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The Story of Arachne
Athena, goddess of wisdom, was a proud and talented, young goddess. In times of peace,
Athena taught Grecians about the arts. She herself was a skillful weaver and potter and
always took pride in her pupils' work, as long as they respected her.
One of Athena's pupils was a maiden whose name was Arachne. Arachne was a poor,
simple girl who lived in the country. Her father was a quiet man of humble birth. He dyed
sheep's wool to earn money for a living. Arachne wove beautiful fabrics of delicate
designs, and people began to comment to her that surely she had been taught by the
goddess Athena. Arachne denied this and stated that she was certainly better than Athena
and that she had learned little or nothing from Athena's teachings. She even went as far as
to say that she was a better weaver than Athena !
Arachne was known to have said,"I have achieved this marvelous skill due to my own
talent, hard work, and efforts."
Soon Athena heard of the boastings of Arachne and decided to
speak to her. Athena disguised herself as an old woman and went
before Arachne stating, "It is foolish to pretend that you are like
one of the gods. You're simply a mortal who talents are paled in
comparison to those of the goddess Athena."
Arachne charged back to the old lady, "If Athena doesn't like my
words, then let her show her skills in a weaving contest."
Suddenly, the disguise of the old woman was removed and there
stood the radiant goddess Athena standing in front of Arachne. Athena accepted the
contest challenge.
As the contest began, it was clear that the beauty of both Athena's and Arachne's
tapestries were lovely. However, the goddess worked more quickly and skillfully.
Arachne's attitude about her work showed that she felt her weaving was more lovely, but
Athena felt it was an insult to the gods. This angered Arachne especially since Athena
requested an apology. Arachne refused, and Athena slapped Arachne in the face. Almost
instantly Arachne felt her head begin to shrink and her nimble fingers grow into long,
thin legs.
"Vain girl, since you love to weave so very much, why don't you go and spin forever."
Athena had turned Arachne into a spider.
So it is said that all spiders have been punished for Arachne's boasting, since they are
required to live within their own webs. Since then spiders have been called arachnids.
Why was Arachne punished by Athena?
In what kind of contest did Arachne participate?
Who is she in the contest against?
What picture does she weave?
What did Arachne turn into?
In your opinion, why was Athena angry about Arachne's weaving?
Unscramble and tell the significance of the words in
relationship to the story:
1. nheta
2. aaerchn
3. rteyspat
4. iesprd
5. rwveae
King Midas
King Midas was a very kind man who ruled his kingdom fairly, but he was not one to
think very deeply about what he said. One day, while walking in his garden, he saw an
elderly satyr asleep in the flowers. Taking pity on the old fellow, King Midas let him go
without punishment. When the god Dionysus heard about it, he rewarded King Midas by
granting him one wish. The king thought for only a second and then said I wish for
everything I touch to turn to gold." And so it was.
The beautiful flowers in his garden turned toward the sun for light, but when Midas
approached and touched them, they stood rigid and gold. The king grew hungry and thin,
for each time he tried to eat, he found that his meal had turned to gold. His lovely
daughter, at his loving touch, turned hard and fast to gold. His water, his bed, his clothes,
his friends, and eventually the whole palace was gold.
King Midas saw that soon his whole kingdom would turn to gold unless he did something
right away. He asked Dionysus to turn everything back to the way it had been and take
back his golden touch. Because the king was ashamed and very sad, Dionysus took pity
on him and granted his request. Instantly, King Midas was poorer that he had been, but
richer, he felt, in the things that really count.
Questions
Why did Dionysus reward King Midas?
King Midas was which: thoughtful, stingy, kind and fair, or wicked and cruel.
In the end what did King Midas ask Dionysus to do?
What did King Midas wish for when Dionysus granted him one wish?
What does "the Midas touch" mean?
Orpheus
The greatest of all musicians was named Orpheus. He sang a wide variety of songs.
