Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Enclosed is your Olympian Gods Teaching Packet. It replaces the Intermediate/Middle School
Teaching Packet and the Primary Readiness Packet. The overall theme of this packet is the
Greek pantheon: Zeus, Hera, Hestia, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, Athena, Poseidon, Apollo,
Artemis, Hermes, Hades, Demeter, and Dionysus.
Although some material is reprinted from the previous packets, many of the activities in this packet
are new. Some of the new activities are specifically keyed by page number to d’Aulaires’ Book of
Greek Myths in order to help teachers prepare their students for the National Mythology Exam.
Other activities and informational pages are included for enrichment or extension. All materials
are geared toward children in grades three and above, and they include a variety of activities for
different levels of mythological expertise. The stories and activities supplement and complement
myths found in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths.
Additional packets are available from the Excellence Through Classics Committee. They focus on
the current theme of the National Mythology Exam and provide activities which reinforce and
enrich that theme. These thematic materials are also appropriate for children in grades three and
above. The thematic teaching packets currently available are Perseus and Mythological Monsters,
The Underworld, Ancient Beginnings, Heracles, Jason, Theseus, and Transformations.
The rewards of studying mythology are many. Knowledge of mythology increases the
appreciation of literary reference, provides a basis for the understanding of art, aids in the
acquisition of vocabulary, and helps to create historical perspective. An interest in mythology can
be a springboard to the study of foreign language, comparative mythology, anthropology,
literature, art history, and world history.
As you invite mythology into your classroom, it is our hope that you and your children will find
these packets enjoyable and useful.
THE OLYMPIAN GODS
TABLE OF CONTENTS*
Olympian Overview
Hera
Hera Crossword Puzzle ........................................................................................................... 54
Transformations ...................................................................................................................... 56
Musical Mythology: Juno ........................................................................................................ 58
Hephaestus
Musical Mythology: Hephaestus ............................................................................................. 59
Hephaestus Activity ................................................................................................................. 60
More Hephaestus Activities ..................................................................................................... 62
Where is Lemnos? .................................................................................................................. 63
Hephaestus Picture ................................................................................................................. 65
Aphrodite
Athena
Musical Mythology: Athena...................................................................................................... 85
Think About Athena ................................................................................................................. 86
Arachne the Weaver ................................................................................................................ 87
Hanging By a Thread ............................................................................................................... 88
Athena Double Puzzle ............................................................................................................. 89
Musical Mythology: Arachne ................................................................................................... 91
Derivatives from “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider” .................................................................................. 92
Name That Spider ................................................................................................................... 93
Pom-Pom Spiders ................................................................................................................... 94
Poseidon
Athena / Poseidon Crossword Puzzle ..................................................................................... 95
Relationships ........................................................................................................................... 98
Athena / Poseidon Word Search ........................................................................................... 100
Who Could I Be? #2 .............................................................................................................. 102
Analogies .............................................................................................................................. 103
Musical Mythology: Neptune ................................................................................................ 105
The Contest for Athens – A Retelling .................................................................................... 106
Why Was it Better? ................................................................................................................ 107
Water, Water, Everywhere .................................................................................................... 108
Some Facts About Water ...................................................................................................... 109
Oil or Water? ......................................................................................................................... 110
Poseidon Picture ................................................................................................................... 111
Review #2 ............................................................................................................................. 112
Apollo / Artemis
Apollo / Artemis Crossword Puzzle ........................................................................................ 116
Apollo Word Pieces ............................................................................................................... 118
Artemis Word Pieces ............................................................................................................. 119
True Statements Apollo / Artemis ........................................................................................... 120
Bingo Game #2 ..................................................................................................................... 123
Musical Mythology: Apollo .................................................................................................... 126
Musical Mythology: Artemis.................................................................................................... 127
Artemis and Actaeon: Write Your Own Ending ..................................................................... 128
Make Artemis’ Stag and Quiver ............................................................................................. 129
Artemis and Actaeon Maze ................................................................................................... 130
Artemis and Actaeon Picture ................................................................................................. 131
Daphne and Apollo: A Retelling ............................................................................................ 132
Musical Mythology: Apollo and Daphne ................................................................................ 134
Apollo and Daphne Puppets................................................................................................... 135
*NOTE: Answer Keys follow most activities.
TABLE OF CONTENTS* (continued)
Hermes
Hades / Demeter
General Mythology
Illustrations on the cover sheet and pages 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 21, 22, 24, 28, 33, 35, 38, 48, 49, 50, 54, 56, 58,
59, 60, 62, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 75, 77, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 91, 93, 95, 100, 102, 105, 109, 110, 116,
118, 119, 126, 127, 128, 133, 134, 137, 139, 141, 142, 144, 145, 146, 148, 149, 151, 154, 155, 157, 158,
159, 161, 164, 170, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, and 185 are from Clipart.com School Edition.
The use of these pictures is authorized by the agreement between the subscriber and
JUPITERIMAGES. These pictures have been printed in accordance with the site terms
OLYMPIAN OVERVIEW
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and he has the power to cause storms, tidal waves,
and earthquakes when he strikes his trident on the water or the land. He is the brother
of Zeus. He became the father of many children including the Cyclopes in The
Odyssey. You can recognize him by the trident, sea symbols, his long beard, and his
chariot coming out of the waves which is usually pulled by four white horses.
Hades was the gloomy god of the underworld, guardian of all the dead people,
both good and bad. Since he does not like the light, he does not live on Mount
Olympus. One day, however, he did go up on earth to steal Persephone for his
wife. His symbols are a two-pronged scepter, four black horses that pull his
chariot, and the three-headed dog, Cerberus. Sometimes the underworld itself
is called Hades.
Ares was the tall, handsome god of war. He was vain and cruel, and he did not have
respect from the other Olympians. The spirit of Strife, called Eris, went with him.
She threw down her golden apple of discord which made people fight. Then Ares
would jump into battle just for blood. He was loved by Aphrodite, and their son is
Eros. Ares’ symbols are armor, a war-chariot, vultures, and dogs.
Apollo was sometimes called Phoebus. He was the god of music and poetry, and he was
often pictured with long golden hair, a lyre, and a bow and arrows. Apollo is associated
with the sun. He was very important to Greeks and others who often went to his temple
at Delphi to get advice for their future from the Oracle. Apollo and the nine Muses,
goddesses of the arts, are often shown together dancing. Apollo is also known as a
handsome lover, especially in the story of Daphne in Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
Artemis was the goddess of the hunt and the moon. She is often pictured with a short
dress, a bow and arrows, and a crescent moon on her head. She is the twin sister of
Apollo. Artemis never married but spent her life hunting in the woods with her
hounds.
OTHER OLYMPIANS
Athena was sometimes called Pallas. She was the goddess of wisdom and useful
arts. Fully formed and wearing armor, she was born out of Zeus’ head. She is
usually pictured with her armor, often with the head of Medusa on her shield or
aegis. Other symbols are an owl and an olive tree or branch. The city of Athens
was named for her, and her temple, the Parthenon, is still there. She was Zeus’
favorite daughter. Her most famous story is about Arachne, the weaver.
Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty, born fully grown out of the sea on a
cushion of foam. She was so beautiful almost no man could resist her. Zeus had
her marry Hephaestus so the gods would not fight over her. She often had other
lovers. Her symbols are seashells, a chariot pulled by doves, and a mirror.
Hermes was the messenger of the gods and the protector of travelers. He led dead souls
to the Underworld. Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia, a Titan’s daughter. From the
day of his birth, he was tricky and strong. He invented the lyre from a turtle shell, stole the
cattle of Apollo, and then traded them for the lyre. His symbols are winged sandals and
hat, a wand with snakes on it, a traveling hat, and a cloak.
Dionysus was the god of grapes, wine, and revelry. Zeus was his father. He had
a mortal mother, Semele, but was born out of Zeus’ thigh. His worshippers
danced around the hills until they worked themselves into an ecstatic frenzy.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
These pronunciations are taken from Morford and Lenardon’s Classical Mythology.
ā as in cape
ē as in bee
ī as in ice
ō as in boat
ū as in too
aegis ē - jis
Aphrodite af - rō- dī - tē
Apollo a - pol - lō
Ares ar - ēz
Artemis ar - te - mis
Athena a - thē - na
Bacchus bak - kus
Ceres sē - rēs
Cyclopes sī - klō - pēs
Delphi del - fī
Demeter de - mē - ter
Dionysus dī - ō - nī - sus
Gaea jē -a
Hades hā - dēs
Hephaestus he - fes - tus
Hera he - ra
Hermes her - mēs
Hestia hes - ti- a
Maia mā - ya
Persephone per - sef - ō - nē
Phoebus fē - bus
Poseidon po - sī - don
Semele sem - e - lē
Zeus zus
12. APHRODITE: rose from sea foam, wife of Hephaestus, mother of Eros (her son by Ares)
A. Goddess of love and beauty
B. Appearance: originally draped and stiff, later more sensual
C. Attributes: doves, mirror, flowers, blossoms, The Graces, Eros
D. Important representations: Aphrodite of Cnidus by Praxiteles, Venus de Milo
FAMILY TREE
Each child can create a family tree. You might want to use the reduced pictures instead of writing the
names of the gods, goddesses, and their parents. The configuration is visually understandable
although logically the “roots” of the tree should be the ancestors.
Teacher’s Key
FAMILY TREE
Janeene Blank
Birmingham, MI
MERCURY This small planet speeds around the sun in only 88 days. It is easy to see why it was
named for the messenger god who could travel between Earth and Mount Olympus in the
twinkling of an eye.
VENUS Beautiful and serene, this planet is often called the morning star or the evening star. It is the
third brightest body in the heavens. It was named for the goddess of love and beauty.
EARTH The name for our home planet comes not from Greek or Roman mythology, but from the
German word “erde.” However, other words that refer to Earth do come from mythology.
Gaea, the name for Mother Earth, is used when we talk about places (geography), and
mineral structure (geology). It is used to begin many words (geo-). The word “terra” is a
Latin word for the earth, and it gives us terrestrial, terra firma, and territory.
MARS This red planet is named for the god of war. Perhaps its red color reminded the ancient
astronomers of blood or of anger. The two satellites, Phobos and Deimos, are named for
the dogs of war that followed Mars, and they mean “fear” and “evil spirits.”
THE ASTEROID BELT These oddly shaped pieces of matter have an orbit between Mars and
Jupiter. Some of them are almost large enough to be small planets, and
some have names. Can you find out the names of two very large ones?
JUPITER The king of the Olympian gods had several names. Among them was the Roman name,
Jupiter. The largest of the planets is named for him. The many satellites of Jupiter are
named for people with whom he had some connection. Two large ones are Ganymede and
Io. Can you discover the names of others? Can you find out who they were in mythology?
SATURN Saturn was the Roman god of agriculture, but he was often identified with the Greek god,
Cronus, who was the son of the earth mother, Gaea, and who became the father of the king
of the gods. Saturn was a Titan which means he was huge. The planet Saturn is a gas
giant, second only to Jupiter in size. The rings of Saturn are clearly visible from earth. It
was the first planet known to have rings, although we have since discovered that other
planets do have them.
URANUS Uranus was the god who was the personification of the heavens, and he was married to
Gaea. This is another of the gas giants. Perhaps it was named Uranus because of its size.
Can you discover the number of satellites and their names?
NEPTUNE Neptune is sometimes the eighth planet from the sun, sometimes the ninth. It is ninth when
Pluto’s orbit carries it inside Neptune’s. The Roman god, Neptune, was the god of the sea
and the god of earthquakes. Perhaps the color the planet glows accounts for its name. It
was located by mathematics in 1846.
