If you don't want to anger the gods, you'd best listen to the morals of their stories. English/Language Arts: There are so many English words that have origins tied to Greek mythology that entire mini-units can be devoted to their study. Oh, to be a Greek deity, lounging away, tucked between Mount Olympuss swirling clouds and gorging on ambrosia, the gods delicacy. Persephone was the goddess of spring and the daughter of the goddess of earth, Demeter. From the Greek myth of Narcissus comes the term narcissism, a fruitless chase of fulfillment from egotistic behavior. You can learn all about how to rule with an iron fist from direct accounts of the gods stories: Greek myths. The big difference is the gods and goddesses have power so great, that their . Summary: Youd have no cares in the world well, no cares besides reigning over humans and ensuring they worship you as you rightfully deserve. If you're looking for morality, search Judeo/Christian/Islamic tropes. Why do we have summer and winter? Both Demeters and Persephones grief brought a cold winter upon the world. She felt honor-bound to send him off in the proper Greek fashion, according to divine laws. We are all ultimately afraid of either pain or death. As Im getting older, time is flowing forward even faster: > Life speeds on with hurried step; and with winged days the wheel of the headlong year is turned. At the start of this myth, Daedalus the inventor and his son Icarus are found trapped in a labyrinth of Daedalus own creation. Saying hateful things to others it is like staining your sword with blood. Perseus defeat of Medusa, one of the Gorgons, is well-known. Flying too close to the sun serves as a metaphor for many different aspects of life. Science: What a great introduction to a biology unit on arachnids, right? What would a grape made of solid gold weigh? Icarus, however, ignores his fathers advice once he took flight. CommonLits online digital literacy program provides teachers with access to thousands of compelling, free texts and comprehension questions. They are stories of people dealing with the gods and either they come out triumphant or they end up bloody and charred or turned into animals and plants. One of the great tragic love stories from Greek mythology, the tale of the musician Orpheus and his lover Eurydice features the Underworld. If you're stupid enough to insult a Greek God or Goddess, watch out! Therefore, he created two pairs of wings: one for himself and one for Icarus. According to the Greek myth, this is because Zeus wants humans to suffer but also have hope that if they pray to the gods, the gods might help them. The hidden lesson behind this myth is the fact that you should always trust your gut instinct. Eventually, one suitor prays to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, for help. Altogether, the stories contain a multitude of valuable lessons on how to live especially how to cope with difficulties and even prevent them from occurring in the first place. Science/Mathematics: While requiring a bit more planning, the King Midas story could be an excellent launch for a discussion about elements and their identifying properties. In fact, many religions have gods or monsters who are depicted similarly, indicating a long-standing human fear about what happens to us after we die. Then, have them discuss whether they think the differences in this story change its meaning. A mortal woman, Niobe, was heard bragging about how she had given birth to more . Famously, to look upon snake-haired Medusa (the snakes were her punishment for being vain and proud of her hair) was enough to turn the viewer to stone, so Perseus cunningly used a mirrored shield to approach Medusa in her cave so that he could cut her head off without looking directly at her. This can lead to our downfall. Greek mythology was composed of stories meant to help the ancient Greeks navigate through the mysteries of life as well as their own moral issues. Pandora was the first woman in Greek mythology, and Hesiod tells us that her curiosity led her to take the lid off the jar (not box) containing all of the worlds ills, unleashing them upon the world in the process. Social Studies/Health: This Greek myth provides an interesting segue into a conversation on gender roles and stereotypes. She spent 18 years teaching English/Language Arts in the public school setting and holds a Master's Degree in Special Education. 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They usually have to do with feelings, behaviors, or situations that are common in life. Arachne agrees. But when he did he fell so deeply in love with himself that he refused the love of anyone else. Students could be asked to consider the common idiom flying too close to the sun, and find modern examples of people who made the same mistake as Icarus. These following aspects are shown in the following myths Phaethon and the Chariot of the Sun Icarus and Daedalus and . Everyone knows about the myth of Pandoras box except it wasnt a box at all, but a jar, as we reveal in our discussion of this classic story. Sisyphuss punishment is to struggle and strain to push a heavy boulder to the top of a steep hill. Curiously, like many other classic myths, this one may have arisen