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Greek Gods

Welcome to our Greek Gods and Goddesses page here on History for Kids. We have some fun facts and pictures for you to color. You will learn some interesting facts about each God as you read down the page. Take your time there is a lot of information on this page, check out the quick facts also if you just need a quick understanding and characteristics of each one.

Athena

Athena was tall, strong, graceful, gray-eyed, and she liked owls. From the beginning, she was a pretty amazing goddess. In fact, even her birth was most unusual.

Zeus, the father of gods and goddesses, was also Athena's father. Her mother was a mortal woman named Metis. Older gods had warned Zeus that he would be in trouble if Metis gave birth to a daughter. So he swallowed Metis whole.

When it came time for Athena to be born, she sprang full grown out of Zeus's head. She was completely dressed in armor, as she always would be. She also carried a shield and a spear. As you might guess about a woman in armor, she was a great warrior.

Athena was also a goddess of wisdom. She taught people about arts and crafts. She also taught them how to think clearly and live well. She was often seen with an owl, so owls became a symbol of wisdom.

Athena didn't get along with the sea god Poseidon. For one thing, they were often rivals over one thing or another. Once the people of a new city were looking for a god to watch over and protect them. Athena and Poseidon both wanted the job.

To impress the city's citizens, the two gods gave them gifts. Poseidon struck the ground with his three-pointed spear, and water poured out. The water turned into a river that flowed into the sea. Poseidon told the people to build ships to sail to the sea. He said that they could travel everywhere. They could become the most powerful people on earth.

The citizens were indeed impressed. But then Athena told them to taste the water. It tasted awful. It was saltwater, which is impossible to drink.

Then Athena gave the citizens her gift. When she hit the ground with her spear, a tree magically grew up within seconds. She explained that it was a special tree-an olive tree. Its wood was good both for building houses and for heating those houses in winter. Better still, the tree's little green fruits, called "olives," were delicious. And oil made out of the olives was useful for cooking.

The citizens liked Athena's gift better than Poseidon's. Not only did they choose Athena to watch over them, they named the city after her. They called it Athens. Poseidon left in a huff, causing a serious flood on his way. But the Athenians weren't bothered very much. With Athena's help, their city grew to be strong and wealthy. Athens became one of the greatest cities of all time. Today it's the capital and the largest city of Greece.
Here are some historical facts about the city of Athens:

Athenians did their best to make their city live up to its name. Inspired by their tales about Athena's wisdom, Athens became a center of civilization.

Athenians turned their city into the world's first democracy.

Athenians wrote the world's first plays, both comedies and tragedies. Those plays were performed in an open-air theater. They are still popular today.

Some of history's greatest thinkers were Athenian. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were the city's most famous philosophers.

The world's first historians, Herodotus and Thucydides, lived in Athens.

Athenians created some of the world's most beautiful buildings. The ruins of its most famous temple, the Parthenon, are still standing today. The Parthenon once held a large statue of Athena.

The Athenian Hippocrates is said to be the father of medicine. He wrote a famous oath that is still spoken by doctors today.

Poseidon

The brothers Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon were the most important gods of all. Zeus was the strongest and wisest of the three and ruled over the earth. Hades ruled the Underworld, the world of the dead. Poseidon ruled the seas. He was also the god of earthquakes and horses.

Poseidon had a beard and long blue hair. He drove a golden cart called a chariot.

It was pulled by strange beasts that were half-horse and half-snake. Fish and dolphins always swam along beside the sea god's chariot.

Poseidon carried a three-pointed spear called a trident. He used this to start earthquakes or bring water out of the ground.

Like the sea he ruled, Poseidon could be either calm or stormy. As you might guess, the god of earthquakes had a short temper. He didn't get along with other gods. He didn't always get along with mortals, either.

The people of Troy once asked Poseidon to help build a wall around their city. He helped, but then he got angry when he didn't get paid for his work. He was Troy's enemy ever after that. When Troy fought a terrible war against Greece, Poseidon supported the Greeks.

Each god had a city to protect and watch over. The city showed its thanks by honoring that god especially. Maybe because he was ill-tempered, Poseidon had trouble finding a city to honor him. The people of Athens chose Athena instead of Poseidon as its protector. The people of Naxos chose Dionysus. The people of Aegina chose Zeus. Finally, all the gods had special cities except Poseidon. He was very unhappy and disappointed.

But at long last, the people of Atlantis chose Poseidon. Atlantis was a huge island, and its people loved and honored him. There he fell in love with a mortal princess named Clito. He built a palace for her, and they had ten sons. The sons grew up to be kings who ruled different parts of Atlantis. Those kings ruled wisely, and Atlantis became the greatest civilization in the world. Poseidon was proud and happy.

But bad times came. The first kings of Atlantis died, and their sons were bad rulers. And the sons who came after them were worse yet. Years passed, and Atlantis was no longer the world's greatest civilization. It was actually the worst. It had become both wicked and foolish.

Finally, the people of Atlantis forgot to worship Poseidon. The sea god became angry and used his trident to start a terrible earthquake. Atlantis sank beneath the waves, never to be seen again.

*Horses were very important in the ancient world. Poseidon's earliest worshippers may have been the people who first brought horses to Greece.
Here are some historical facts about Poseidon's story:
*There are many earthquakes in Greece. Not surprisingly, a god of earthquakes was taken very seriously there.

*The sea was very important to the Ancient Greeks. They were great explorers whose ships sailed to distant places.

*Fishermen in the ancient world caught tuna with a trident.

*Atlantis was thought to have been in a faraway ocean. Today we call that ocean the Atlantic.

*Atlantis was probably imaginary. Even so, some people still believe that it once was real. And people keep looking for it.

*Atlantis may have been based on a real place. There once was a large island called Thera. It was destroyed by a huge volcano. Like Atlantis, it sank into the sea.

Hermes

Hermes was the messenger god. He was young and intelligent-looking. He wore a winged hat and winged sandals, and he carried a magic wand. (We know what he looked like because so many sculptors made statues of him.)

Hermes was said to be the god of the marketplace. Oddly, he was also said to be the god of thieves. He himself was a clever thief. He started stealing early in life-actually on the day he was born.

His father was Zeus, the king of the gods. His mother was a young goddess named Maia. He was born in a mountain cave, and only a few minutes after his birth, Hermes decided to make himself a toy. He picked up a tortoise shell and tied strings across it, then plucked the strings. That was how Hermes invented the first musical instrument, which was called a lyre. And he invented music too!

His playing and singing put his mother to sleep. Then, when Hermes was still only an hour or two old, he left the cave and went out to look around at the world. He soon found a herd of cattle that belonged to the god Apollo. The baby Hermes liked the cattle and decided to steal them.

When Apollo wasn't looking, Hermes tied branches to the cows' tails. As he led them away, the branches dragged along and erased their hoof prints. Then he hid the cattle and went back to his cave. He climbed back up into his sleeping mother's arms. When she woke up, she had no idea that he'd even been away.

When Apollo managed to track down Hermes, he was surprised to see that the thief was just a newborn baby. Even so, he demanded his cattle back. Then Hermes started playing the lyre. Apollo was so delighted by the music that he let Hermes keep the cattle in exchange for the lyre. After that, Apollo carried the lyre everywhere and became known as the god of music.

Hermes never stopped being full of mischief. But when he grew up, the gods learned that they could count on him for one important task. With his winged hat and sandals, he ran and flew as fast as the wind, so Zeus named him the messenger of the gods.

Whenever the gods wanted to send messages to mortals, they gave the job to Hermes. Although he didn't always tell the truth himself, he always delivered those messages just the way he was supposed to.

*Along with the lyre, Hermes was said to have invented another musical instrument called a panpipe. It's a kind of flute that is still played today.

*Hermes was said to be the god of travelers. Statues of him could be found at crossroads throughout Ancient Greece. They were put there to bring travelers good luck.
Here are some interesting facts about Hermes' story.
*There were no telephones and no Internet in the ancient world. Messages were usually carried by runners on foot. So the god of messengers was considered a very important god.

*One of the most famous messengers of all time was a soldier named Pheidippides. Story has it that he ran from one city to another, carrying news that the Greeks had won the Battle of Marathon. He delivered the message and died. Today's marathon races are held in his honor.

*Hermes' magic wand was called a caduceus. It had wings, like his hat and sandals. It also had snakes wrapped around it. Today the caduceus is the symbol of the medical profession.

Ares

Ares was the god of war. He wore armor and a helmet, and he carried a shield, sword, and spear. He was big and strong and had a fierce war cry, but his war cry was mostly just a lot of noise. Ares didn't fight at all well. The armored goddess Athena was a much better warrior.

The Ancient Greeks didn't like war, and they didn't like Ares, either. They considered him a troublemaker. And like many troublemakers, Ares was a coward and a bully.

In fact, Ares was never really of use to anybody in a war. One time a group of giants declared war on the gods. The giants wanted to rule the entire universe. To keep Ares out of the fighting, they sneaked up on him and knocked him out cold, then they stuffed him into a jar.

The other gods heard Ares screaming for somebody to let him out. They just ignored him because they figured they could fight better without him. They went on to defeat the giants, and then they let Ares out of the jar after the battle was over. Ares bragged about how he could have beaten the giants if he'd been free. The other gods only laughed.

Ares never stayed loyal to one side or the other in a war. He just enjoyed watching people fighting and dying. The war between Greece and Troy was one of the worst ever fought, and even the gods joined in the battle. When the war started, Ares promised his mother, Hera, to help the Greeks. But he was in love with the goddess Aphrodite, so she easily talked him into helping the Trojans.

The Trojans would have been just as happy without Ares's help. Always the bully, he didn't pick fights with other gods. Instead, he challenged a mortal Greek warrior named Diomedes, but Diomedes wounded Ares.

Ares liked to cause pain for others, but he whined and complained whenever he got hurt. This time was no different. The wound he got from Diomedes wasn't very serious, but even so, Ares didn't keep fighting. He went running back to Olympus, the home of the gods, and wept and wailed to his father Zeus. Even though Zeus bandaged up Ares's wound, he was not at all proud of his warrior son.

That wasn't the only time Ares was wounded. The great hero Heracles wounded him twice, and one of those times he took away Ares's armor and weapons. Both times Ares ran away crying to Olympus.