10 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
OLYMPIAN OVERVIEW
10th Planet I think it should be called by a name from mythology like the others, don’t you?
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
PLAN A PLANET
You have just discovered another planet in our solar system. You must look at its characteristics and then
decide what name you will give it, following the tradition of naming the planets after characters from Roman
mythology.
1. Where does your planet lie? How many other planets are between it and the sun? Draw a diagram
below to show the orbit of your new planet.
2. How big is your planet? Compare it in size to one of the other planets. _________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. What is your planet made of? Is it a gas giant? Does it have water? What kinds of rocks and minerals
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. If you look at the planet from Earth, what color does it appear? ________________________________
6. Would it be possible for people from Earth to colonize your planet? ____________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
Instructions
*Clay-dough recipe
2 c. flour
1 c. salt
1 tsp. oil
water to make pie-dough consistency
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
God/Goddess of ____________________________________________
Symbols ____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Teacher’s Key
I Know All About the Gods and Goddesses
of Ancient Greece and Rome
Quiz 1 and Quiz 2
Teacher’s Key
I Know All About the Gods and Goddesses
of Ancient Greece and Rome
Quiz III
Teacher’s Key
Greek Name/Roman Name
Matching
1. G
2. C
3. F
4. E
5. B
6. I
7. A
8. H
9. J
10. L
11. M
12. D
13. K
Teacher’s Key
Symbols of the Gods and Goddesses
1. E
2. H
3. A
4. J
5. K
6. L
7. M
8. D
9. F
10. B
11. C
12. I
13. G
In The Beginning
Matching
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 9-20
_____ 4. I was lord of the universe after Gaea and Uranus ruled.
_____ 11. I am the wife of Cronus and the mother of the six Olympian gods.
_____ 13. We are the monsters who fought with Zeus against the Titans.
_____ 14. I am Zeus’ first wife who tricked Cronus into eating a magic herb.
_____ 15. We took care of baby Zeus and made noise to cover his cries.
*Throughout this packet, the hundred-handed fifty-headed monsters are referred to by their Greek
name, the Hekatonchires.
Figure out the number that corresponds to the letter. They are NOT consecutive.
One letter’s number has been provided for you.
The sentences you create will be about gods, Titans, and monsters who participated in the war.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
19
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
1 10 16 7 20 19 23 20 8 14 9 18 24
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
20 1 3 7 20 19 23 20 8 14 13 16 3 18 20 24
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
25
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
8 10 5 20 12 9 17 12 21 24 17 4 3 9 17 12
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
2 11 22 9 5 22 8 10 5 8 17 12 25 26
Puzzle #3 Thanks!
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
21
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____, ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
2 20 10 21 16 14 3 20 2 9 2 23 7 6
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____, ____ ____ ____
21 3 13 21 25 21 11 21 5 21 20 24 2 3 16
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
5 21 17 1 20 3 21 3 17 11 7 5 20 25 26 14 10 14
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
17 21 6 20 25 6 10 7 19 20 1 14
Teacher’s Key
In The Beginning
Matching
1. G
2. O
3. C
4. D
5. I
6. K
7. A
8. F
9. J
10. B
11. L
12. N
13. E
14. H
15. M
Teacher’s Key
Three Puzzles About the War
Puzzle #3: A trident, a cap of invisibility, and lightning bolts were gifts from the Cyclopes.
In The Beginning
Crossword Puzzle
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 9-20
Complete the puzzle by identifying the speaker of each clue on the next page.
WORD BANK
aegis Pontus
Amaltheia Prometheus
cap Rhea
Cronus stone
Cyclopes Tartarus
Echidna Titanesses
flint Titans
Gaea Trident
lightning Typhon
Metis Uranus
In The Beginning
Crossword Puzzle Clues
Across
1. Two of my children are Cerberus and the Hydra.
4. I am Gaea's second husband.
5. I came out of darkness, and I was lonely.
6. I am the Titan who became the ruler after Uranus.
8. We are the six giant daughters of Uranus and Gaea.
10. I am the weapon that the Cyclopes made for Zeus.
12. Cronus thought I was a baby because I was wrapped in baby clothes.
13. I am the weapon that the Cyclopes made for Poseidon.
16. I, the first lord of the universe, married Gaea.
17. I am pinned under Mount Aetna.
18. I am Zeus' first wife.
19. I am the material out of which Gaea made the sickle.
Down
2. I am the invisible gift that the Cyclopes made for Hades.
3. Ambrosia and nectar flows from my horns.
4. I fought on Zeus' side against the Titans because I can look into the future.
7. We have only one eye, but we are strong.
9. I am the breastplate of Zeus.
11. I am the place where Uranus flung the Cyclopes.
14. We are the six giant sons of Uranus and Gaea.
15. I am married to Cronus.
Teacher’s Key
In The Beginning Crossword
Out of Chaos
Crossword Puzzle
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 9-20
Across Down
2. What Metis was the goddess of 1. Cronus' Titaness wife
5. Number of sisters that Rhea had 3. What Cronus thought the magic herb would
7. Food and drink of the gods (three words) make him
10. Second husband of Mother Earth 4. Second lord of the universe
13. First lord of the universe 6. Wife of Uranus
15. First children of Mother Earth 8. Home of the gods (2 words)
16. Zeus' "nanny" 9. Peaceful age during the early rule of Cronus
18. What Greek gods resembled 11. Number of heads on each of the Hekatonchires
19. Three strong smiths 12. Island where Zeus grew up
who were not handsome 14. Weapon that Mother Earth gave to Cronus
20. Third lord of the universe 17. What the "impenetrable breastplate" was called
Teacher’s Key
Out of Chaos
In the Beginning
Word Search
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 9-20
Locate the following words in the puzzle grid. They may be vertical or horizontal.
AMALTHEIA TARTARUS
CRONUS TITANS
CYCLOPES TRIDENT
ECHIDNA TYPHON
GAEA URANUS
METIS ZEUS
RHEA
Teacher’s Key
In the Beginning
Word Search
In this grid, find the words suggested by the clues at the bottom of the page.
The words may be backwards, forwards, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
CLUES
1. Two monsters that Mother Earth sent to fight 13. Goddess of wisdom, war, weaving, olives,
against Zeus (three words) and owls
2. Place where Zeus put the Titans after the war 14. God of light and music
3. Professions of the Cyclopes (three words) 15. What the Cyclopes built for the gods on Mount Olympus
4. Guards at the gates of Tartarus 16. What hid the gods on Mount Olympus
5. God of fire 17. Goddess of the hearth
6. Demeter's daughter 18. Titan sent to carry the sky on his shoulders
7. Goddess of love 19. Mountain that Typhon planned to hurl at Zeus
8. Lord of the sea 20. Lord of the dead
9. God of wine 21. The gods' and goddesses' "blood"
10. Goddess of the hunt 22. Zeus' queen
11. Goddess of the harvest 23. God of war
12. Herald of the gods 24. Goddess who wore a gown of iridescent drops
TITANOMACHY
(tī - tan – ÄM – eh - kē)
Titanomachy is the name for the struggle between the Titans and the gods. The giant Titans
fought the six Olympians who were born to Cronus and Rhea. The Cyclopes and the Fifty-
Headed Hundred-Handed Monsters (the Hekatonchires) fought on the side of the Olympians
along with two of the Titans, Epimetheus and Prometheus. The monsters, Echidna and Typhon,
fought on the side of the Titans. Zeus and the Olympians won, thanks to the thunderbolts forged
by the Cyclopes.
On the following pages are cutout pictures of the main characters from the Titanomachy. (There
are pictures of the other Olympian gods, too, for use in projects other than this one.) To prepare
the participants for the battle, mount each cutout on construction paper. Cut along the outlines.
Using the patterns for the Small Figures Stand and the Large Figures Stand, make a stand for
each cutout from tag board. Glue the long narrow folded edge of the stand to the back of the
cutout.
Designate a place in the classroom as the “field of contest,” and position the figures on the proper
sides.
Cronus
Rhea
Other Titans and Titanesses (but NOT Epimetheus or Prometheus)
Echidna
Typhon
Zeus
Hera
Hades
Poseidon
Demeter
Hestia
Three Cyclopes
Three Hekatonchires
Prometheus
Epimetheus
Musical Mythology
Zeus
(Tune: “On Top of Old Smoky”)
HESTIA
Goddess of the Hearth
The oldest sister of Zeus, Hestia, is not featured in many myths. Nevertheless, since the hearth
was of utmost importance to the ancients as a source of heat and light, they honored her daily at the
beginning and the ending of every meal. Hestia represented home and family, and thus she is not involved
in any mythological adventures.
There was a public hearth sacred to Hestia in every city. In Rome, six priestesses called the
Vestals kept perpetual watch over her fire in the temple. The safety of the city of Rome was believed to be
dependent upon the continuation of this flame.
One of the few stories that is told about Hestia involves Dionysus. Dionysus was the youngest of
the Olympian gods. He was the god of wine, and he brought lots of joy to people. He was also Zeus’ son,
and Zeus really liked him. Zeus wanted him to have a golden throne like the other gods and goddesses.
But since Dionysus’ mother was a mortal woman, Hera became very angry and said she didn’t want
Dionysus there. When Zeus insisted, Hera sat quietly. The problem was that there were only twelve
thrones in the hall. So Hestia silently got up and went to sit by the hearth. She said that was where she
chose to be so Dionysus could have her throne.
Musical Mythology
Vesta
REVIEW #1
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 9-23
1. Who makes noise to drown out the cries of baby Zeus? _________________________
2. Gaea is ________________________________________.
3. What does Metis give to Cronus that is supposed to make him strong?
_________________________________________________
12. Theft was invented after the _________________________ Age was over.
15. Whose idea is it to hide baby Zeus and trick Cronus? __________________________
17. Who is the mother of Cerberus, the Sphinx, and the Chimaera? _________________
_____________________________.
20. Mother Earth gives Cronus a weapon made of flint. What is it? _______________
REVIEW #1 (continued)
21. Where does Uranus put the Cyclopes and hundred-handed monsters? ________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________
24. Which Titans defect and fight on Zeus’ side during the war between the Olympians
25. For whom do the Cyclopes and the hundred-handed monsters fight in the war between
28. Since Cronus fears that his children will want to rule the universe, he
__________________________________ them.
29. Where does Zeus put the Titans when he defeats them? __________________________
________________________________
32. Who sends Typhon and Echidna to fight against Zeus? ___________________________
35. Whom does Mother Earth marry after Uranus departs? _________________________
37. Three sets of children born to Gaea and Uranus are ____________________________,
Teacher’s Key
REVIEW #1
1. sprites
2. Mother Earth
3. magic herb
4. twelve – six of each
5. the goat who nursed baby Zeus
6. one eye
7. Cronus
8. a rock
9. smiths and masons
10. Father Sky
11. cap of invisibility
12. Golden
13. Rhea
14. trident
15. Mother Earth
16. Gaea and Uranus
17. Echidna
18. breastplate, aegis
19. Aetna
20. sickle
21. Tartarus
22. Hades, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, Hera
23. ichor
24. Prometheus and Epimetheus
25. Zeus and the Olympians
26. thunderbolts
27. Metis
28. swallows
29. Tartarus
30. Atlas
31. ambrosia and nectar
32. Mother Earth
33. Olympus
34. Crete
35. Pontus
36. Iris
37. Titans, Cyclopes, Hekatonchires (hundred-handed monsters)
Hera
Crossword Puzzle
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 24-27
Across
3. What the word "bosporus" means (two words)
4. The beautiful queen of Olympus
7. Final destination of Io
9. Place where the apple tree was planted (four words)
10. Creature who guarded the apple tree (three words)
12. Number of eyes that Argus closed when he slept
14. Location of the river Inachos
16. God who bored Argus to death
Down
1. The name of the strait that separates Europe from Asia Minor
2. Who the snow-white cow REALLY was
5. Killer of Echidna
6. Number of eyes that Argus had (two words)
8. The "giver" of the little apple tree (two words)
9. Creature sent to sting Io
11. Creature who received Argus' eyes after he died
13. Io's father
15. Who the cuckoo REALLY was
54 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HERA
Teacher’s Key
Hera Crossword
Transformations
The gods and goddesses are very fond of transforming one thing into another thing. For example,
Zeus changed Io into a cow, Zeus changed himself into a cuckoo, and Hera transformed the tail of her
peacock with the eyes of Argus.