Sometimes he sang high-pitched songs about the mystical creation of the universe. Other
times he played low notes on his lyre as he sang of the battles of Zeus ad the Olympians
gods who clashed against the Titans. Orpheus even had songs about people who were
changed into flowers or birds.
But whatever he sang, the rich clear words and the silvery notes from his harp were so
enchanting that they always had a magical effect on everything around him. His songs
could charm even rocks and rivers as well as humans and animals. Once when Orpheus
was playing his splendid music in the forest, the oak trees pulled up their roots. They
followed him down the mountainside and planted themselves by the seashore where
Orpheus ended his song.
When the great adventurer Jason was about to set out on his search for the Golden fleece,
Orpheus was invited to go along. Orpheus proved to be of great help on the long journey.
When the tempers of the heroes of the ship flared up, Orpheus would sing a peaceful
song and calm those who had been arguing. Sometimes when the rowing was long and
tedious, Orpheus would begin to stroke his lyre. Then time would seem to float by and
the rowers would not feel tired and they listened to the soft rippling music.
The time came when Jason and the Argonauts had to sail past the dangerous isle of the
Sirens. The Sirens were beautiful creature who were part human, part bird. Their songs
were so wonderful that any person who heard them would become enchanted. All the
sailors who heard the Sirens' songs would hurl themselves overboard and swim to the
island of the Sirens'. Lured by these strange maidens the men would die upon the jagged
rocks around the isle. But as the argonauts came close to the rocky island of the Sirens,
Orpheus began a splendid song of his own. Jason and this crew did not listen to the Sirens
and were able to sail past the island unharmed.
After the Argonauts returned to Greece, Orpheus fell in love with a beautiful woman
names Eurydice> They were married and a great feast was held in their honor. On the day
of their wedding, Eurydice strolled through a nearby field and talked joyfully with her
friends. But as she walked through the bright green meadow, she stumbled upon a
poisonous snake. The huge serpent bit her and she died.
Orpheus was heartbroken over this cruel fate. He had been married and widowed on the
same day. After many weeks of mourning, he decided that he would go to Hades,the land
of the dead. There he would plead for his wife.
He came to the gates that lead to the underworld, playing on his harp. No living mortals
were allowed to cross into the shadowy regions of the underworld. But Orpheus' sweet
dad music moved the ferry and of the dead and he gave Orpheus a ride across the dark
murky river Styx. Thus Orpheus entered the purple-darkened realm of the dead. Formless
ghosts and spirits gathered around him. But Orpheus was unfrightened and continued to
play his slow music about his lost wife. The Spirits began to weep and the huge vultures
of the underworld listened to his song.The three-headed dog that guarded the Underworld
stopped growling and laid down and whimpered at the dad tine. Orpheus passed by the
coal-black stallions that pulled the chariot of Pluto. The horses' ears stood straight up
when they heard the enchanting song. Finally the musician came before Pluto, King of
the Underworld called Hades.All the jewels and precious metals that lie in the ground
rightfully belonged to Pluto's domain. Thus he and his wife< Persephone, sat on the most
magnificent thrones imaginable.Beside Pluto lay a magic helmet that would make anyone
who wore it invisible. Here, before the King and Queen of Hades, Orpheus sang his sad,
sweet song and pleaded to have his bride back. Even the rulers of the underworld were
moved by h is music. Eurydice was called forth and she came still limping from the
wound where the serpent had bitten her. The gods of Hades agreed that Orpheus could
have his wife back, but only on the condition that he did not look back until he had
reached the land of the living.
Orpheus began walking up the long steep path that led to the sunlit world of men. The
winding pathway was gloomy and silent. Behind his in the darkness he could hear the
soft pad of Eurydice's bare feet upon the rocky steps. At last Orpheus saw sunlight
coming through the opening to the overworld. he forgot himself and turned to look at his
wife. There stood Eurydice, as lovely as a Spring morning with her dark wavy hair and
her snowy cheeks. But as he looked Orpheus saw his lovely wife begin to fade. He
desperately tried to embrace her but she only had time to whisper "Farewell" before she
vanished.
