Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Greek Gods: Trading Cards Directions: • Students will read biographies of the Olympian Gods • Students complete the backs of their trading cards with the appropriate details from the story • Students will cut along the dotted lines © HistoryinHeels.com © HistoryinHeels.com Athena Artemis Hades Aphrodite Ares Apollo Nickname: Mini-Bio: Symbols: Nickname: Mini-Bio: Symbols: Nickname: Mini-Bio: Symbols: Nickname: Mini-Bio: Symbols: Symbols: Mini-Bio: Nickname: Symbols: Mini-Bio: Nickname: © HistoryinHeels.com © HistoryinHeels.com Zeus Poseidon Hera Hermes Hephaestus Nickname: Mini-Bio: Symbols: Nickname: Mini-Bio: Symbols: Nickname: Mini-Bio: Symbols: Nickname: Mini-Bio: Symbols: Symbols: Mini-Bio: Nickname: Symbols: Mini-Bio: Nickname: © HistoryinHeels.com Greek Gods: Biographies • • • • • Students will read the biographies of 11 Greek gods and goddesses. Students will use this information to complete their Greek Gods Trading Cards Activity. Students will summarize their readings into Mini-Bios of the gods and goddesses Students will create a nickname for the god or goddess Students will draw the symbols of the gods and goddesses © HistoryinHeels.com Aphrodite Aphrodite was the god of love and beauty in Greek mythology. She was one of the main Olympian gods who lived on Mount Olympus. Aphrodite was the most beautiful of all the gods. She was supposedly born from the foam of the sea, and took her place on Mount Olympus as the god of beauty and love because she herself was so beautiful. Another story of Aphrodite’s birth has Zeus as her father. Aphrodite was so beautiful that Zeus was worried that the gods would all begin fighting each other trying to get her attention. Because of this Zeus decided to have Aphrodite marry the Olympian god Hephaestus, who was the ugly god of fire and blacksmithing. It was believed that if Aphrodite was married to him the other gods would not get jealous and so would not begin fighting each other because of her. The symbols associated with Aphrodite are dolphins, roses, swans, doves, and mirrors. Aphrodite was often described as very vain, easily offended, and jealous of the beauty of other women. In one mythological story Aphrodite gets in an argument with two other Olympian gods, Hera and Athena. All three women believed they were the most beautiful, so they went to Zeus to decide. Zeus did not want to make a decision so he had the mortal man Paris of Troy make a decision instead. As Paris tried to make a decision Aphrodite bribed him by offering him a mortal woman for wife named Helen, the queen of Sparta. Paris accepts the bribe and names Aphrodite as the winner. The other two gods were so upset that they encouraged the Spartan king to take his armies against Paris and Troy, which began the legendary Trojan War. Romantic love has been a driving characteristic of civilizations since they began. Seeking after beauty and finding true love has been the subject of art and literature throughout the ages. The ancient Greeks had a culture that put a lot of value in art; including paintings, sculptors, architecture, literature, and theater. The power of love and beauty is a common theme in many of these pieces, and to the Greeks that meant that the influence of Aphrodite was never far away. Aphrodite represented the love and beauty that could be found within mankind, yet she also demonstrated the dark side to beauty as well. Aphrodite was vain and very jealous of the beauty of others. Aphrodite showed the Greeks the power of love, for both good and bad. © HistoryinHeels.com . Apollo Apollo is probably one of the most important of the Olympian Greek gods because of the large number of godly responsibilities he has. Apollo is the god of music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, medicine, the sun, and knowledge. Apollo was the son of Zeus, and had a twin sister who was the Greek god Artemis. In art and literature Apollo is depicted as a young, beardless, and athletic youth. Symbols often associated with Apollo are the lyre (a small musical harp), the python, ravens, and bows and arrows. For many of the ancient Greeks, Apollo was seen as all of the gods rolled into one person, which is why he had so many things that he was the god of. Apollo represents the best example of many different past traditions and religions from other civilizations being put together into the Greek view of Apollo. An important aspect of worshipping Apollo to the ancient Greeks was through the oracle at Delphi. An oracle is a fortune teller who can receive visions of the future. Delphi was a city-state in ancient Greece. In a cave near Delphi an oracle would stay and receive visions. This oracle was under the protection and blessing of Apollo, since he was the god of