as an origin story to explain the rich gold deposits in the river Pactolus. When she sent her son Oedipus to be killed, she couldnt know that fate would take control, despite Jocastas actions. Persephone was abducted by Hades, god of the Underworld, and taken away with him; because she was connected to vegetation, Persephones absence from the land led to the failure of crops, and everyone began to starve. The Greek story of Narcissus, a deathly-handsome young man, is presented as the backstory of the daffodil, also known by its scientific name, narcissus. When Creon issued the order that Polyneices was not to be buried, Antigone went under the cover of darkness to bury her brother. Zeus decided to intervene and struck a deal with Hades. At one point, when he was already king, he met Dionysus. But when the goddess of spring returned to her mother, out of the ground sprang forth the harvest once more. But how many of them actually know where the word comes from or how it got its meaning? Not to mention the variety of myths that exist many of these myths give children knowledge and understanding of the world. That is what we are taught in America, and most of the western world. The only way to conquer this insatiable lust for more we need to burn off the stumps of the necks of the Hydra. English/Language Arts: Often, Greek myths are wonderful to use as prompts for creative writing activities. In the vast Labyrinth on the island of Crete, built by the cunning Daedalus for King Minos, there dwelt the Minotaur: a man with the head and tail of a bull. Have students read this refreshing take on a classic Greek myth: a visit to the Underworld, with the messenger of the gods, Hermes! He loves the feeling of soaring through the clouds in the bright sunshine. When we think of Hercules, the tan and buff character from Disneys Hercules probably come to mind. To hug our loved ones, to count our blessings, and do meaningful creative work today. If one Greek God or Goddess is against you, it's still possible to gain favour with another. Elementary: Perfect for a creative writing unit. Below, we introduce 12 of the greatest and best-known tales from the world of Greek mythology, from curious women to brave men, people who overreached themselves and people whose greed got the better of them. Myths to explain natural phenomena3. And finally, its important to maintain balance in all things. Encourage students to support their response with examples from the text. Here are 10 great Greek myths that your students should know and a few ways to integrate them into your lessons. The metaphor of the Gordian knot, an unsolvable puzzle or one that can only be solved by thinking outside the box, is common in literature. One day, Poseidon decided he wanted Medusa and sexually assaulted her in Athenas temple. When a day passes, it will never return. Notably the modern reader can learn valuable moral lessons from ancient Greek myths. Arate is to do with skilfulness and endeavour more than with righteousness. The problem is that we are still afraid of being negatively judged, of being ostracized by society, and ultimately we fear death : > Who can be forced has not learned how to die Seneca. In a fit of rage, because she had lost, Athena turned Arachne into a spider. Either way, youre bound to learn something important. This is good to know. This myth teaches the fact that even if youre able to avoid the consequences in certain instances, youll eventually have to face the music. Atalanta is shown to be a skilled hunter and athlete, so many students are somewhat perplexed as to why she is so easily tricked by the apples. But she wasnt always a monster. Have students discuss whether they agree or disagree with this idea. Given the Mayors greed, ask them to explain whether they think the Pied Pipers response is justified. In the past, myths and folktales were how people explained natural phenomena and dispensed wisdom from one generation to the next. In order to escape, Daedalus created wings that were put together with wax for him and his son. Medusa was once a beautiful maiden, a priestess to the virgin goddess Athena. Before reading, have students discuss what makes a story a tragedy. Over the course of history, these myths have often become a source of inspiration for a lot of Western entertainment and pop . English/Language Arts: We chose to tell this myth from the Medusa perspective rather than the Perseus perspective its usually told from because it makes it a fascinating study on point of view. Although the spiteful Hera cursed the nymph to use only the words spoken to her, Echo still longed for Narcissus love and did all in her power to woo him. Anger has fucked up so much in the world. Empowerment, Health, Slider. Ancient Greek mythology is full of classic stories which have become part of Western literature and culture; these stories have even given us some well-known words and phrases commonly used in English, and in other languages. Without thinking, Midas wishes that everything he touches be turned to gold. Beyond Odysseus epic adventures and Achilles victorious battles, there are countless reasons Greek myths have lived on through history into the present day. Daedalus also warns Icarus not to fly too close to the