Explore Greek Myths! With 25 Great Projects

CONTENTS Timeline & Map . . . iv Introduction . . . 1 The World of Greek Myths Chapter 1 . . . 12 The Greek World Chapter 2 . . . 24 Monsters and Mayhem Chapter 3 . . . 36 Heros and Impossible Tasks Chapter 4 . . . 48 Gods and Grandeur Chapter 5 . . . 60 Ancient Greece in Today’s World!

Chapter 6 . . . 72 Similar Stories Glossary * Resources Essential Questions * Index Interested in primary sources? Look for this icon.

Use a smartphone or tablet app to scan the QR code and explore more!

You can find a list of URLs on the Resources page.

If the QR code doesn’t work, try searching the Internet with the Keyword Prompts to find other helpful sources.

KE YW OR D PR OM PTS Greek myths

CHAPTER ONE

THE GREEK WORLD Welcome to the homeland of the Hellenes! People who spoke Greek called themselves Hellenes and they called their homeland Hellas. It was the Romans who called them Greeks. In southern Italy, the Romans met a tribe of Greekspeaking people called the Graicoi. The Romans then used this name for all people who spoke Greek. The name stuck!

Today, Greece is officially known as the Hellenic Republic.

The Greek homeland was in Southern Europe. It included thousands of islands in the Adriatic, Aegean, Black, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas.

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INVESTIGATE!

Why did the Greeks use myths to explain natural disasters?

THE GREEK WORLD IONIAN SEA

ADRIATIC SEA

AEGEAN SEA

plains: large, flat land areas.

WORDS TO KNOW The Greeks didn’t know the science behind how land is formed and changed. They believed that a goddess named MEDITERRANEAN SEA BLACK SEA Gaia shaped the land, just as a potter shapes clay. In myths, Gaia pulled the earth up into mountains and flattened land into vast plains. Another creature, Uranus, helped create rivers and seas.

The Greeks told many more stories of gods who shaped their land. One story was about a war between the Titans, who were led by Atlas, and the Olympians, led by Zeus. After the war, Zeus punished Atlas for fighting against him by forcing the Titan to hold up the sky.

In another tale, the hero Perseus turned Atlas into stone using the head of a creature called Medusa. She had hissing snakes for hair!

The body of Atlas became the Atlas Mountains of North Africa and his hair became the forests.

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EXPLORE GREEK MYTHS ! gorge: a narrow valley

between hills or mountains, usually with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it.

polis: a Greek city–state. literature: written work such as poems, plays, and novels.

philosopher: someone who thinks about and questions the way things are in the world.

democracy: a system of government where the people choose who will represent and govern them. jury: a group of people,

called jurors, who hear a case in court. Jurors give their opinion, called a verdict.

WORDS

TO

KNOW

The Greek homeland was filled with mountains, rocky gorges, and cliffs.

Because of this rugged land, Greek communities were cut off from one another. This isolation led to the creation of small city–states, or an independent society. A city–state was called a polis. Each polis had its own laws, government, money, and myths.

As people traded between city– states, myths spread from one area to another. Through many generations, Greek mythology adopted gods and goddesses from many different cultures around the Mediterranean Sea.

CITY–STATES

The city–states of Athens and Sparta became the largest and most important of Greece. Athens was a center for art and literature. Some of the most brilliant artists and philosophers lived there.

Democracy and the use of juries

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both appeared first in Athens. Jurors had to swear an oath to the gods Zeus, Apollo, and Demeter that they would uphold Athenian law. What do jurors swear on today?

THE GREEK WORLD Anaximander (circa 610–546 BCE) was a great Greek philosopher and astronomer. He was the first Greek to create a map of the world. In the center of his map was Delphi.

Zeus had declared Delphi the center of the world after his eagles collided over the city.

circa: around that year.

Abbreviated with a c (c.610– 546 BCE).