oracles. Many Greeks, particularly kings and other rulers would often consult oracles before making big decisions, such as going to war. Besides the oracle at Delphi there were many other oracles scattered throughout Greece, and all of them were seen as disciples, or followers, of Apollo. Besides the oracles, Apollo had many other temples built in his honor throughout Greece. These temples were places that Apollo could be worshipped through art, music, the practicing of medicine, and by offering animal sacrifices. Being the god of medicine and healing meant that Apollo could also bring plagues and sickness. In Homer’s epic Greek poem, The Iliad, Apollo sends down a plague to the Greeks when their leader, Agamemnon, insults one of Apollo’s priests. At the end of The Iliad Apollo guides the arrow of the Trojan prince Paris when he shoots the Greek hero Achilles, killing him. Apollo was the god of light and the sun. It was his responsibility to bring about the sunrise each day and move the sun across the sky during the day. The sun brings light and warmth down to the earth. This warmth and this light is also connected to the arts. Poetry, music, and the other arts bring light and warmth to the souls of man. It is in this fashion that Apollo is seen as not only the god of the sun, but also the god of things that bring light to the soul, being the arts. As the god of medicine and oracles, Apollo also represents the number of mythical aspects of the world around us that the Greeks attributed © HistoryinHeels.com to their mythical gods. Ares Ares is the Greek god of war. He is one of the twelve main Olympian gods that live on Mount Olympus. They are all led by Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus also happens to be Ares’ father. Ares often represents the chaotic and violent aspects of war while his sister, the god Athena, represents the strategic and intelligent side of war. In art and literature Ares is often portrayed in military armor and with weapons. His symbols are the spear, helmet, chariot, dog, and vulture. Although Ares represented the bravery and courage it took for a soldier to become a hero on the battlefield, many Greeks feared Ares because he also represented the fact that violence in war often only escalated and would get more and more deadly as time went on. In ancient Greece most city-states operated on their own. These different city-states were often at war, or contentions with each other. As such, the influence of Ares was almost always felt by Greeks. Many Greek city-states would not have wanted Ares on their side during war, however. During the Trojan War Ares was on the losing side, which his sister Athena supported the winning side. In the book The Iliad by Homer, which describes the Trojan War, it is the strategic thinking of Athena that in the end conquers the brutal savageness of Ares and his battlefield violence. The city-state of Sparta was a heavily militaristic society. They raised their sons to be solders, and there was no greater honor then dying in battle for Sparta. Most other city-states feared Sparta because if they decided to attack, they were probably going to be successful. Sparta viewed Ares as their patron god, meaning their main god they worshipped. Sparta even made human sacrifices to Ares, that he would look favorably on them and lead them to victory in their campaigns. To the Spartans Ares was the god of battle and battle tactics, they did not look to Athena for that. Outside of Sparta, there was not a lot of worshipping of Ares in Greece. Some armies would make sacrifices to him, hoping for success during their battles, but for the most part Ares plays little role in Greek mythology. Instead Greeks feared the chaos, violence, and death that came with war. Even though wars were often common for many Greek city-states. Many Greeks would much rather avoid Ares and his violent influences altogether if they could. Even among the other gods on Mount Olympus Ares is seen as something of an outcast. Even his own father Zeus traditionally hated him and the © HistoryinHeels.com chaos he brought with him. Artemis Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, forests, the moon, and archery. She is one of the twelve main Olympian gods that live on Mount Olympus. Her father was Zeus and she had a twin brother, Apollo, who was also an Olympian god. Artemis was often depicted as a young woman in simple robes. Her symbols included bows and arrows, deer, hunting dogs, and the moon. As a child god of Zeus, Artemis always seemed to enjoy his favor. One story explains that as a child Hera had punished Artemis, so Artemis went to Zeus to be soothed. Zeus agreed to grant Artemis any wishes she wanted. Artemis wished to have a bow with arrows, and to have a group of mortal girls that could accompany