Try your hand at transforming a word. JUNO is the Latin name for the queen of the gods, and
HERA is the Greek name for the queen of the gods. Transform Juno into Hera by climbing down the word
ladder, changing one letter of the word at a time so that the new word matches the definition.
Juno
_________________ A fish
_________________ A remedy
_________________ Concern
_________________ A rabbit
Hera
56 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HERA
Teacher’s Key
Transformations
Juno
June_____ The sixth month
_______
tune_______
______ Another word for song
_______tuna____ A fish
Cuba_______
______ An island south of Florida
cure_______
______ A remedy
Hera
Musical Mythology
Juno
Musical Mythology
Hephaestus
Hephaestus Activity
Whenever a god or goddess wanted something made of metal,
Hephaestus created the most extraordinarily wonderful things. He made
a shield and other armor for Achilles at the request of Thetis, robots of
gold in the form of young women who could move and speak, a necklace
for Harmonia, and the invincible sword of Peleus.
“Helios has as his lot toil day after day and there is never any rest either for him or his horses,
when rosy-fingered dawn leaving the stream of Ocean makes her way up into the sky.
But a beautiful hollow cup, winged and of precious gold, fashioned by the hands of Hephaestus,
bears him, sleeping deeply, from the land of the Hesperides to the country of the Ethiopians,
where he makes his swift chariot and horses stand, until the rising dawn comes.”
Vocabulary
In a dictionary, find the meaning of each vocabulary word as it is used in the excerpt above.
lot _________________________________________________________________
bears _________________________________________________________________
fashioned _________________________________________________________________
toil _________________________________________________________________
Questions
1. What are the Hesperides? ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Which other characters from literature were physically not beautiful but produced beauty?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Bernice Jefferis
Cleveland Heights, OH
60 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HEPHAESTUS
Teacher’s Key
Hephaestus Activity
Vocabulary
Questions
1. The Hesperides are daughters of Atlas and Hesperis. They live in a garden far to the west (where the
sun sets), and they guard the golden apple tree of Hera. Hesperis, in Latin, means “western.” This
garden was thought to be near the Atlas Mountains in northern Africa at the western extreme of the
Mediterranean Sea.
2. The ancient country of Ethiopia mentioned in mythology was located in northern Africa in a “dimly
defined region” near the Red Sea at the eastern extreme of the Mediterranean Sea. This is where
the Greeks believed that the sun rose.
3. Ugly Duckling
Cyrano de Bergerac
Rumplestiltskin
Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Beast in Beauty and the Beast
Design a robot
Assigning this as a homework task will produce a wide variety of robots. Having a whole class
design one provides for endless discussion about what, how, and why certain features should be
included or excluded.
Make jewelry
Again this could be assigned as homework, or found-materials could be provided
such as paperclips, buttons, and aluminum foil. Old or broken pieces of costume
jewelry could be recycled.
Research occupations
A “smith” works in metals. Find out what sort of work these people do.
cooper
potter
tanner
farrier
herder
scrivener
drover
wainwright
Bernice Jefferis
Cleveland Heights, OH
Where Is Lemnos?
The locations mentioned in mythology can usually be found on a map.
This is a map of Greece. Locate the following places on the map and label each.
Questions
1. How could you account for so many small islands in this part of the Mediterranean Sea?
_________________________________________________________________________
2. Look in an atlas to find the latitude of this part of the world. _____________________________
3. Compare the Mediterranean climate to the climate where you live. ________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Bernice Jefferis
Cleveland Heights, OH
Teacher’s Key
More Hephaestus Activities: Research Occupations
cooper a person who makes barrels or casks
potter a person who makes earthenware pots or dishes
tanner a person whose work is changing hide into leather by soaking it in tannin (tannic acid)
farrier a person who shoes horses
herder a person who tends a herd of animals
scrivener a scribe or clerk
drover a person who herds animals to market
wainwright a person who builds or repairs wagons
Teacher’s Key
Where Is Lemnos?
3. Mediterranean climates are characterized by wet winters and dry summers. San Francisco, California,
in the United States is approximately the same latitude as the Mediterranean Sea in Europe.
HEPHAESTUS
65 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
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APHRODITE
Word Bank
In the blank, write the type of animal or the name of the monster.
3. Hera sent me to sting Io. I chased her all the way to Egypt. _________________________________
5. When Aphrodite rose out of the sea, we were waiting to pull her chariot. ________________________
6. I had six baby monsters, and then Argus killed me. ________________________________________
8. I got my tail decorations from Argus when Hermes bored him to death. _________________________
10. Zeus crushed me under Mount Aetna and now I spit out lava. _______________________________
11. Unfortunately, we are uglier than our brothers, the Cyclopes. _______________________________
Teacher’s Key
Animals and Monsters
1. goat
2. cow
3. gadfly
4. Cyclopes
5. doves
6. Echidna
7. fly
8. peacock
9. robots
10. Typhon
11. Hekatonchires
12. dragon
The Graces conducted her to the assembly of immortals on Mount Olympus. The gods greatly
admired her beauty, and many wished to marry her. Hera urged Zeus to find a husband for her as quickly
as possible. Although Poseidon, Ares, Dionysus, and Hermes offered to marry her, Zeus gave her to lame,
ugly Hephaestus who promised to make fabulous jewelry for her. Among his gifts was a finely-woven
golden girdle, the cestus, which possessed the magical power to make the person who wore it absolutely
irresistible. Perhaps he was unwise to give her such a gift, for Aphrodite was already so beautiful that few
could resist her.
Aphrodite had the power to make both gods and mortals fall in love. Only the virgin goddesses,
Athena, Artemis, and Hestia were able to resist her. Her power often brought great happiness to her
victims, but it sometimes brought sorrows and troubles, too.
Aphrodite often sent Zeus chasing after mortal women. In order to make her feel the effects of her
own power, Zeus caused her to fall in love with a mortal, the Trojan prince, Anchises. She appeared
before Anchises who was working as a shepherd on Mount Ida. She told him that she was the daughter of
King Orteus of Phrygia and that she wished to become his spouse. Anchises agreed, but when she told
him that she was really a goddess, he was afraid. Aphrodite promised that nothing would happen to him if
he never told anyone of her true identity. The child of Aphrodite and Anchises was Aeneas, a hero of the
Trojan War. Aphrodite protected Aeneas, and at the destruction of Troy, helped him to travel to Italy where
he founded a new land for the Trojans. That land eventually became the land of the Romans. The
Romans were very devoted to Aeneas’ mother and paid tribute to her as the goddess Venus.
One of her immortal sons, Eros, was her constant companion. He was a winged child who carried
a bow and a quiver of arrows. He was full of mischief and often shot unsuspecting victims with his arrows.
Those struck by his arrows were not killed; they fell in love!
Aphrodite had many children by gods, particularly Ares, and mortals. However, when she bathed in
the sea off Cythera near the place where she first appeared, she became young again.
Aphrodite was usually symbolized by the doves which pulled her golden chariot. Other symbols
associated with her were swans, sparrows, myrtle, and roses.
Barbara Green
Cleveland Heights, OH
68 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
APHRODITE
3. Draw scenes from the story on fanfold paper. Make a tape recording of the story to accompany your
illustrations.
4. Choose a character from the story and retell the story from your point of view.
5. Write a play based on the story. Prepare puppets and present the play as a puppet show.
Barbara Green
Cleveland Heights, OH
Musical Mythology
Venus
I simply am blind,
APHRODITE
71 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
ARES
Word Bank
Ares Hades Io Titans
Cronus Hephaestus Metis Titanesses
Demeter Hera Poseidon Uranus
Gaea Hestia Rhea
Fill in the blanks. You will use one of the words in the word bank twice.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
After you have filled in all the information, create a family tree showing all of Zeus’ relatives.
72 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
ARES
Word Bank
________________________
10. I like blood, but not my own.
The deeds I do you can’t condone. Who am I? __________________________
Teacher’s Key
All of Zeus’ Relatives
1. Gaea
2. Poseidon, Hades
3. Hera
4. Uranus
5. Rhea
6. Titanesses
7. Metis
8. Hestia, Hera, Demeter
9. Ares, Hephaestus
10. Titans
11. Io
12. Cronus
Teacher’s Key
Who Could I Be?
1. Eris
2. Io
3. Aphrodite
4. Cyclopes
5. Argus
6. Eros
7. Robots
8. Hera
9. Pain, Famine
10. Ares
11. Hephaestus
Across
1. Two of the vicious crowd following Ares (three words)
2. Metals of which the robots were made (three words)
5. Two sons of Zeus and Hera (three words)
7. Items that were in Eros’ quiver
8. Son of Aphrodite
11. God who threw Hephaestus off of Mount Olympus
14. Unwise present that Hephaestus gave to Aphrodite (two words)
15. Constant companion of Ares
16. Goddess who nursed Hephaestus back to health
Down
1. Two more of the vicious crowd following Ares (three words)
2. Prized possession of Eris (two words)
3. Island where Hephaestus landed
4. God admired by Aphrodite for his good looks
5. God who made the twelve thrones for the Olympians
6. Goddesses who welcomed Aphrodite ashore (two words)
9. Island where Aphrodite came ashore
10. Wife of Hephaestus
12. Monsters who helped Hephaestus at his forges
13. Goddess whose side Hephaestus took during an argument
75 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
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ARES
Teacher’s Key
Hephaestus / Aphrodite / Ares Crossword
In this grid, find the words suggested by the clues at the bottom of the page.
The words may be backwards, forwards, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
Find all twenty words. One word appears twice since it is the answer to two questions.
CLUES
1. I am Io’s father. 15. I gave the apple tree to Hera.
2. Argus killed me. 16. I am the jealous wife of Zeus.
3. We help Hephaestus walk. 17. I am the son of Aphrodite and Ares.
4. Zeus sent me to sting Io. 18. I throw the golden apple of discord.
5. Hermes bored me to death. 19. I am the mother of Ares and Hephaestus.
6. I am Aphrodite’s favorite bird. 20. The eyes of Argus are placed on my tail.
7. I told a long, pointless story to Argus.
8. We help Hephaestus at his forge.
9. I tossed Hephaestus off Mount Olympus.
10. I am the garden where the golden apple tree was planted.
11. The three of us were there to greet Aphrodite when she rose from the sea.
12. Unfortunately, I am married to Hephaestus.
13. I took care of Hephaestus when he landed on Lemnos.
14. A gadfly chased me to Egypt in the form of a cow.
77 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
ARES
TEACHER’S KEY
Bingo Game #1
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 9-32
Beginnings – Zeus – Hera – Hephaestus – Aphrodite – Ares
There are two clues for each answer so you can play two completely different games
ARES -- GOD WHO WAS FOLLOWED BY PAIN, PANIC, FAMINE, AND OBLIVION
CYCLOPES -- SONS OF GAEA AND URANUS WHO BUILT THE PALACE ON OLYMPUS
Have the students randomly place the following 24 words on a bingo board.
