What Greek myths can tell us about Ancient Greece
I can describe some Ancient Greek myths and suggest what they tell us about Ancient Greek culture.
- Year 4
What Greek myths can tell us about Ancient Greece
I can describe some Ancient Greek myths and suggest what they tell us about Ancient Greek culture.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Greeks had many gods and goddesses and lots of stories and myths that surrounded them.
- The Ancient Greeks believed in 12 major gods and goddesses who lived on Mount Olympus.
- Greek Gods were associated with different things, e.g. Hera, Queen of the Gods, was associated with marriage and family.
- The popular myth of Persephone and the Underworld shows us how the Ancient Greeks explained the change of the seasons.
- Another myth concerned the Moirai, the Fates, which suggests the Ancient Greeks believed in a type of natural order.
Keywords
Myth - a myth is a traditional story, usually about heroes and gods, that is fictional
Culture - culture is the language, customs, ideas, and art of a particular group of people
Mount Olympus - Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece
Underworld - in Ancient Greek mythology the Underworld was where people went after they died
Common misconception
That the Ancient Greeks could go up Mount Olympus to find the gods or see the gods and talk to them there.
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, reaching almost 10,000 ft. There were no paths and there was no climbing equipment like we have today. Climbing the rough, rocky terrain was so dangerous it could cost the life of anyone who tried.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where were the separate self-governing areas of Ancient Greece called?
Q2.Which two groups of Ancient Greek people fought in the Peloponnesian War?
Q3.Match the words to the definitions.
a river in Sparta
a mountain in Sparta
a city-state that was the enemy of Sparta
Sparta enslaved the people of this place to become their farmers