*For a long time, historians thought that the city of Troy was just a legend. But the ruins of Troy have been found in modern-day Turkey.

*The Trojan War was also thought to be only a legend. But today some historians think that there really was such a war. It was fought between Greece and Troy.

*The Greeks had good reason to dislike war. The cities of Greece fought each other in a terrible war that lasted for 27 years. It's called the Peloponnesian War.
Here are some interesting facts about Ares's story:
*Although the Ancient Greeks didn't like Ares, the Ancient Romans admired him. They called him Mars. They told stories that made Mars sound like a hero.

*The Romans liked Ares because they thought that war was noble. The Romans spoke Latin. The Latin words for "war" and "beauty" are very similar. The word for "war" is "bellum." The word for "beauty" is "bellus."

Zeus

Zeus was the king of the gods. He and his brothers Hades and Poseidon were in charge of the whole universe. Hades ruled the Underworld, the world of the dead. Poseidon ruled the seas. Zeus, the greatest of the three, ruled the earth and the sky. He controlled the weather, causing wind and rain. He also caused thunder and lightning. He threw his thunderbolt like a spear.

Zeus was a good reminder that the gods were not perfect. For one thing, he was not all-powerful. His daughters, the three Fates, decided the futures of both gods and mortals. Zeus couldn't overrule their decisions.

And although Zeus was often wise, he could also be foolish. He could be selfish and even cruel. He was not a good husband to Hera, the queen of the gods. And he was not a good father to many of his children. Not surprisingly, the other gods sometimes rebelled against his rule.

Still, Zeus most gods and mortals respected Zeus. He gave laws and justice to mortals. He taught them kindness and good manners. One story shows how much Zeus prized hospitality and kindness toward strangers.

Zeus liked to travel, sometimes in disguise. Once he was traveling with his son Hermes, the messenger god, in a land called Phrygia. They were both disguised as ordinary mortal men. They stopped at all the houses in Phrygia, asking for food and a place to stay the night. Time and time again, they were rudely turned away. Even rich people turned them away.

At last they arrived at the home of an elderly couple, a woman named Baucis and a man named Philemon. Baucis and Philemon were extremely poor. Even so, they treated the travelers kindly, inviting them into their home for food and drink. They allowed the disguised gods to spend the night.

The next day, Hermes and Zeus took off their disguises. Everyone could see that they were gods. Zeus punished the couple's Phrygian neighbors with a terrible flood. All houses were destroyed, except the little hut of Baucis and Philemon. Zeus turned it into a beautiful temple.

As a reward for their kindness, Zeus offered the couple anything that they wanted. Because they had lived happily together all their lives, they asked never to be parted. Even in death they wanted to remain together. Baucis and Philemon spent the rest of their lives serving as the temple's priestess and priest. When they died they turned into two trees growing out of the same trunk.

*Weather seemed even more mysterious in ancient times than it does today. It's no surprise that the god who controlled the weather was the most powerful god of all.

*Lightning and thunder were especially puzzling to ancient people. Many cultures have had gods of thunder and lightning. In Norse mythology, it was Thor. To the Finns, it was Ukko. To the Aztecs, it was Tlaloc.

*Lightning remained a mystery for thousands of years. During the 1700s, the American scientist and thinker Benjamin Franklin helped solve that mystery. He discovered the lightning was made up of electricity. Then he invented the lightning rods to protect houses and buildings. He was nicknamed "the Man Who Tamed the Lightning."

*In ancient times, travel was difficult and dangerous. Travelers depended on the kindness of people they met along the way. The Greeks even had a word for kindness toward strangers and travelers. They called it xenios.
Here are some interesting facts about Zeus's story:
Aphrodite

Aphrodite had an unusual birth. She rose up out of sea foam, beautiful and fully grown-up. She was the goddess of love, and she liked doves, sparrows, and swans. She was married to Hephaestus, the god of the forge, but not at all happily. She was really in love with Ares, the god of war.

Aphrodite and her son Eros were in charge of making people and gods fall in love. Eros used his magic bow and arrow to make that happen.

Oddly, this goddess of love helped start a terrible war. But she didn't really mean to. Eris, the goddess of discord, liked to stir up trouble. So one day Eris made a golden apple. She wrote the words "For the Fairest" on it. Then she threw this apple where the goddesses Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite would find it.

Each one of them thought she was "the Fairest"-the most beautiful goddess of all. They decided to hold a beauty contest. To judge the contest, they chose a mortal named Paris. He was a handsome Prince of Troy.

Each goddess took Paris aside and offered him a gift. If Paris chose Hera, she promised to make the ruler of the world. If he chose Athena, she promised to make him a victorious soldier. But Paris wasn't very ambitious or brave. He wasn't interested in either of those offers.

Then Aphrodite promised Paris the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. This appealed to Paris much more than the other offers did. So he judged Aphrodite "the Fairest" of the goddesses, and she got to keep the apple.

This was exactly what the troublemaking Eris had hoped for. The most beautiful woman in the world happened to be married already. Her name was Helen. She was the Queen of Sparta and the wife of King Menelaus.

When Helen and Paris ran away to Troy together, Menelaus was furious. He called all the great warriors of Greece together, and they declared war on Troy. Many thousands of warriors died in the Trojan War, which lasted ten years. It ended with the destruction of Troy.

*Today some historians believe that there really was a Trojan war. It was fought between Greece and Troy.

*The Romans called Aphrodite by the name Venus. The planet Venus is named after her.

*Venus is the planet closest to Earth. It is also the nearest planet in size to Earth. Next to the moon, it is usually the brightest object in the nighttime sky. Venus is easiest to see in the morning and evening. That's why it is called both the "Morning Star" and the "Evening Star."

*The Greeks pictured Aphrodite's son Eros as a handsome young man. The Romans called him Cupid. They came to picture him as a little boy with wings and a bow and arrow. Pictures of Cupid are very common on Valentine's Day.

*The goddess Venus was said to be the mother of the hero Aeneas. According to legend, Aeneas helped found the city of Rome. The real-life Roman general and dictator Julius Caesar claimed to be a descendent of Venus.
Here are some interesting facts about Aphrodite's story:
Hera

Hera was the queen of the gods and the protector of women. Her husband Zeus ruled the earth and sky. She was the mother of the war god Ares and the forge god Hephaestus. Her daughter, Ilithyia, was the goddess of childbirth.

Hera was beautiful and graceful. But she was also stern and bossy. And she could be very vain about her good looks. Hera was furious when she lost a beauty contest with Athena and Aphrodite. Another time, a mortal queen claimed to be more beautiful than Hera. The goddess turned that queen into a crane.

Although Hera was the goddess of marriage, her own marriage wasn't happy. For one thing, Zeus was always interested in other women. Hera had good reason to be jealous.
Once she sent a hundred-eyed monster named Argos to spy on Zeus. Even Zeus couldn't get away with much with Argos watching him!

Annoyed, Zeus called upon his son Hermes, the messenger god. He ordered Hermes to kill Argos. This was hard to do, because some of Argos's eyes were always awake and watching. But Hermes managed to put all those eyes to sleep. Then he killed Argos as Zeus had commanded.

Hera put Argos's eyes in the peacock's tail. The peacock was her favorite bird from that time on. Hera was also fond of cows, lions, and cuckoos.

Next, Zeus asked a young goddess named Echo for help. Echo was a wonderful storyteller. At Zeus's orders, Echo told Hera stories. That kept Hera's attention for hours and hours. Meanwhile, Zeus could sneak away and do whatever he wanted.

Hera figured out what was going on. She got very angry with Echo. This wasn't fair, of course. Echo couldn't help what she was doing. After all, she couldn't very well disobey the king of the gods. But when Hera was angry, she could be most unfair.

Hera cursed Echo. She took away Echo's power to tell stories. She even took away Echo's power to speak normally. Instead, Echo could only repeat things said by others.

Echo became so sad that she disappeared completely. But it is said that you can still hear her voice. If you shout in a canyon or valley, Echo might repeat your words.

*Hera was the goddess of the calendar year. The ancient Athenians didn't have just one calendar. Instead, they used a calendar for festivals, another for political matters, and another for the seasons.

*Today many cultures have different yearly calendars. The 12-month calendar mostly used in European and American countries is called the Julian calendar.

*Hera was a goddess who protected women. In Ancient Athens, women needed a protector. Even when Athens became a democracy, women had very few rights. An unmarried girl was ruled by her father; a married woman was ruled by her husband. Women could not become full citizens. Even male slaves had more rights than women did.

*Things were different in Sparta, Athens's warlike neighbor. Spartan men were often away fighting. When the men were gone, women took charge in many important ways. Some of the wealthiest and most powerful Spartan citizens were women. Even so, Spartan women could not hold political positions.

Artemis
Here are some interesting facts about Hera's story:
Artemis was the god Apollo's twin sister. She was goddess of the moon and of the hunt. She didn't like cities very much, preferring to roam forests and mountainsides.

She hunted with a silver bow and silver arrows. Like all good hunters, Artemis liked to protect wildlife. She took special care to watch over small animals.

Artemis was a strong-willed goddess. She knew what she wanted from an early age. Once when she was three years old, she was sitting on her father Zeus's knee. Zeus asked the little goddess what she most wanted in life.

First, she asked Zeus for three different names. These would fit her moods, which could be seen in the changing Moon. When she was cheerful and the moon was bright, she was called Selene. When she was in a bad mood and the moon was dark, she was called Hecate. The rest of the time she was called Artemis.

She also asked Zeus for loyal goddesses to hunt with. Zeus gave her lots of female followers called nymphs. Finally, she told Zeus that she never wanted to have much to do with men. So Zeus made sure that Artemis never fell in love with a man and never had a husband.

Although she wasn't interested in much except hunting, Artemis could also be a good warrior. In fact, she was a much better fighter than Ares, the god of war. She was also more clever. One time some giants declared war on the gods. The giants trapped Ares in a jar, so he couldn't do any fighting at all. Artemis tricked two of the giants by taking the shape of a deer and running between them. The giants both shot arrows at the deer, but killed each other instead.

Artemis was also clever about keeping men out of her life-both gods and mortals. The river god Alpheus fell in love with her and went chasing after her through the woods. Artemis smeared mud all over her own face, then told her nymphs to do the same. Alpheus couldn't tell Artemis and the nymphs apart. The river god gave up and went home, sad and disappointed.