(See following page)
Ares Gaea
Aphrodite Hephaestus
Argus Hera
Atlas Hermes
Cow Inachos
Crete Lemnos
Cronus Metis
Cyclopes Peacock
Cythera Rhea
Eris Thetis
Eros Uranus
Gadfly Zeus
They can write LIBER, the Latin word for “free,” in the free space.
Musical Mythology
Mars
(Tune: “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again”)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
David Baumbach
Pittsburgh, PA
84 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
ATHENA
Musical Mythology
Athena
Was Arachne punished because she was boastful or because of what she put on her weaving?
A good lively discussion will help open the story’s layers of meaning. It might then be beneficial to
web any interests that the children name for further investigation such as weaving, spiders,
boasting, competition, choices, and consequences. Individual and group projects can be launched.
2. Practice validations.
Have a discussion about boasting. Have you ever known someone who boasted? What did that
feel like? Have you ever been the one who did the boasting? What did that feel like? Did you feel
better or worse afterwards?
After some discussion, explain that affirmations or validations are specific traits or behaviors that we
like about someone. Then try this activity.
Get a ball of yarn and gather the class into a large circle. Begin by asking someone to give
a validation to another student. For example, “Karen, I really like the way you get things
done. You quietly do what we need. Thank you.” The student then ties the yarn three times
around his own wrist and hands the yarn to the person just named. That person does the
same thing to someone else, giving a validation and then tying the yarn around her wrist.
This continues until everyone has spoken and been validated. Everyone will be connected
by the web of yarn. Then the teacher can cut the yarn, making a friendship bracelet around
each person’s wrist. It reminds the students that the invisible web cannot be broken.
Some English words that are derived from these Latin words are
To explore the word texture, bring in a variety of fabric, perhaps silk, burlap, linen, flannel, cotton,
and wool. Allow the students to feel the texture of these textiles and to describe what they feel.
The students will probably be familiar with textbooks although they may not have heard about the
text of a speech. Differentiate between notes, paraphrasing, commentary, translation, and text.
Discuss the difference between “out of context” and “in context.” Words have a specific meaning
only when they are in context. Point out that “base” has many possible meanings until you put it in the
context of a sentence. Consider the following sentences.
Other words with multiple meanings determined by context are “run,” “bar,” and “bank.” Brainstorm
others.
Start a sentence with the phrase, “Under the pretext of . . ..” and let the students create their own
scams. The newspaper might be a source of topics for these sentences.
Hanging By a Thread
When Athena turned Arachne into a spider, she “hung by the thread” that
she spun for her webs. The Latin word for “to hang” is PENDERE.
Listed below are English derivatives from this Latin word.
1. Underline the letters in the derivatives which suggest that these words are derived from PENDERE.
2. Match the derivative with its meaning.
3. Use each derivative in context in the sentences at the bottom of the page.
4. Figure out a way to relate the word “hanging” to each of the derivatives. For example, the appendix is
“hanging” at the end of the large intestine.
_____ suspend I. (noun) a part hung from a fixed point that swings freely
PENDERE in Context
1. The jury is still debating; the verdict is ______________________________.
2. She received a beautiful diamond ______________________________ for her birthday.
3. The surgeon removed the patient’s ______________________________.
4. When the ______________________________ stops swinging, the clock stops.
5. The radio warned us of the ______________________________ danger.
6. Our teacher received a ______________________________ for teaching two extra classes.
7. My grandpa wears striped ______________________________.
8. The bus company will ______________________________ service until the strike is over.
9. Baby birds ______________________________ on their parents for food.
10. A boss ______________________________ his workers for their time.
88 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
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ATHENA
Step 2: To find out the secret word, copy the letters in the
numbered cells into the cells at the bottom with the
same number.
Step 3: Figure out how the secret word relates to the clue words.
Write your answer on the blank lines below the secret word.
Question for Clue Word #1: What were Arachne and Athena weaving?
Question for Clue Word #2: What was the name of the vain girl?
Question for Clue Word #3: What got hurt when Arachne boasted she was
better than Athena?
1. TATSERYP
2. NACREHA
6 5
3. REPDI
2 3 4
Secret Word
1 2 3 4 5 6
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Teacher’s Key
Hanging By a Thread
Matching
E
A
C
H
G
J
I
D
F
B
IN CONTEXT
1. pending
2. pendant
3. appendix
4. pendulum
5. impending
6. stipend
7. suspenders
8. suspend
9. depend
10. compensates
Teacher’s Key
Athena Double Puzzle
Clue #1: tapestry
Clue #2: Arachne
Clue #3: pride
Connection: Arachne’s pride caused her to create irreverent pictures on the tapestry
she was weaving, and so Athena turned her into a spider.
Musical Mythology
Arachne’s Song
(Tune: “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider”)
Pusilla araneola
ascendit fistulam
Magnopere pluit
et abluit eam
Et pusilla araneola
ascendit iterum.
Vocabulary Derivative
pluit - rain impluvium – (L.) the opening in the roof of the atrium
To make these derivatives live for your students, be as creative and concrete
as you can. Ask the children to bring in objects that are “fistular” in shape, to locate
a “translucent” drinking glass or window, to search for information on “solar”
eclipses, to decide which derivative belongs in The Wizard of Oz, to find pictures of
an “aqueduct” and and “impluvium,” to make a list of “abluents,” to look through a
“magnifying” glass, to “ascend” and “descend” the stairs or the piano keys, to look
on paint cans for the words “fast-drying,” and to “reiterate” these derivatives as often
as possible.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
KINGDOM Animal
PHYLUM Arthropoda
CLASS Arachnida
ORDER Aranaea
FAMILY ______________________________________________
GENUS ______________________________________________
SPECIES ______________________________________________
Pom-Pom Spiders
a 2-inch pom-pom
4 pipe cleaners
2 googly eyes
a 12-inch piece of yarn
glue
Bend the four pipe cleaners around the middle of the pom-pom and secure
with a tight twist. Flatten the pipe cleaners into the shape shown below.
Fluff the pom-pom around the indentation made by the pipe cleaners.
Bend the pipe cleaners so that the spider can stand up.
ATHENA / POSEIDON
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 34-41
Across Down
WORD BANK
Acropolis Ilithyia
Amphitrite Leto
Arachne Metis
arrows Nereids
Athena Nereus
Athens Nike
Delos olive
Earthshaker owl
fly Poseidon
helmet salt
Hephaestus spider
horse Triton
Zeus
TEACHER’S KEY
ATHENA/POSEIDON CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Relationships
This difficult exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 32-41
Figure out the number that corresponds to the letter. They are NOT consecutive.
One letter’s number has been provided for you.
The sentences you create will describe relationships between characters
in the stories about Ares, Athena, and Poseidon.
Puzzle #1
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
8
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____’ ____
14 22 21 20 8 17 22 11 8 21 1 15 25 20 11 1 21
____ ____ ____ ____ ____, ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
13 11 2 4 20 1 11 17 15 9 8 15 22 11 8 21
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____’ ____ ____ ____ ____.
1 23 14 25 8 15 9 8 15 20 21 21 22 11
Puzzle #2
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____,
25 11 7 15 3 1 14 14 1 16 15 22 11 25 15
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
10 23 6 4 7 18 25 22 9 9 1 21 26 22 4 7 25 15
Relationships (continued)
Puzzle #3
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
13
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
10 11 4 22 13 12 5 7 11 16 18 22 13 23 11
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
16 15 11 19 13 23 11 12 16 22 25 3 16 15 11
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
26 25 5 5 11 22 22 25 3 20 18 22 5 25 7
Puzzle #4
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
9
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
11 19 11 22 18 3 26 25 9 23 18 26
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
11 3 22 26 9 23 6 19 6 15 11 5 5
ATHENA / POSEIDON
WORD SEARCH
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 34-41
In this grid, find the words suggested by the clues at the bottom of the page.
The words may be backwards, forwards, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
CLUES
1. I am the mother of Triton. 11. I am an animal created in the shape of breaking waves.
2. I provide oil, food, and wood. (2 words) 12. I whacked Zeus on the head when he had a headache.
3. You can’t drink me. (2 words) 13. I am the spirit who always accompanies Athena.
4. I am the mother of Apollo and Artemis. 14. I am the insect that Zeus swallowed during a game.
5. I have a trident. 15. I am the flat-topped rock that crowns the city of Athens.
6. I am the island that offered Leto shelter. 16. After she was bribed, Hera allowed me to visit Leto.
7. My daughter popped out of my head. 17. I have 49 aunts.
8. Athena chose me as her favorite bird. 18. I am Poseidon’s father-in-law.
9. I am wise, and I can weave. 19. I am not wise, but I can weave.
10. I am an arachnid. 20. I am the mother of Athena.
Teacher’s Key
Relationships
Puzzle #1: Poseidon is Athena’s uncle, and Triton is Amphitrite’s son.
Puzzle #2: Eris follows Ares, but Nike accompanies Athena.
Puzzle #3: Zeus and Metis are the parents of the goddess of wisdom.
Puzzle #4: Arachne is the ancestor of all spiders.
Teacher’s Key
ATHENA / POSEIDON
WORD SEARCH
Match the character with the description. You will use some answers more than once.
Analogies
An analogy includes two words that are somehow related. You must determine the nature of that
relationship and then find another pair of words which reflects a similar relationship.
For example, “red and apple” might be the first pair of words. You know that the color of an apple is
red. In the second pair of words, you will be looking for a similar relationship. The second pair could be
“yellow and banana,” or “grey and elephant,” or “green and leaf.”
Each pair of words listed at the bottom of this page shows a relationship similar to another pair of
words listed below. Write the matching pair in the blank.
Matching Pairs
Teacher’s Key
Who Could I Be?
1. H
2. I
3. L
4. N
5. E
6. F
7. M
8. N
9. A
10. E
11. D
12. K
13. C
14. E
15. G
16. B
17. H
18. J
19. L
20. I
Teacher’s Key
Analogies
1. Zeus : eagle The owl is a symbol of Athena; the eagle is a symbol of Zeus.
2. refrigerator : Eskimos The Athenians had as much use for salt water as Eskimos have for a
refrigerator.
3. Zeus : lightning bolt Poseidon’s gift from the Cyclopes was a trident; Zeus’ gift was lightning.
4. Iris : Mercury They have similar jobs. Both the Cyclopes and Hephaestus are blacksmiths;
both Iris and Mercury are messengers.
5. box : Jack-in-the-Box Athena popped out of Zeus’ head in the same way that a Jack-in-the-Box
pops out of his box.
6. amphibian : frog The class to which a spider belongs is “arachnid;” the class to which a frog
belongs is “amphibian.”
7. Ares : Eris Nike is Athena’s constant companion; Eris is Ares’ constant companion.
9. Zeus : Hera Both pairs are husband and wife. They are also brother and sister.
10. legs : centipede Argus has 100 eyes; a centipede has 100 legs.
104 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
POSEIDON
Musical Mythology
Neptune
(Tune: “Going Over the Sea”)
David Baumbach
Pittsburgh, PA
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
David Baumbach
Pittsburgh, PA
107 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
POSEIDON
• Of the earth’s water, 97% is ocean water and is too salty for human use.
Color yellow over the blue crayon in 3 of the 70 blocks that represent the ocean.
This activity may also be done using a liter bottle of water and an eye dropper.
