据《奥德赛》卷8记述：许多特洛伊人对如何处置希腊人留下的大木马展开了辩论，“他们有三种主张：有的主张用无情的铜矛刺透中空的木马；有的主张把它扔到岩石上；有的主张让它留在那里作为景观，来使天神喜悦”。结果是后一说占优势，把那匹木马拖进城里来，终于遭到了亡国之灾。由此，Greek gift成为一个习语，表示a gift with some sinister purposes of the enemy；one given with intent to harm；a gift sent in order to murder sb.等意思，按其形象意义，这个习语相当于英语的俚语：When the fox preaches，take care of your geese；也与汉语“黄鼠狼给鸡拜年——不安好心”十分类似。
例句 Its a Greek gift to you.这是图谋害你的礼物。
He is always buying you expensive clothes，and Im afraid they are Greek gifts for you.他总是买给你昂贵的服装，我恐怕他们对你是黄鼠狼给鸡拜年——不安好心。
3.Penelopes web 一项永远也完不成的工作
A Penelopes web亦作the web of Penelope，意思是故意拖延的策略、永远做不完的工作，直译为“珀涅罗珀的织物”，典故出自荷马史诗《奥德赛》卷2。
这部史诗的主人公奥德修斯是希腊半岛西南边伊大卡岛（Ithaca）的国王，他有个美丽而忠诚的妻子，名叫珀涅罗珀。奥德修斯随希腊联军远征特洛伊，十年苦战结束后，希腊将士纷纷凯旋归国。惟独奥德修斯命运坎坷，归途中又在海上漂泊了10年，历尽无数艰险，并盛传他已葬身鱼腹或者客死异域。他在外流浪的最后三年间，有一百多个来自各地的王孙公子，聚集在他家里，向他的妻子求婚。坚贞不渝的珀涅罗珀为了摆脱求婚者的纠缠，想出个缓兵之计，她宣称等她为公公织完一匹做寿衣的布料后，就改嫁给他们中的一个。于是，她白天织这匹布，夜晚又在火炬光下把它拆掉。就这样织了又拆，拆了又织，没完没了，拖延时间，等待丈夫归来。后来，奥德修斯终于回到家园，夫妻儿子合力把那些在他家里宴饮作乐、胡作非为的求婚者一个个杀死，夫妻终于团圆了。
由于这个故事，英语中的Penelope一词成了a chaste woman（贞妇）的同义词，并产生了with a penelope faith（坚贞不渝）这个短语。而a Penelopes web这个成语比喻the tactics of delaying sth.on purpose；the task that can never be finished的意思。
例句 Mr.Jones made a long speech at the meeting.Everyone else thought it a Penelopes web.琼斯先生在会上做了长长的发言，大家都觉得这是珀涅罗珀的织物。
My work is something like the Penelopes web，never done，but ever in hand.我的工作就像是珀涅罗珀的织物，永远也完不成，但一直在进行中。
9.Apollo
Among the crowd of Olympian gods，the one most widely admired was Apollo.He was the son of Zeus and Leto.According to Greek mythology，Leto was driven by Hera from land to land.At last Poseidon took pity on her and brought the island of Delos out of water for her to live on.There she gave birth to the twins，Apollo and Artemis.
Apollo was the sun god.He wore a purple robe.He usually sat in his bright eastern palace early in the morning and made ready to start his daily journey across the sky.During the day he drove his carriage of gold and ivory and brought light，life and love to the great world below.Late in the afternoon he came to the end of his journey in the far western sea and got on his golden boat to return to his eastern home.
Apollo 阿波罗
Apollo was the god of music and poetry.He could stir up all feelings.These feelings are expressed in lofty songs.With his lyre of gold and the sweet accents of his god like voice，he led the choir of the Muses at Olympus.The pleasant music from his lyre was so exciting that stones marched into their places in rhythmic time and of their own will when he helped Poseidon build up the walls of Troy.On one occasion，invited to a contest by the human musician Marsyas，he won and then flayed him to death for his pride.On another occasion，he lost out to Pan at a musical contest and turned the ears of the judge，King Midas，into those of an ass.
His son，Orpheus，took over such skill from the father that his lyre moved man and animals alike.
Apollo stood for youthful and manly beauty.His golden hair，stately manner and air all combined to make him the admiration of the world.A beautiful girl，by the name of Clytle，was so fond of his beauty and glory that from dawn to dusk she knelt on the ground，her hands outstretched towards the sun god，and her eyes looked at his golden wheeled carriage racing across the blue sky.Though her love was not returned，she had never changed her mind about Apollo.The gods were moved at the sad sight and changed her into a sunflower.
