Paris came back to Troy with Helen, Cassandra showed her objection by ripping of Helen’s veil and tearing at her hair. Although Cassandra was able to foresee the destruction of Troy, the Trojans neither acknowledged nor listened to her.
What was the most important event of Cassandra's life?
The most important event of Cassandra’s life was the encounter with the god Apollo. Although there are several versions of Cassandra’s stories, all of them have some connection with God Apollo. Cassandra became a priestess in Apollo’s temple and vowed a life of purity, divinity, and virginity. Apollo saw Cassandra in his temple ...
What was Cassandra's life after Troy?
Cultural Representations of Cassandra. The Cassandra Complex. Cassandra Facts. In Brief. In Greek mythology, Cassandra, also known as Alexandra, was a princess of Troy and a priestess of Apollo. She was a beautiful and intelligent woman who could prophesy and foretell the future.
Who found Cassandra in the temple?
Cassandra was found in the temple by Ajax the Lesser, and there the daughter of King Priam was raped by Locrian Ajax. This was one of the acts of sacrilege which would see many of the Greek heroes endure long and perilous journeys home after the war. Ajax and Cassandra - Solomon Joseph Solomon (1860-1927) - PD-art-100.
Who was the suitor of Cassandra?
The Suitors of Cassandra. Mortals though were also spurned by Cassandra, and some say how Telephus, a son of Heracles was rejected by Cassandra, although in the case of Telephus, Cassandra did help the future king of Mysia wed her sister Laodice (or Astyoche). Later, other suitors of Cassandra were said to include Othryoneus ...
What did the serpents do to Cassandra and Helenus?
During the night, two serpents emerged from the dark recesses, and made their way to the two children of King Priam. The serpents then licked clean the ears of Cassandra and Helenus, allowing both to hear clearly the sounds of nature, allowing accurate divination of the future.
How many children did Cassandra have?
Cassandra would have many siblings, for some said that Priam fathered 100 children, but amongst the most notable were Hector and Paris, and also Cassandra’s twin brother Helenus. Cassandra was also known as Alexandra, in a similar way to how Paris is sometimes referred to as Alexander.
What does Apollo offer to Cassandra?
To help sway Cassandra, Apollo offers up the gift of prophecy, a gift which Cassandra willingly accepts. Having accepted the gift though, Cassandra then rebuts the sexual advances of Apollo.
Where did Cassandra seek sanctuary?
As the Greek heroes took possession of Troy, Cassandra would seek sanctuary within the Temple of Athena, in the heart of the city. The temple though proved to be no refuge, just as the Temple of Zeus proved no sanctuary for Priam and Polites. Cassandra was found in the temple by Ajax the Lesser, and there the daughter of King Priam was raped by Locrian Ajax.
Who gave Cassandra freedom?
A less common tale told in History of the Fall of Troy (Dares of Phrygia) sees Cassandra not in the company of Agamemnon when he returned home, for the King Of Mycenae had given Cassandra, her brother Helenus, her mother Hecabe, and her sister-in-law Andromache, their freedom after the war.
What would Cassandra suffer from?
My Trojans would suffer from hunger, sickness, and fear. Cassandra, in her dual role as a priestess and a member of Troy’s royal family, as daughter of her father King Priam and mother Queen Hecuba, would fare better than the commoners. She would be aware of the class privilege and have a social conscience.
Who Was Cassandra of Troy?
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was the daughter of King Priam, the ruler of Troy during the Trojan War, and his wife, Queen Hecuba. This made her a princess of the highest rank.
What Happens to Cassandra After the Fall of Troy?
The ancient authors of Greek mythology agree on her fate: when the Greeks conquer the city of Troy, she gets raped by Ajax the Lesser of the Greeks, even though she has sought refuge in the temple of Athena , which is sacrosanct.
Who Cursed Cassandra & Why?
The God Apollo cursed Cassandra, Troy’s princess, because she refused to obey him. This is the part the children’s version left out: the amorous Greek god demanded erotic favors.
What is Cassandra's role in The Firebrand?
Cassandra pledges herself as a priestess to a female goddess as well as to Apollo.
Why did Apollo want Cassandra?
Ancient authors agree that Apollo desired the beautiful Cassandra and granted her the gift of prophecy in order to woo her as a lover, according to Greek mythology . Cassandra accepted the gift of the ability to tell prophecies, but she rejected Apollo’s sexual demands.
Why is Cassandra portrayed as a bad woman?
She has been portrayed as a bad woman, because she spoke up against the decisions of powerful males instead of keeping quiet as a woman should.