Peloponnesus: the southern region of ancient Greece, where the Mycenaean civilization developed.

Persian Empire: a large empire

to the south and east of Greece.

WORDS TO KNOW

The Spartans were warriors. They created the strongest military in all of Greece. From the age of seven, Spartan boys left home to begin warrior training.

Spartan girls were also expected to be physically strong so they would have healthy babies.

The Athenians and the Spartans did not always get along. From 431 BCE to 404 BCE, they fought a 27-year war called the Peloponnesian War. However, they did join forces to fight off invaders from the Persian Empire.

DAYS, NIGHTS, AND WEATHER

The ancient Greeks used myths to explain how the day changed to night and back again. If you asked them about the sun or the moon, they might have told you about three Titan siblings: Eos, Helios, and Selene.

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EXPLORE GREEK MYTHS ! discus: a circular disc that was

thrown by athletes in ancient Greece and by the god Apollo.

Eos was the goddess of the dawn.

She made night vanish each morning when she woke. Her brother, Helios, WORDS TO KNOW the god of the sun, then charged out of his golden palace. Four magnificent horses with crowns of light pulled him across the sky. Once he reached the west, Helios disappeared into a golden cup and his other sister, Selene, the goddess of the moon, began to shine.

The Greeks also used myths to explain the weather. The four chief wind gods were Boreas (the North Wind), Zephyros (the West Wind), Notos (the South Wind), and Euros (the East Wind). Boreas brought winter.

He swept down from the mountains blowing icy air over the land until Zephyros brought the spring breezes. Notos followed with summer storms and Euros blew the leaves off the trees in the fall.

In the story of Apollo and the Spartan prince, Hyacinthus, the West Wind Zephyros was jealous of their friendship. He caused Apollo’s discus to strike Hyacinthus in the head, killing him. But the blood of Hyacinthus became the spring flower, hyacinth.

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THE GREEK WORLD KNOW YOU

YTHS !

RM

THE STORY OF WINTER: HADES AND PERSEPHONE Demeter is the goddess of grain and the harvest. Long ago, Demeter’s beautiful daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped by her Uncle Hades, ruler of the Underworld. Demeter did not know what had happened to her daughter.

She searched for her everywhere. Overcome with sadness, she promised that nothing would grow on Earth until her daughter was returned to her. The people begged the gods to help them. Zeus sent the messenger god, Hermes, to bring Persephone back.

During her time in the Underworld, Persephone refused to eat or drink, for she knew that anyone who did would be forced to remain there forever. But one day, she was overcome with hunger and ate four pomegranate seeds. This meant she had to live four months of each year with Hades. During this time we call winter, nothing grows on Earth. But Persephone spends the rest of the year with Demeter, and that is when the crops grow and the flowers bloom.

NATURAL DISASTERS Greece lies in an area of the world where there are many earthquakes and an active chain of volcanoes. The people used their myths to explain these natural events.

Hephaestus was the Greek god of fire and metalworking. Some stories said that his forge was in the volcano on Lemnos Island in the Aegean Sea. Smoke or rumblings from the volcano were thought to be Hephaestus hard at work. According to Greek myth, he was creating amazing WORDS TO KNOW objects for the gods, such as the helmet of Hermes. forge: a furnace where metal is heated up to make tools or other objects.

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EXPLORE GREEK MYTHS ! demi-god: a person

WORDS TO KNOW A far more dangerous creature lived under a more active volcano called Mount Etna. Typhon was a giant so huge that his head reached the stars. Typhon’s anger was said to cause fountains of lava to hiss and pour from the volcano.

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THEN & THEN: Around 360 BCE, the

Greek philosopher Plato wrote about a city called Atlantis that was founded by demi-gods. It was a beautiful city that suddenly disappeared under water.

NOW: Some researchers believe

that Atlantis was a real place.

One possible site is an island near Crete. In 1646 BCE, a huge volcanic eruption blew out the interior of the island.

