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What is Greek mythology?

Greek mythology is a collection of stories that recount the history, traditions, and major characters in Greek culture. While some Greeks considered myths to be fictitious, others believed them to be true accounts of the past. Greek mythology provided inspiration for much of later Western culture, fine arts, and works of literature.

What is Latin?

Latin is an ancient language that provides the foundation for most of the modern day Romance languages. Romance languages are all derived from Latin roots, and include French, Italian, and Spanish. While Latin is rarely spoken in modern times, knowing the basic grammar and roots can provide useful insight when learning new languages.

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What is Fate?

Merriam Webster defines fate as a power that is believed to control what happens in the future. In Greek mythology, three sisters act as The Fates and control the lives of gods, goddesses, heroes, and everyday people. To believe in fate is to believe that a person has less than full control over the outcomes in their lives.

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What is the layout of New York City?

New York City is arranged in a giant grid network, and has a number of unique neighborhoods called boroughs. Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Queens are the five boroughs that make up New York City. Each borough has a very different culture, feel, and traditions. Research each of the boroughs briefly, and pick the one you would like to live in.

http://newyorkdecoder.com/understanding-the-layout-of-manhattan-streets-in-new-york-city/

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What are satyrs?

In ancient times there are legends and myths about woodland creatures that existed that are different and seemingly strange, a mixture of human and animal. In Greek mythology, it was the mixture of goat and human form, with the legs, tail, and horns and ears of a goat, but the rest of the body was human with a desire for revelry. In other cultures it was the mixture of a horse and human form, and in the Italian mythology they were called a faun. In mythology, these creatures were lower forms of deities who had a fondness for unrestrained revelry, noisy merrymaking.

http://www.mythography.com/myth/welcome-to-mythography/greek-chimerae/hybrids/satyr/

In today’s reading a sudden storm wakes Percy and his mom. They realize something is wrong when Grover finds them. Percy finds out that his best friend is half goat.

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What is the summer solstice?

The word solstice is from the Latin solstitium, from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the Sun appears to stop at this time (and again at the winter solstice). In temperate regions, we notice that the Sun is higher in the sky throughout the day, and its rays strike Earth at a more direct angle, causing the efficient warming we call summer. 

This summer solstice is the day with the most hours of sunlight during the whole year. See our handy Sunrise and sunset calculator for how many hours of sunlight you get in your location.

At the winter solstice, just the opposite occurs: The Sun is at its southernmost point and is low in the sky. Its rays hit the Northern Hemisphere at an oblique angle, creating the feeble winter sunlight.

http://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-summer-summer-solstice

In today’s reading Percy is in a recovery room. A girl is tending to him and wants to know about the summer solstice and what might happen. This is the second time the summer solstice has been mentioned in the reading.

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Who is Hermes?

Hermes was the Greek god of commerce, son of Zeus and Maia. Quick acting and cunning, he was able to move swiftly between the world of man and the world of gods, acting as a messenger of the gods and the link between mortals and the Olympians.

He was the protector of travelers, thieves and athletes. He occasionally tricked the other gods for his own amusement or in an effort to protect humans. With the ability to move freely between worlds, he also served as the guide of the souls of the dead to the underworld and the afterlife.

When Hermes was born, he jumped out of his crib, stole Apollo's cattle and then went back to his crib playing innocent. However, Apollo figured it out, grabbed Hermes and went to Zeus to complain. The father of gods simply laughed and didn't punish Hermes. To apologize, Hermes gave Apollo the lyre, which he had just invented. Hermes appeared in many other myths; in the Odyssey, Odysseus was instructed by the god to chew a magic herb with which he would be able to avoid Circe's powers and not be transformed to animals like his companions; in the myth of Pandora, when the gods provided a trait to her, Hermes gave her the ability to lie and seduce with her words.

http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Hermes/hermes.html

In today’s reading Percy is placed in Cabin 11. He is an undetermined guest meaning they do not know where to place him. Hermes is the god of his cabin. He protects travelers.

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What is an Oracle?

An Oracle may be a priest or priestess that is able to give voice to messages from the gods, called prophecies. The Oracle was thought to be a wise person who gave advice to people who needed guidance in their lives, or it could also be a place where priests delivered or interpreted messages from the gods.

(Especially in ancient Greece): an utterance, often ambiguous or obscure, given by a priest or priestess at a shrine as the response of a god to an inquiry.