Orpheus once again tried to cross the River Styx in hopes of regaining his wife. But the
ferryman would not listen to Orpheus' enchanting music this time and he soul not cross
the river. He sadly returned to the land of Thrace. Oh a hill in Thrace, Orpheus remained
the rest of his life, singing songs that enchanted the beast and the trees of the forest.
It is said that when Orpheus finally met his death, the birds wept on the hillside.The trees
shed their leaves and the nearby streams were swollen with their own tears. Orpheus'
spirit went down to the Underworld and he soon found Eurydice. Although it is a
shadowy existence the two walk together for eternity without fear of another separation.
1. What instrument did Orpheus play?
2. How did Orpheus help Jason and the Argonauts?
3. Why was Orpheus ' wedding day such a sad time?
4. Name several of the underworld creatures that Orpheus encountered in the
Underworld?
5. What happened when Orpheus looked back at his wife?
6. Write a paragraph telling what would have happened if Orpheus had not
looked back at his wife.
7. Pretend you are a reporter going with Orpheus to the Underworld. Create a
report you wound give to your television to explain back home.
8. Explain in paragraph form how Orpheus was different from the typical myth
hero such as Hercules.
Echo and Narcissus
The chief god Zeus had many affairs with both mortals and gods, much to his wife's dislike.
While he pursued his amours, it was Echo's duty to beguile Hera's attention by incessantly talking
to her. Hera discovered the ruse and as punishment, she made Echo always repeat the voice of
another.
Echo fell in love with a vain youth named Narcissus, who ignored her. Narcissus found a pool of
water and stared at his lovely reflection until he died. Echo watched him until she pined away,
now her voice remains, repeating the last few things people say.
The Greek version of the story of Echo (the above is of Roman origin [Ovid]) is as follows:
Echo was a very beautiful and musical nymph. She could sing and play many instruments. She
lived deep in the woods and denied the love of any man or immortal. She therefore attracted the
hatred and anger of many, including the god Pan whose love she turned down. Pan caused his
followers the shepherds to kill Echo and tear her to pieces that were subsequently scattered far
and wide. Gaia, the Earth goddess, received the pieces in her bosom and thus Echo, scattered now
all over the earth, retained her voice and talents answering or imitating every sound or voice.
Narcissus, the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Leiriope, was an extremely goodlooking Greek youth. His beauty ultimately led to his death. Although Leiriope did not
understand the prophecy at the time, its meaning eventually became clear.
Narcissus was so handsome that many women and men
fell in love with him. He rejected all of them. One of his
admirers was the nymph Echo, who had been cursed by
Hera* to repeat only the last words spoken to her.
Ameinias, another admirer, was so devastated by
Narcissus's indifference toward him that he killed
himself. Before doing so, however, Ameinias called on
the gods to punish Narcissus. They caused the beautiful
youth to gaze into a pond at his reflection. He fell in love with his own image and drowned trying
to touch it
Echo and Narcissus
Echo was a young, very talkative what?
• [A] parrot
• [B] girl
• [C] princess
• [D] nymph
Echo loved whom?
• [A] Zeus
• [B] Narcisuss
• [C] Poseidon
• [D] Hermes
To punish Echo, Hera made it so Echo could
only do what?
• [A] speak so softly she could hardly be
heard
• [B] talked in riddles
• [C] tell lies
• [D] repeat what others said to her
Where did Echo go to hide?
• [A] a cave
• [B] the desert
• [C] deep in the woods
• [D] on a mountain
Who did Narcisuss fall in love with?
•[A] Echo
•[B] Aphrodite
•[C] Hera
•[D] His reflection
When Echo died, only one thing remained.
What was it?
• [A] her voice (correct answer)
• [B] her bones
• [C] her clothes
• [D] her spirit
Who was Zeus's wife?
• [A] Hera
• [B] Narcisess
• [C] Iris
• [D] Echo
How does Narcisuss die?