Artemis was especially honored by a legendary race of women called Amazons. They were all warrior women who never married.

*The "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" was a list made by the Greeks of man-made marvels. A temple of Artemis was on that list. The Great Pyramids of Egypt are the only wonders on the list still standing today.

*Because she was the goddess of the Moon, Artemis has a crater on the Moon named after her. A crater is a hollow place that was formed by collision with an object from outer space.

*The moon has long been believed to affect human moods and actions. One Roman name for the goddess of the moon was "Luna." The word "lunatic," meaning insane person, came from that name.

*A lunar eclipse happens when the earth passes between the sun and the moon. On February 29, 1504, the explorer Christopher Columbus was on the island of Jamaica. He knew that a lunar eclipse was coming, and that the moon would seem to disappear. The islanders didn't know what an eclipse was. Columbus used the eclipse to trick the islanders into doing whatever he wanted.

Hades

The brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades were the most important gods of all. Zeus was the strongest and wisest of the three and ruled over the earth. Poseidon ruled the seas. Hades ruled the Underworld, the world of the dead. Hades had dark hair and a dark beard, and he drove a chariot drawn by four dark horses. He was married to Persephone, the queen of the dead.
Here are some interesting facts about Artemis's story:
Neither gods nor mortals liked Hades very much. This wasn't really fair. Hades wasn't mean or cruel. It just wasn't his job to be kind or merciful. His duty was to make sure the dead stayed in the Underworld forever.

Few mortals ever went to the Underworld and made it back alive. One of these was the great singer Orpheus. When his wife, Eurydice, died, Orpheus went to the Underworld to bring her back.

Orpheus's singing delighted Hades, so he agreed to let him take Eurydice back home. Hades made one rule, though. Orpheus wasn't allowed to look at Eurydice as they fled the Underworld. But along the way, Orpheus turned to see if Eurydice was still following him. So she had to stay in the world of the dead forever.

There aren't many stories about Hades. Because he rarely left the Underworld, he seldom had adventures. He just went about the unpleasant business of ruling the dead. When he did go out into the world of the living, it usually ended badly for him.

Once Hades left his realm in search of Sisyphus, the king of Corinth. Sisyphus was one of the cleverest mortals who ever lived. He managed to cheat death time and time again.

Hades planned to put Sisyphus in handcuffs and take him to the Underworld. Instead, the tricky king talked Hades into trying on the handcuffs himself. As long as Sisyphus held Hades hostage, nobody would ever die. The gods couldn't allow that, so they pestered Sisyphus into letting Hades loose.

Sisyphus himself finally died and went to the Underworld. The gods knew that he might still be up to mischief even there. So they sentenced him to an impossible task.

Sisyphus had to roll a huge boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down again. Then he had to roll it back up the hill, only to have it roll down yet again. Poor Sisyphus had to do this again and again forever. At least it kept him from causing Hades any more trouble.

Eventually, the world of the dead itself came to be called Hades, after its king. A fierce three-headed dog named Cerberus guarded Hades. The river Styx flowed between Hades and the world of the living. A ferryman named Charon rowed dead souls across the Styx.

*The Ancient Greeks feared Hades so much that they avoided saying his name. Instead, they called him "Pluton," which meant "the Rich." This was because Hades' realm was said to be the home of precious stones and metals. The Romans renamed Hades "Pluto."

*Today, a plutocrat is someone who rules other people with wealth. A plutocracy is a government based on wealth.

*A small, distant object called Pluto was once thought to be the farthest planet from the sun. Today Pluto is no longer considered to be a planet at all. The farthest planet from the sun is called Neptune. This was the Roman name for Poseidon, the god of the sea.

*A task that seems pointless and endless is now sometimes called Sisyphean.

Apollo

Apollo was the twin brother of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and the Moon. Like his sister, Apollo loved hunting with a bow and arrow. He was the god of wisdom, poetry, and music.

Apollo was a handsome god, with long black hair. He drove a golden chariot drawn by swans. He was the leader of the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts.
Here are some interesting facts about Hades' story:
This god liked lions, wolves, stags, crows, and dolphins. He also liked cattle, and once had a herd of his own. The baby Hermes stole that herd from him. But Apollo let Hermes keep the cattle in return for his lyre. The lyre was a kind of harp that Hermes had made out of a tortoise shell.

When Apollo was still a young god, he wanted to know his future. So he went to a town called Delphi, where a priestess was said to tell fortunes. She was called an "oracle."

When Apollo arrived in Delphi, he found trouble awaiting him. A monster named Python was supposed to guard the oracle. But Python had turned cruel and was terrorizing the people of Delphi.

Apollo killed Python with his bare hands. Then the citizens of Delphi built a temple in his honor. The oracle kept telling people's fortunes there.

After that, Apollo became known as the god of prophecy-which means the ability to foretell the future. He was believed to always tell the truth.

Apollo was also known as great healer. However, he sometimes caused disease as well. His son, Asclepius, was the god of medicine for a while. But Asclepius grew so powerful that he could raise the dead. The gods couldn't allow that, so Zeus killed Asclepius with his thunderbolt.

Because Apollo was called the god of light, he was sometimes mistaken for the sun god. The real god of the sun was Helios, who drove a flaming chariot across the sky.

Helios once made a terrible mistake. He allowed his half-mortal son Phaeton to drive his chariot. But Phaeton couldn't control Helios's horses. He almost destroyed the world with that flaming chariot. Like Asclepius, Phaeton was killed by Zeus's thunderbolt.

*A huge snake called a python can be found in parts of Africa and Asia. It's named after the monster that Apollo killed.

*In ancient times Delphi was said to be the center of the world. Its ruins are still visited today.

*The Pythian Games were an athletic event held every four years in Delphi. They were named after the monster slain by Apollo. Those games were something like today's Olympics. The earliest Olympic games were also played in Ancient Greece.

*A priestess in Delphi really was believed to tell fortunes. Once she was asked about the Athenian philosopher Socrates. She said that no one in the world was wiser than he. Socrates was surprised, because he thought he knew nothing at all. He soon noticed that people who thought themselves wise knew no more than he did. So Socrates was truly wise in knowing himself to be ignorant.

*Today the word Apollonian means wise, prudent, and well thought-out. The god Dionysus was thought to be reckless and unruly, most unlike the calm and sensible Apollo. So the word Dionysian means wild, uncontrolled, and lacking reason.

Hephaestus

Hephaestus was the god of fire. He was a blacksmith whose forge was in a volcano. His helpers were one-eyed giants called Cyclopes. He worked in bronze, iron, silver, and gold. He also made things out of clay, including living creatures. From clay he made Pandora, the first mortal woman in the world.

Hephaestus made many useful things for the gods. For the messenger god Hermes, he made a winged hat and winged sandals. For the sun god Helios, he made a golden chariot to ride across the sky. For the Eros, the god of love, he made a silver bow with silver arrows.
Here are some interesting facts about Apollo's story:
Hephaestus was a good-natured god who usually got along well with everybody. Even so, his mother, Hera, once got angry with him. She threw him off Olympus, the mountain where the gods lived. When he hit the ground, he broke his foot. A goddess named Thetis nursed him back to health. But he walked with a limp ever after that.

Good-natured though he was, Hephaestus didn't forgive Hera. And he finally got even with her. He made a beautiful throne out of gold and offered it to her as a gift. When she sat on it, invisible chains wrapped around her wrists. She couldn't get out of the throne, which rose up into the air.

All the gods tried to talk Hephaestus into letting Hera loose. Hephaestus finally did when the beautiful goddess Aphrodite agreed to marry him. Theirs wasn't a happy marriage, though. Aphrodite was really in love with Ares, the god of war.

The goddess Thetis had a half-mortal son named Achilles. When Achilles was a baby, she bathed him in the river Styx. This was supposed to make him invulnerable, meaning impossible to hurt or kill. Even so, Thetis worried when Achilles got ready to go fight in the Trojan War.

Hephaestus made the best weapons and armor in the world. So Thetis asked Hephaestus to make a shield and armor for Achilles. Hephaestus was still grateful to Thetis for helping him after his fall from Olympus. So he was happy to do as she asked.

Hephaestus's armor didn't let Achilles down during the war. But Thetis had made one mistake. When she had dipped Achilles in the river Styx, she had held him by the heel. So his heel was not invulnerable. Achilles was killed by an arrow in his heel.

*Pandora, the woman Hephaestus made from clay, was said to have had a box of evils. She opened the box, letting all those evils loose in the world. Today, to "open a Pandora's box" means to cause a lot of trouble accidentally.

*The Romans gave Hephaestus the name Vulcan. That's where the word "volcano" comes from.

*The word "vulcanization" also comes from the name Vulcan. Vulcanization is a process for hardening rubber, especially for tires. It uses extreme heat and sulfur.

*Today, a person's weak spot is called an "Achilles's heel," after the story of how Achilles died.

*Human history is sometimes divided into three periods. These are named after the materials most used for tools in those times. The earliest was the Stone Age, followed by the Bronze Age, followed by the Iron Age. The stories about Hephaestus were told in the Iron Age, when blacksmithing was very important.

Hestia

The beautiful Hestia was the oldest of the gods of Olympus. She disliked gossip, so hardly any stories were told about he. But it would be a mistake to think she wasn't important. In some ways, she was the most important of all the gods.

From the earliest times, the other gods of Olympus all had duties. Hermes carried messages, Ares was in charge of war, Artemis watched over all hunters, and Zeus ruled over everybody. Other gods had other jobs. But for a time, no one seemed to know what Hestia was supposed to do.

One day the gods Poseidon and Apollo told Zeus that they both loved Hestia. Both of them wanted to marry her. They demanded that Zeus choose between them. Otherwise, war would break out among the gods. And such a war would have been terrible indeed.
Here are some interesting facts about Hephaestus's story:
But Hestia solved the whole problem very simply. She refused ever to have a husband. Zeus was relieved and grateful to avoid a war. As a reward, he gave Hestia the keys to Olympus. He put her in charge of the gods' everyday business. Hestia made sure that the gods always had plenty of food, clothing, and money. After all, even gods have to worry about such things!

Zeus also made Hestia the goddess of homes everywhere. It was she who taught mortals how to build houses. And every house had a sacred spot for her. That was the hearth, the center of family life.