In today’s reading Percy is learning more about Camp Half Blood. Annabeth encourages him to talk to the Oracle as she realizes he has powers.

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Who is Poseidon?

Poseidon is the god of the sea and protector of all aquatic features. Brother of Zeus and Hades, after the overthrow of their father, Kronos, he drew lots with them to share the universe. He ended up becoming lord of the sea. He was widely worshipped by seamen. He married Amphitrite, one of the granddaughters of the Titan Oceanus.

At one point he desired Demeter. To deter him, Demeter asked him to make the most beautiful animal that the world had ever seen. So, in an effort to impress her, Poseidon created the first horse. In some accounts, his first attempts were unsuccessful and created a variety of other animals in his quest; thus, by the time the horse was created, his passion for Demeter had diminished.

His weapon was a trident, with which he could make the earth shake, causing earthquakes, and shatter any object. He was second to Zeus in power amongst the gods. He was considered by Greeks to have a difficult quarrelsome personality. Combined with his greed, he had a series of disputes with other gods during his various attempts to take over the cities they were patrons of.

http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Poseidon/poseidon.html

In today’s reading Grover is sharing history of the gods with Percy. Percy wants to go to the underworld, kind of. Grover’s fate as a searcher is tied to Percy’s success.

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What is a quest?

A quest is an adventure or search for something of meaning and value. The adventure may have dangerous moments, so the hero must rely on courage and integrity to finish the quest. Commitment and courage are difficult to maintain in the midst of hard times, and great leaders are able to use them to succeed. Many quests are not so much about the end goal, but about the learning and growth that happens along the journey.

In today’s reading Percy is invited to go on a quest. He is searching for Zeus’s master lightning bolt. The gods are arguing and Zeus thinks that Percy stole it.

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Who are the Furies?

In Greek and Roman mythology, the Furies were female spirits of justice and vengeance. They were also called the Erinyes (angry ones). Known especially for pursuing people who had murdered family members, the Furies punished their victims by driving them mad. When not punishing wrongdoers on earth, they lived in the underworld and tortured the damned.

According to some stories, the Furies were sisters born from the blood of Uranus, the primeval god of the sky, when he was wounded by his son Cronus*. In other stories, they were the children of Nyx (night). In either case, their primeval origin set them apart from the other deities of the Greek and Roman pantheons.

Most tales mention three Furies: Allecto (endless), Tisiphone (punishment), and Megaera (jealous rage). Usually imagined as monstrous, foul-smelling hags, the sisters had bats' wings, coal-black skin, and hair entwined with serpents. They carried torches, whips, and cups of venom with which to torment wrongdoers. The Furies could also appear as storm clouds or swarms of insects.
http://www.mythencyclopedia.com          

In today’s reading the furies board the bus. It is their desire to capture and kill Percy. Percy and his friends fight the ladies and get away.

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Who is Medusa?

Medusa was a monster, one of the Gorgon sisters and daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaea (Earth) and Oceanus (Ocean). She had the face of an ugly woman with snakes instead of hair; anyone who looked into her eyes was immediately turned to stone. Her sisters were Sthenno and Euryale, but Medusa was the only mortal of the three.

She was originally a golden-haired, fair maiden, who, as a priestess of Athena, was devoted to a life of celibacy; however, after being wooed by Poseidon and falling for him, she forgot her vows and married him. For this offence, she was punished by the goddess in a most terrible manner. Each wavy lock of the beautiful hair that had charmed her husband was changed into a venomous snake; her once gentle, love-inspiring eyes turned into blood-shot, furious orbs, which excited fear and disgust in the mind of the onlooker; whilst her former roseate hue and milk-white skin assumed a loathsome greenish tinge.

Seeing herself transformed into such a repulsive creature, Medusa fled her home, never to return. Wandering about, abhorred, dreaded, and shunned by the rest of the world, she turned into a character worthy of her outer appearance. In her despair, she fled to Africa, where, while wandering restlessly from place to place, young snakes dropped from her hair; that is how, according to the ancient Greeks, Africa became a hotbed of venomous reptiles. With the curse of Athena upon her, she turned into stone whomever she gazed upon, till at last, after a life of nameless misery, deliverance came to her in the shape of death, at the hands of Perseus.

http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Medusa/medusa.html

In today’s reading the kids are hungry and they go into a roadside diner. The owner is Aunty Em who is very kind and feeds them. Grover is very suspicious and eventually Annabeth becomes leery too. They soon realize she is really Aunty M for medusa. Percy has to kill her since he has a better weapon. The kids learn they are a team and they each have strengths and talents.