• [A] Poision
• [B] Drowns
• [C] Murdered
• [D] He doesn’t
Atalanta
Atalanta's birth was not a joyous one, for soon after she was born the tiny girl was taken
into the woods and left to die. But Atalanta was spared of this cruel fate.the bear who
lived in the forest heard the cries of the baby. This she-bear took Atlanta to her den and
raised the child as one of her own cubs.
Many years later a band of hunters found Atalanta living in the bear's cave. The amazed
group of men took her and raised her, teaching Atalanta the skills of the hunt. Each of the
hunters viewed her his own daughter. At first they were apprehensive about raising a girl
in the woodland wilds, but their fears soon faded. By the time she was a teenager she was
more skillful with a bow and arrow and any of the hunters in the group. In addition, she
was more accurate with a spear and could run faster than any of the others.
On one such lonely hunt Atalanta was confronted by two malicious centaurs. These halfhuman, half-horse beasts laughed at the sight of the youth who was alone in the forest.
They thought they would have some cruel fun with her and came barreling down the
mountainside, uttering blood-curdling words and with their hooves thundering. But
Atlanta did not flee. Instead she calmly fitted a bronze-tipped arrow to her bow and shot
it. While the first arrow was still in the air she quickly aimed and fired a second one. In
an instant the two centaurs came tumbling down with stones clattering and dust flying in
the air. Each lay motionless with an arrow though its heart.
The hunters often bragged about the skill of this maiden, And her fame spread throughout
Greece. As a result Atalanta was invited to come help hunt the Calydonian boar. This
fiendish animal was a huge, deadly creature with razor-sharp tusks. it had been
terrorizing the countryside, killing cattle and humans alike. The bravest and most skillful
hunters were called to some kill this dreaded menace.
The hunt began and the band cautiously searched through the woods for the savage beast,
but had no success. At last the hunters came to a marshy thicket. So dense were the
bushes the trees that they unaware the deadly monster was watching them. Suddenly the
boar came crashing through the underbrush ripped apart several dogs, and was upon the
hunters before they could think. A few threw their spears, but missed. As he turned to
run, one man had his leg slashed by the boar's flashing teeth. Another used his spear as a
pole vault and was able to leap into a tree just out of reach of the snarling beast.
The vicious creature turned and gashed the leg of another hero and would have done
greater harm. However, the two armed horseback riders came charging on their milk
white stallions and the boar turned to flee. Atalanta quickly fitted an arrow to her bow
and the shaft flew towards the retreating beast. The arrow made a long wound on the
boar's back and then stuck behind its ear.
Meleager threw two javelins at the boar and one sank into the creature's back. With his
bronze-tipped spear, he then killed the wounded beast. Meleager gave the skin and the
enormous tusks to Atalanta as a prize for being the first to wound the dreaded monster.
Not long after this hunt Atalanta was reunited with her parents. Her father was proud of
his valiant daughter and tried to persuade her to marry. But Atlanta did not want to give
up the freedom she had in the woods. She consented to marry only if a man could outrun
her in a race. Many men tried but none could keep up with her. It soon became clear that
Atlanta was the fastest of all humans.
One young man, Hippomenes, watched in awe as Atlanta won in one of her races. As she
sped by the maiden seemed as swift and graceful as a falcon. Her dark hair rippled over
her white shoulders, the colored ribbons she wore fluttered and her face grew rosecolored during the hot race. Hippomenes fell deeply in love with Atalanta and prayed to
Venus for help since he knew he could never outrun the beautiful huntress.
Venus, the goddess of love, heard Hippomenes and decided to help him. She appeared to
the old man and gave him three apples of pure gold. Venus told him to use the golden
apples in the race and then she vanished.
So Hippomenes challenged Atlanta to a race. When she she Hippomenes, she was struck
by the beauty of his golden hair and the smoothness of his face. Still, her desire for the
freedom of the forest tugged at her heart. She felt she must try to outrun this young,
handsome man.
