Who were the Greek gods?
The Greeks believed that gods and goddesses watched over them.
The Greeks believed the gods lived in Mount Olympus, in a palace in the clouds.
Gods could send storms if they were angry and decide who was victorious in wars.
Zeus was the king of the gods.
Greek gods and goddesses
Each god and goddess had power over a different aspect of life or the world. Click below to find out a bit more about them.
What were Greek temples like?
- The Greeks built temples to their gods and goddesses.
- Some temples were small, while others were very big and beautiful with amazing decorations.
When people needed help from the gods, they went to the temple to pray.
To please the gods, people brought gifts of money, flowers, food and drink.
Who was the Greeks' favourite hero?
The Greeks favourite hero was Heracles (the聽Romans called him Hercules).
Heracles was Zeus鈥檚 son. He was so strong he could kill a lion with his bare hands.
Heracles was very brave, but he was killed when he was tricked into putting on a poisoned robe.
However, Zeus liked Heracles so much that he made him immortal.
Watch: The story of Perseus
- Another famous Greek hero, Perseus, killed a monster called Medusa.
- Medusa was a Gorgon who had venomous snakes instead of hair.
- She could turn people to stone just by looking at them.
What happened to Greeks when they died?
The Greeks believed that the dead went to the Underworld.
This was an underground kingdom ruled by the god Hades.
To reach the Underworld, dead souls had to cross the River Styx.
After crossing the River Styx, three judges decided where the dead person should spend eternity.
If they鈥檇 been really good, they were sent to live happily forever in the Elysian Fields.
Activities
Activity 1: Quiz 鈥 Greek gods and heroes
Game: The Argo Odyssey
Argo the dog is missing! He was last spotted inside a magnificent temple.
Play the game to make a sacred offering to the gods and goddesses. There are lots more mini-games and puzzles about life in Ancient Greece. Escape from the Minotaur's maze and defeat the terrifying Medusa.
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