Page 124 - Purple Butterfly 1

Date:
unit 3
4. Extension to History Greek Mythology
There are few subjects as broad as Greek Mythology. You have
probably heard about it, even if you don’t think you have. The
story of Medusa is one that is very well known. Who could forget
the horrible woman with snakes instead of hair, said to be able to
turn you to stone with a single look? Or Cerberus, Hades’ multi-
headed (though usually shown with just three heads) dog that
guarded the entrance to the Underworld, so nobody that wasn’t
meant to could go in...or out. Other types of creatures that are
seen very commonly in Greek Mythology were half-human, half-
animal mixes, such as satyrs (half goat), centaurs (half horse),
harpies and sirens (half birds) or the ever famous Minotaur. The
Minotaur was said to be a horrible monster with the head of a
bull and the body of a man. He, as you probably know, was kept inside a labyrinth, and fed innocent people until a famed Athenian hero, Theseus, defeated him with the help of Ariadne, the King of Crete’s daughter.
Did you know that the name “Minotaur” literally means “the Bull of Minos” (Minos was the king in the myth). The monster’s real name was Asterion, like the king’s adoptive father.
Greek Mythology was based on heroes like Theseus. These heroes were generally demigods. Demigods are the children of gods (or, on rarer occasions, goddesses) and mortals. These mortals were generally nobles. These children would generally grow up to be kings, leaders of armies, or would generally just do incredibly deeds. There would be many myths about the same heroes, each more amazing and impressive than the last. Some of the heroes are Jason, Achilles (better known for his weak, and ultimately deadly, heel), Orpheus, Atlanta, and Odysseus. The one you have probably heard the most of
though, is Heracles, though you most probably know him by his more modern, and Roman, name: Hercules. He was the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the greatest of Greek heroes. He represented everything that the Greeks thought the ideal person should be, do, and have. He was strong, brave, and clever, besides being an extremely loyal friend and a terrible enemy.
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