The race began and Atlanta soon outpaced the youth. but Hippomenes tossed down one if
the golden apples so that it landed near her feet and rolled to the side. Atlanta stopped to
pick it up and Hippomenes was able to catch up with her. Soon Atlanta began to pull
ahead once more and Hippomenes threw a second golden apple a little further to the side.
When Atlanta had gathered in this apple, Hippomenes had gotten ahead. Once again
Atlanta's legs picked up the pace and she moved into the lead. Now the young man hurled
the final apple further to the side than the other two. Atlanta hesitated for a second. The
goal was now in sight. But the glistening golden apple was too tempting of a prize to
pass, so Atalanta swerved to the side to grab it.
Hippomenes now had a larger lead than before. But Atalanta ran faster than anyone had
ever seen her before. Though weighted down with the golden apples, she went at a pace
that would weary even Hermes, the messenger god. Hippomenes was approaching the
goal but his face was red with exhaustion and he was gasping for air. Meanwhile Atlanta
was rapidly gaining, like an arrow flying to its target. Then suddenly the race was over
Hippomenes crosses the finish line just barely a step in front of Atlanta.
Atlanta and Hippomenes were married but no one saw them after the wedding feast. It is
said that Atlanta and her husband were changed into lions. Thus, Atlanta and her golden
maned companion continued as swift hunter of the forest for the rest of their days.
1. What skills did Atalanta have?
2. Reread the section about the Calydonian boar. Describe the animal.
3. Why was Hippomenes able to win the race?
4. What type of creature was Atlanta changed into?
5.Why was this a fitting animal for her?
The myth of Pandora's box
The myth of Pandora's box is considered one of the most
descriptive myths of human behavior in Greek mythology.
Ancient Greeks used this myth not only to instruct themselves
about the weaknesses of humans, but also to explain several
misfortunes of the human race.
Pandora, the first woman on Earth
Pandora was, according to the myth, the first woman on Earth.
She was created by Gods; each one of them gave her a gift, thus,
her name in Greek means “the one who bears all gifts”.
Pandora was created as a punishment to the mankind; Zeus
wanted to punish people because Prometheus stole the fire to
give it to them. Her gifts were beautifully evil, according to
Hesiod. Hephaestus created her from clay, shaping her perfectly,
Aphrodite gave her femininity and Athena taught her crafts.
Hermes was ordered by Zeus to teach her to be deceitful,
stubborn and curious.
Pandora's box
Pandora was given a box or a
jar, called “pithos” in Greek.
Gods told her that the box
contained special gifts from
them but she was not allowed
to open the box ever. Then
Hermes
took
her
to
Epimetheus,
brother
of
Prometheus, to be his wife. Prometheus had advised Epimetheus
not to accept anything from the Gods, but he saw Pandora and
was astonished by her beauty, thus he accepted her right away.
Pandora was trying to tame her
curiosity, but at the end she could
not hold herself anymore; she opened
the box and all the illnesses and
hardships that gods had hidden in the
box started coming out. Pandora was
scared, because she saw all the evil
spirits coming out and tried to close
the box as fast as possible, closing
Hope inside.
According to Hesiod Hope indeed
stayed inside because that was Zeus’ will; he wanted to let
people suffer in order to understand that they should not disobey
their gods. Pandora was the right person to do it, because she
was curious enough, but not malicious.
The myth of Pandora’s box has been fascinating people since
ever, catching the imagination of countless artists, who created
frescos, mosaics and sculptures depicting Pandora and the
mythological elements. The myth itself though appears in many
different versions; the most distinctive difference is that in some
myths Hope does come out. The main purpose of the myth of
Pandora though is to address the question of why evil exists in
the world.
Pandora’s Box
What are the Greeks trying to explain in this myth?
Who is Pandora?
Pandora’s name means what?
Explain why Pandora was created.
What was Pandora given and what was it called?
Pandora has a fatal flaw, what is it?
Because of her flaw, what does Pandora do?
What consequences does this action have?