Mortals prayed to Hestia more than to any of the other gods. Every family meal began and ended with a prayer to Hestia. Whenever a baby was born, the parents carried it around the hearth and prayed to Hestia. Mortals had a saying: "Begin with Hestia." In other words, when doing anything, always start out in the right way.

Hestia lived a quiet life, leaving fame and adventure to others. Zeus's half-mortal son Dionysus showed up on Olympus one day. He wanted to have a throne like the other important gods. Hestia gladly gave up her own throne for him. After all, she was too busy to spend much time sitting there.

Here are some interesting facts about Hestia's story:

*A hearth in an Ancient Greek home wasn't like today's fireplaces. It wasn't placed in a wall at the end of a room.

Instead, it was in the middle of the central room. Its coals burned all the time, whether for warmth or for cooking. In honor of Hestia, Greeks made sure that the fire never went out.

*Every Ancient Greek city also had a public hearth for all citizens. Hestia was sacred there also. When the people of one city founded another city, they took coals with them to light the new city's hearth. As in hearths in private houses, the fires in public hearths were never allowed to die out.

*In Ancient Rome, Hestia was called by the name of Vesta. The six priestesses in her temple were called Vestals. Like Vesta herself, they never married.

*An asteroid called Vesta is named after the goddess. An asteroid is a body that orbits the sun but is much smaller than a planet. Although Vesta is only the second largest asteroid, it is the one most visible from Earth. The largest asteroid is called Ceres, the Roman name for the goddess Demeter.

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Athena Poseidon Hermes Ares Zeus Aphrodite Hera Artemis Hades Apollo Hephaestus Hestia Welcome to our Greek Gods and Goddesses page here on History for Kids. We have some fun facts and pictures for you to color. You will learn some interesting facts about each God as you read down the page.

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Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Celeste.

Greek Mythology is fun. Its endless stories are entertaining, educative, and fascinating. Greek myths consist of magical creatures, jealous gods, and even a robot! If you want to find out which great tales of Greek mythology your kids will love to read, have a look at these 10 stories from Greek Mythology that kids (and their parents) will love!

Stories from Greek Mythology

My daughter entered 3rd grade at the Greek primary school this year. That year, History is added to the student's curriculum. And in that first year of history lessons, it is all about Greek Mythology. We like working on history homework together and that inspired me to write this post.

Both my kids love their Greek history classes about Greek Mythology with its numerous gods, goddesses, and Greek heroes. And it's my experience that most students in their class get excited by the fascinating myths and stories. Judging from the popularity of children's books, movies, video games, and toys about ancient myths, it seems that many kids love Greek Mythology!

What is Greek Mythology?

Greek Mythology consists of many short and long tales. In fact, several volumes of books are needed to cover most of the stories. Many are still famous in our times. Who hasn't heard of Pandora's box or Aphrodite? Greek Mythology inspired artists throughout time as well as authors of modern tales such as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. This widespread influence extends beyond literature and art. It permeates aspects of everyday life, including the way we name our children.

The linguistic appeal of Greek names lies in their melodious and classical sound, which is often appreciated for its aesthetic beauty. This characteristic makes Greek names not only distinctive but also resonant with historical and cultural depth, enhancing their appeal. It's a reflection of how Greek mythology, with its rich linguistic heritage, continues to influence naming trends and showcases the enduring legacy of these ancient stories.

Read more: What is Greek Mythology? The history of Greek myths explained

Some Greek myths are more beloved than others. Some are in particular interesting for kids. In this post, I have collected 10 stories from Greek Mythology that your kids will love.

The role of Greek Mythology in Ancient Greece

The ancient Greeks told each other stories about their gods. We call these stories myths (short for mythology, or stories about gods.) Greek mythology consists of all the stories and tales about the Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes. Greek Mythology is also the religion of Ancient Greece. The Greeks built temples and offered sacrifices to their major gods.

Greek mythology was a way for people to explain the creation of the world, the surrounding nature, understand weather conditions, and generally anything superhuman that was happening in their lives.

Initially, one transmitted the Greek myths orally, and they were usually narrated in the form of songs. From the 5th century BC, Greek mythology stories were written down in plays. These myths were usually the main theme of ancient Greek plays.

10 of the best stories from Greek Mythology

The magical world of the ancient Greek gods was a world full of envious gods, fights and wars, compromise, fear and fun, and punishment and love. The courageous heroes in the epic adventures and myths were based on the fact that heroes and gods, like mortal men, could be punished or rewarded for their actions. Some stories appeal more to children than others. Below you will find a hand-picked list with a summary of 10 Greek myths that children will love. These stories will guarantee to capture their attention and fascination.

Greek Mythology Books for Kids

If you wanted to read more about your favorite story of a character with your child, I strongly recommend investing in a good Greek Mythology storybook. Because Greek Mythology is classic and it is important to have a core collection of books that will stand the test of time. If my children really latch onto a book, I love having our own copy so we can keep re-reading it. That is why I have added an Amazon Best Seller book affiliate link after each story. And at the end of this post, you will also find a link to a detailed list of Greek Mythology Books for kids according to their ages. Let's have a look at my 10 recommended stories from Greek Mythology, starting with Chaos.

1 The story about Chaos

Once upon a time...Greek Mythology starts with Chaos. Chaos was, according to Greek myths, the origin of everything. The empty, unfathomable space at the beginning of time. Chaos is the state the universe was in before it was created. Chaos is often identified as a god, who filled the gap between Heaven and Earth. Born out of chaos were the first beings: Gaia, Mother Earth, Tartarus, the Underworld, Uranus, the Sky, Nyx, the Night, and Erebos, the Darkness of the Underworld. You can read more about Chaos in the book Greek Mythology for Kids: Tales of Gods (Zeus, Titans, Prometheus, Olympians, Athena, Mankind, Pandora) by Charlie Keith, Kindle for ages 7-12.

2 The story of the Titans

The Titans came next. They were the Greek gods that ruled the world before the Olympians (also called the first gods or elder gods). The first twelve Titans were the children of the original gods Uranus (Father Sky) and Gaia (Mother Earth). Some of the children of the Titans are also famous gods in Greek mythology.

Cronos was the King of the Titans. But a prophecy said that his sons would one day overthrow him. In order to protect himself, each time his wife Rhea had a child he would swallow it. This worked until Rhea, unhappy at the loss of her children, tricked Cronus into swallowing a rock, instead of her baby (Zeus) who she hid away in a cave. Zeus survived and became a very important figure in Greek Mythology.

Once Zeus was born, his father was forced to spit up his siblings. Once grown, Zeus managed to free his siblings, and with the help of their gigantic half-siblings, the three Cyclopes and three fifty-headed monsters, the Olympians triumphed over the Titans. They ruled over the affairs of mankind from their palace atop Mount Olympus.

Atlas is also a famous Titan. After losing the war against Zeus, Atlas was punished and he had to hold up the heavens on his shoulders. We often show Atlas holding the Earth.

What happened in the Titanomachy?

The Titanomachy is a ten-year series of battles fought in Thessaly, consisting of most of the Titans (Mount Othrys) fighting against the Olympians (Mount Olympus) and their allies. The war was fought to decide which generation of gods would have domain over the Cosmos; it ended in victory for the Olympians.

In The Battle of the Giants (Zeus, Titans, Prometheus, Atlas, Olympians) by Charlie Keith, kids from 9 to 12 years old will find everything they need to know about the Titan struggles.

3 Stories of the Twelve Olympian Gods

Most stories from Greek Mythology are about the Olympian Gods. These twelve famous gods and goddesses ruled the universe from Greece's Mount Olympus. They had come to power after their leader, Zeus, overthrew his father, Cronos, leader of the Titans. All the Olympians are related to one another. The Romans adopted most of these Greek gods and goddesses but with new names. Do you know the Greek Olympian God's names?

1. Zeus was the God of the sky and lightning and the most important of all gods.

2. Poseidon was the feared God of the sea. He is the brother of Zeus.

3. Athena is the daughter of Zeus. A brave and wise goddess. She is the city protectress, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason.

4. Aphrodite was the goddess of love, and she liked doves, sparrows, and swans.

5. Hades is the King of the Underworld.

6. Hera was the queen of the gods and the protector of women and marriage.

7. Hestia was the oldest of the gods of Olympus. She is the goddess of the hearth, the right ordering of domesticity, the family, and the home.

8. Hephaestus was the god of fire. He was a blacksmith whose forge was in a volcano.

9. Ares was the god of war.

10. Hermes was the messenger god. He was young and intelligent-looking. He wore a winged hat and winged sandals, and he carried a magic wand.

11. Apollo was the god of wisdom, poetry, and music.

12. Demeter was the goddess of the harvest, fertility, agriculture, and nature.

Was there a 13th Olympian god?

Yes, there was! Her name is Artemis. Apollo's twin sister, Artemis, was the goddess of wildlife and hunting. She was also a helper of midwives as a goddess of birth.

Books about the 12 Olympian Gods

There are numerous good books about the 12 Olympian Gods. One of the best and most complete is the National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters. This Greek Mythology encyclopedia is suitable for children from 7 to 11 years old and contains most of the stories listed in this post. For older children, I recommend the Olympian Series by George O'Connor. In 12 volumes, kids from 9 until 12 years old will meet their favorite god through appealing comics. This Amazon 5-star series also includes a family tree included. For teens, the Olympus Academy: The Complete Collection (12 - 18 years) is the series that you should be in your library.

4 The story of Goddess Athena

My kid's favorite Olympian is the goddess Athena. Her birth seems especially fascinating to my kids. Zeus, the father of gods and goddesses, was Athena's father. Her mother was Metis, a mortal woman. Older gods had warned Zeus that he would be in trouble if Metis gave birth to a daughter. So he swallowed Metis whole. But when it came time for Athena to be born, she sprang full-grown out of Zeus's head. She was completely dressed in armor, as she always would be. She also carried a shield and a spear. Athena turned out to be a great warrior.

Athene and Poseidon

Athena didn't get along with the sea god Poseidon. They were always rivaling over one thing or another. So when the people of a new city were looking for a god to watch over and protect them, Athena and Poseidon both wanted the job. To impress the city's citizens, the two gods gave them gifts. Poseidon struck the ground with his three-pointed spear, and water poured out. The water turned into a river that flowed into the sea. Poseidon told the people to build ships to sail to the sea. He said that they could travel everywhere. They could become the most powerful people on earth. The citizens were indeed impressed. But then Athena told them to taste the water. It tasted awful. It was salt water, which is impossible to drink.

