1. Greek Mythology

2. Myths vs. Legends Legends – stories about heroes & their great deeds.
Myths – traditional stories that may include gods & goddesses that often try to explain events in nature.

3. Myths explained birth, death, disease, storms & victories/defeats in battle.

4. Like the Egyptians, Greeks turned to religion to help them understand life! Daily life always focused on trying to keep the gods/goddesses happy!

5. Like most other ancient peoples, the Greeks were polytheistic.
They believed the gods/goddesses lived in & ruled the heavens, earth & the underworld.
Greeks built temples, offered sacrifices & prayed for assistance in their lives.
Believed in an afterlife but more attention was given to living in this world.

6. Greeks believed most gods lived on Mt. Olympus in northern Greece.
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and the second highest mountain in the Balkans. Elevation is 9,573 ft.

7. Gods looked and acted very much like humans
Gods looked and acted very much like humans. They shared emotions such as:
Love/Hate
Jealously
Compassion
Vengeance
Played Games
Had Families
Fought in wars
Unlike humans, gods were immortal (to live forever) & had special powers.

8. Greeks honored their gods by holding athletic contests in honor of the Greek god Zeus.
Games were held the city of Olympia, and these games became known as the Olympic Games.

9. Games included boxing, wrestling & running.
The Greeks began competing about 3,500 years ago.

10. Troy: The Trojan Horse (2:15)
A famous myth, from ancient Greece, was the Trojan War. This battle was fought between the Greeks and the people of Troy. Gods/Goddesses helped heroes on both sides of the battle. Sparta was home to Helen, who was carried off to Troy. This started the war! Athens was later named after Athena who helped during the war. To end the war, the Greeks built a giant wooden horse. The Trojans believed it was a gift and pulled the horse into their city walls. Later at night, the Greeks crawled out of the horse and conquered the city of Troy!
Troy: The Trojan Horse (2:15)

12. A blind poet, named Homer, composed two poems about the Trojan War.
Illiad - (tells of the war itself)
Odyssey -(tells of the hero Odysseus)

13. Diffusion
Much of Greek religious beliefs were later adopted by the ancient Romans.

15. A L B D J F K G H E C I