1. The Myths of Greece and Rome
Feature Menu
Myths All Around Us
What Is a Myth?
The Uses of Mythology
Makers of Myths
The World of Classical Mythology
Gods and Goddesses
Practice

2. Myths All Around Us You may know more about myths than you think.
Have you ever watched a movie about Hercules?
Do you know about the spaceship Apollo?

3. Myths All Around Us What about the planets in our solar system. . .
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Neptune
Mars
Pluto

4. Myths All Around Us
. . .or the Olympics?

5. Myths All Around Us
Even if you don’t know the stories behind all these names, you know something about Greek and Roman myths.
What is Poseidon holding in his hand? What kind of arrow does Cupid shoot?
Where have you seen these characters?

6. Myths All Around Us
Greek and Roman myths have had a lasting impact on Western culture.
Our museums contain artwork influenced by Greek or Roman myths.
Our cities contain architecture inspired by Greece.

7. Myths All Around Us
Aspects of Greek and Roman myths even show up in everyday conversations.
You probably know, for instance, that Hades is another word for the underworld.

8. Myths All Around Us
You will also come across many names from ancient myths in your reading.
places
Troy Carthage Delphi Olympus
gods and goddesses
Zeus Athena Mercury Venus
heroes
Ulysses Achilles Hercules
monsters
Medusa Cyclops Sirens

9. Myths All Around Us
Because myths are all around us, writers expect us to recognize names from mythology.
Zeus wasn’t a big dog, but he always got his way. The other dogs in the house backed away from their food bowls, heads lowered, when Zeus ducked through the dog door. Zeus had charmed his owner into letting him sit on the couch, but if another dog approached the furniture, he’d soon feel Zeus’s wrath.
Tuck wasn’t a big dog, but he always got his way. The other dogs in the house backed away from their food bowls, heads lowered, when Tuck ducked through the dog door. Tuck had charmed his owner into letting him sit on the couch, but if another dog approached the furniture, he’d soon feel Tuck’s wrath.
Notice how this writer’s story is different when the main character has the name of a Greek god.
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10. What Is a Myth?
A myth is a story that explains something about the world
—mysterious or frightening natural forces
. . .or the origin of the world itself.

11. What Is a Myth?
A myth usually involves gods or other superhuman beings.
In many myths, a hero or god goes on a quest— a dangerous journey in pursuit of something very valuable.

12. What Is a Myth?
Myths were spoken aloud for many generations before they were written down.
Writers today continue to draw inspiration from these same myths.
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13. The Uses of Mythology
Throughout history, people have used myths for many purposes.
To explain the creation of the world
To explain natural phenomena
To give story form to ancient religious beliefs and practices

14. The Uses of Mythology Myths have had everyday uses as well—
to teach moral lessons
and to explain history.

15. The Uses of Mythology
Myths—like dreams—express the deepest fears and hopes of human beings.
For this reason, they help us understand and relate to each other.

16. The Uses of Mythology
Think about all the “big” questions that people wonder about.
Why am I here?
How did we get here?
Are we alone?
What should I do?
These are all questions that myths try to explain or answer.
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17. Makers of Myths
The ancient Greek and Roman myths originated in the area around the Mediterranean Sea.
By the end of the second century B.C., the Romans had conquered Greece.

18. Makers of Myths
The Romans kept the stories represented by Greek myths but changed the names of the characters to Roman gods and goddesses.
Zeus became Jupiter.
Poseidon became Neptune.
And Artemis became Diana.
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19. Gods and Goddesses
According to the Greek myths, the gods and goddesses lived together on Mount Olympus. Many of them were related to each other.
Zeus
Hera
Hades
Poseidon
Apollo
The divinities often left Mount Olympus to spend time among ordinary people.

20. Gods and Goddesses
The gods and goddesses were powerful. Each one was usually associated with specific forces of nature.
Apollo
Poseidon
Artemis
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21. The World of Classical Mythology
On this map, the place names are real. Some of the events and characters, however, exist only in myth.
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22. Achilles: A VERY Short Story
Practice
Let’s Try It
Achilles: A VERY Short Story
Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior of all. His father was human, but his mother was an immortal sea nymph, Thetis. She wanted her son to be immortal, too. Soon after Achilles was born, she held baby Achilles by the heel and dipped him into the River Styx. The magic water made Achilles invulnerable—all except for his heel.
Years later, King Agamemnon sent his general, Odysseus (you might know him better by his Latin name, Ulysses) to find Achilles. The King wanted Achilles to fight for the Greeks in the Trojan War.
1. What information could explain why Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior of all?

