Greek Mythology

  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a superpower? To fly through the air or leap tall buildings with a single bound? Well, the Greek gods and goddesses of Olympus had it all: power over the earth, sky, sea and underworld, lightning bolts, skill on the battlefield and in the hunt, athleticism, beauty and superior intelligence. Unfortunately, they also had their faults: vanity, jealousy and greed, to name a few.

   The main character of The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan, gets a crash course in Greek mythology. Percy Jackson has to rely on what he remembers from his sixth grade classes to save his life on more than one occasion. Before you begin reading his story, you will begin a webquest to become familiar with the 12 Olympians and other mythological creatures that hinder Percy on his quest to catch a thief and unravel a mystery. By the time Percy's quest is over, you will be ready to finish yours by creating your own modern god or goddess to challenge Zeus for his position as head of the Olympians.

Mythology Web Quest

            Many cultures have created stories to understand the world around them. These myths or legends were used to explain forces of nature, weather, animals, and even the creation of humans. In Greek mythology, the lives, choices and actions of the Olympians helped the Greeks make sense of their world.

          In this web quest, you will become familiar with Greek gods and goddesses and understand what traits and characteristics were valued in Greek culture. You will also gain an appreciation for the lasting impact of this culture as you examine advertising campaigns that contain Greek gods and symbols. Lastly, after comparing and contrasting the ancient Greek culture and our own society, you will create a “modern god or goddess” that represents a positive or negative aspect of our world today. As your god or goddess, you will write a speech about the importance of Greek culture on the rest of the world. .

Follow the 3 Steps in the "Process" section of the webquest. Use the correct handout and links for each step.  

STEP 1:

The first task will introduce you to the twelve Olympians and other mythological creatures. Use the links below to fill out the first handout. Remember, some sites are more helpful than others and some have more complete information. Don’t rely on just one!

Greek Lineage and Descriptions- http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Mythology/

Greek Encyclopedia- http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/contents.html

Greek god/goddess Bios- http://www.desy.de/gna/interpedia/greek_myth/gods.html#GreekGods

Encyclopedia Mythica- http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.html 

 

STEP 2:

          There are hundreds of companies that use mythological names, symbols or figures in their logos or advertising campaigns. Some of them, like Nike or Amazon, are very familiar to you. Use the links to complete the Step 2 handout and discover other mythological connections in our world.

https://www.ruhanirabin.com/companies-greek-mythology-logos/

https://prezi.com/hfj-fd3araqb/businesses-related-to-greek-mythology/

STEP 3:

 In the last part of your quest, you will need to examine ancient Greek myths and culture and compare them to our own modern day world. The ideas and skills that were valued in the time of the immortals may not be what 21st century men and women consider important!

Greek Culture- http://www.crystalinks.com/greekculture.html

The Greek Explanation of the Creation of Man- http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths

Ancient Greece- http://greece.mrdonn.org/