Where did the word "cassandra" come from?
The term originates in Greek mythology. Cassandra was a daughter of Priam, the King of Troy. Struck by her beauty, Apollo provided her with the gift of prophecy, but when Cassandra refused Apollo's romantic advances, he placed a curse ensuring that nobody would believe her warnings. Cassandra was left with the knowledge of future events, but could neither alter these events nor convince others of the validity of her predictions.
Who addressed the metaphorical application of the Greek Cassandra myth?
Addressing the metaphorical application of the Greek Cassandra myth, Layton Schapira states that:
What is the Cassandra metaphor?
The Cassandra metaphor is applied by some psychologists to individuals who experience physical and emotional suffering as a result of distressing personal perceptions, and who are disbelieved when they attempt to share the cause of their suffering with others.
What does Bolen suggest about Cassandra?
Bolen suggests that a Cassandra woman (or man) may become increasingly hysterical and irrational when in a dysfunctional relationship with a negative Apollo, and may experience others' disbelief when describing her experiences.
When was the Cassandra metaphor first used?
"both of them agreed to treat the Cassandra-like prophecies which Thiebault kept sending from Salamanca as 'wild and whirling words.'" (The Oxford English Dictionary records use of "Cassandra like" from 1670 and of "Cassandra-like" from 1863.) Later, in 1949, French philosopher Gaston Bachelard coined the term "Cassandra Complex" to refer to a belief that things could be known in advance.
Who said "too often we watch helplessly, as Cassandra did, while the soldiers emerge from?
In the words of Atkisson: "too often we watch helplessly, as Cassandra did, while the soldiers emerge from the Trojan horse just as foreseen and wreak their predicted havoc. Worse, Cassandra's dilemma has seemed to grow more inescapable even as the chorus of Cassandras has grown larger.".
Who is the Wall Street Cassandra?
Sometimes the name Cassandra is applied to those who can predict rises, falls, and particularly crashes on the global stock market, as happened with Warren Buffett, who repeatedly warned that the 1990s stock market surge was a bubble, attracting to him the title of the "Wall Street Cassandra".
Overview
Mythology
Cassandra appears in texts written by Homer, Virgil, Aeschylus and Euripides. Each author depicts her prophetic powers differently.
In Homer's work, Cassandra is mentioned a total of four times "as a virgin daughter of Priam, as bewailing Hector’s death, as chosen by Agamemnon as his slave mistress after the sack of Troy, and as killed by Clytemnestra over Agame…
Etymology
Hjalmar Frisk (Griechisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, Heidelberg, 1960–1970) notes "unexplained etymology", citing "various hypotheses" found in Wilhelm Schulze, Edgar Howard Sturtevant, J. Davreux, and Albert Carnoy. R. S. P. Beekes cites García Ramón's derivation of the name from the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)kend- "raise". The Online Etymology Dictionary states "though the second element looks like a fem. form of Greek andros "of man, male human being." …
Description
Cassandra was described by the chronicler Malalas in his account of the Chronography as "shortish, round-faced, white, mannish figure, good nose, good eyes, dark pupils, blondish, curly, good neck, bulky breasts, small feet, calm, noble, priestly, an accurate prophet foreseeing everything, practicing hard, virgin". Meanwhile, in the account of Dares the Phrygian, she was illustrated as ". . .of moderate stature, round-mouthed, and auburn-haired. Her eyes flashed. She …
Biography
Cassandra was one of the many children born to the king and queen of Troy, Priam and Hecuba. She is the fraternal twin sister of Helenus, as well as the sister to Hector and Paris. One of the oldest and common versions of her myth states that Cassandra was admired for her beauty and intelligence by the god Apollo, who sought to win her with the gift to see the future. According to Aeschylus, C…
Agamemnon by Aeschylus
The play Agamemnon from Aeschylus's trilogy Oresteia depicts the king treading the scarlet cloth laid down for him, and walking offstage to his death. After the chorus's ode of foreboding, time is suspended in Cassandra's "mad scene". She has been onstage, silent and ignored. Her madness that is unleashed now is not the physical torment of other characters in Greek tragedy, such as in Euripides' …
See also
• Apollo archetype
• Novikov self-consistency principle
• The Boy Who Cried Wolf
• Tiresias
• Voice in the Wilderness
Primary sources
• Homer. Iliad XXIV, 697–706; Odyssey XI, 405–434;
• Aeschylus. Agamemnon
• Euripides. The Trojan Women; Electra
• Bibliotheca III, xii, 5; Epitome V, 17–22; VI, 23