Underworld

5th period

Lethargic (adj.) - Being lifeless or drousy; sleepy; dull; weak.

The Origins: In Greek mythology, the Lethe was believed to be a river in the underworld. Also called the River of Unmindfulness or the River of Forgetfulness, it was said that when someone died, he or she would drink the water from the river Lethe to forget all about his or her past life. The name of the river and the word lethargic both derive from lethe, Greek for forgetfulness.

Usage: Everyone was lethargic that morning at school.

Phlegmatic (adj.) - Not easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish.

The Origins: In Greek mythology, Phlegeton was believed to be a river that was in the underworld that was known as the River of Fire. Phlegmatic is derived from the word phlegm, which in Greek times, was believed to be the bodies calming agent.

Usage: All the football fans were phlegmatic when the opposing team scored a touchdown.

Works Cited: Glenn, Justin M. "Lethargic." __The World Book Encyclopedia__. 18. 1999.

http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50132153?single=1&query_type=word&queryword=Lethargic&first=1&max_to_show=10

http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50177583?single=1&query_type=word&queryword=Phlegmatic&first=1&max_to_show=10

(Ashley Ball) Stygian: An adjective that has to do with the River Styx, which was in the underworld, or relating to Hades, or a dark, hellish place. (dictionary.com)

The Origins: For Greek Mythology, Styx was the goddess of the river underworld along with the main ruler Hades/Pluto and she was known for her hateful spirit. Styx comes from the word stygos which means hatred.The River Styx in the underworld was named after the Styx goddess clearly for the dark, gloomy place of the underworld and her same characteristics. This river was the most sacred to the people and the gods which seperated the living and the dead. Also, to swear on the river Styx was the greatest oath anyone could make and if you don't swear to your promise it is said to cause you instant death. Charon was the ferryman who transported the souls of the people who have died across the Styx. Charon only took the souls across the river if they had a coin placed under thier tongue when they were buried. The river possibly began as a waterful in Arcadia but since it was said to be poisonous it flowed down into a deep gorge into the underworld. The word stygian is not used commonly at all anymore but it is still used in some writing. Instead of seeing the definition of stygian as relating to the Styx or underworld it is more understandable as a dark hellish place because that is more common. The serpent- tailed bull was known as the "Stygian Bull" and was in the not very well known myth, //Titanomachia//.

Usage: "His stygian actions made him a not well liked person."

Works Cited: Glenn, Justin M.. "Styx."__The World Book Encyclopedia__. 18. 1999.

"stygian." //Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)//. Random House, Inc. 05 Oct. 2008. .

Atsma, Aaron J.. "Styx." __Theoi Greek Mythology__. 2008. 6 Oct 2008 .

Atsma, Aaron J.. "Stygian Bull- Taurus Ophis." __theoi Greek Mythology__. 2008. 6 Oct 2008 .

(Ashley Ball) Plutocracy : Is when a government is controled by the wealthy people because they have more money which is the same as power then.(dictionary.com)

The Origins: The Roman god, Pluto, was the god of wealth, but also death and the underworld. He was a brother to Zues/Jupiter, Neptune/Poseidon, Hestia/Vesta, and Hera/Juno. They all became gods of all the creations after they were undigested by thier father Kronos. It might seem odd that Pluto is both the god of the underworld and wealth since they are clearly opposites, but they are actually tied together. Gold and silver, which were used as symbols of wealth came from under the ground or otherwise known as the physical underworld and eventually took over the spiritually underworld. The wealthy people who ruled a plutocracy were known as plutocrats. Where plutocrat comes from is ploutos which means wealth and riches. Many Americans are considering the United States to be a plutocracy, while said to be running a democracy.

Usage: "The way of Plutocracy in thier country is not resulting as a successful.

Works Cited: "plutocracy." //Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)//. Random House, Inc. 05 Oct. 2008. .

"plutocracy." //Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)//. Random House, Inc. 06 Oct. 2008. .

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Pluto-(mythology)

"The Progressive Living Glossary." __Progressive Living__. 3008. 5 Oct 2008 .

"Plutocracy." __Wikipedia__. 2008. Wikipedia. 6 Oct 2008 .

6th period (Ray, Omar, and Avery)


 * Plutocracy (...Ray Huang?)
 * Stygian (Avery Woods!)

** Lethargic (Omar Hussein) ** : An adjective meaning ** “** ** of, pertaining to, or affected with lethargy; drowsy; sluggish. **** ” ** (//Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)//.

The origin: In Greek mythology, Hades was a god, and Lethe was a river in which dead people drank. When the dead drank out of this river, they became forgetful of their past lives. ( Dictionary.com ) The English word //lethargic// doesn't refer to the mythological river of Lethe or Hades, but shows the origins of the word when you compare something to being sluggish or slow. Usage: That old man is so lethargic, he’s always very tired.

Works Cited

"lethargic." //Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)//. Random House, Inc. 04 Oct. 2008. . "Lethe." //Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)//. Random House, Inc. 04 Oct. 2008. .
 * Phlegmatic:

Definition**: An adjective meaning calm and unexcitable. ("Longman", 770)


 * Origins**: Originates from the Middle English word, "fleume". (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary) This word describes the humor of phlegm, which is one of the 4 humors in Greek and Roman culture that caused all illnesses and disabilities. (Wikipedia)


 * Usage**: The apathetic emo kid showed us he was phlegmatic because he was so depressed.

"Humorism." __Humorism - Wikipedia__. October 5, 2008. 6 Oct 2008 .
 * __ Works Cited: __**

"phlegmatic." __phlegmatic - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary__. October 5, 2008. 6 Oct 2008 .

"Phlegmatic."__Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English__. 2nd ed. 1987.