30 ml. of water represents the fresh water.
The free fresh water would be hardly more than a drop.
Remember: There is as much water in the world now as there ever has been or ever will be. The
drop of water you just drank may have been used by a scribe to clean the stylus with
which he wrote thousands of years ago!
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
Rivers and lakes contain one fiftieth of one percent of all the fresh water on earth.
One half of one percent of all water is beneath the earth’s surface.
The rest is frozen somewhere.
Small towns (under 5000) use underground sources for their water systems.
Large cities depend on rivers and lakes to supply the people with water.
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
Oil or Water?
If Poseidon’s spring had been fresh water, the citizens would have been very foolish to choose the
olive tree, for fresh water was very precious then as well as now. But the spring was salty and therefore
unusable by human beings. There is an important gift, however, that Poseidon gave to people. What is it?
• The olive tree, Athena’s gift, is an evergreen grown for the production of olives as food and for oil
which may be used for a variety of purposes.
• Olive oil was highly prized for anointing the body as early as
3000 BCE.
• Olive trees grow slowly, and some are reported to be over 1000 years old. The wood is resistant to
decay, and if the top dies, a new trunk will sprout from the roots.
• These trees grow to be 10 to 40 feet tall. They cannot survive temperatures of less than 10
degrees F. (-12.2 C.), yet they require winter-chilling conditions in order to produce fruit.
• Athena’s olive tree has always been a very useful tree in the region around the Mediterranean Sea
for it can grow on very dry land and it lives for a long, long time. Olive oil is still prized today for
cooking and for other purposes.
Find Out
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
POSEIDON
111 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
POSEIDON
REVIEW #2
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 24-41
The answer-blanks with a slash require both Greek and Roman names for the god or goddess.
16. Who tends Hephaestus when he falls onto the island of Lemnos? __________________
______________________, _____________________
20. Who makes thrones, weapons, and jewelry for the gods? _________________________
21. What two natural events does Poseidon cause with his trident?
REVIEW #2 (continued)
22. Who is Io’s father? ________________________________
31. To whom do the other goddesses give an amber necklace as a bribe? _______________
33. In order to convince Hera to marry him, Zeus turns himself into a _________________.
36. Which two Olympians are the children of Hera and Zeus?
40. Athena is the goddess of three things that begin with W and two things that begin with O.
What are they?
_________________________ ________________________
_________________________ ________________________
_________________________
REVIEW #2 (continued)
42. What is the name of the spirit of victory always shown with Athena? _______________
45. Which two gods want the city of Athens for their own.
52. Over what body of water does Io jump on her way to Egypt? _______________________
53. Who will not allow the goddess of childbirth, Ilithyia, to go to Leto? _______________
Teacher’s Key
REVIEW #2
Across Down
1. The giant who wanted to marry Artemis 1. Son of Poseidon who could walk on water
3. Creatures that pulled Artemis' chariot 2. The priestess of the oracle
6. What Orion became after his death 4. Woman whom Python had tried to devour
11. What Niobe was changed into 5. Number of children that Niobe had
12. Mountain where Delphi is located 7. Creature that killed Orion
13. Location of Apollo's oracle 8. The giant who wanted to marry Hera
16. Place where the giant brothers put Ares 9. Weapon that killed Otus and Ephialtes
18. God who killed Python 10. What Artemis and Orion enjoyed most
19. Creatures that Zeus gave to Artemis 14. Dragon who guarded the oracle
20. Goddess who killed Niobe's daughters 15. Grandfather of Niobe
22. Creatures that pulled Apollo's chariot 17. Mortal who saw Artemis bathing
23. Number of children that Leto had 21. Creature that Actaeon became
24. Queen of Thebes
25. Original owner of the oracle of Delphi
Teacher’s Key
Apollo/Artemis Crossword Puzzle
Puzzle #1
S U O D O F I S E G
A P O T H E N L L O T H
Sentence _______________________________________________________________
Puzzle #2
L L E N G O N P Y K I L L O
D R A H E D T A P O T H O
Sentence _______________________________________________________________
Puzzle #1
G O D M O O S O A R T H E E M I
S I S T D E S H E F T N
Sentence _______________________________________________________________
Puzzle #2
I O T I S T H R P D E E T E M
U L L H A R O F E C A R
Sentence _______________________________________________________________
True Statements
Artemis/Apollo
This difficult exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 40-44
Figure out the number that corresponds to the letter. They are NOT consecutive. One letter’s
number has been provided for you.
The sentences you create will be true statements about the Artemis and Apollo myths.
Puzzle #1
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
9
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
18 5 18 19 25 9 9 23 18 2 18 25 12 26 18 13
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
25 9 2 6 25 9 13 16 25 6 5 12 6 5 13
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
17 13 19 4 5 18 4 6 14 17 18 25 12 13
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
22 9 2 14 13 8 14 13 3 4 6 5
Puzzle #2
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
4
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
22 15 13 4 2 6 24 3 7 16 4 16
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
1 12 2 13 4 22 13 4 4 16 22 22 15 13
____ ____ ____ ________ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
25 12 16 21 3 13 25 18 19 13 3 1 15 2 25 14
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ .
26 25 9 14 22 1 16 12 14 16 4 4 9 4
Puzzle #3
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
16
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____, ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
11 18 19 25 25 19 22 17 8 22 20 7 13
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____,
4 15 19 22 17 8 15 19 26 11 15 22 8 1 7 16
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
6 7 25 25 8 10 22 17 8 10 11 15 6 16 19 1 8
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
10 15 11 3 19 13 18 5 22 17 19 13
Puzzle #4
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
19
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
26 21 1 26 14 12 19 17 6 17 19 12 1 13 26 24 14
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
26 19 8 21 12 23 23 12 19 2 14 19 2 14 2 12
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
13 14 10 26 2 3 6 15 15 14 17 5 8 13 6 2
Teacher’s Key
Apollo Word Pieces
Teacher’s Key
Artemis Word Pieces
Teacher’s Key
True Statements
Apollo/Artemis
1. Iris took Ilithyia to Leto after Hera was bribed with a gold and amber necklace.
3. Apollo, the twin brother of Artemis, killed the darksome dragon Python.
4. Actaeon did not have any common sense so he was killed by his own hounds.
Bingo Game #2
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 34-49
Apollo – Artemis – Poseidon – Athena
There are two clues for each answer so you can play two completely different games.
ATHENS City that chose Athena’s olive tree as the best gift
City that rejected Poseidon’s gift of a salt water spring
ACTAEON
APOLLO
ARACHNE
ARES
ARTEMIS
ATHENA
ATHENS
DELOS
DELPHI
EPHIALTES
HEPHAESTUS
ILITHYIA
LETO
METIS
NEREUS
NIKE
NIOBE
OTUS
ORION
POSEIDON
PYTHON
SIBYL
TRITON
ZEUS
They can write LIBER, the Latin word for “free,” in the free space.
Musical Mythology
Apollo
(Tune: “You Are My Sunshine”)
Musical Mythology
Artemis
(Tune: “A-Hunting We Will Go”)
A-hunting we will go
A-hunting we will go
Diana leads her nymphs and so
A-hunting we will go.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
3 wooden clothespins
1 small piece of corrugated cardboard
small piece of yarn or pipe cleaner for tail
glue
black marker
2 googly eyes
Directions
Glue clothespins with one upright (the horns) and two in the
opposite direction (the legs). Glue a small pad of the corrugated
cardboard between the legs to separate them. Glue on the eyes,
and draw the nose with a marker. Glue on the tail.
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
129 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
APOLLO / ARTEMIS
“Please, Father, “ she begged the river god. “You must promise me that you will never make me
marry. Please let me live all my life just as I am today.”
Her father was not really happy about this because he wanted grandchildren. Besides, he thought
that any proper girl should one day become a wife. But she pleaded with him so often and so pitifully that
he promised, at last.
Perhaps she would have spent her whole existence just like this if Apollo and Cupid had not been
having another of their arguments. Cupid had been using Apollo’s python-killing bow, and Apollo was
angry.
“Oh, Apollo, how wrong you are! Your weapon may be great, but my arrows are more deadly!” And
in the end, Apollo was wounded by a silver arrow from Cupid’s quiver just as the maiden Daphne passed
by. Apollo fell in love at once.
Cupid loosed another arrow at the girl, this one tipped in lead.
She turned to see the handsome Apollo approaching, and her heart was filled with fear and
loathing.
“Good morning, you beautiful thing, you,” Apollo called to the nymph. Daphne was a pretty young
lady, but she wasn’t very neat. Her hair hung loose about her shoulders, and she wore a short ragged
dress. She was surprised that he would call her beautiful, but she was also frightened. She turned and
started to run.
“Wait, don’t go! I won’t hurt you,” Apollo called, but Daphne only ran faster.
“Perhaps you don’t recognize me,” Apollo shouted as he started to run after her. “I am the god,
Apollo, and I love you! Wait!”
Still Daphne ran. Although she was used to racing through the woods after animals, she was no
match for the god. With his powerful stride, he soon was gaining on her. She put everything she had into
a burst of speed that made her breath come like sharp daggers in her side, and her heart beat like a drum.
Looking back, she could see him close at her heels. She was out of breath, and her knees felt
weak and rubbery from fear. She saw the river ahead, and she began to shout. “Father! Father! Please
save me!”
At once she felt a strange thing happening. Her feet and legs became stiff, and she felt a tingling
sensation in her fingers. With a last backward look at her pursuer, she paused, and rootlets from her feet
dug into the ground, and a crown of silvery leaves suddenly grew from her head and arms. Daphne,
fleeing the god Apollo, had changed into a tree.
Apollo stopped short. Where the maiden had stood but a moment ago now stood a laurel tree. He
felt pain in his heart, for he really loved her.
“Oh, Daphne,” he cried. “I am so sorry. But you will always be my tree. Your leaves will make a
crown for me, and I will protect you always.”
The slender tree bowed in the breeze and seemed to forgive the god who had thoughtlessly caused
an end to her carefree life. Since that time, the leaves from the laurel tree have always been used as a
symbol of victory or to crown a young hero.
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
133 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
APOLLO / ARTEMIS
Musical Mythology
APOLLO PUPPET
Instructions: Color and cut out. Glue to stiff paper. Cut out again. Attach arms and legs with paper fasteners.
Janeene Blank
Birmingham, MI
DAPHNE PUPPET
Instructions: Color and cut out. Glue to stiff paper. Cut out again. Attach arms and legs with paper fasteners.
Janeene Blank
Birmingham, MI
136 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HERMES
In this grid, find the words suggested by the clues at the bottom of the page.
