What was the myth taken from Greek Eos?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The question asks for a 'myth', which is a traditional story, not just a factual statement.
The story of Eos (Aurora) and her mortal lover Tithonus is one of the most famous myths associated with the goddess of the dawn.
In this myth, Eos asks for immortality for Tithonus but forgets to ask for eternal youth, leading to a tragic outcome where he ages eternally.
Therefore, the statement 'Tithonus was the lover of Aurora' directly points to this specific narrative myth.

Option A: This is a statement of fact identifying the role of Aurora (the Roman counterpart of Eos), not a narrative story or myth.
Option B: This is a factual statement about Aurora's (Eos's) family relationships. Her siblings were the sun (Helios/Sol) and the moon (Selene/Luna). It is a fact, not a myth or story.
Option D: This statement is too vague and represents only a small, motivating element of the larger myth. The core of the story is the relationship and the consequences of the flawed wish for immortality, not just the fact that Tithonus was mortal.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Greek and Roman Mythology as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a non-clinical question, understanding etymology can be helpful. Some medical and scientific terms are derived from mythology.
For example, the term 'eosinophil', a type of white blood cell, is named after Eos. The granules in these cells stain a rosy-red color with eosin dye, reminiscent of the colors of the dawn.
What if? If a question asked for the origin of the word 'morphine', the answer would relate to Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams, highlighting another link between mythology and medical terminology.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'myth'. This indicates you are looking for a story or narrative, not just a simple fact.
Read each option carefully.
Evaluate whether each option describes a story or simply states a fact.
Option A ('goddess of dawn') and Option B ('sister of Luna') are factual descriptions.
Option C ('lover of Aurora') implies a relationship and a story, which is the core of the Tithonus myth.
Option D ('about to die') is a vague part of the story, not the myth itself. The most complete and accurate answer that represents a myth is Option C.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 76-78

Practise the full DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.