her on her hunts in the woods. It seems that Artemis never sought after temples or cities where she could be worshipped; instead she focused on the wild and natural beauty of the forests and the joy of the hunt. Artemis only spent time with her girls that were part of her hunting party. The only man Artemis was ever interested in was a skilled mortal bow hunter named Orion. Orion and Artemis would go hunting together. One day Artemis’ brother, Apollo, approached Orion while Artemis was away and challenged him to a swimming contest. Orion went into the sea and began swimming. When Artemis returned Apollo challenged her to an archery contest, point to a small object in the sea and telling her that she couldn’t hit it. Artemis took her bow and arrow and hit the object perfectly, not knowing that it was Orion her brother had tricked her into shooting. When Artemis found out she was so upset that she immortalized Orion by putting him into the stars, and to this day Orion and Orion’s belt is one of the most popular constellations in the sky. Artemis represented the wild and feminine aspect to nature. She seemed to enjoy the fun and simple things in like, which is hunting and running around in the woods. Artemis helped children, particularly little girls, find a place within Greek society and showed that women could be strong and independent without a lot of interference from men. © HistoryinHeels.com Athena Athena is the god of wisdom and military strategy. She is one of the twelve main Olympian gods of Greek mythology that live on Mount Olympus. She is supposed to be the favorite daughter of Zeus. Athena was born from Zeus when he one day had a terrible headache. As a result Ares splits Zeus’ head open with an axe. Out of Zeus’ head came a fully grown Athena, dressed in her battle armor. So it seems that the god of wisdom and intelligence was born directly through pure thought by Zeus. In art and literature Athena is almost always depicted wearing a battle helmet or wearing some other armor. Athena’s main symbols are owls, olive trees, snakes, armor, helmets, and spears. In Greek mythology Athena is portrayed as the clever companion of heroes, assisting them on their heroic journeys. Athena plays a major role in beginning the legendary Trojan War that is described in the epic poem The Iliad by Homer. Athena is offended by Paris of Troy when he affirms that Aphrodite is more beautiful than both herself and Hera, the queen of the gods. As a result, Athena and Hera stirred the Greeks up to anger and caused them to come against Troy in war. Once the Trojan War was over the journey home by Odysseus was described in Homer’s The Odyssey. Odysseus met many challenges and trials on his way home due to the fact that Poseidon was angered with Odysseus and did all he could to prevent him from getting home. Ancient Greek civilizations had a number of great thinkers; philosophers like Plato and Socrates, mathematicians like Pathageros, great writers like Homer, and even early medical thinkers like Hippocrates. Greece was a place where intelligence was a sought after thing. Greece established some of the first colleges and made many important contributions to man’s early understanding of science. Because of this Athena is viewed as an important god because her very nature represents what ancient Greece was supposed to be all about. The city-state of Athens, one of the cultural centers of ancient Greece was even named after Athena and had her as their main god they worshipped. The Greeks saw themselves superior to their ancient neighbors because of their intelligence and their level of thinking when it came to things like philosophy and even strategic military thinking. As a result, Athena became a vital god to the ancient Greeks as they looked to her to help drive their own intellectual abilities. © HistoryinHeels.com Hades Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus were brothers. Each ruled over some part of the universe. Poseidon ruled the seas. Hades ruled the Underworld. Zeus accepted the most demanding job of all - Zeus was chosen to rule over all of the gods and all of the earth and all of the heavens. Unlike his two brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, both of whom were full of life, Hades was a gloomy fellow. He was more content to live in the Underworld. The symbols of Hades are usually riches and gold and silver. His portraits usually consist of jewelry all over him. He is the god of wealth and riches. Hades only lived in the Underworld and never visited Mt. Olympus where Zeus resided. Hades was not the lord of death. He did not decide who lived and who died up on earth. His job was to run things down in the Underworld, the place where you went after you died. The Underworld was a big place. Some areas were