World Mythology

In Greek mythology, Achilles was invulnerable except for his heel, which was his only weakness - leading to the phrase 'Achilles heel'. His mother Thetis dipped him in the River Styx, holding him by his heel, which remained unprotected. Pelagon, Athena, and Hercules are other Greek mythological figures but not the one associated with this specific vulnerability.

Venus is the Roman goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. She is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Iris was the goddess of the rainbow, while Julia and Mary are not Roman goddesses.

Agrabah is the fictional city where Princess Jasmine's father, the Sultan, rules in Disney's Aladdin. This city is the setting for the entire story.

Jason is the Greek hero who led the Argonauts on their quest to find the Golden Fleece in Colchis. Hercules joined the expedition temporarily but was not the leader. Odysseus is famous for the Trojan War and his journey home in the Odyssey, while Theseus is known for the Minotaur and the Labyrinth.

Hercules (Heracles), the son of Zeus and mortal Alcmene, displayed his legendary superhuman strength as an infant when Hera sent poisonous snakes to kill him in his crib; he was found holding a strangled snake in each hand.

Theseus, the founder-king of Athens, volunteered as one of the fourteen Athenian youths to be sacrificed to the Minotaur and successfully slew the monster in the Labyrinth with help from Ariadne's thread to navigate back out.

Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, was dipped in the River Styx by his mother Thetis to make him invulnerable, but she held him by his heel, leaving that one spot unprotected, the origin of 'Achilles' heel' as a metaphor for a fatal weakness.

Odysseus (also known as Ulysses in Roman mythology) is the Greek hero famous for his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War, as recounted in Homer's Odyssey. He is also credited with devising the Trojan Horse strategy that allowed the Greeks to finally enter Troy and win the war. Jason is known for the Golden Fleece quest, Hercules for his twelve labors, and Theseus for defeating the Minotaur.

Orpheus was a legendary musician in Greek mythology who traveled to the underworld to rescue his wife Eurydice. His music was so beautiful it charmed Hades, who allowed him to try to bring her back.

In Greek mythology, Menelaus was the brother of Agamemnon. Both were sons of Atreus and key figures in the Trojan War - Menelaus was king of Sparta and husband of Helen, while Agamemnon led the Greek forces against Troy. Hector and Paris were Trojan princes (enemies), and Troy was the city they defended.

Captain Nemo is the mysterious captain of the submarine Nautilus in Jules Verne's classic novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1870). Kirk is from Star Trek, Captain Ahab is from Moby Dick, and Captain Hook is from Peter Pan.

The number of wonders was not based on any systematic counting - different ancient writers compiled their own lists, and the number 7 happened to be the count that became standardized. While various cultures attached mystical significance to 7, this was not the reason for selecting exactly 7 wonders.

In Greek mythology, Iris was the messenger of the gods and the personification of the rainbow, connecting heaven and earth.

In ancient Athens, the olive tree was sacred to Athena and its olives were state property. This dates to Athena's gift of the olive tree when competing with Poseidon for patronage of Athens.

Cronos (or Kronos), the Titan king and father of Zeus, swallowed each of his children at birth to prevent a prophecy that one would overthrow him. Zeus eventually escaped and did overthrow him.