The city of Athens

Then Athena gave the citizens her gift. When she hit the ground with her spear, a tree magically grew up within seconds. She explained that it was a special tree-an olive tree. Its wood was good both for building houses and for heating those houses in winter. Better still, the tree's little green fruits, called "olives," were delicious. And oil made out of the olives was useful for cooking. The citizens liked Athena's gift better than Poseidon's. Not only did they choose Athena to watch over them, they named the city after her.

Naming the city of Athens

They called it Athens. Poseidon left in a huff, causing a serious flood on his way. But the Athenians weren't bothered very much. With Athena's help, their city grew to be strong and wealthy. Athens became one of the greatest cities of all time. Today it's the capital and the largest city of Greece.

Being of the most famous goddess of all, the list of books about Athena is long. If I have to pick one volume that covers Athena and a lot more famous stories from Greek Mythology, it would be the classic collection D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths for Children from 6 to 11.

5 The story of the 12 Labors of Heracles

Besides many gods, Greek Mythology also represents countless demigods. The most famous is Heracles. Many popular stories were told of his life, the most famous being The Twelve Labours of Heracles. Each of these elaborate 12 labors stories are favorite tale amongst many kids.

Who is Heracles?

This Greek hero is incredibly strong, courageous, and intelligent. His father was Zeus, king of the gods, and his mother was Alcmene, a beautiful human princess. Even as a baby, Heracles was very strong. When the goddess Hera, Zeus' wife, found out about the strong baby, she wanted to kill him. In order to do that, she snuck two large snakes into his crib. However, baby Heracles grabbed the snakes by the neck and strangled them with his bare hands. Heracles mother tried to raise him as a regular child. He attended a normal school with mortal children. But one day, he got mad and hit his music teacher with his lyre and killed him by accident.

What did Hera do to Hercules?

Later on in life, Heracles married Megara, and he had a happy family life. This angered Hera once more. She tricked Hercules into thinking his family was a bunch of snakes. Heracles killed his children and Megara. After his madness had been cured, Heracles realized what he had done and fled to the Oracle of Delphi. Unbeknownst to him, the Oracle was guided by Hera. He was directed to serve King Eurystheus for ten years and perform any task Eurystheus required of him. The tasks the king gave him are called the Twelve Labors of Heracles.

What are the 12 labors of Hercules?

The famous 12 Labors of Heracles refer to the tasks that King Eurystheus ordered Heracles to do. Let's take a look at them below. Hercules would not be a legend if he had not managed to complete all these twelve labors and free himself from the service of the king.

1. slay the Nemean Lion

2. slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra

3. capture the Golden Hind of Artemis

4. capture the Erymanthian Boar

5. clean the Augean stables in a single day

6. slay the Stymphalian Birds

7. capture the Cretan Bull

8. steal the Mares of Diomedes

9. obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons

10. obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon

11. steal the golden apples of the Hesperides

12. capture and bring back Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades

My kids' favorite Heracles stories? These two below described made it to the top ten!

What is the Nemean Lion?

The slay the Nemean Lion is the first of Heracles' 12 tasks. The Nemean Lion had huge teeth, and skin so tough that it could not be pierced by arrows. Everyone in the land of Nemea was very scared of it and many hunters had tried to kill the beast, but none had succeeded. When Hercules got to Nemea and began tracking the terrible lion, he soon discovered his arrows were useless against the beast. Hercules picked up his club and went after the lion. Following it to a cave that had two entrances, Hercules blocked one of the doorways, then approached the fierce lion through the other. Grasping the lion in his strong arms, and ignoring its powerful claws, he choked the lion to death.

The Lernaean Hydra

The slaying of the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra is another favorite tale. In this story, our hero deals with one fire-breathing monster with multiple serpent heads that when one head was cut off, two would grow in its place. The Lernaean Hydra lived in a swamp near Lerna. Hera had sent it in the hope it would destroy Heracles' home city because she thought it was invincible. But with the help of his nephew Iolaus, he defeated the ugly monster and dipped his arrows in its poisoned blood, thus envenoming them.

The most complete book about Heracles for children from Kindergarten until 12 years old is the best-selling Who was Hercules? Greek Mythology for Kids by Baby Professor Children's Greek & Roman Books

6 The story of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa

If your kids like monsters, they will also enjoy the famous tale about the terrifying Gorgon Medusa and the great hero Perseus. Demigod Perseus was the son of Olympian god Zeus and the mortal woman Danae. Perseus sought to kill Medusa, the only mortal of the three monstrous sisters. Instead of hair, Medusa had living venomous snakes on her head and anyone that would look at her eyes would immediately turn into stone. With the help and the wisdom of goddess Athena, Perseus approached the monster by looking through the reflection of a shield and cutting off her head.

Early Myths Perseus explores the story of Perseus. The book won a prize at the Moonbeam Children's Awards and is a must-have introduction for anyone starting to read stories from Greek Mythology with their kids (Best for ages: 4 - 10)

7 The story of Theseus and the Minotaur

The most famous labyrinth is found in Greek mythology in the story of Theseus, prince of Athens. This labyrinth was designed by Daedalus for King Minos of Knossos on Crete to contain the ferocious half man - half bull known as the Minotaur.

The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is one of the most tragic and fascinating myths of Greek Mythology. Theseus, a genuine Greek hero, and Minotaur, one of the most devastating and terrifying monsters are the protagonists of a story connecting the two of the main city-states in the Hellenic world: Athens and Crete.

What is the story of the Minotaur?

The Minotaur was the son of Pasiphae, wife of King Minos of Crete. Queen Pasiphae slept with a bull sent by Zeus and gave birth to Minotaur, a creature half man - half bull. King Minos was embarrassed but did not want to kill the Minotaur, so he hid the monster in the Labyrinth at the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Minos was imprisoning his enemies in the Labyrinth so that the Minotaur could eat them. The labyrinth was such a complicated construction that no one could ever find the way out alive.

Son of Minos, Androgeus, went to Athens to participate in the Panathenaic Games, but he was killed during the Marathon by the bull that impregnated his mother Pasiphae. Minos was infuriated, and demanded Aegeus, the king of Athens, to send seven men and women every year to the Minotaur to avert the plague caused by the death of Androgeus.

Theseus and the Minotaur

In the third year, Theseus, son of Aegeus decided to be one of the seven young men that would go to Crete, in order to kill the Minotaur and end the human sacrifices to the monster. King Aegeus tried to make him change his mind, but Theseus was determined to slay the Minotaur. He promised his father that he would put up white sails coming back from Crete, allowing him to know in advance that he was coming back alive. The boat would return with the black sails if Theseus was killed. Theseus announced to King Minos that he was going to kill the Monster, but Minos knew that even if he did manage to kill the Minotaur, Theseus would never be able to exit the Labyrinth.

Ariadne's thread

However, Theseus met Princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, who fell in love with him and decided to help Theseus. She gave him a thread (known as Ariadne's thread) and told him to unravel it as he would penetrate deeper and deeper into the Labyrinth so that he knows the way out when he kills the monster. Theseus followed her suggestion and entered the labyrinth with the thread. He managed to kill the Minotaur and save the Athenians, and with Ariadne's thread, he managed to retrace his way out. With Ariadne on his boat, Theseus left Crete sailing happily back to Athens.

Aegeus and the Sails

Theseus' boat stopped at Naxos and the Athenians had a long celebration dedicated to Theseus and Ariadne. After many hours of feasting and drinking, Ariadne fell asleep on the shore and didn't enter the boat that sailed to Athens. Theseus figured out that Ariadne was not with them when it was too late, and he was so upset that he forgot the promise made to his father and did not change the sails.

King Aegeus and the Aegean Sea

King Aegeus was waiting at Cape Sounion to see the sails of the boat. He saw the black sails from afar and presumed his son was dead. He dropped himself into the waters, committing suicide and since then, this sea is called the Aegean Sea.

For the adventures of Theseus, I recommend you to look at Theseus: Book 6- Early Myths Kids Books on Greek Myth (Volume 6) for 4 - 10 years old.

8 The story of the Apple of Discord

My daughter loves the Apple of Discord, in some ways resembling the symbolism of a familiar fairy tale. The protagonist in this story is Eris. During the wedding of Thetis and Peleus, the goddess of discord, Eris, was not invited. Infuriated by this, she tossed a solid gold apple into the wedding. It had inscribed on it " to the fairest".

All the gods recoiled and most goddesses, but Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera fought over the title. They asked Zeus whom it belonged to, and he responded to ask Paris, a mortal prince. They showed him the apple, and asked the question, bribing him with gifts. He chose Aphrodite and would cause a war between the gods and mortals.

The protagonists of the Apple of Discord can all be found in Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook: From Aphrodite to Zeus, a Profile of Who's Who in Greek Mythology.

9 The story of Jason and the Argonauts

One of the most exciting stories of Greek Mythology is that of Jason and the Argonauts, and their quest for the Golden Fleece. In Greek mythology, Jason was the leader of a band of 50 adventurers who set out on a long journey to find the Golden Fleece.

Jason and his adventurers traveled in the ship named Argo to fetch the Golden Fleece, the golden wool of a ram. Jason's father, Aeson, was the rightful king of Iolcos in Thessaly, in what is now northern Greece. However, Jason's uncle Pelias seized the throne. Pelias promised to step down and let Jason be king if Jason would get the Golden Fleece -an impossible task, it seemed. After setting off, the Argonauts had many experiences.

Although Jason succeeded in the quest, he never achieved his true goal-to become king of the land of Iolcus.

The Golden Fleece

The Golden Fleece is one of the most important elements in the myth of Jason. It was kept in a grove sacred to the god Ares in distant Colchis, a land of fabulous wealth at the eastern end of the Black Sea. A dragon who never slept guarded the fleece. The golden wool came from the ram Aries, who had been sacrificed to Zeus and then placed in the heavens as a constellation.

The Centaur Chiron

Kids love the magical creatures in the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts. One of them is the centaur Chiron. Centaurs were mythical creatures with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. When Jason was still a boy, his mother feared for his safety. She sent him away to be guarded by Chiron, a wise centaurwho took charge of the boy's education.