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Who is Pan?

Pan was the god of the wild, hunting, and companion of the nymphs. He was depicted as being half human, while having the legs and horns of a goat, just like a faun; his Roman counterpart was Faunus. It is unclear as to who his parents were; his father may have been Zeus, Dionysus, Hermes, or Apollo. His mother may have been a nymph called Dryope, Penelope who later became the wife of Odysseus, or Aphrodite.

There were no temples attributed to Pan, but he was rather worshipped in natural settings such as caves. It was believed that he often chased nymphs in order to seduce them, but he was always turned down due to his ugly appearance. Moreover, the word 'panic' derives from the name of the goat-like deity. Pan's angry voice was so frightening, that caused panic to anyone who was unlucky to be close enough to hear it.

According to a myth, one day he came across a beautiful nymph called Syrinx. He tried to seduce her, but she managed to run away. Followed by the god, she sought refuge among her sisters, who transformed her into a reed. When the wind started blowing, a melody was produced. Pan, not knowing which reed Syrinx was transformed into, took seven or nine of them and joined them side by side in decreasing length, thus creating his musical instrument that bore the name of the nymph.

In today’s reading the kids are camping on the side of the river. Grover is upset at the pollution and the condition of the environment. Pan was thought to be dead/missing so people have been ravaging his lands. The Satyr’s do not believe it so they send a searcher for him every year to bring him home. Grover wants his searchers license so he can go looking for him.

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What is a Chimera?

A Greek mythological monster composed of fire-breathing lion’s head with a full mane, a goat’s body and hooves, and a serpents tail that was poisonous. The Chimera supposedly lived the in Underworld until it was defeated by the hero Bellerophon and the flying horse Pegasus.

In today’s reading the kids go to the St. Louis Arch to sightsee. Percy is hesitant but goes anyway. He encounters a woman with a dog/monster. He has to fight it all alone.

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What are qualities of a leader?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyaprive/2012/12/19/top-10-qualities-that-make-a-great-leader/

In today’s reading Percy questions his ability to lead. He gets a message from a messenger who is speaking on behalf of his father. Below are 10 traits of a good leader.

Honesty

Whatever ethical plane you hold yourself to, when you are responsible for a team of people, its important to raise the bar even higher. Your business and its employees are a reflection of yourself, and if you make honest and ethical behavior a key value, your team will follow suit.

Ability to Delegate

Finessing your brand vision is essential to creating an organized and efficient business, but if you don’t learn to trust your team with that vision, you might never progress to the next stage. Its important to remember that trusting your team with your idea is a sign of strength, not weakness. Delegating tasks to the appropriate departments is one of the most important skills you can develop as your business grows. The emails and tasks will begin to pile up, and the more you stretch yourself thin, the lower the quality of your work will become, and the less you will produce.

The key to delegation is identifying the strengths of your team, and capitalizing on them. Find out what each team member enjoys doing most. Chances are if they find that task more enjoyable, they will likely put more thought and effort behind it. This will not only prove to your team that you trust and believe in them, but will also free up your time to focus on the higher level tasks, that should not be delegated. It’s a fine balance, but one that will have a huge impact on the productivity of your business.

Communication

Knowing what you want accomplished may seem clear in your head, but if you try to explain it to someone else and are met with a blank expression, you know there is a problem. If this has been your experience, then you may want to focus on honing your communication skills. Being able to clearly and succinctly describe what you want done is extremely important. If you can’t relate your vision to your team, you won’t all be working towards the same goal.

Confidence

There may be days where the future of your brand is worrisome and things aren’t going according to plan. This is true with any business, large or small, and the most important thing is not to panic. Part of your job as a leader is to put out fires and maintain the team morale. Keep up your confidence level, and assure everyone that setbacks are natural and the important thing is to focus on the larger goal. As the leader, by staying calm and confident, you will help keep the team feeling the same. Remember, your team will take cues from you, so if you exude a level of calm damage control, your team will pick up on that feeling. The key objective is to keep everyone working and moving ahead.

