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Greek myths were a huge part of the religion in Ancient Greece, and offer a glimpse into the lives of the ancient people who told them. Check out five of these fascinating Greek myths below, and meet the people-eating, fire-breathing beasts and the heroes who battled them!
Here are some ancient Greek myths for kids, retold by the storyteller Lin Donn. Zeus, Hera, and Little Io. The Competition, Athena and Poseidon. Theseus, the Minotaur, and the Maze. Dionysus and Ariadne. King Sisyphas and the Golden Coin. Icarus and Daedalus, Wings. Baby Hercules &.
Mar 13, 2024 · Greek mythology dates back thousands of years. If you love learning about gods and goddesses, test yourself with Greek mythology trivia. Photo by David Em/Box of Puns. Hercules, Medusa, and Zeus are names most people recognize. Each is a part of Greek mythology. Many myths are seen as true accounts by the ancient Greeks.
- Gordias and The Gordian Knot
- King Midas
- Arachne The Weaver
- Echo and Narcissus
- Pyramus and Thisbe
- Pandora’s Box
- Icarus
- Medusa
- Atalanta and The Golden Apples
Summary:
King Gordias wins his throne in a most unusual manner. Born a peasant, he receives a sign from Zeus telling him to ride into town on his oxcart. He does, only to discover that the king has just died and an oracle has told the people that their new king will be arriving soon … by oxcart! After being crowned, Gordias ties up his cart in the town square in honor of Zeus. The knot is so complex that it inspired a legend. The man who unties/undoes the Gordian knot is destined to rule over all of A...
Classroom applications for this great Greek myth:
1. History/Social Studies: This Greek myth is perfect for a middle- or high school-level discussion about the places in history where legend and truth get a bit cloudy. The puzzle of the Gordian knotwas eventually solved, so the story goes, by a real-life person, Alexander the Great. And he did, in fact, go on to conquer and rule much of Asia. What a great launch activity or conversation topic for a class studying the history of ancient Greece or Western civilization. If Alexander the Great r...
Summary:
King Midas is King Gordias’s only son. One day, he meets the god Dionysus, who takes a liking to Midas and decides to grant him one wish. Without thinking, Midas wishes that everything he touches be turned to gold. After turning most of his palace, his food and wine, and (in some versions of the myth) his beloved daughter to gold, Midas realizes his gift is actually a curse. Depending on the retelling, Dionysus either takes pity on King Midas and removes the golden touch or poor Midas starves...
Classroom applications for this great Greek myth:
1. Elementary classes: This myth is perfect for younger students because it avoids a lot of the more adult themes that are often present in Greek myths. Students of all ages will recognize the thematic concepts of greed, lack of forethought, and penance found in King Midas’s story. 2. English/Language Arts: For older students, it may be interesting to have them reflect on modern examples of King Midas’s weakness. They will have little trouble identifying people who sought great wealth only to...
Summary:
Arachne is the best weaver on earth and she knows it. After refusing to thank the goddess Athena for the gift (Athena is the goddess of weaving as well as wisdom and war), Athena challenges Arachne to a weaving contest. Arachne agrees. When the contest is over, even Athena has to admit that Arachne’s work is better. In a rage, Athena turns Arachne into the world’s first spider, forcing her and her descendants to weave beautiful webs for the rest of time.
Classroom applications for this great Greek myth:
1. Science: What a great introduction to a biology unit on arachnids, right? It’s also great for any unit that has to do with understanding how things came to be. The Greeks had a bunch of myths that they used to explain and understand nature that would be ideal to pull into a science lesson. 2. English/Language Arts: In addition to working well in lessons on word origins, the myth of Arachne would work beautifully as a mini-lesson on identifying theme. The Greeks were really big on showing t...
Summary:
Echo is a forest nymph cursed by Hera, the queen of the gods, to only be able to repeat the last few words said to her by others. She encounters Narcissus, a shockingly handsome mortal who has gotten lost in the woods and falls madly in love. Narcissus, however, has no interest in Echo and quickly grows annoyed with her repeating his own words back to him. He tells her to go away. Echo, in despair, slowly fades away until nothing but her voice remains. Meanwhile, Narcissus becomes bewitched w...
Classroom applications for this great Greek myth:
1. Psychology: Echolalia and Narcissistic Personality Disorder are both medically and legally recognized as mental illnesses today. This story could introduce students to the origins of these conditions and many others. The word “narcissist” is often used by our older students. But how many of them actually know where the word comes from or how it got its meaning? This could be an interesting way to introduce the medical history behind some psychological concepts. 2. Science: This is a great...