What is special about the Chiron

Chiron taught Jason hunting and warfare, music, and medicine. Some accounts say that the centaur also gave Jason his name, which means "healer," in recognition of the boy's skill in the medical arts. In Greek mythology, Chiron was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren since he was considered the wisest and justest of all the centaurs.

Medea in Greek Mythology

Medea, in Greek mythology, is an enchantress or is a sorceress who helped Jason, obtain the Golden Fleece. She is often depicted as a priestess or a witch. Medea was of divine descent and had the gift of prophecy. She married Jason and used her magic powers and advice to help him.

Early Myths is a very successful series of books about Greek heroes including Jason & the Golden Fleece. These multimedia books are available on the iPad, iPhone, and Kindle, and there are audiobooks and paperbacks. A must-have introduction for anyone starting Greek Mythology with kids aged 4 to 10. Older children will enjoy Jason, the Argonauts, and the Golden Fleece: An Interactive Mythological Adventure.

10 The story of the Talos

A personal favorite is the story of the Talos. The Talos, also spelled Talus or Talon, was a giant automaton made of bronze built by Hephaestus, the Greek god of invention and blacksmithing. Endowed with superhuman strength, and powered by ichor, the life fluid of the gods, this automaton was unlike anything Hephaestus had made before. The god named his creation Talos: the first robot.

Talos was commissioned by Zeus, the king of gods, to protect the island of Crete from invaders. He marched around the island three times every day and hurled boulders at approaching enemy ships. Talos' only weakness was his ankle (the same way Achilles was), where the single vein containing all of his life-fluid ( ichor, the blood of the gods) was sealed with a thin membrane of the skin or a bronze nail.

Medea and the Death of Talos

As Jason and the Argonauts approached the shores of Crete, Talos noticed their ship and tried warding it off in his usual, ever effective manner. And who knows - he might have been successful yet again, had Medea not traveled on the Argo as well.

Fearless, she mounted on the deck of the ship, and after invoking the Death spirits (the Keres) several times, she bewitched the eyes of Talos. Because of this, the bronze man was unable to see a sharp crag in front of him. As a result, he subsequently, grazed his ankle. The ichor gushed forth like melted lead, and Talos fell to the ground defeated.

Do you want to read more? Check out the 5-star rated Greek Gods for Kids: Introduction to Greek Mythology for Children. Timeless Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes of Ancient Greece (Mythology for Kids and Teens).

Related posts about Greek Mythology

Does your family like Greek Mythology stories? And if yes, what is your favorite story? Let me know in the comments because I would love to add more stories to this list. If you want to start exploring myths with your children, you can also check these other posts:

Places in Greece related to Greek Mythology

If your family is a fan of Greek mythology, you will love to explore the places in Greece that are connected to the ancient stories. Greece is full of sites that witnessed the adventures of gods, heroes, and monsters, and you can still see their traces today. Here are some of the places you can visit to immerse yourself in the world of Greek mythology:

Mount Olympus: The highest mountain in Greece and the home of the twelve Olympian gods. You can hike to the summit and enjoy the breathtaking views, or visit the nearby archaeological park of Dion, where the ancient Greeks worshipped Zeus and the other gods.

Delphi: The sacred oracle of Apollo, where the Pythia delivered her prophecies. You can admire the impressive temple of Apollo, the theatre, the stadium, and the museum, which displays the famous bronze statue of the Charioteer of Delphi.

: The legendary palace of King Minos and the labyrinth of the Minotaur. You can explore the ruins of the ancient Minoan civilization, which was one of the oldest and most advanced in Europe, and marvel at the colorful frescoes and the intricate architecture.

Ithaca: The homeland of Odysseus, the hero of the Odyssey, who spent ten years trying to return to his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. You can visit the cave of the nymphs, where Odysseus hid his treasures, or the bay of Polis, where he landed after his long journey.

Acheron River: The river that leads to the Underworld, where the souls of the dead cross the Styx with the help of Charon, the ferryman. You can walk along the river, which flows through a stunning gorge, or even take a boat ride to the springs, where the water is crystal clear.

Sounion: The cape where the temple of Poseidon stands, overlooking the Aegean Sea. You can admire the majestic columns of the temple, which are illuminated at night, or watch the sunset from one of the most scenic spots in Greece.

Delos: The island where Apollo and Artemis were born, according to the myth. You can visit the archaeological site, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see the remains of temples, statues, houses, and mosaics, which testify to the island's rich history and culture.

These are just some of the places in Greece that are related to Greek mythology, but there are many more to discover. Whether you are looking for adventure, history, or beauty, you will find it in Greece, the land of myths and legends!

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10 Fascinating Stories from Greek mythology that Kids Love (update 2024)

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The most amazing stories from Greek Mythology that kids (and adults alike) will love! Learn more about some of the greatest Greek Myths for Kids!

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Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Celeste.

Greek Mythology is fun. Its endless stories are entertaining, educative, and fascinating. Greek myths consist of magical creatures, jealous gods, and even a robot! If you want to find out which great tales of Greek mythology your kids will love to read, have a look at these 10 stories from Greek Mythology that kids (and their parents) will love!

Stories from Greek Mythology

My daughter entered 3rd grade at the Greek primary school this year. That year, History is added to the student's curriculum. And in that first year of history lessons, it is all about Greek Mythology. We like working on history homework together and that inspired me to write this post.

Both my kids love their Greek history classes about Greek Mythology with its numerous gods, goddesses, and Greek heroes. And it's my experience that most students in their class get excited by the fascinating myths and stories. Judging from the popularity of children's books, movies, video games, and toys about ancient myths, it seems that many kids love Greek Mythology!

What is Greek Mythology?

Greek Mythology consists of many short and long tales. In fact, several volumes of books are needed to cover most of the stories. Many are still famous in our times. Who hasn't heard of Pandora's box or Aphrodite? Greek Mythology inspired artists throughout time as well as authors of modern tales such as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. This widespread influence extends beyond literature and art. It permeates aspects of everyday life, including the way we name our children.

The linguistic appeal of Greek names lies in their melodious and classical sound, which is often appreciated for its aesthetic beauty. This characteristic makes Greek names not only distinctive but also resonant with historical and cultural depth, enhancing their appeal. It's a reflection of how Greek mythology, with its rich linguistic heritage, continues to influence naming trends and showcases the enduring legacy of these ancient stories.

Read more: What is Greek Mythology? The history of Greek myths explained

Some Greek myths are more beloved than others. Some are in particular interesting for kids. In this post, I have collected 10 stories from Greek Mythology that your kids will love.

The role of Greek Mythology in Ancient Greece

The ancient Greeks told each other stories about their gods. We call these stories myths (short for mythology, or stories about gods.) Greek mythology consists of all the stories and tales about the Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes. Greek Mythology is also the religion of Ancient Greece. The Greeks built temples and offered sacrifices to their major gods.

Greek mythology was a way for people to explain the creation of the world, the surrounding nature, understand weather conditions, and generally anything superhuman that was happening in their lives.

Initially, one transmitted the Greek myths orally, and they were usually narrated in the form of songs. From the 5th century BC, Greek mythology stories were written down in plays. These myths were usually the main theme of ancient Greek plays.

10 of the best stories from Greek Mythology

The magical world of the ancient Greek gods was a world full of envious gods, fights and wars, compromise, fear and fun, and punishment and love. The courageous heroes in the epic adventures and myths were based on the fact that heroes and gods, like mortal men, could be punished or rewarded for their actions. Some stories appeal more to children than others. Below you will find a hand-picked list with a summary of 10 Greek myths that children will love. These stories will guarantee to capture their attention and fascination.

Greek Mythology Books for Kids

If you wanted to read more about your favorite story of a character with your child, I strongly recommend investing in a good Greek Mythology storybook. Because Greek Mythology is classic and it is important to have a core collection of books that will stand the test of time. If my children really latch onto a book, I love having our own copy so we can keep re-reading it. That is why I have added an Amazon Best Seller book affiliate link after each story. And at the end of this post, you will also find a link to a detailed list of Greek Mythology Books for kids according to their ages. Let's have a look at my 10 recommended stories from Greek Mythology, starting with Chaos.

1 The story about Chaos

Once upon a time...Greek Mythology starts with Chaos. Chaos was, according to Greek myths, the origin of everything. The empty, unfathomable space at the beginning of time. Chaos is the state the universe was in before it was created. Chaos is often identified as a god, who filled the gap between Heaven and Earth. Born out of chaos were the first beings: Gaia, Mother Earth, Tartarus, the Underworld, Uranus, the Sky, Nyx, the Night, and Erebos, the Darkness of the Underworld. You can read more about Chaos in the book Greek Mythology for Kids: Tales of Gods (Zeus, Titans, Prometheus, Olympians, Athena, Mankind, Pandora) by Charlie Keith, Kindle for ages 7-12.

2 The story of the Titans

The Titans came next. They were the Greek gods that ruled the world before the Olympians (also called the first gods or elder gods). The first twelve Titans were the children of the original gods Uranus (Father Sky) and Gaia (Mother Earth). Some of the children of the Titans are also famous gods in Greek mythology.

Cronos was the King of the Titans. But a prophecy said that his sons would one day overthrow him. In order to protect himself, each time his wife Rhea had a child he would swallow it. This worked until Rhea, unhappy at the loss of her children, tricked Cronus into swallowing a rock, instead of her baby (Zeus) who she hid away in a cave. Zeus survived and became a very important figure in Greek Mythology.

Once Zeus was born, his father was forced to spit up his siblings. Once grown, Zeus managed to free his siblings, and with the help of their gigantic half-siblings, the three Cyclopes and three fifty-headed monsters, the Olympians triumphed over the Titans. They ruled over the affairs of mankind from their palace atop Mount Olympus.

Atlas is also a famous Titan. After losing the war against Zeus, Atlas was punished and he had to hold up the heavens on his shoulders. We often show Atlas holding the Earth.

What happened in the Titanomachy?

The Titanomachy is a ten-year series of battles fought in Thessaly, consisting of most of the Titans (Mount Othrys) fighting against the Olympians (Mount Olympus) and their allies. The war was fought to decide which generation of gods would have domain over the Cosmos; it ended in victory for the Olympians.

In The Battle of the Giants (Zeus, Titans, Prometheus, Atlas, Olympians) by Charlie Keith, kids from 9 to 12 years old will find everything they need to know about the Titan struggles.