really nice, and some were not nice at all. The Elysian Fields, for example, was the place heroes were sent after they died. It was a great neighborhood. But parts of the Underworld were scary! People who behaved badly on earth might end up in one of those sections. Hades decided where you were sent. It was not wise to anger Hades, whether you were alive or dead, or you might end up someplace you really did not want to be. His brothers thought Hades rarely took time to play, but they were mistaken. Hades loved to play. One of his favorite belongings was his invisible helmet. He had a lot of fun with that. More than anything, except for his beloved dog, Cerberus, Hades loved his golden chariot. It was his pride and joy. His chariot used to belong to a god named Helios. But Helios had retired and no longer pulled out the sun each day. (That was one of Apollo's jobs now.) Helios was delighted to give his old chariot to Hades. In exchange, Hades promised Helios a favor, which was all the payment Helios required. Hades and his beloved dog Cerberus would climb aboard his golden chariot and tear across the Underworld. The souls of the dead scattered left and right to get out of their way. Hades was never lonely. For a long time, he did not have a wife, but he did have a faithful and deeply loved companion, his three-headed dog, Cerberus. His family visited now and then. Zeus popped in whenever he felt like it. His nephew, Hermes, the deal maker for the gods, stopped by, whenever things had to be smoothed over and fixed. To give his dog a sniff at a new place, Hades even came up to the surface now and then. If it was important enough, Hades would even attend meetings of the gods on Mount Olympus. But he never thought of himself as one of the Olympians. To Hades, home was the Underworld. © HistoryinHeels.com Hephaestus Hephaestus was the god of fire, metalworking, stone working, and sculpting. Hephaestus is one of the twelve main Olympian gods in Greek mythology that lives on Mount Olympus. Hephaestus is the child of Zeus and Hera, the king and queen of the Greek gods. As the god of fire and metalworking, Hephaestus was the one who would make all of the armor and weapons for the gods. He worked as a blacksmith for the gods and created weapons and armor of amazing quality that was unmatched by anything made by mortals. In Greek myths, anytime there is magical or significant armor and weapons mentioned, such as Hermes’ flying sandals or Heracles’ armor, it was usually made by Hephaestus. The symbols most associated with Hephaestus were the hammer and anvil. When Hephaestus was born he had a deformed foot. Because of this his mother, Hera, tossed him out of Mount Olympus. He fell for an entire day before crashing down to earth. This event caused Hephaestus to be called the “lame god” due to the fact that he walked with a limp ever since then. While all the other gods are typically described as beautiful and majestic, Hephaestus has always been described as ugly and rough with a bushy beard and a limp in his walk. Hephaestus was raised on earth before eventually returning to live on Mount Olympus. To get revenge on his mother Hera he built her a golden throne that would trap her in it whenever she sat down. Only Hephaestus could release her from the chair, which he was tricked into doing. The skills of working with your hands and creating things in embodied in the god Hephaestus. These skills were seen by the ancient Greeks as very manly skills, so Hephaestus was seen as a manly god who represented what a real man should be able to do. Hephaestus was also married to the Olympian god Aphrodite, who was the god of beauty and was supposed to be the most beautiful women in existence. The ancient Greeks were very good at working with metals to create weapons, armors, and tools. They would mine some metals and trade with neighboring areas for other metals that they could work with. Ancient Greek sculptors were extremely skilled in the carving of marble and magnificent buildings and architecture. Amongst all of this art and skilled labor the Greeks would have looked towards Hephaestus as the god to influence and guide them in the manipulating of stone and metal into beautiful pieces of art, useful © HistoryinHeels.com tools, or magnificent buildings. Hera Hera is the wife of Zeus, and as such is considered the Queen of the Greek gods since Zeus is the King of the gods. Hera is the god of marriage, women, and childbirth. Hera is one of the original Greek gods, being the sister of Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia, and Zeus (also her husband). Hera, along with her siblings, were all eaten by their father Cronus when they were born because Cronus feared that one of his children would rise up and overpower him someday. Zeus, the last born