9.阿波罗
在众多的奥林匹斯山神中，主神宙斯和雷托之子阿波罗最受推崇。据希腊神话记载，雷托被天后赫拉驱赶得四处流浪。最终是海神波塞冬怜悯她并从海中捞起提落岛让她居住。在岛上，她生了孪生儿子阿波罗和阿耳忒弥斯。
阿波罗是太阳神。清晨他身着紫色袍，坐在那明亮的东方宫殿，准备开始每日穿越天空的旅行。白天，他驾着用金子和象牙制成的战车，给广阔无垠的大地带来光明、生命和仁爱。黄昏时分，他在遥远的西海结束了旅行，然后就乘上金船返回东方的家中。
阿波罗是音乐神和诗神。他可唤起人们倾注于圣歌中的各种情感。在奥林匹斯山上，他手拿金质里拉，用悦耳的音调指挥缪斯的合唱。当他帮助波塞冬建造特洛伊城墙时，里拉奏出的音乐如此动听，以致石头有节奏地、自动地各就其位。有一次他接受凡人音乐家马斯亚斯的挑战参加一次竞赛。战胜对方后，他将对手剥皮致死以惩罚他的狂妄自大。在另外一次音乐比赛中，因输给了潘神，他就将裁判迈尔斯国王的耳朵变成了驴耳朵。
阿波罗的儿子俄耳甫斯继承了父亲这方面的才能。他的竖琴使人与动物皆受感动。
阿波罗象征着青春和男子汉的美。金色的头发、庄重的举止、容光焕发的神态，这些足以使他受到世人的青睐。一位名叫克里提的美丽少女迷恋于他的英俊潇洒，跪在地上，从黎明到黄昏，双手伸向太阳神。她凝视着那辆金质马车在蔚蓝的天空驰骋。虽然她的爱并未得到回报，但她对阿波罗的痴情却从未改变。目睹这悲哀的场面，众神深受感动，将她变成了一株向日葵。
单词短语透视
1.crowd[kraud]n.人群，一群
例句 He pushed his way through the crowd.他在人群中往前挤。
2.purple[p??pl]adj.紫色的
例句 The plant has a brilliant purple flower.
那棵植物开着鲜艳的小紫花。
3.robe[r?ub]n.长袍
例句 Many Arabs wear long flowing robes.
许多阿拉伯人身穿松垂的长袍。
4.carriage[k?r?d?]n.马车
例句 I dismissed the carriage and walked the last mile.
我把马车打发走了，徒步走完最后一英里路。
5.journey[d???n?]n.旅行，行程
例句 Did you have a good journey？你一路上顺利吗？
6.poetry[p?u?tr?]n.诗篇，诗歌
例句 She began writing poetry in her teens.
她从十几岁开始写诗。
7.stir up激起，挑起
例句 Dont stir up trouble between them.不要在他们之间惹麻烦。
8.lofty[l?ft?]adj.高傲的，崇高的
例句 I didnt like her lofty treatment of her visitors.
我不喜欢她那样傲慢地对待来访者。
9.lyre[la??（r）]n.一种七弦琴
例句 Only a few musicians know how to strike a lyre.
只有少数的音乐家会弹七弦琴了。
10.accent[?ksent]n.口音，腔调
例句 Her genteel accent irritated me.
她那矫揉造作的腔调使我感到难受。
11.godlike[g?dla?k]adj.似神的，庄严的
例句 Sadly，you will no longer be seen as godlike and faultless.
不幸的是，你将不再被认为是圣洁无瑕的。
12.choir[kwa??（r）]n.唱诗班
例句 She sings in the school choir.她在校唱诗班唱歌。
13.rhythmic[r??m?k]adj.有韵律的，有节奏的；格调优美的
例句 Except for the rhythmic splash of the rudder oar，all was still.水面静静的，只有那有规律的荡桨声打破了静夜的沉寂。
14.occasion[?ke??n]n.时刻，时候，场合
例句 Ive met him on several occasions.我见过他几次。
15.contest[k?ntest]n.比赛，争夺
例句 The election was so one-sided that it was really no contest.
选举呈现一边倒的局面，实际上毫无竞争可言。
16.flay[昀e?]v.痛打，把……打得皮开肉绽，剥皮
例句 He was so angry that he nearly flayed his horse alive.
他气得几乎把马活活抽死。
17.youthful[ju：θ昀]adj.年轻的，青年的
例句 He has given up youthful follies.
他不再做年轻人的荒唐事了。
18.stately[ste?tli]adj.庄严的，高贵的，雄伟的
例句 Whenever the stately national anthem is performed，I am invariably emotionally roused.