3 Stories of the Twelve Olympian Gods

Most stories from Greek Mythology are about the Olympian Gods. These twelve famous gods and goddesses ruled the universe from Greece's Mount Olympus. They had come to power after their leader, Zeus, overthrew his father, Cronos, leader of the Titans. All the Olympians are related to one another. The Romans adopted most of these Greek gods and goddesses but with new names. Do you know the Greek Olympian God's names?

1. Zeus was the God of the sky and lightning and the most important of all gods.

2. Poseidon was the feared God of the sea. He is the brother of Zeus.

3. Athena is the daughter of Zeus. A brave and wise goddess. She is the city protectress, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason.

4. Aphrodite was the goddess of love, and she liked doves, sparrows, and swans.

5. Hades is the King of the Underworld.

6. Hera was the queen of the gods and the protector of women and marriage.

7. Hestia was the oldest of the gods of Olympus. She is the goddess of the hearth, the right ordering of domesticity, the family, and the home.

8. Hephaestus was the god of fire. He was a blacksmith whose forge was in a volcano.

9. Ares was the god of war.

10. Hermes was the messenger god. He was young and intelligent-looking. He wore a winged hat and winged sandals, and he carried a magic wand.

11. Apollo was the god of wisdom, poetry, and music.

12. Demeter was the goddess of the harvest, fertility, agriculture, and nature.

Was there a 13th Olympian god?

Yes, there was! Her name is Artemis. Apollo's twin sister, Artemis, was the goddess of wildlife and hunting. She was also a helper of midwives as a goddess of birth.

Books about the 12 Olympian Gods

There are numerous good books about the 12 Olympian Gods. One of the best and most complete is the National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters. This Greek Mythology encyclopedia is suitable for children from 7 to 11 years old and contains most of the stories listed in this post. For older children, I recommend the Olympian Series by George O'Connor. In 12 volumes, kids from 9 until 12 years old will meet their favorite god through appealing comics. This Amazon 5-star series also includes a family tree included. For teens, the Olympus Academy: The Complete Collection (12 - 18 years) is the series that you should be in your library.

4 The story of Goddess Athena

My kid's favorite Olympian is the goddess Athena. Her birth seems especially fascinating to my kids. Zeus, the father of gods and goddesses, was Athena's father. Her mother was Metis, a mortal woman. Older gods had warned Zeus that he would be in trouble if Metis gave birth to a daughter. So he swallowed Metis whole. But when it came time for Athena to be born, she sprang full-grown out of Zeus's head. She was completely dressed in armor, as she always would be. She also carried a shield and a spear. Athena turned out to be a great warrior.

Athene and Poseidon

Athena didn't get along with the sea god Poseidon. They were always rivaling over one thing or another. So when the people of a new city were looking for a god to watch over and protect them, Athena and Poseidon both wanted the job. To impress the city's citizens, the two gods gave them gifts. Poseidon struck the ground with his three-pointed spear, and water poured out. The water turned into a river that flowed into the sea. Poseidon told the people to build ships to sail to the sea. He said that they could travel everywhere. They could become the most powerful people on earth. The citizens were indeed impressed. But then Athena told them to taste the water. It tasted awful. It was salt water, which is impossible to drink.

The city of Athens

Then Athena gave the citizens her gift. When she hit the ground with her spear, a tree magically grew up within seconds. She explained that it was a special tree-an olive tree. Its wood was good both for building houses and for heating those houses in winter. Better still, the tree's little green fruits, called "olives," were delicious. And oil made out of the olives was useful for cooking. The citizens liked Athena's gift better than Poseidon's. Not only did they choose Athena to watch over them, they named the city after her.

Naming the city of Athens

They called it Athens. Poseidon left in a huff, causing a serious flood on his way. But the Athenians weren't bothered very much. With Athena's help, their city grew to be strong and wealthy. Athens became one of the greatest cities of all time. Today it's the capital and the largest city of Greece.

Being of the most famous goddess of all, the list of books about Athena is long. If I have to pick one volume that covers Athena and a lot more famous stories from Greek Mythology, it would be the classic collection D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths for Children from 6 to 11.

5 The story of the 12 Labors of Heracles

Besides many gods, Greek Mythology also represents countless demigods. The most famous is Heracles. Many popular stories were told of his life, the most famous being The Twelve Labours of Heracles. Each of these elaborate 12 labors stories are favorite tale amongst many kids.

Who is Heracles?

This Greek hero is incredibly strong, courageous, and intelligent. His father was Zeus, king of the gods, and his mother was Alcmene, a beautiful human princess. Even as a baby, Heracles was very strong. When the goddess Hera, Zeus' wife, found out about the strong baby, she wanted to kill him. In order to do that, she snuck two large snakes into his crib. However, baby Heracles grabbed the snakes by the neck and strangled them with his bare hands. Heracles mother tried to raise him as a regular child. He attended a normal school with mortal children. But one day, he got mad and hit his music teacher with his lyre and killed him by accident.

What did Hera do to Hercules?

Later on in life, Heracles married Megara, and he had a happy family life. This angered Hera once more. She tricked Hercules into thinking his family was a bunch of snakes. Heracles killed his children and Megara. After his madness had been cured, Heracles realized what he had done and fled to the Oracle of Delphi. Unbeknownst to him, the Oracle was guided by Hera. He was directed to serve King Eurystheus for ten years and perform any task Eurystheus required of him. The tasks the king gave him are called the Twelve Labors of Heracles.

What are the 12 labors of Hercules?

The famous 12 Labors of Heracles refer to the tasks that King Eurystheus ordered Heracles to do. Let's take a look at them below. Hercules would not be a legend if he had not managed to complete all these twelve labors and free himself from the service of the king.

1. slay the Nemean Lion

2. slay the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra

3. capture the Golden Hind of Artemis

4. capture the Erymanthian Boar

5. clean the Augean stables in a single day

6. slay the Stymphalian Birds

7. capture the Cretan Bull

8. steal the Mares of Diomedes

9. obtain the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons

10. obtain the cattle of the monster Geryon

11. steal the golden apples of the Hesperides

12. capture and bring back Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades

My kids' favorite Heracles stories? These two below described made it to the top ten!

What is the Nemean Lion?

The slay the Nemean Lion is the first of Heracles' 12 tasks. The Nemean Lion had huge teeth, and skin so tough that it could not be pierced by arrows. Everyone in the land of Nemea was very scared of it and many hunters had tried to kill the beast, but none had succeeded. When Hercules got to Nemea and began tracking the terrible lion, he soon discovered his arrows were useless against the beast. Hercules picked up his club and went after the lion. Following it to a cave that had two entrances, Hercules blocked one of the doorways, then approached the fierce lion through the other. Grasping the lion in his strong arms, and ignoring its powerful claws, he choked the lion to death.

The Lernaean Hydra

The slaying of the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra is another favorite tale. In this story, our hero deals with one fire-breathing monster with multiple serpent heads that when one head was cut off, two would grow in its place. The Lernaean Hydra lived in a swamp near Lerna. Hera had sent it in the hope it would destroy Heracles' home city because she thought it was invincible. But with the help of his nephew Iolaus, he defeated the ugly monster and dipped his arrows in its poisoned blood, thus envenoming them.

The most complete book about Heracles for children from Kindergarten until 12 years old is the best-selling Who was Hercules? Greek Mythology for Kids by Baby Professor Children's Greek & Roman Books

6 The story of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa

If your kids like monsters, they will also enjoy the famous tale about the terrifying Gorgon Medusa and the great hero Perseus. Demigod Perseus was the son of Olympian god Zeus and the mortal woman Danae. Perseus sought to kill Medusa, the only mortal of the three monstrous sisters. Instead of hair, Medusa had living venomous snakes on her head and anyone that would look at her eyes would immediately turn into stone. With the help and the wisdom of goddess Athena, Perseus approached the monster by looking through the reflection of a shield and cutting off her head.

Early Myths Perseus explores the story of Perseus. The book won a prize at the Moonbeam Children's Awards and is a must-have introduction for anyone starting to read stories from Greek Mythology with their kids (Best for ages: 4 - 10)

7 The story of Theseus and the Minotaur

The most famous labyrinth is found in Greek mythology in the story of Theseus, prince of Athens. This labyrinth was designed by Daedalus for King Minos of Knossos on Crete to contain the ferocious half man - half bull known as the Minotaur.

The myth of Theseus and the Minotaur is one of the most tragic and fascinating myths of Greek Mythology. Theseus, a genuine Greek hero, and Minotaur, one of the most devastating and terrifying monsters are the protagonists of a story connecting the two of the main city-states in the Hellenic world: Athens and Crete.

What is the story of the Minotaur?

The Minotaur was the son of Pasiphae, wife of King Minos of Crete. Queen Pasiphae slept with a bull sent by Zeus and gave birth to Minotaur, a creature half man - half bull. King Minos was embarrassed but did not want to kill the Minotaur, so he hid the monster in the Labyrinth at the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Minos was imprisoning his enemies in the Labyrinth so that the Minotaur could eat them. The labyrinth was such a complicated construction that no one could ever find the way out alive.

Son of Minos, Androgeus, went to Athens to participate in the Panathenaic Games, but he was killed during the Marathon by the bull that impregnated his mother Pasiphae. Minos was infuriated, and demanded Aegeus, the king of Athens, to send seven men and women every year to the Minotaur to avert the plague caused by the death of Androgeus.

Theseus and the Minotaur

In the third year, Theseus, son of Aegeus decided to be one of the seven young men that would go to Crete, in order to kill the Minotaur and end the human sacrifices to the monster. King Aegeus tried to make him change his mind, but Theseus was determined to slay the Minotaur. He promised his father that he would put up white sails coming back from Crete, allowing him to know in advance that he was coming back alive. The boat would return with the black sails if Theseus was killed. Theseus announced to King Minos that he was going to kill the Monster, but Minos knew that even if he did manage to kill the Minotaur, Theseus would never be able to exit the Labyrinth.

Ariadne's thread

However, Theseus met Princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, who fell in love with him and decided to help Theseus. She gave him a thread (known as Ariadne's thread) and told him to unravel it as he would penetrate deeper and deeper into the Labyrinth so that he knows the way out when he kills the monster. Theseus followed her suggestion and entered the labyrinth with the thread. He managed to kill the Minotaur and save the Athenians, and with Ariadne's thread, he managed to retrace his way out. With Ariadne on his boat, Theseus left Crete sailing happily back to Athens.