The Greeks also told stories to explain the shaking ground of earthquakes and the uncontrollable seas of storms. When Poseidon was angry, he caused the waters to surge and the ground to shake.

INVESTIGATE!

It’s time to consider and discuss the Essential Question: Why did the Greeks use myths to explain natural disasters?

NOW

with one parent who is human and one parent who is a god.

PROJECT! EXPERIMENT WITH EARTHQUAKES

SUPPLIES **shoe box **scissors **string **5–7 paper clips

Today, we know that earthquakes are caused by tectonic plates moving below the surface of the earth. In this experiment, you will learn how earthquake waves travel through solid objects. Are there any similarities between the ancient Greek myths and the science we know today?

Caution: Have an adult help with poking holes in the box.

1

Take the lid from the box and set it to one side. Stand the box on end. Make a hole in the top center of the box with the scissors.

Make another hole directly beneath this on the bottom of the box.

2

Thread the string through the holes and secure each end with tape. Evenly space out the paper clips on the string. The number of paper clips depends on the size of your box.

3

Place your box on a table. Give the table a little shake and observe what happens to your paper clips.

TRY THIS! Place your box on different

surfaces. Strike each surface and observe what happens to the paper clips. What do you think will happen if you use different thicknesses of string or different sizes of paper clips?

WORDS TO KNOW

tectonic plates: large slabs

of the earth’s crust that are in constant motion. The plates move on the hot, melted layer of earth below.

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PROJECT! MAKE A MAP OF ANCIENT GREECE Make a topographical map of ancient Greece with cookie dough. This kind of map shows the features of the land, such as mountains and gorges.

Caution: Have an adult help with cutting and baking.

1

Print out the Ancient Greece map template from nomadpress.net/projects/templates or copy the map on the next page. Cut out the four sections and set aside.

2

SUPPLIES **computer with Internet access and a printer **paper **scissors **tube of sugar cookie dough **rolling pin **circular baking pan **plastic knife **baking chips, sprinkles, colored sugars, icing pens

Roll out the cookie dough according to instructions.

3

Place your largest paper piece on top of the dough first. Cut around the shape with the knife. Place the piece on the baking pan with central and northern Greece at the top.

4

Repeat step three for Peloponnesus, Asia Minor, and Crete. Asia Minor will on the right side of the pan and Crete at the bottom.

5

Add baking chips to your map to represent Greece’s mountains. Mold the long coastline with your fingers.

6

Follow the instructions on the package and bake your map.

When the map has cooled completely, add more details with the sprinkles and icing pens.

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PROJECT! CENTRAL AND NORTHERN GREECE

ASIA MINOR

PELOPONNESUS

CRETE

THINK ABOUT IT: Do you live in an area that is flat or has

mountains? How does the geography around you affect the way you live? Do you think it would have been different in the ancient past, when there were no cars?

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PROJECT! CREATE A TRITON WEATHERVANE Around 50 BCE, the Athenians built the Tower of the Winds to show which direction the wind gods were blowing the wind. On the top of the octagonal tower was a weathervane shaped like Poseidon’s son, Triton, a merman. You can make a Triton weathervane to study the wind.

To learn more and see images of the tower, visit this website.

KE YW OR D PR OM PTS enious invention ancient technology ing

1

SUPPLIES **sheet of white paper **colored pens and pencils **recycled greeting card **white glue **scissors **clear tape **long wide straw **sheet of colored construction paper **narrow straw **bamboo skewer **small bead **1 cup rice **mason jar

Looking at the example, draw a Triton about 5 by 7 inches on the white paper.

2

Color your drawing and glue it to the greeting card to make it sturdier. When dry, cut it out. Tape the bottom edge of the Triton to the length of the wide straw.

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PROJECT! 3

Draw an arrowhead and a tail on the yellow construction paper. Cut these pieces out and tape them to opposite ends of the wide straw.