23. Achilles: A VERY Short Story
Practice
Let’s Try It
Achilles: A VERY Short Story
Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior of all. His father was human, but his mother was an immortal sea nymph, Thetis. She wanted her son to be immortal, too. Soon after Achilles was born, she held baby Achilles by the heel and dipped him into the River Styx. The magic water made Achilles invulnerable—all except for his heel.
Years later, King Agamemnon sent his general, Odysseus (you might know him better by his Latin name, Ulysses) to find Achilles. The King wanted Achilles to fight for the Greeks in the Trojan War.
2. Why do you think the underlined information is important?

24. Practice
Let’s Try It
Thetis was still afraid for Achilles, so she dressed him up as a woman. Clever Odysseus, however, saw right through the disguise.
Anyway, after about ten years, the Greeks were defeating the Trojans. Achilles and the king quarreled. Achilles refused to fight. The Greeks started losing. Achilles sent his best friend into battle, dressed in Achilles’ armor. Achilles’ friend was killed by the Trojan hero Hector, who had help from the god Apollo.
Back on the battlefield, Achilles slaughtered everyone in sight. With the help of the goddess Athena, he killed Hector, the man who had killed his friend.
In myths, the hero often makes a small mistake that has huge consequences.
3. Why did Achilles send his friend into the battle?

25. Practice
Let’s Try It
Thetis was still afraid for Achilles, so she dressed him up as a woman. Clever Odysseus, however, saw right through the disguise.
Anyway, after about ten years, the Greeks were defeating the Trojans. Achilles and the king quarreled. Achilles refused to fight. The Greeks started losing. Achilles sent his best friend into battle, dressed in Achilles’ armor. Achilles’ friend was killed by the Trojan hero Hector, who had help from the god Apollo.
Back on the battlefield, Achilles slaughtered everyone in sight. With the help of the goddess Athena, he killed Hector, the man who had killed his friend.
4. Why would Athena want to help Achilles avenge the death of his friend?

26. Practice
Let’s Try It
Finally, according to some versions of the story, Hector’s brother Paris killed Achilles.
Paris, by the way, was the guy who started all the trouble in the first place. He stole Helen—the most beautiful woman in the world—from the King of Sparta and took her away to Troy. The Greeks sailed to Troy and spent ten years at war to get Helen back.
But back to Achilles: How could Paris kill Achilles? After all, Achilles was supposed to be invulnerable and immortal.
Paris shot an arrow into Achilles’ heel, and Achilles died from that wound.
5. Do you think the Greeks and Trojans were really fighting over Helen?
6. Think about the actions of Thetis, Achilles’ mother. In what way was Thetis like all mothers (or fathers)?

27. Practice
Let’s Try It
Finally, according to some versions of the story, Hector’s brother Paris killed Achilles.
Paris, by the way, was the guy who started all the trouble in the first place. He stole Helen—the most beautiful woman in the world—from the King of Sparta and took her away to Troy. The Greeks sailed to Troy and spent ten years at war to get Helen back.
But back to Achilles: How could Paris kill Achilles? After all, Achilles was supposed to be invulnerable and immortal.
Paris shot an arrow into Achilles’ heel, and Achilles died from that wound.
7. This story—even this very short version—has more than one moral.
Write two or three sentences about what this story teaches.

28. Practice
Let’s Try It
Finally, according to some versions of the story, Hector’s brother Paris killed Achilles.
Paris, by the way, was the guy who started all the trouble in the first place. He stole Helen—the most beautiful woman in the world—from the King of Sparta and took her away to Troy. The Greeks sailed to Troy and spent ten years at war to get Helen back.
But back to Achilles: How could Paris kill Achilles? After all, Achilles was supposed to be invulnerable and immortal.
Paris shot an arrow into Achilles’ heel, and Achilles died from that wound.
8. Have you ever heard someone refer to finding a person’s Achilles’ heel”? What do you think this phrase means?
9. Do you know where your Achilles’ tendon is?

29. Practice
On Your Own
Look at the chart of gods and goddesses and their special powers. List the names of the divinities that you recognize.
Chart
Next, add any other Greek or Roman gods and goddesses you can think of.
Now, write down any prior knowledge you may have about the names on your list.

30. Practice On Your Own Greek Name Roman Name Area of Power Zeus Jupiter
king of the gods; sky; weather
Apollo
the sun; youth; music; archery; healing; prophecy
Artemis
Diana
Apollo’s twin sister; the moon; hunting
Hades
Pluto
king of the underworld
Poseidon
Neptune
ruler of the seas
Hera
Juno
wife of Zeus; queen of gods; women; marriage

31. Practice On Your Own Greek Name Roman Name Area of Power Dionysus
Bacchus
wine; fertility; music
Athena
Minerva
wisdom; war; crafts
Hephaestus
Vulcan
craftsman for the gods; fire
Hermes
Mercury
messenger god; secrets; tricks
Demeter
Ceres
agriculture; earth; corn
Persephone
Proserpine
daughter of Demeter; queen of Hades
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32. The Myths of Greece and Rome
The End