Summary:
See if this one sounds a bit familiar. Pyramus and Thisbe are two teenagers madly in love with each other. Their parents, however, are bitter enemies and forbid the two from ever being together. In secret, the teens plan to meet up at a nearby mulberry tree and elope. When the night arrives, Thisbe makes it to the spot first but is forced to run away. A bloody-jawed lioness, fresh from a kill, is lying directly under the tree. As she flees, her cloak is left behind. Later, when Pyramus shows...
Classroom applications for this great Greek myth:
1. English/Language Arts: Students love to discover that “Romeo and Juliet” was heavily influenced by an earlier story. This myth is a great way to get students fired up for discussions about background knowledge, plagiarism, citing text, and paraphrasing. 2. Argument/Discussion: This myth has many issues that could inspire interesting conversations/arguments in different subject areas. Discussions of the destructive power of feuds, teenagers being impulsive or irresponsible, drawing incorrec...
Summary:
To punish mankind for using fire given to them by the god Prometheus, Zeus creates woman. He makes her beautiful but devious and gives her a box filled with death, disease, and all the other miseries and sufferings of the world. He sends her to to earth with specific instructions not to open the box for any reason. Soon after arriving on earth, the curious Pandora opens the lid of the box, releasing all the evils of life into the world. She slams the lid back on the box as quickly as she can,...
Classroom applications for this great Greek myth:
1. Mathematics: Okay, I know I’m stretching a bit, but as an “English person,” I would have loved to have had a math teacher who used stories like this when introducing concepts like volume or other geometric terms. How big would a box have to be in order to store all the evils of the world, for example? 2. English/Language Arts: The name Pandora means “the one with all the gifts,” which is a great opening for a discussion on irony and/or foreshadowing. Additionally, this is one of those word...
Summary:
Icarus, the son of Daedalus, the ingenious craftsman who created the Minotaur’s labyrinth, lives in Crete with his father. They are prisoners of King Minos. In order to escape, Daedalus invents beautiful wings made from feathers and wax. The pair put on the wings and fly away from Crete. The escape plan is a success. Daedalus warns Icarus that the wings are fragile and that he shouldn’t fly too close to the ocean or the dampness will make the wings too heavy. Daedalus also warns Icarus not to...
Classroom applications for this great Greek myth:
1. Elementary: Perfect as a starting point for conversations about rules and why they matter, the story of Icarus is a cautionary tale. Students could discuss why Icarus didn’t listen to his father, why rules matter even if we don’t want to obey them, and what Icarus could have done differently to still have fun while staying safe. 2. English/Language Arts: This myth is another that lends itself to discussions about thematic concepts like hubris. Students could be asked to consider the common...
(WeAreTeachers Note: The myth of Perseus is one of the most commonly shared of the Greek myths. Often, however, it is told from the hero’s perspective. The tale of Medusa is equally fascinating, but it is much sadder and more troubling. It contains depictions of sexual assault and abuse. While it is a myth worthy of study and discussion by older st...
Summary:
Atalanta is abandoned in the forest as a baby by her father, who wished she was a boy. She’s raised by first a bear and then some hunters, who teach her how to be an amazing athlete and hunter even though she’s a girl. Eventually, her father decides she’s become so famous for her hunting skills he should bring her home, but only if she agrees to get married. Atalanta agrees, but only if the man can beat her in a foot race. Many men try, but none succeed. Eventually, one suitor prays to Aphrod...
Classroom applications for this great Greek myth:
1. English/Language Arts: Often, Greek myths are wonderful to use as prompts for creative writing activities. Imagine asking students to write about the race from different perspectives. Did Atalanta choose to lose the race? If so, why? Why was Atalanta so easily distracted by the apples? Did Hippomenes play fair given how many other men had tried to win the race before him but failed? 2. Social Studies/History: Another excellent myth to read as a launch or additional text when discussing gen...
History >> Ancient Greece. Kids learn about Greek Mythology and the gods, goddesses, and heroes of Mount Olympus including Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Aphrodite, the Titans, Heracles, Achilles, Apollo, Artemis, and fun facts.
An Introduction to Greek Mythology. Greek mythology is not only interesting, but it is also the foundation of allusion and character genesis in literature. In this lesson plan, students will gain an understanding of Greek mythology and the Olympian gods and goddesses. Learning Objectives.
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Interactive. Introduction. The people of ancient Greece worshipped many gods and heroes. They told stories about the gods and built temples to honor them. The stories about the gods make up Greek mythology. Those stories, or myths, have survived for more than 2,000 years. The myths of ancient Greece are similar to those of many other cultures.