4

Cut the narrow straw in half.

Use glue to attach the narrow straw to the bottom center of the wide straw.

5

Next, draw a circle with a 2-inch diameter. Cut it out and draw the four compass points on it—N, S, E, W. This is a compass rose.

6

Push the skewer through the center of the paper compass. Push the compass three-quarters of the way up the stick. Slide a small bead down the skewer so it rests on the compass. Next, slide the top of the skewer into the narrow straw.

Set to one side.

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Fill the mason jar with rice. Stick your weathervane in the middle of the jar. Take it outside and observe how it works.

TRY THIS! Observe the wind during several days and at different

times. Which way does it blow?

Record your results.

WORDS TO KNOW compass rose: a circle

drawn on a map to show north, south, east, and west.

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GLOSSARY A

Acropolis: a rocky ledge high above

Athens, home to ancient buildings, including the Parthenon. altar: a raised table used for religious purposes. archaeologist: a scientist who studies ancient people through the objects they left behind. ark: a large boat. astronomy: the study of the sun, moon, stars, planets, and space. axis: the imaginary line through the North and South Poles that the earth rotates around.

B

BCE: put after a date, BCE stands for

Before Common Era and counts down to zero. CE stands for Common Era and counts up from zero. These nonreligious terms correspond to BC and AD. This book was printed in 2016 CE. Bible: a book with sacred writings generally accepted by Christians as inspired by God. boustrophedon: a system of writing on alternate lines and in opposite directions.

C

chaos: a state of complete confusion. circa: around that year. Abbreviated

with a c (c.610–546 BCE). citizen: a person who has all the rights and responsibilities that come with being a full member of a country. In Athens, only adult males could be citizens. civilization: a community of people that is advanced in art, science, and government.

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compass rose: a circle drawn on a map to show north, south, east, and west. compound pulley: a system of fixed and movable pulleys that work together. constellation: a group of stars in the sky that resembles a certain shape, such as the Big Dipper. There are 88 official constellations in the sky.

Corinthian: a style of architecture featuring decorative columns with leaves, flowers, and scrolls. culture: the beliefs and way of life of a group of people. current: the steady flow of water or air in one direction. curse: words that people believe cause harm.

D

Dark Age: a time when a civilization

undergoes a decline. The Dark Age in Greece lasted from 1100 to 700 BCE. demi-god: a person with one parent who is human and one parent who is a god. democracy: a system of government where the people choose who will represent and govern them. discus: a circular disc that was thrown by athletes in ancient Greece and by the god Apollo.

Doric: a style of architecture featuring simple columns topped by squares.

E

epic: a long story that celebrates the

adventures and achievements of a god or hero in verse. exiled: forced to leave one’s country.

GLOSSARY F

forge: a furnace where metal is heated

up to make tools or other objects. fresco: a painting made on fresh, wet plaster. frieze: a carved band of stone or marble that often tells a story or shows characters from a myth. furrow: a long, narrow trail in the soil.

G

geography: the study of the earth and

its features, especially the shape of the land and the effect of human activity on the earth. gorge: a narrow valley between hills or mountains, usually with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it.

H

harmony: the arrangement of parts in

pleasing relation to each other.

I

immortal: describes a person who

cannot die.

Ionic: a style of architecture featuring slender columns with scroll-like details at the top.

J

jury: a group of people, called jurors, who hear a case in court. Jurors give their opinion, called a verdict.

L

lever: a bar that is used to lift a

heavy load. literature: written work such as poems, plays, and novels.

M

manga: a style of comic book

from Japan. mortar: a building material that hardens when it dries. It is used like glue to hold bricks and stones together.

Mount Olympus: the home of the Greek gods.

Mycenaean Age: a Greek civilization that flourished from 1650 to 1200 BCE. myth: a traditional story that expresses the beliefs and values of a group of people.

N

narcissism: the feeling of being overly

interested in your own appearance.