child avoided getting eaten, and when he grew up he was able fight off Cronus, and get him to release Hera and her siblings, who were all trapped inside Cronus’ stomach. Shortly after Zeus became the King of the gods, and took Hera as his queen. The symbols of Hera were the pomegranate fruit, the peacock, the cow, and the lily flower. Hera is depicted in art and literature as a beautiful god who has a very majestic look, though is often very solemn. She is sometimes described as having a crown on her head. The great Greek hero Heracles (Known to the Romans and Hercules), who was a child that Zeus had with a mortal women, was hated by Hera. When Heracles was a baby Hera sent two snakes into his crib to kill him, but the baby instead killed the snakes because he had the strength of the gods. The stories of Heracles and his adventures often include Hera trying to prevent his success or punish him in some way. Some of the first temples to the gods built in ancient Greece are believed to be temples built to Hera around 800 BCE. This has led some historians to believe that some of the earliest Greek city-states may have been Matriarchal societies. This means that women, instead of men would have been the leaders of the people. This would explain why Hera was such an important god to these early people. The god Hera also demonstrates the power of women to be an anchor in their home and in their © HistoryinHeels.com responsibilities to keep their families together. Hermes Hermes is the messenger of the gods. He is also himself the god of trade, thieves, and sports. Hermes is one of the twelve main Olympian gods within Greek mythology that live on Mount Olympus. Hermes is the god that travels most freely between the realm of the gods and the realm of men, taking messages back and forth between the two. Youthful, quick-thinking, and a natural trickster, Hermes is often described in myths outwitting gods and men, either for his own amusement or to fulfil a specific purpose. The symbols of Hermes include winged sandals, a winged cap, the lyre (a small musical harp), and the rooster. Hermes is a child of Zeus, as are many of the Olympian gods. Even as a baby Hermes demonstrated a talent for causing mischief. The sun god Apollo traditionally raised herds of sacred cattle. When Hermes was a baby he snuck out of his crib and stole Apollo’s cattle, hiding them. He then jumped back into his cradle before Apollo could find out, pretending to be completely innocent. Apollo suspected that Hermes had stolen his cattle, so he grabbed Hermes and took him to Zeus, hoping that Zeus would punish Hermes for his actions. Instead, when Zeus heard the story he laughed, finding it funny that a baby could cause Apollo so much grief. In the Greek epic poem The Odyssey, Hermes plays an important role in not only carrying messages to the main character, Odysseus, but also to other characters in the story, always delivering messages the gods have for them. In The Odyssey Odysseus and his crew are trying to sail home after the Trojan War. Due to the god Poseidon being upset with Odysseus, his ship was continually blown off course, preventing Odysseus from getting home for ten years. The help that Hermes offers Odysseus demonstrates that he is a god that cares about mankind and is willing to help them when in need. As the god of travel, Hermes was seen as an important god for merchants selling goods, and the god of socializing that would take place amongst travelers as they passed by on roads or stopped at inns and taverns. Ancient Greece was a very mobile civilization. People traveled by land and sea, city-states regularly traded with each other, and set up communications with other civilizations in Egypt and Asia. This made Hermes an important god to many Greeks. Hermes was looked to in hopes that he would protect travelers on the roads. Store owners looked to Hermes in hopes that they would sell lots of stuff and be successful. Thieves also looked to Hermes, hoping that he would enjoy their schemes and bless them to be successful in their unlawful activities. Hermes also had an annual festival called Hermaea, where young boys would engage in sporting events similar to the ancient Greek Olympics . . © HistoryinHeels.com Poseidon Poseidon is one of the twelve main Olympian gods who live on Mount Olympus, according to Greek mythology. Poseidon is the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses; because of this he has also been called “god of the sea”, “earth-shaker”, and “tamer of horses.” In art Poseidon is depicted as a middle aged man with a beard who is either holding a trident, surrounded by sea life, or surrounded by horses. Though he is an Olympian god of Mount Olympus, Poseidon’s main home is within the sea, controlling the waves and the currents. Poseidon