Aegeus and the Sails

Theseus' boat stopped at Naxos and the Athenians had a long celebration dedicated to Theseus and Ariadne. After many hours of feasting and drinking, Ariadne fell asleep on the shore and didn't enter the boat that sailed to Athens. Theseus figured out that Ariadne was not with them when it was too late, and he was so upset that he forgot the promise made to his father and did not change the sails.

King Aegeus and the Aegean Sea

King Aegeus was waiting at Cape Sounion to see the sails of the boat. He saw the black sails from afar and presumed his son was dead. He dropped himself into the waters, committing suicide and since then, this sea is called the Aegean Sea.

For the adventures of Theseus, I recommend you to look at Theseus: Book 6- Early Myths Kids Books on Greek Myth (Volume 6) for 4 - 10 years old.

8 The story of the Apple of Discord

My daughter loves the Apple of Discord, in some ways resembling the symbolism of a familiar fairy tale. The protagonist in this story is Eris. During the wedding of Thetis and Peleus, the goddess of discord, Eris, was not invited. Infuriated by this, she tossed a solid gold apple into the wedding. It had inscribed on it " to the fairest".

All the gods recoiled and most goddesses, but Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera fought over the title. They asked Zeus whom it belonged to, and he responded to ask Paris, a mortal prince. They showed him the apple, and asked the question, bribing him with gifts. He chose Aphrodite and would cause a war between the gods and mortals.

The protagonists of the Apple of Discord can all be found in Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook: From Aphrodite to Zeus, a Profile of Who's Who in Greek Mythology.

9 The story of Jason and the Argonauts

One of the most exciting stories of Greek Mythology is that of Jason and the Argonauts, and their quest for the Golden Fleece. In Greek mythology, Jason was the leader of a band of 50 adventurers who set out on a long journey to find the Golden Fleece.

Jason and his adventurers traveled in the ship named Argo to fetch the Golden Fleece, the golden wool of a ram. Jason's father, Aeson, was the rightful king of Iolcos in Thessaly, in what is now northern Greece. However, Jason's uncle Pelias seized the throne. Pelias promised to step down and let Jason be king if Jason would get the Golden Fleece -an impossible task, it seemed. After setting off, the Argonauts had many experiences.

Although Jason succeeded in the quest, he never achieved his true goal-to become king of the land of Iolcus.

The Golden Fleece

The Golden Fleece is one of the most important elements in the myth of Jason. It was kept in a grove sacred to the god Ares in distant Colchis, a land of fabulous wealth at the eastern end of the Black Sea. A dragon who never slept guarded the fleece. The golden wool came from the ram Aries, who had been sacrificed to Zeus and then placed in the heavens as a constellation.

The Centaur Chiron

Kids love the magical creatures in the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts. One of them is the centaur Chiron. Centaurs were mythical creatures with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. When Jason was still a boy, his mother feared for his safety. She sent him away to be guarded by Chiron, a wise centaurwho took charge of the boy's education.

What is special about the Chiron

Chiron taught Jason hunting and warfare, music, and medicine. Some accounts say that the centaur also gave Jason his name, which means "healer," in recognition of the boy's skill in the medical arts. In Greek mythology, Chiron was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren since he was considered the wisest and justest of all the centaurs.

Medea in Greek Mythology

Medea, in Greek mythology, is an enchantress or is a sorceress who helped Jason, obtain the Golden Fleece. She is often depicted as a priestess or a witch. Medea was of divine descent and had the gift of prophecy. She married Jason and used her magic powers and advice to help him.

Early Myths is a very successful series of books about Greek heroes including Jason & the Golden Fleece. These multimedia books are available on the iPad, iPhone, and Kindle, and there are audiobooks and paperbacks. A must-have introduction for anyone starting Greek Mythology with kids aged 4 to 10. Older children will enjoy Jason, the Argonauts, and the Golden Fleece: An Interactive Mythological Adventure.

10 The story of the Talos

A personal favorite is the story of the Talos. The Talos, also spelled Talus or Talon, was a giant automaton made of bronze built by Hephaestus, the Greek god of invention and blacksmithing. Endowed with superhuman strength, and powered by ichor, the life fluid of the gods, this automaton was unlike anything Hephaestus had made before. The god named his creation Talos: the first robot.

Talos was commissioned by Zeus, the king of gods, to protect the island of Crete from invaders. He marched around the island three times every day and hurled boulders at approaching enemy ships. Talos' only weakness was his ankle (the same way Achilles was), where the single vein containing all of his life-fluid ( ichor, the blood of the gods) was sealed with a thin membrane of the skin or a bronze nail.

Medea and the Death of Talos

As Jason and the Argonauts approached the shores of Crete, Talos noticed their ship and tried warding it off in his usual, ever effective manner. And who knows - he might have been successful yet again, had Medea not traveled on the Argo as well.

Fearless, she mounted on the deck of the ship, and after invoking the Death spirits (the Keres) several times, she bewitched the eyes of Talos. Because of this, the bronze man was unable to see a sharp crag in front of him. As a result, he subsequently, grazed his ankle. The ichor gushed forth like melted lead, and Talos fell to the ground defeated.

Do you want to read more? Check out the 5-star rated Greek Gods for Kids: Introduction to Greek Mythology for Children. Timeless Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes of Ancient Greece (Mythology for Kids and Teens).

Related posts about Greek Mythology

Does your family like Greek Mythology stories? And if yes, what is your favorite story? Let me know in the comments because I would love to add more stories to this list. If you want to start exploring myths with your children, you can also check these other posts:

Places in Greece related to Greek Mythology

If your family is a fan of Greek mythology, you will love to explore the places in Greece that are connected to the ancient stories. Greece is full of sites that witnessed the adventures of gods, heroes, and monsters, and you can still see their traces today. Here are some of the places you can visit to immerse yourself in the world of Greek mythology:

Mount Olympus: The highest mountain in Greece and the home of the twelve Olympian gods. You can hike to the summit and enjoy the breathtaking views, or visit the nearby archaeological park of Dion, where the ancient Greeks worshipped Zeus and the other gods.

Delphi: The sacred oracle of Apollo, where the Pythia delivered her prophecies. You can admire the impressive temple of Apollo, the theatre, the stadium, and the museum, which displays the famous bronze statue of the Charioteer of Delphi.

: The legendary palace of King Minos and the labyrinth of the Minotaur. You can explore the ruins of the ancient Minoan civilization, which was one of the oldest and most advanced in Europe, and marvel at the colorful frescoes and the intricate architecture.

Ithaca: The homeland of Odysseus, the hero of the Odyssey, who spent ten years trying to return to his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. You can visit the cave of the nymphs, where Odysseus hid his treasures, or the bay of Polis, where he landed after his long journey.

Acheron River: The river that leads to the Underworld, where the souls of the dead cross the Styx with the help of Charon, the ferryman. You can walk along the river, which flows through a stunning gorge, or even take a boat ride to the springs, where the water is crystal clear.

Sounion: The cape where the temple of Poseidon stands, overlooking the Aegean Sea. You can admire the majestic columns of the temple, which are illuminated at night, or watch the sunset from one of the most scenic spots in Greece.

Delos: The island where Apollo and Artemis were born, according to the myth. You can visit the archaeological site, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see the remains of temples, statues, houses, and mosaics, which testify to the island's rich history and culture.

These are just some of the places in Greece that are related to Greek mythology, but there are many more to discover. Whether you are looking for adventure, history, or beauty, you will find it in Greece, the land of myths and legends!

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10 Fascinating Stories from Greek mythology that Kids Love (update 2024)

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The most amazing stories from Greek Mythology that kids (and adults alike) will love! Learn more about some of the greatest Greek Myths for Kids!

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Atlas - The Titan Cursed to Hold The Sky Forever (Greek Mythology Explained)

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You could also look at the myths of some of the creatures!

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The heroes are probably the best-known part of Greek mythology, but what makes a hero?

Having monsters to fight, that's what. Luckily for the heroes, the Ancient Greeks had the strangest, coolest, most terrifying creatures & monsters mythology had to offer ranging from Dragons, Giants, Demons and Ghosts, to multi-formed creatures such as the Sphinx, Minotaur, Centaurs, Manticores & Chimaera.

There were also many fabulous animals such as the Nemean Lion, golden-fleeced Ram and the winged horse Pegasus, not to mention the creatures of legend such as the Phoenix, the Griffin and Unicorns.

In this section, you'll learn interesting facts and information about the many creatures and monsters of ancient Greek mythology

Children of Typhon

Many of the great Greek monsters were descendants of Typhon, the most deadly monster of Greek mythology.

Typhon was the last son of Gaia, fathered by Tartarus, he was known as the "Father of All Monsters". Instead of a human head, a hundred dragon heads erupted from Typhon's neck and shoulders. His wife Echidna, half woman half snake, was likewise the "Mother of All Monsters."

Together, Echidna and Typhon raised some of the most well known monsters and creatures in all mythology.

Orthrus. A fearsome two-headed hound that lived with giants

Sphinx. A half human, half lion who would slay anybody who did not answer her riddles. When Oedipus was able to answer a riddle correctly, she jumped into the ocean in a fit of rage and drowned.

Nemean Lion. A gigantic lion with impenetrable skin that eventually became the star constellation Leo.

Cerberus. This well-known monster was a three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to Hades.

Ladon. A serpentine dragon (drakon) that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides.

Lernaean Hydra. An ancient serpent-like water monster with reptilian traits and many heads that multiplied if they were cut off.

Caucasian Eagle. An eagle that every day ate the liver of Prometheus.

Chimera. A monstrous fire-breathing hybrid creature with the body of a lion, the head of a goat, and a tail with a snake's head.

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List of Greek Mythological Creatures and Monsters * Facts & Information

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The heroes are probably the best-known part of Greek mythology, but what makes a hero? Having monsters to fight, that's what. Luckily for the heroes, the Ancient Greeks had the strangest, coolest, most terrifying creatures & monsters mythology had to offer ranging from Dragons, Giants, Demons and Ghosts, to multi-formed creatures such as the Sphinx, Minotaur, Centaurs, Manticores & Chimaera.