sun or the wax will melt, but Icarus cant help himself. For the ancient Greeks, these stories were their religion, their entertainment, their history, and, yes, their science. After Dionysus granted his wish, Midas started turning most of his palace into gold. From the shadows Echo watched him and repeated Narcissus last words to himself: Farewell farewell. Where his body had once lain bloomed the yellow flower called narcissus. English/Language Arts: The name Pandora means the one with all the gifts, which is a great opening for a discussion on irony and/or foreshadowing. Hed turn up his nose at every maiden who attempted to catch his eye. After cheating death and living a long and happy life, Sisyphus finally dies of old age. Read this myth to your class and ask the students to create their own stories explaining how an animal came to be or how some other aspect of the natural world exists. It is like when something really shitty happens in our life, we are reborn with more vigor, energy, and enthusiasm. Appearing uninvited in people's dreams. What can we learn from Icarus, who did not listen to his elders? The young man does this and they succeed in slowing down Atalanta, who stops to pick them up. Just think about how easy it would be to review characterization with the story of Echo and Narcissus. Jocasta could not outfit the prophecy that her son would kill his father and marry his mother. In this early American myth,Ichabod Crane is a fearful teacher in Sleepy Hollow, a place purported to be haunted by the Headless Horseman. It was a prophesy that was known by a few and could never be undone regardless of numerous attempts. Sadly, he went as far as turning his own daughter into gold. Echo, a young nymph, was cursed by Hera to repeat whatever she heard because Echo had tried to distract and hide Zeus affairs with other nymphs from Hera. Greek myths are a beautiful form of ancient storytelling that transcend generations. The two reach a stalemate, and the only way the husband and wife can repair their relationship is by remembering their bond is stronger than the fight that separated them. The Ancient Greeks were a wise bunch, and there are many lessons to be learnt about the idiosyncrasies of life from myths and stories passed down over millennia. Psychology: Echolalia and Narcissistic Personality Disorder are both medically and legally recognized as mental illnesses today. Echo, in despair, slowly fades away until nothing but her voice remains. Seneca. It can also teach us about the tasks that we burden ourselves with throughout life meaningless and absurd, we spend our time on things that dont matter. These myths hold valuable moral lessons which the modern reader can learn and apply it to one's life. Narcissus became his own downfall. The Greek Gods and Goddesses Your actions could have catastrophic consequences if youre not careful. English/Language Arts: This myth is another that lends itself to discussions about thematic concepts like hubris. You should be open to love from others. Like Seneca said, weapons know no boundaries or limits. Finally and devastatingly, Demeter discovered Persephones whereabouts: reigning as queen of the underworld. Flight Disaster: Whats Going On With Southwest Airlines? A lot of these tales are lifted from Senecas tragedy on Hercules . In terms of photography, photograph each day like it were your last or like it were the last day of your loved ones. Atalanta agrees, but only if the man can beat her in a foot race. Science: Although much more suited to older students, there is a lot of research about how the description of Medusa as a monster is very similar to depictions of what happens to human bodies after death. Shes raised by first a bear and then some hunters, who teach her how to be an amazing athlete and hunter even though shes a girl. In many stories, tengu wings are described as "shimmering." Gordias fulfilled the prophecy and thus became the new king. I have been meditating upon these thoughts by studying a lot of ancient Greek/Roman mythology. What does this say about the way the ancient Greeks viewed men and women? Classroom ideas, free printables, and great teacher ideas right here. However, before she was cursed and became a monster, she was a virgin priestess to Athena. The story of Icarus is one of the most famous tales from Greek myth. Sisyphus is a Greek prince who outsmarts Hades not once but twice. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were exemplary Greek tragedy playwrights of the ancient world. But the figures are so closely associated with Greek myth that we felt they should be included here. Icarus, the son of Daedalus, the ingenious craftsman who created the Minotaurs labyrinth, lives in Crete with his father. Instead of letting him float around as a shade for the rest of time, Hades condemns Sisyphus to Tartarus, the darkest realm of the Underworld. Narcissus died waiting and became the flower that today carries his name. The wax melts and Icarus plummets into the sea and drowns. Crane, obsessed with tales of the occult, disappears mysteriously after competing for the affections of heiress Katrina van Tessel with the brutish Brom Bones. Once we think we obtain what we want, our Hydra necks will continue to grow.