is also the brother of the gods Zeus and Hades. Poseidon’s siblings are Hades, Demeter, Hestia, Hera, and Zeus. Their father was the Titan Cronus, who would eat his children once they were born because he feared that one of them would one day overpower him. Poseidon was eaten as well, and grew up in his dad’s stomach until his brother Zeus was able to defeat Cronus and release Poseidon along with his other siblings. Greece is a country right on the Mediterranean Sea with lots of small islands. Sea travel and sea trade were important aspects of life to the people who lived in the ancient Greek world. Because of that, Poseidon was seen as an extremely important god. Poseidon’s anger could sink ships, destroy sea shore cities, or carry enemies to one’s shores swiftly by boat. To have Poseidon’s favor meant good healthy sea travel, abundant fishing, and mild weather. The sea was central to the life of most ancient Greeks, and so worshipping Poseidon through prayers and sacrifices would be a daily practice for many of them. In the Greek poem The Odyssey, written by Homer, Poseidon is the enemy of the main character Odysseus. Odysseus is trying to sail back home after the end of the Trojan War, but Poseidon prevents him from making his way home by sending storms, waves, and monsters to stop Odysseus and his crew. A lot of this anger comes from an incident where Odysseus blinds a Cyclops who was trying to eat him and his crew. The Cyclopes were the children of Poseidon, and so were under his protection. The sea was a vast and mysterious thing to the ancient Greeks. Ever changing currents, tides, storms, and its vast depths made it a feature that was feared and revered by the Greeks. The Greek mainland is rocky and mountainous, meaning most Greeks had to travel and trade through sea travel. To get on a boat was to put your life into the hands of the god Poseidon. Not only this, but many city-states in Greece were built near the sea, This god, who was the older brother of Zeus, was worshipped by most Greeks and was the subject of many pieces of art and literature during ancient Greek times and throughout © HistoryinHeels.com the ages, even to today. Zeus Zeus is considered to be the “Father of Gods and men.” He rules over Mount Olympus, which is the home of the main Olympian gods of Greek mythology. The sky, thunder, and lightning were all said to be under the control and influence of Zeus. Though Zeus is neither the oldest god nor the literal father of all the other gods, he was always referred to as “father” to show respect to his power and authority over all the other gods. Lightning and thunder storms could be powerful, intimidating, and destructive. This is probably why the ancient Greeks saw Zeus, the ruler of lightning and thunder, as the most powerful god on Mount Olympus. Another responsibility Zeus had was to assign the roles that the other gods would fulfill. As a baby, Zeus’ siblings, Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon, were all swallowed by their father, the Titan Cronus. He ate his children so they could not grow up and overthrow him. Zeus was sent away before he could be swallowed. When he grew up he came against Cronus and overtook him, forcing Cronus to throw up his other children. With the help of his brothers and sisters, Zeus banished Cronus and took over as the King of the gods, taking control of the universe. Zeus is also the father to important mythical characters such as Heracles, Perseus, and Helen of Troy. Hera was often depicted as a very jealous wife and would curse children that Zeus had with other women. Symbols associated with Zeus were the thunderbolt, eagle, bull, and oak trees. Art of Zeus shows him as a muscular middle aged man with long hair and a beard. He is usually shown either standing majestically with a lightning bolt in his hand, or sitting on a throne. He is always seen wearing a traditional Greek toga. Zeus was the symbol of the Greek’s religion. He was seen as the god that overthrew the Titan’s and created a time when mankind could grow and civilize over the earth. Zeus controlled the sky and oversaw all the other gods within Greek mythology. Not only was he the king of the gods, but the supreme ruler over mankind as well. To anger Zeus was to bring sure destruction upon either yourself or your civilization, while gaining his favor would ensure a good and prosperous life. © HistoryinHeels.com Create a god or goddess! Write a short biographical myth explaining the background of your god or goddess. Be sure to include any famous family members, what your god or goddess is known for, their symbols, and their legend. Please write 3 paragraphs with 5-7 sentences. © HistoryinHeels.com Thank you for downloading! Hope you enjoyed it! Created with graphics from: © HistoryinHeels.com