The words may be backwards, forwards, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
1. Mother of Hermes
2. Location of the cave where Maia and Hermes lived (two words)
3. God of merchants, thieves, travelers, and shepherds
4. Color of the cows in Apollo's herd
5. Number of cows that Hermes stole from Apollo
6. What Hermes tied to the cows' tails to erase their tracks
7. The way that Hermes drove the cows out of the pasture to confuse Apollo
8. Number of cows that Hermes sacrificed to the Olympian gods
9. Number of strings on Hermes' musical instrument
10. The musical instrument that Hermes invented
11. The type of shell used for Hermes' musical instrument
12. The source of Apollo's knowledge about who had stolen his herd
13. Father of both Hermes and Apollo
14. The magic item that Apollo traded for Hermes' musical instrument
15. Distinguishing feature of Hermes’ hat and sandals
16. Another word for messenger
17. Goddess who was angry with Hermes over the death of her servant 21. Another name for a pile of
18. The item with which the gods cast their votes in Hermes' trial stones that guides
19. Monster whom Hermes had bored to death travelers
20. God to whom Hermes led the souls of the dead
137 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HERMES
Teacher’s Key
Word Search – Hermes
1. Maia
2. Mount Cyllene
3. Hermes
4. white
5. fifty
6. brooms
7. backward
8. two
9. seven
10. lyre
11. tortoise
12. oracle
13. Zeus
14. wand
15. wings
16. herald
17. Hera
18. pebble
19. Argus
20. Hades
21. cairn
138 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HERMES
Hermes Crossword
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 50-54
Across
3. Mother of Hermes
5. How Apollo felt when he saw the tracks going into the field but not out
6. Hermes' Roman name
8. One gift with wings that Zeus gave to Hermes
11. The musical instrument that Apollo received in exchange for cows and a magic wand
12. Father of Hermes
Down
1. The animals that Hermes stole from Apollo
2. The messenger of the gods
4. The monster bored to death by Hermes
7. Another gift with wings that Zeus gave to Hermes
9. The god of music
10. What the gods threw toward Hermes if they thought he was innocent of a crime
Word Bank
Teacher’s Key
Hermes Crossword
Question for Clue Word #1: What did Hermes steal from Apollo?
Question for Clue Word #2: Who was Hermes’ mother?
Question for Clue Word #3: Who was Hermes’ father?
Question for Clue Words #4: What two “winged” items did Hermes wear?
Question for Clue Word # 5: How did Hera feel when she learned that Hermes
had bored Argus to death?
2 7
6 5
8 1 9
3 10
SECRET PHRASE
1 2 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 6 9 9 9 10 3 6
141 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HERMES
2. A 3rd person object feminine pronoun plus the hypothetical plural of a 1st person object pronoun
4. The musician Garfunkel’s first name plus Dorothy’s aunt plus the singular of are
5. An article plus the musician Simon’s first name plus an expression of surprise
6. A river in Italy plus what the past tense of “sigh” plus the opposite of “off”
Teacher’s Key
Hermes Double Puzzle
1. cows
2. Maia
3. Zeus
4. hat and sandals
5. angry
Teacher’s Key
Mythological Names Rebus
1. a + the + na = Athena
4. Art + Em + is = Artemis
5. a + Paul + oh = Apollo
6. Po + sighed + on = Poseidon
Musical Mythology
Mercury
The Caduceus
Pronunciation: ka – dū – sē – us or ka – dū – shus
The caduceus, the “magic wand” which Apollo traded for Hermes’ lyre, is
depicted as a winged staff with two snakes wrapped around it. Since it
belonged to Hermes, the messenger of the gods, it was a symbol of
commerce and travel. He carried it whenever he carried messages from
Mount Olympus to earth, and with it he conducted the dead into the
underworld.
The Latin word caduceus is equivalent to the Greek word karykeion which means
“herald’s staff.” Originally, this staff had two white ribbons attached to it. It is
believed that these ribbons eventually became the snakes on the familiar modern
symbol. Another form of the karykeion included a horn formation at the top of the
staff made from snake heads. This version of the caduceus is reminiscent of the
symbol for the planet Mercury. The connection of the caduceus with medicine
began in the seventh century when alchemists consulted the position of the planets
in order to advise their patients.
Both Hermes’ caduceus and the staff of Asclepius were used to advertise pharmacies
in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 19th and 20th centuries, both symbols came to
represent medicine and healing.
In 1902, the caduceus became the official insignia for the Medical Department of the
United States Army.
2. Invent musical instruments using “found” objects. Hermes used what he had:
an empty shell.
4. Find the myth about the origin of the constellation, Lyra. If possible, have a star watch to see it in the
sky. If that is not possible, make a model of Lyra by punching holes in the bottom of a tin can and
shine a light through the holes in a darkened classroom.
5. Make a listing of all the things associated with Hermes and another listing of all things associated
with Apollo.
6. Write songs Apollo might have sung when he played the lyre. Remember that the ancient songs didn’t
always rhyme and that they probably praised the beauty of nature.
7. Find out as much as you can about Hermes’ Roman name, Mercury. Why was the liquid in a
thermometer named for him? Does the nickname “quicksilver” seem appropriate?
8. Research the planet Mercury. Does the name seem appropriate? Why or why not?
9. Research the Apollo missions of NASA. Why were they named for the god associated with the sun?
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
Question for Clue Word #1: Who ferried souls across the Styx?
Question for Clue Word #2: Who ruled the Underworld?
Question for Clue Word #3: What did the swineherd lose when the earth
opened up?
Question for Clue Word #4: What did the flowers do when mother and
daughter were together again?
Question for Clue Word # 5: Which god sent Hermes down to Hades to get
Demeter’s daughter?
12 6 10 3 7 8
9 4
13 5 11
2 14 15
1 2 3 4 5 1 6 7 8 9 10 8 11 12 5 3 13 2 3 14 15
148 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HADES / DEMETER
__________ 6. I was turned into an unfeeling rock after I bragged about my 14 children.
__________ 12. I was tricked into thinking that Artemis loved me.
__________ 17. I was attacked by my own hounds after I saw Artemis bathing.
__________ 18. Artemis and I were great friends because we both loved hunting.
Teacher’s Key
The Underworld Double Puzzle
1. Charon
2. Hades
3. pigs
4. bloomed
5. Zeus
Teacher’s Key
Who Could I Be?
1. C
2. I
3. E
4. P
5. B
6. L
7. G
8. I
9. D
10. K
11. H
12. O
13. I
14. B
15. F
16. G
17. A
18. M
19. J
20. B
Across
3. The only type of tree that bears fruit in the underworld
5. Number of heads that Cerberus has
7. The man whose brother hears screams on the day of the kidnapping
9. River in the underworld
10. The seasons that occur when Demeter is happy (three words)
12. The watchdog of the underworld
13. The ferryman
14. Goddess of the harvest
15. The fare for a ferry ride
17. The identity of the "rich one" or the "hospitable one"
18. Place in the underworld where heroes go (two words)
19. Judge of the dead who hands out punishments
20. God who guides souls to the underworld
Down
1. Animals who fall into the crevice during the kidnapping
2. God who refuses to let the world perish while Demeter is sad
4. The seasons that occur when Demeter is sad (three words)
6. Women who whip evil-doers in the underworld
8. The queen of the underworld
11. What is in the chariot that Demeter gives to Triptolemus
16. The spring of forgetfulness
151 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HADES / DEMETER
Teacher’s Key
Hades / Demeter Crossword
Word Bank
Use the words from the Word Bank to complete this story.
You will have to use a few words more than once.
a word that indicates he was truly gifted. Hermes showed his gifts by crawling out of his basket
he took the entrails of the animals and a tortoise shell and invented the _______________________.
An ______________________________ had told Apollo where to find his herd so he went to the
cave and accused Hermes of theft. To settle the dispute, Apollo and Hermes went before their
father, ___________________________. As part of the settlement, Hermes had to return the herd to
Apollo, but then he got them back. The rest of the settlement involved Hermes giving his
a word that means messenger. Zeus also gave Hermes a ______________________________ hat
and sandals. Everyone seemed to love Hermes, and the only time he fell out of favor was when he
of a crime because the gods and goddesses all threw their voting
trying to find their way by means of piles of stones called ______________________________. The
other travelers that Hermes guided were the ______________________________ as they made their
The king was also called the ________________________ One and the _________________________
One. Around the underworld flowed a river called the ___________________, and in order to cross
this river, a dead soul had to pay one ________________ to ______________________________, the
ferryman. The three-headed dog, ______________________________, made sure that no souls left
the underworld. Once in the underworld, the souls drank from the spring of ____________________
to ensure that they would forget their former lives. One of the judges of the underworld was named
______________________________ to whip them. If the judge met the soul of a hero, he sent him to
Hades _____________________________ her. She did not like it in the underworld, and so when the
goddess of the harvest went to ________________________ to strike a bargain to let her return to
earth, she was very happy. Unfortunately, she had eaten some ______________________________
seeds, and having eaten the food of the dead, she was forced to return to the underworld for part of
the year. The goddess of the harvest, however, no longer punished the earth with
Teacher’s Key
Hermes / Hades / Demeter Cloze Exercise
Hermes’ mother, ___________MAIA_______________, lived in a cave on
_________MOUNT________________ ________CYLLENE_______________. Maia discovered that
her son was very _________PRECOCIOUS___________, a word that indicates he was truly gifted.
Hermes showed his gifts by crawling out of his basket and going to a pasture to steal Apollo’s
______CATTLE___________. He hid these animals in a ________GROVE_________________. He
sacrificed to the twelve Olympians, and after his sacrifice, he took the entrails of the animals and a
tortoise shell and invented the _________LYRE______________. An _______ORACLE____________
had told Apollo where to find his herd so he went to the cave and accused Hermes of theft. To
settle the dispute, Apollo and Hermes went before their father, _______ZEUS________________.
As part of the settlement, Hermes had to return the herd to Apollo, but then he got them back. The
rest of the settlement involved Hermes giving his _______LYRE___________________ to Apollo and
Apollo giving his __________MAGIC_______________ __________WAND_______________ to
Hermes. Maia and Hermes moved up to ______MOUNT____________ ______OLYMPUS_________.
Zeus gave Hermes the title of ________HERALD________________, a word that means messenger.
Zeus also gave Hermes a ______WINGED__________________ hat and sandals. Everyone seemed
to love Hermes, and the only time he fell out of favor was when he bored Hera’s servant,
________ARGUS____________, to death. Even then, he wasn’t convicted of a crime because the
gods and goddesses all threw their voting _________PEBBLES______________ at Hermes’ feet.
Today, Hermes is remembered by travelers trying to find their way by piles of stones called
__________CAIRNS___________. The other travelers that Hermes guided were the
________DEAD__________________ as they made their journey to the underworld.
Musical Mythology
Ceres
(Tune: “Frosty the Snowman”)
Musical Mythology
To be with Demeter
Using words from the story of Demeter and Persephone, fill in the blanks
and discover a famous home spelled by the vertical shaded squares.
2. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
6. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
7. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
10. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
CLUES
1. Demeter’s relationship to Persephone
2. The kind of fruit eaten by Persephone in the underworld
3. Powerful brother of Hades
4. A season on earth when Persephone is in the
underworld
5. A symbol for the goddess of the harvest
6. The man who told Demeter where her daughter had
been taken
7. Place where Hades rules
8. How Hades felt without Persephone
9. Goddess of the harvest
10. Girl kidnapped by Hades
11. How people felt when there was no food
12. The god of the underworld.
Teacher’s Key
Home Sweet Home
1. _M_ _O_ _T_ _H_ _E_ _R_
2. _P_ _O_ _M_ _E_ _G_ _R_ _A_ _N_ _A_ _T_ _E_
6. _T_ _R_ _I_ _P_ _T_ _O_ _L_ _E_ _M_ _U_ _S_
7. _U_ _N_ _D_ _E_ _R_ _W_ _O_ _R_ _L_ _D_
10. _P_ _E_ _R_ _S_ _E_ _P_ _H_ _O_ _N_ _E_
Imagine that someone left Cerberus at your door and that you
are expected to take him in and care for him. Write a story below. Be
sure to use lots of action words. Describe the reaction of your family
and friends when they see you with him. Does he obey you, or do you
have to wear special armor when you feed him?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
161 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HADES / DEMETER
Constellations
Long ago when the ancient Greeks tended their flocks on the hills, they looked at the sky and saw
pictures among the stars. Perhaps the stars seemed brighter and nearer then, for there was no pollution in
the air from automobiles or factories and there were no electric lights to make the night less dark. They
looked at the patterns the stars made and imagined lines connecting the stars, rather like a dot-to-dot
picture. They gave names to these sky pictures, and there were stories about each one. On a clear night,
you can see some of these constellations yourself, and imagine, as they did long ago, that there are
pictures in the sky.
