Discover the legendary tales of brave heroes, fearsome monsters, and epic adventures from the ancient world of Greece!
Ancient Greeks told many myths, which were like the folk tales we have today. These stories were an important part of their culture.
Many myths were about brave heroes who went on exciting adventures or fought in great wars. Often, the stories also included powerful gods and demi-gods.
Some famous Greek myths are about the demi-god Hercules, the tragic King of Thebes named Oedipus, and the adventure of Jason and the Argonauts.
One famous myth tells the story of Medusa, a terrifying creature with snakes for hair. It was said that anyone who looked directly at her would turn to stone.
The hero Perseus defeated Medusa by using a polished shield like a mirror so he could avoid looking straight at her.
Another well-known myth is about the Minotaur, a monster that was half man and half bull. The creature lived in a huge maze called the Labyrinth on the island of Crete.
A hero named Theseus entered the maze to defeat the Minotaur. With the help of Ariadne, who gave him a ball of thread to find his way back out, Theseus was able to escape after killing the monster.
According to myth, the great Trojan War was fought between the Greeks and the city of Troy.
The Greeks are said to have won the war by hiding soldiers inside a giant wooden horse, which was taken into the city of Troy.
According to the myth, the Greeks pretended to sail away and left the giant wooden horse outside the city as a gift. When the Trojans brought the horse inside their walls, Greek soldiers hidden inside climbed out at night and opened the city gates, allowing the Greek army to enter and capture Troy.
Another famous story tells of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, who spent ten years travelling home after the war. His long and difficult journey gave us the modern word 'odyssey.'
Along the way he faced many dangers, including the legendary one-eyed giant called a Cyclops.
At first, these myths were told as poems and spoken stories. Later, they were written down. The stories of Achilles and Odysseus became famous works called The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Over time, these myths were also turned into plays by Athenian playwrights such as Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides in the fifth century BC. These plays are still performed all over the world today.
History Subscription Box for Kids
Turn history into an adventure! Stories, magazines, puzzles, crafts and hands-on fun — delivered straight to your door every month.
As Seen In