Commitment

If you expect your team to work hard and produce quality content, you’re going to need to lead by example. There is no greater motivation than seeing the boss down in the trenches working alongside everyone else, showing that hard work is being done on every level. By proving your commitment to the brand and your role, you will not only earn the respect of your team, but will also instill that same hardworking energy among your staff. It’s important to show your commitment not only to the work at hand, but also to your promises. If you pledged to host a holiday party, or uphold summer Fridays, keep your word. You want to create a reputation for not just working hard, but also being known as a fair leader.

Positive Attitude

You want to keep your team motivated towards the continued success of the company, and keep the energy levels up. Whether that means providing snacks, coffee, relationship advice, or even just an occasional beer in the office, remember that everyone on your team is a person. Keep the office mood a fine balance between productivity and playfulness.

Creativity

Some decisions will not always be so clear-cut. You may be forced at times to deviate from your set course and make an on the fly decision. This is where your creativity will prove to be vital. It is during these critical situations that your team will look to you for guidance and you may be forced to make a quick decision. As a leader, its important to learn to think outside the box and to choose which of two bad choices is the best option. Don’t immediately choose the first or easiest possibility; sometimes its best to give these issues some thought, and even turn to your team for guidance. By utilizing all possible options before making a rash decision, you can typically reach the end conclusion you were aiming for.

Intuition

When leading a team through uncharted waters, there is no roadmap on what to do. Everything is uncertain, and the higher the risk, the higher the pressure. That is where your natural intuition has to kick in. Guiding your team through the process of your day-to-day tasks can be honed down to a science. But when something unexpected occurs, or you are thrown into a new scenario, your team will look to you for guidance. Drawing on past experience is a good reflex, as is reaching out to your mentors for support. Eventually though, the tough decisions will be up to you to decide and you will need to depend on your gut instinct for answers. Learning to trust yourself is as important as your team learning to trust you.

Ability to Inspire

Creating a business often involves a bit of forecasting. Especially in the beginning stages of a startup, inspiring your team to see the vision of the successes to come is vital. Make your team feel invested in the accomplishments of the company. Whether everyone owns a piece of equity, or you operate on a bonus system, generating enthusiasm for the hard work you are all putting in is so important. Being able to inspire your team is great for focusing on the future goals, but it is also important for the current issues. When you are all mired deep in work, morale is low, and energy levels are fading, recognize that everyone needs a break now and then. Acknowledge the work that everyone has dedicated and commend the team on each of their efforts. It is your job to keep spirits up, and that begins with an appreciation for the hard work.

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What is Sparta?

It is an ancient city of Greece. The ancient Greek city-state of Sparta is famous in history as the people of Sparta were considered the greatest warriors of the era. Located on the banks of the Eurotas River, claimed to have been founded by a son of Zeus, lay the city of Sparta. Sparta and Athens seemed destined to conflict after years of helping each other during conflicts. The great temple to Athena was built in Sparta, where the arts, purple dyed cloth, and musicians were praised. The warriors of Sparta finally came to blows with the warriors of Athens. Eventually Athens fell, and for years Sparta reigned, but she too would fall eventually. Today the Greek city of Sparta occupies the same location as the ancient city of Sparta.

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What is animal smuggling?

Animal or wildlife smuggling is also called trafficking, and is illegal in many countries. It includes the gathering, transportation, distribution, and abuse of wild animals for profit. Animal smuggling happens both inside the United States, and internationally.

What is a Lotus?

An aquatic plant with spectacular flowers in various colors, the Lotus is prized for its fragrant blossoms. In mythology, the lotus tree produces fruit that causes the person eating it to forget about friends and homes, and losing the desire to return to the natural world for the world in which they are enjoying. The aquatic flower is the national flower of Egypt, India, and Vietnam. Colorful flowers range in shades of red, pink, cream, with large circular green leaves that are highly water repellent. The plant heats the flower to 30 degree Celsius for the four days it is blooming, even in weather of 10 degrees Celsius, creating a strong fragrance that attracts insects to feed on its nectar in a warm environment while pollinating the plant so it can reproduce. The plant has a distinctive seedpod that rises above the plant.

In today’s reading the kids are transported west by an illegal animal transport. They are able to talk to and free the animals in Vegas. They find themselves in the Lotus Casino which is so inviting they lose track of time. They were there for 5 days.

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What is the Santa Monica Pier?