This lyre looks like a small harp with two strings. In the constellation is one very bright star called
Vega which is bluish white. It is the third brightest star in the northern sky.
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
Teacher’s Key
Constellations
Demeter Activities
1. If at all possible, find a pomegranate to share with your class. One
pomegranate will provide a taste for about 30 students. Be aware
that the fruit is usually juicy and that the red color stains so paper
towels or napkins are a must. As these fruits are seasonal, keep
your eyes open for a time to buy them. It is possible to let the
children taste the fruit before or after the story has been used in your
class. They won’t forget, and they will always associate the fruit and
the story.
2. Make a listing of different kinds of grain that can be stored and used for pasta or bread. Tell your
students that the word “corn” in the ancient world meant “wheat.” The grain that we call corn was
known as “maize” and still is in many parts of the world. Introduce Demeter’s Roman name, Ceres,
and let the children discover its connection with the word “cereal.”
3. Research Triptolemus. Some sources have him as a swineherd who witnessed the capture of
Persephone and told Demeter what had happened to her daughter, thereby earning her undying
gratitude. Others say that Triptolemus was a prince of Eleusis, a place Demeter visited while she
was searching for Persephone. Demeter’s visit to Eleusis is a whole story in itself.
4. Have a student research the planet, Pluto, and explain why this planet was named for the god of the
underworld.
5. Devise writing activities about spring and winter or the other seasons. Haiku poetry works well for this,
or acrostics using Demeter’s and Persephone’s names.
6. Write a class diamante poem starting with Pluto as the first word and ending with Ceres as the last.
Example:
Joy
bright, happy
laughing, bubbling, playing
sunshiny, springlike, cold, wintry
blowing, snowing, shivering
dark, lonely
Sorrow
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
164 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
HADES / DEMETER
REVIEW #3
This exercise covers material in d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, pp. 42-62
The answer-blanks with a slash require both Greek and Roman names for the god or goddess.
1. Whom does Zeus send into the Underworld to retrieve Persephone? _________________
20. Who are the two giant sons of Poseidon that Gaea hoped would overthrow Zeus?
REVIEW #3 (continued)
22. Who kills Otus? _________________________________
32. Who is jealous of the attention that Artemis gives to Orion? ______________________
38. Who tells Demeter about disappearing pigs and a screaming girl?
______________________________________
________________________/_________________________
REVIEW #3 (continued)
45. Who kills Niobe’s seven daughters? ____________________________
________________________/_______________________
52. The water in the spring of __________________________ helps people forget life on earth.
53. Into what is Ares put during the fight between Otus, Ephialtes, and the Olympians?
____________________________________
55. Who wins the oracle at Delphi after a fight with the dragon Python? ________________
56. Who decrees that Hades must let Persephone visit her mother? ____________________
57. What does Apollo give Hermes in exchange for the lyre? __________________________
and _________________________________
58. What gift does Demeter give to mankind through Triptolemus? ___________________
Teacher’s Key
REVIEW #3
1. Hermes 48. Cerberus
2. Actaeon 49. Hades
3. Apollo 50. two
4. Cyclops boy 51. Demeter / Ceres
5. Parnassus 52. Lethe
6. pebbles 53. bronze jar
7. Demeter 54. Elysian Fields
8. sibyl 55. Apollo
9. hinds (deer, stags) 56. Zeus
10. Erinyes 57. cows and a magic wand
11. water 58. how to plant, sow, reap and store grain
12. Apollo / Apollo 59. hunting
13. deer 60. Hermes / Mercury
14. Hermes
15. fourteen
16. lyre
17. constellation
18. winged sandals
19. crying rock
20. Otus and Ephialtes
21. judge
22. Ephialtes (his brother)
23. pomegranate
24. Poseidon
25. seasons
26. Otus (his brother)
27. coin
28. the sun
29. Hades / Pluto
30. Apollo’s
31. Persephone
32. Apollo
33. Demeter
34. Apollo
35. scorpion
36. Mother Earth
37. Maia
38. swineherd’s brother, Triptolemus
39. Styx
40. Artemis / Diana
41. winged hat
42. his own dogs
43. Chios
44. Hermes
45. Artemis
46. Charon
47. Artemis and Hera
Mythology Rap
Yo! My name is ___________________, and I’m here to say
Mythology is cool, in a major way.
You see, Zeus is the ruler, the king of the mountain.
To be immortal he drinks from the nectar fountain.
And then there’s Hera, she’s second in command.
She and all the other gods rule the land.
Hermes is the messenger. He’s quick as a flash.
Zeus tells him all the info, and he picks up the stash.
Hephaestus, he’s sure one ugly dude.
But he married Aphrodite, so don’t be rude!
There’s also Apollo, the god of light.
He drives a flaming chariot with all his might.
The monster Medusa turns people to stone.
Man, I mean you better just leave her alone.
THIS IS MYTHOLOGY
MYTHOLOGY!
THOLOGY
Gene Fontaine, Grade 6
Haverhill, MA
170 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
GENERAL MYTHOLOGY
Mythology Project
Teacher Information
These assignments have been designed as a long-term project for the study of mythology.
With the assignments due at one or two week intervals (depending upon their complexity),
this project will last about two months.
The culminating activities are the National Mythology Exam and a Mythology Banquet.
Assignment #6: Appropriate Costume Design and Description for Mythology Banquet
Mythology Project
Student Information
As we study mythology, be thinking about which mythological character fascinates you the most. Look at
mythology books in the school library or your local public library, access internet sites, and then
select your favorite character.
Make sure that there is enough information about the character you have selected
so that you can complete all five activities listed on the next pages.
On the due date, turn in this sheet of paper with your choice indicated and the identification completed.
Make sure you have at least THREE reasons why your character is important.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Make a family tree for your character showing important relationships. Include grandparents,
parents, siblings, spouse(s), and children.
If you use your computer to generate a family tree, make sure the design is original. Do not
download a family tree and modify it.
WRITE a short summary of each myth. You will have a total of five summaries. Submit each
summary on a separate piece of paper. At the end of each summary, CITE the source of
the myth in the following format:
A Book
d’Aulaire, Ingri and Edgar. Book of Greek Myths.
A Website
http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Philemon.html
Find another version of one of the myths you read in Activity #2. Read carefully to discover
conflicting information in the two versions.
You may create a Venn Diagram or make a chart that highlights the differences and similarities.
Do research into the mythology of another culture in order to find a character who would be the
equivalent of the Greek character you have chosen.
Write a paper or make a poster that conveys what you have learned. Whichever format you
choose, make sure that you
(2) write a short summary of a myth in which your comparative character appears
Design a costume that you will wear to the Mythology Banquet. This costume must accurately
represent your character. You must submit
(3) a written description of your character and the costume for your partner to read
as you model your costume at the Mythology Banquet. This description must
last no less than 30 seconds and no more than a minute when read aloud.
You will model your costume in a “fashion show” format before the banquet is served.
Due on ________________________________
Due on ________________________________
Due on ________________________________
Due on ________________________________
Due on ________________________________
Due on ________________________________
1. Reader: This student will read the question aloud from the paper.
2. Finder: Using the index in the back of the book, the student will look for the name or word
mentioned in the question. He will find the reference and read the answer to
the Recorder.
3. Recorder: This student will write down the answer to the question.
4. Checker: This student will check to be certain the question is answered properly.
5. Reporter: This student will report the answer when the teacher brings the class back together
for the final session.
Groups who know additional information about the mythical character or who can add details to the
question will be given extra points. Groups will also be given points for correct responses, for working well
cooperatively, and for staying on task.
When all the groups have answered the questions assigned, the teacher will assemble the entire
class to discuss the questions and to determine that everyone has the correct information. Students may
be encouraged to look in other sources to see if they find corresponding information. If other books are
available, they may check the index to see if the character they are investigating is mentioned there.
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
176 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
GENERAL MYTHOLOGY
Cooperative Search #1
Match the following words with the correct definitions.
_____ 2. Cronus B. Old man of the sea, father of Amphitrite, father-in-law of Poseidon
_____ 4. Phaethon D. God who overthrew his father, Uranus, and became father of six of the
Olympians
_____ 6. Dionysus F. Goddess of home and hearth; she tended the fire on Mount Olympus
_____ 7. Gaea G. Boy who tried to drive the chariot of the sun
_____ 10. Orion J. Wife of Cronus; she was the mother of six of the Olympians
_____ 11. Pegasus K. Son of Poseidon who was hated by Apollo; he became a constellation
Sally Dagnall
Tallmadge, OH
177 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
GENERAL MYTHOLOGY
Cooperative Search #2
Match the following words with the correct definitions.
_____ 2. Aphrodite B. God of war; he was followed by pain, panic, and famine
_____ 3. Hermes C. Goddess of the hunt; she was the twin of Apollo
_____ 7. Ares G. This was in the veins of the Olympians and made them immortal
_____ 8. Apollo H. God of the lower world who wore a cap of invisibility
_____ 10. The Fates J. Goddess of wisdom, warfare, arts and crafts
_____ 11. Poseidon K. God of sun, light, and music; he was the twin of Artemis and had an
oracle at Delphi
_____ 12. Demeter L. Goddess of love and beauty; she was the mother of Eros
_____ 13. Hades M. God of the forge and blacksmiths; he made robots
_____ 14. Athena N. Goddess of the harvest and the earth; she was the mother of Persephone
_____ 15. ichor O. Goddesses who determined the life span of a person
Sally Dagnall
Tallmadge, OH
178 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
GENERAL MYTHOLOGY
Cooperative Search #3
Match the following gods and goddesses with one of their symbols.
Sally Dagnall
Tallmadge, OH
Cooperative Search #4
Match the character with the description
1. I was once a leader of the gods. I overthrew my father to gain my position. I swallowed my children
when they were born because I was afraid that they would overthrow me. Eventually they did, and I
lost my position as leader of the gods.
Who am I? ________________________________________
2. I was the wife of Cronus. I plotted with Mother Earth, and she helped me and my other children
overthrow their father. I was tired of him swallowing all my children.
Who am I? ________________________________________
3. I was the father of Cronus. I warned my son that one day a child of his would overthrow him just like he
overthrew me.
Who am I? ________________________________________
4. I was a famous Titan. I fought on the side of Zeus because I knew that he would
win. I am credited with creating man and giving him fire to help him survive.
Zeus did not like this at all, and he punished me. I really owe Heracles a favor
because he rescued me from that very unpleasant situation.
Who am I? ________________________________________
5. We were the characters that have only one eye. We also helped Hephaestus work
at his forge making beautiful and sometimes magical things for the gods and
goddesses.
Who am I? ________________________________________
6. I was the son of Zeus and lived a very busy life. I not only saved Prometheus from a very unpleasant
situation, but I killed a snake when I was a very small baby and completed twelve mighty labors.
Who am I? ________________________________________
Sally Dagnall
Tallmadge, OH
Cooperative Search #5
Match the character with the description.
1. I am a youth who made a boast which led me on a great quest. I had a special boat built, gathered
many heroes, and had many adventures on the quest which took me to many places in Europe and
Asia. I succeeded in my quest and eventually returned home to rule.
Who am I? ________________________________________
2. I am the youth who, with the help of winged sandals, a helmet of invisibility, and a
special bag, conquered Medusa. On my return with my prize in the bag, I saw a
beautiful maiden chained to the rocks and fell in love with her. I rescued her and
later married her.
