The Greeks believed that there were twelve gods and goddesses that were more important than all others. They called these gods and goddesses the Olympian gods.
They would often times tell stories about the gods. These stories are also known as myths. A myth is a traditional story that helps to explain a culture's beliefs.
They would often times tell stories about the gods. These stories are also known as myths. A myth is a traditional story that helps to explain a culture's beliefs.
Please read the example of a myth that each of these gods is known for:
Zeus- ruler of the gods
Zeus
A Greek warrior named Achilles was helping the Greeks fight against the Trojans during the Trojan War. Everything was going fine until one day when the Greek commander, Agamemnon, took away the prizes that Achilles had won in war.
Achilles was so mad that he went to his goddess mother, Thetis, and asked her to talk Zeus into letting the Trojans beat the Greeks. Thetis went to to Zeus, and Zeus agreed to let the Trojans start to win the war.
Poseidon- brother of Zeus; god of the sea
Poseidon
A great leader named Odysseus and his men were a long, long way from home. While they were sailing back to their home of Ithaca they came across an island. Odysseus and some of his men went onto the island and found a cave filled with all sorts of food and other supplies. Soon, however, a cyclops named Polyphemus returned to his cave and found Odysseus and his men there. The cyclops began to eat some of the men and trapped them in the cave overnight. Odysseus and his men escaped by jabbing the cyclops in the eye, blinding him.
However, Poseidon was the father of the cyclops and was furious when he saw his blinded son. So, he made the seas rage, destroying all of Odysseus' ships and crew. After all of the storms on the sea were over, only Odysseus was left alive. He was the only one who got to return home.
However, Poseidon was the father of the cyclops and was furious when he saw his blinded son. So, he made the seas rage, destroying all of Odysseus' ships and crew. After all of the storms on the sea were over, only Odysseus was left alive. He was the only one who got to return home.
Athena- daughter of Zeus; goddess of wisdom and war
Athena
In the city of Athens there was a beautiful young girl named Medusa. One day, while Medusa was in Athena's temple, the god Poseidon saw her and liked her for her beauty.
This made Athena furious. She turned Medusa into an ugly monster, so that no one could ever appreciate her beauty ever again. She turned Medusa's hair into snakes and made it so that any human who looked at Medusa would turn into stone. Then, she sent Medusa to live with other monsters.
Athena claimed that she wanted to remind humans that beauty fades, but many believe that she was just jealous.
Aphrodite- daughter of Zeus; goddess of love and beauty
Aphrodite
The goddesses Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera wanted to know which one of them was the most beautiful. So, they asked the most handsome man in the world, Paris of Troy. Athena told Paris that if he said she was the most beautiful, she would make him successful in war. Hera offered to let him rule the whole world if he chose her instead. Finally, Aphrodite said he could marry the most beautiful woman in the world if she was chosen.
Paris chose Aphrodite and got to marry Helen. However, Helen was already married to a Greek king named Menelaus. The Greeks soon began to fight with the Trojans. The marriage of Paris and Helen caused the Trojan War.
Paris chose Aphrodite and got to marry Helen. However, Helen was already married to a Greek king named Menelaus. The Greeks soon began to fight with the Trojans. The marriage of Paris and Helen caused the Trojan War.
Other Olympian gods:
Apollo- Son of Zeus; god of the sun, poetry, and music
Ares- Son of Zeus, god of war
Artemis- Daughter if Zeus; goddess of the moon and the hunt
Demeter- Sister of Zeus; goddess of agriculture
Hephaestus- Son of Zeus; god of fire and metalworkers
Hera- wife of Zeus; goddess of marriage
Hermes- Son of Zeus; messenger of the gods and god of travel
Hestia- Sister of Zeus; goddess of the hearth (family fire)
Apollo- Son of Zeus; god of the sun, poetry, and music
Ares- Son of Zeus, god of war
Artemis- Daughter if Zeus; goddess of the moon and the hunt
Demeter- Sister of Zeus; goddess of agriculture
Hephaestus- Son of Zeus; god of fire and metalworkers
Hera- wife of Zeus; goddess of marriage
Hermes- Son of Zeus; messenger of the gods and god of travel
Hestia- Sister of Zeus; goddess of the hearth (family fire)
Click on either of the two words below to go to other sites with myths about the gods. After you read some of the stories, answer these two questions:
1. Who is your favorite god or goddess?
2. What is your favorite myth about the gods?
Mythweb or Mythology