A highway across the United States of America was called Route 66. The end of Route 66 was the Santa Monica Pier in California. The pier goes out into the ocean quite a ways, people fish off the pier, and there are carnival rides on the pier, as well as some great places to eat seafood. The pier is large enough for cars to drive down to the restaurant at the end of the pier. Made of heavy lumber and concrete, the pier is a famous place for people to visit in California.

What is a Nereid?

The Nereids were sea nymphs in Greek mythology, fifty in total, daughters of Nereus and Doris. They helped sailors on their voyages when they faced fierce storms. They lived with their father in the depths of the Aegean Sea. One of the better-known Nereids was Thetis, who was the mother of the hero Achilles.

http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Figures/Nereids/nereids.html

In today’s reading Percy, Annabeth, and Grover get to Santa Monica. Percy enters the ocean and meets a Nereid. She speaks to him about his quest and his father. She gives him a gift and a warning.

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Who is Cerberus?

Cerberus was a three-headed dog that guarded the entrance of the Underworld, allowing the dead to enter but letting none out. He was the son of Typhon and Echidna. Apart from his three heads, he also had a serpent's tail, a mane of snakes, and the claws of a lion.

Cerberus was the twelfth and final labor that was given to Heracles by King Eurystheus. Heracles had to capture the three-headed dog without using any weapons. After learning how the enter the Underworld, and assisted by some of the gods, he managed to go to the Underworld and find Hades to ask for his permission to take Cerberus to the surface. Hades agreed under the condition that Heracles must not use any weapons. Heracles eventually managed to overpower Cerberus and brought him to Eurystheus, successfully completing his twelve labors.

http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Cerberus/cerberus.html

What is irony?

Irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

In today’s reading Percy and friends get to DOA (Dead on Arrival) Records. They are going to try and get into the underworld. They meet Chareon who is board with his job and was able to be bought with talk of a raise and drachma’s that Percy left him and Cerberus the three headed dog who guards the gates of hell. Annabeth is able to play with him while Percy and Grover get through.

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What is Asphodel Fields?

In Greek mythology, Asphodel Field is also known as the Fields of Asphodel. In Greek mythology the Asphodel Field is a shade of Hades, an abode of most of the dead who were neutral – they did not do good or evil in life, and had little impact on the world during their lifetime. Those average people in life were destined to spend an eternity that was neither good nor bad since they were neither good nor bad souls during their lives on Earth.

What is obsidian?

According to Hobart King, volcanic igneous rock that is glass-like in structure and very hard, obsidian is a naturally formed rock when hot lava is cooled quickly by coming in contact with water or airborne. There are other ways obsidian forms along the edges of a lava flow too. This rock has been used for centuries as knives for cutting, and as arrowheads or spear points. The most common color of obsidian is black, but it can vary in color depending on the minerals embedded in the rock. Obsidian can be brown, green, blue, red, orange, yellow, or even have a metallic sheen resulting from light refracting on the various mineral crystals embedded. Rainbow obsidian is beautiful when polished and made into jewelry. Obsidian jewelry is mostly manufactured in the United States. Obsidian is chemically unstable, easily fractured, or scratched, and can over time even crystallize in parts of the rock, forming radial clusters that are colored white or gray. Obsidian is affected by weathering and other factors. Obsidian is found wherever recent volcanic activity has taken place, and in the United States it is found west of the Mississippi River. One interesting fact is obsidian is used in modern surgery as it very sharp and makes very precise cuts, having as good as or a better cutting edge than surgical steel. Obsidian has been used as mirrors. Being relative soft, a hardness of 5.5, can be easily carved too.

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What is reconciliation?

The concept of reconciliation is when former enemies agree to an amicable truce.

In today’s reading Percy meets Ares and learns the truth about the theft and his desire to start a war. Annabeth gives Percy a reconciliation gift before he defends himself.

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What is courage?

Courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enable a person to face a difficulty, danger, pain, etc. without fear. Bravery.

In today’s reading Percy gets to see his mom again. He knows he can get rid of Gabe for him. She convinces him that she has to find the courage and conviction to make her own choices and decisions.

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What is a peace?

Peace is the freedom of mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, or an obsession. It is the feeling of tranquility and serenity.

In today’s reading Percy and Annabeth have to decide if he/she wants to stay at Camp Half-Blood year round. Both decide to return home for the year.

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