Who am I? ________________________________________
3. I am very quiet. There are very few stories told about me, but everyone loves me. People consider me
to be the sweetest, gentlest, and most generous of all the Olympians. I quietly tend the fire on the
hearth.
Who am I? ________________________________________
4. I am the son of Zeus and Hera, but I am not perfect and beautiful like my siblings. Once I stepped
between my quarreling parents, and Zeus threw me off Mount Olympus.
Who am I? ________________________________________
5. I am not a very easy person to get along with. My mother and father don’t even like me. I like violence,
battles, and war. I cause trouble wherever I go. My traveling companions are Eris, pain, famine,
oblivion, and panic. I like to kill and hurt people, but when it comes to me getting hurt, I don’t like it
at all.
Who am I? ________________________________________
6. It has been said that I am the most loved god on Mount Olympus. I am considered very handsome. I
also have extraordinary talents in music, poetry, mathematics, and medicine. I love to play my lyre
that was given to me by Hermes.
Who am I? ________________________________________
7. I am the twin sister of Apollo although I have dark hair. Zeus is our father. When I was born, my father
asked me what I would like to have. I gave him a really long list of things I wanted, and he gave me
everything I asked for. Best of all, he allows me to run and hunt over the mountains and in the
woods for eternity. He also gave me maidens who serve my every need.
Who am I? ________________________________________
Sally Dagnall
Tallmadge, OH
181 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
GENERAL MYTHOLOGY
Cooperative Search #6
Match the character with the description.
Who am I? ________________________________________
2. I am also known for having an unusual birth. Some say that I was born from the foamy sea. I do know that the
sea has been good to me and helps me to remain forever young and beautiful. I have little respect for other
women; they are not nearly as beautiful as I am. I am the wife of Hephaestus. He really doesn’t interest me,
but Zeus made me marry him. I am the mother of Eros.
Who am I? ________________________________________
3. I am very clever and lots of fun. When I was a baby, I stole Apollo’s herd of cows. Eventually I was caught, and
even though I pleaded innocence, it didn’t work. Apollo didn’t stay mad at me for very long because I gave
him a lyre that I made. I also invented the alphabet, written music, boxing, astronomy, and the scale. I get
around a lot and deliver many messages.
Who am I? ________________________________________
4. I was the last god to arrive on Mount Olympus. My father was Zeus, but my mother, Semele, was a human. She
died before I was born, and I was raised by the nymphs of Nysa. I, along with Demeter, am considered
mankind’s best friend. We even share the festival at harvest time.
Who am I? ________________________________________
5. I was one of the first. I fell in love with my husband when I spent all my time gazing at him. We had several
children called the Titans. People sometimes refer to me as Mother Earth.
Who am I? ________________________________________
6. I was created by the gods. Many of them gave me special gifts. I am very
curious. As a result of my curiosity, the people suffered many things such
as jealousy, sadness, and envy. My husband is Epimetheus, brother of
Prometheus. I still have hope that all things will work out.
Who am I? ____________________________________
7. I am the daughter of Demeter. One day I was out playing with my friends when a strange man came up
through a crack in the earth and kidnapped me. Ultimately I became his wife, but I still live with my
mother for part of the year.
Who am I? ________________________________________
8. I am a creature that man is hesitant to approach. Whenever anyone looks at me, he turns to stone.
Who am I? ________________________________________
Sally Dagnall
Tallmadge, OH
182 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
GENERAL MYTHOLOGY
Cooperative Search #7
Match the character with the description.
1. I was a very silly child and bragged that I could do something unreasonable just to prove that I was the
son of Helios. I tried to drive the sun across the sky and didn’t do as my father told me. I helped
create the deserts and the ice caps at the poles. I also lost my life.
Who am I? ________________________________________
2. I have three heads and guard the entrance to Hades. I let people into Hades, but I do not let anyone
out unless instructed to do so by my master, the god of the underworld, Hades.
Who am I? ________________________________________
3. I ferry people across the River Styx to Hades. I am rather greedy and allow passage only to those who
can pay my fee.
Who am I? ________________________________________
4. I was raised by the nymphs because my mother was afraid that my father would eat me. When I
grew up, my mother and I plotted to fool my father, and with the help of my siblings and some of the
Titans, we overthrew my father. I am known as a ladies’ man and have had many children.
Who am I? ________________________________________
5. I love the sea and enjoy living there. I married Amphitrite, daughter of Nereus. I moved into his castle
under the sea. I created the horse and gave it to man along with several of my mistakes like the
camel and the zebra. I tend to be quite moody and cause great storms.
Who am I? ________________________________________
6. I am very gloomy and seldom leave my realm. However, I never have a shortage of people coming to
my kingdom to stay. I kidnapped my wife. She tends to be somewhat unhappy and goes back to
live with her mother for part of the year. I am very wealthy.
Who am I? ________________________________________
7. I am a very jealous wife and cause all sorts of problems for the women that my husband favors. I did a
great deal to help Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece. My favorite bird is a peacock.
Who am I? ________________________________________
8. I am well liked by people because I cause the grain to grow. I have a beautiful married daughter who
lives with me part of each year. When she is not with me, I am very unhappy and do not do my job.
Who am I? ________________________________________
Sally Dagnall
Tallmadge, OH
Teacher’s Key
COOPERATIVE SEARCHES
Search #1 Search #2 Search #3
1. F 1. F 1. E
2. D 2. L 2. I
3. E 3. A 3. A
4. G 4. M 4. C
5. H 5. I 5. L
6. A 6. D 6. G
7. C 7. B 7. N
8. B 8. K 8. D
9. J 9. C 9. F
10. K 10. O 10. B
11. I 11. E 11. K
12. N 12. J
13. H 13. H
14. J 14. M
15. G
Search #4 Search #6
1. Cronus 1. Athena
2. Rhea 2. Aphrodite
3. Uranus 3. Hermes
4. Prometheus 4. Dionysus
5. Cyclopes 5. Gaea
6. Heracles 6. Pandora
7. Persephone
8. Medusa
Search #5 Search #7
1. Jason 1. Phaethon
2. Perseus 2. Cerberus
3. Hestia 3. Charon
4. Hephaestus 4. Zeus
5. Ares 5. Poseidon
6. Apollo 6. Hades
7. Artemis 7. Hera
8. Demeter
3. Why do we call the tendon at the back of our leg, just above the foot, our Achilles’ tendon?
_______________________________________________________________________________
6. Where does the very light gas with which we fill balloons get its name, helium?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
10. Why do we call a person who helps us and gives us wise advice a mentor?
_______________________________________________________________________________
What other words can you find that have their roots in mythology?
Joette McDonald
Vermilion, OH
185 Copyright 2007 American Classical League
May be reproduced for classroom use
GENERAL MYTHOLOGY
Teacher’s Key
WHY DO WE SAY THAT?
1. Apollo is the god of music. He is associated with the Nine Muses who are inspiration for comedy,
tragedy, music, and dance.
2. Hercules had to perform twelve very difficult labors for King Eurystheus.
3. Achilles’ only vulnerable place was the back of the heel by which Thetis held him when she dipped him
into the Styx to render him invulnerable.
4. Ajax was a strong Greek warrior who fought in the Trojan War.
7. The lens is reminiscent of the eyes of Argus – the lens never sleeps.
9. The spring of Lethe causes forgetfulness, and death wipes out memories.
10. Mentor was Odysseus’ trusted friend and the teacher of Telemachus.
12. The song of the Sirens lured sailors toward the dangerous rocks, but their voices should have been a
warning.
______________________________ 2. warlike
______________________________ 14. a study of the surface of the earth, its continents and countries
______________________________ 20. difficult to do; calling for great strength and courage
Word List
arachnids
atlas
atrophy
cereal
chaotic
chronological
cloth
geography
Herculean
hypnotic
labyrinth
lethal
lunar
martial
mercurial
odyssey
panic
pandemonium
phobia
syringe
uranium
Carol A. LaPalme
Wynantskill, NY
Teacher’s Key
Words from the Gods:
A Dictionary and Research Skills Activity
1. chronological from the name of Cronus, the father of Zeus
2. martial from Mars, the Roman god of war
3. cereal from Ceres, the Roman goddess of the harvest
4. phobia from Phobos, the god of fear
5. pandemonium named for Pan, the god of the fields and woods
6. syringe named for the beloved of Pan, the nymph Syrinx, who was turned into a hollow reed
7. lethal from the River Lethe, the river of forgetfulness in Hades
8. cloth from the name of Clotho, one of the Fates
9. chaotic from Chaos, the first state of the universe according to the early Greeks
10. hypnotic from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep
11. mercurial from the Roman name for the messenger of the gods, Mercury
12. labyrinth from the intricate maze constructed for King Minos by Daedalus to contain the
minotaur (later killed by Theseus)
13. atlas named for the mythical character whose punishment it was to hold up the heavens
(later, the world)
14. geography named for Gaea, Mother Earth
15. atrophy from Atropos, another of the Fates
16. arachnids named for Arachne who challenged Athena to a weaving contest
17. panic named for Pan, who sometimes caused groundless fears among mortals
18. uranium named for Uranus, god of the sky, father of the Cyclopes
19. odyssey named for Odysseus, the hero of the Trojan War, who wandered for many years
while trying to find his way home
20. Herculean named for Hercules, a Greek hero who had to accomplish twelve difficult labors
21. lunar from the Roman goddess of the moon, Luna
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
FOR CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY
The following books, listed only by author and title, are of general interest to teachers of mythology and
classics.
Claybourne, Anna Usborne Library of Myths and Legends: The Adventures of Ulysses
Connolly, Peter The Legend of Odysseus
Evslin, Bernard The Trojan War
The Adventures of Ulysses
Frenkel, Emily Aeneas
Gates, Doris A Fair Wind for Troy
Khanduri, Kamini Usborne Library of Myths and Legends: Tales of the Trojan War
Lister, Robin The Odyssey
Lively, Penelope In Search of a Homeland: The Story of the Aeneid
McCarty, Nick The Iliad
Sutcliff, Rosemary Black Ships from Troy
Williams, Marcia The Iliad and The Odyssey
Myths
Amery, Heather Greek Myths for Young Children
Bulfinch, Thomas Bulfinch’s Mythology
Connolly, Peter Greek Legends: The Stories, The Evidence
Coolidge, Olivia Greek Myths
d’Aulaire, Ingri and Edgar Book of Greek Myths
Evslin, Bernard The Greek Gods
Heroes and Monsters of Greek Myths
Gates, Doris Two Queens of Heaven: Aphrodite and Artemis
The Golden God: Apollo
Heracles, Mightiest of Mortals
Lord of the Sky: Zeus
The Warrior Goddess: Athena
Gibson, Michael Gods, Men, and Monsters
Hamilton, Edith Mythology
Lewis, Shari One-Minute Greek Myths
Low, Alice MacMillan Book of Greek Gods and Heroes
McCaughrean, Geraldine Greek Gods and Goddesses
Greek Myths
Roman Myths
Morford and Lenardon Classical Mythology
Osborne, Mary Favorite Greek Myths
Richardson, I.M. Demeter and Persephone, the Seasons of Time
Prometheus and the Story of Fire
Russell, William Classic Myths to Read Aloud
Williams, Marcia Greek Myths
Yolen, Ruth Wings
Zimmerman, J.E. Dictionary of Classical Mythology
Zorn, Steven Start Exploring Bulfinch’s Mythology: A Fact Filled Coloring Book