Norse: people from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Northern Hemisphere: the half of the earth north of the equator.

O

ode: a poem set to music that celebrates

a person, place, or thing. offering: an object given to the gods as a gift.

Olympic Games: a global sporting event held every two years. In ancient Greece, these events took place every four years in Olympia, Greece, in honor of Zeus. oracle: a spiritual advisor believed to be able to predict the future. orchestra: a stage where Greek singers, actors, and musicians acted out the drama in a play. ostracism: being excluded from a group.

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GLOSSARY P

pantheon: a group of gods belonging

to a religion. patron: a person or supernatural being that is believed to support and protect a person, group, or place. pediment: the triangular piece on the front of some buildings at the top.

Peloponnesus: the southern region of ancient Greece, where the Mycenaean civilization developed.

Persian Empire: a large empire to the south and east of Greece. phenomenon: something seen or observed. philosopher: someone who thinks about and questions the way things are in the world. pivot: the center on which something turns or balances. plains: large, flat areas of land. polis: a Greek city–state. prophecy: a prediction of the future. pulley: a wheel with a groove for a rope used to lift a load.

Q

S

sacrifice: an offering of an animal to

the gods. satyr: a mythical creature that is half man and half goat. shrine: a special, religious place. society: an organized community of people with shared laws, traditions, and values.

Southern Hemisphere: the half of the earth south of the equator. stoa: a long covered walkway. supernatural: something that cannot be explained using the laws of science.

T

tectonic plates: large slabs of the

earth’s crust that are in constant motion.

The plates move on the hot, melted layer of earth below. tide: the daily rise and fall of ocean water.

Titans: the first family on Earth. toga: a loose, one-piece garment worn by men in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. trident: a spear with three sharp points.

quarry: a pit where stone is cut for building.

R

riddle: a puzzle that is asked as

a question. rituals: a series of actions connected with religion.

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V

votive: a small offering to the gods, such

as a coin.

Z

zodiac: the 12 sections in the sky that

ancient astronomers used to describe the path of the sun.

Children’s Activity • Education Resource

focus on language arts

focus on social studies

ARCHITECTURE, DEMOCRACY, THE OLYMPICS—THE MODERN WORLD OWES A LOT TO THE ANCIENT GREEKS! In Explore Greek Myths! With 25 Great Projects, readers discover the gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters that lived alongside ancient Greeks in their collective imagination and informed their politics, scientific discoveries, and art. ** Introduces the popular topic of Greek mythology and the history, geography, technology, and arts of the ancient Greeks

** Links to online primary sources encourage curiosity and engage readers in further, independent study

** Inquiry-based projects encourage critical thinking skills

** Language arts activities promote comparing and contrasting, identifying detailed evidence, and making deductions

AGES 7–10 GUIDED READING LEVEL: T

“ Greek myths of gods and heroes excite the imaginations of people of all ages. This is a wonderfully stimulating book, filled with projects and tales to ponder.”

—Stephen Scully, Associate Professor, Boston University “ This volume is a wonder—an entire world of mythic education in 88 fun-and factfilled pages. From tales of the origins of the universe to the invention of democracy, from scary monsters to magnificent temples, this is a colorful, interactive, and trustworthy introduction to scores of things that we owe to the ancient Greeks. I wish I had this book growing up!”

—Richard P. Martin, Antony and Isabelle Raubitschek Professor in Classics, Stanford University

MORE PRAISE FOR ANITA YASUDA “ Fascinating myths, witty jokes, eye-catching art, games, science projects, and a coherent narrative history fill the pages of this informative volume, which presents multifaceted facts about the Nordic people based in Scandinavia before the twelfth century . . . . This engaging entry in the Explore Your World series is a great choice for the classroom and an entertaining introduction to world history.”

—Booklist “ Great activities bring out the points of the chapters in thought-provoking ways.”

—Susan H. Prince, Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati