Greek/Roman Myth Group Activity
Creation, the Top Twelve, Minor Gods, Great Gods of Earth
Respond thoroughly to the following questions. You will likely need additional paper.
Gods, Culture, and Values
1. Go through the power point, and for each god/character slide, write the archetype(s)
that fit.
2. Explain the order of creation.
3. Give two examples of a god behaving in a way that demonstrates human flaws (greed,
lust, cruelty, etc.).
4. What is ironic about Hera’s function as a goddess of marriage?
5. While Hades is rules the dead, he is not ________ (this is actually Thanatos). What can
you infer about Greek thought from the fact that the ruler of the dead is also the god of
wealth?
6. Athena is the wise goddess of _____________. What can you infer is the connection
between her function and her association with wisdom?
7. Apollo is described as the most Greek of all the gods. What can you infer about Greek
values if Apollo is the most Greek god?
8. Who says the Greeks didn’t have a sharp sense of humor? Hermes is the master
________ and the god of ________. Explain the irony in this.
9. The Greeks weren’t as fond of Ares as the Romans were of Mars. What can you infer
from this about each culture?
10. What can you infer about what was important in Greek life and culture based on the
choice of the twelve gods who would sit on Olympus?
11. What can you infer about what was important in Greek life and culture based on which
three gods were the most powerful?
12. Consider Zeus’s cabinet on Olympus. What does this suggest about the Greek view of
justice?
13. What values does the story of Demeter promote?
14. What does the behavior of the Maenads (from the story of Dionysus) suggest about the
effects of wine? What character archetype does Dionysus himself appear to resemble?
15. Review the story of the fall of man and Pandora’ box. What conclusions can you draw
about the perception of women in ancient Greek culture?
16. Review the story of the deluge. Identify the archetypal symbols and themes presented
here.
17. How did the ancient Greeks envision the Underworld? How is it divided? What does
this suggest about the Greek view of death as well as justice? What do the stories of the
suffering sinners suggest? What purpose do these stories serve?
18. Science is, essentially, an effort to explain the world around us. Myths don’t appear to
our modern eyes to be very good science, but they were often an effort to accomplish
what science does: explain natural phenomena and processes. Give at least three
examples of myth functioning as science.
19. Ancient Greek myth has had an impact on the development of Western language. Go
through the power point and find three examples of words we use today that are
derived from myth. Explain why the modern word and its meaning are appropriate
based on the myth or Greek word that inspired it.
The Gods and Daily Life: For each of the following, identify the god or gods to whom to appeal.
A farmer growing crops: ________________, _______________, and _________________
The guys over at Treehouse Wineries: _________________ and ________________
A young housewife: __________________, ___________________, and ____________________ 
A fisherman hoping for a good catch: ___________________
A shopkeeper: ___________________
A boy in love: ________________ and _________________
A miner: ________________
An aspiring musician: __________________
A horse trainer: __________________ and maybe _______________
Guests at a funeral:_________________
A lost camper trying to get a fire started: ________________
A craftsman trying to make and sell his wares: ______________, _____________, and __________
The crew of Duck Dynasty out hunting ducks: ___________________
A doctor:________________
A student:_________________
A poet desperate for inspiration: _________________
A girl trying to maintain her purity: ________________, ________________, and _____________
California residents gearing up for another earthquake: _____________
A navy captain going into battle: _______________ and ________________
KEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEKEYKEYKEY
Gods, Culture, and Values
1. Answers for this are on teacher power point.
2. Explain the order of creation.
Nothing, chaos, night and erebus, love, light and day
3. Find at least two examples of the gods being significantly flawed.
Zeus is a cheater, and deceivable. Hera is a shrew. Most have dark sides (temper, lust): Zeus,
Hera, Apollo, Athena, Artemis. Aphrodite is treacherous (and cheats on her husband!).
Hephaestus is ugly and has a limp. Ares is unlikeable (except by Aphrodite!)
4. Explain the irony of Hera’s function as a goddess.
She’s the goddess of marriage but her husband cheats on her.
5. While Hades is rules the dead, he is notdeath (this is actually Thanatos). What can you infer
about Greek thought from the fact that the ruler of the dead is also the god of wealth?
Perhaps riches don’t guarantee life of happiness. No one likes Hades much, but he’s super rich.
Also, maybe wealth (or greed) can lead to death. So if Greeks associated death with wealth,
perhaps they believed greed was dangerous.
6. Athena is the wise goddess of civilization . What can you infer is the connection between her
function and her association with wisdom?
Wisdom is necessary for civilization to succeed. Civilization is the reflection of wisdom. Greek
civilization signified the Greeks’ advanced wisdom/learning.
7. Apollo is described as the most Greek of all the gods. What can you infer about Greek values if
Apollo is the most Greek god?
The Greeks valued the arts, particularly music, as well as science, especially that of healing.
Truth and light are closely associated, and the god of truth is the most Greek, reflecting the value
of truth. The Greek civilization (especially in its Golden Age) saw itself as bringing light to the
surrounding world, having emerged from primitive darkness.
8. Who says the Greeks didn’t have a sharp sense of humor? Hermes is the master thief and the
god oftrade/commerce. Explain the irony in this.
Merchants and traders appear to be seen as maybe a bit shifty. If Hermes is the patron god of
thieves and traders/merchants/bankers, it appears the Greeks might not have seen much
difference among them! (Hello, Wall Street?) We expect honest merchants and trade should
depend on honesty and fair dealing, but the Greeks seemed pretty realistic!
9. The Greeks weren’t as fond of Ares as the Romans were of Mars. What can you infer from this
about each culture?
The Greeks, though they recognized the necessity of war, did not particularly care for it,
especially in a civilized society. The Romans, bent on conquering the world, found war very
important and welcome.
10. What can you infer about what was important in Greek life and culture based on the choice of the
twelve gods who would sit on Olympus?
Agriculture, civilized/city life, death, the sea, wisdom, home, marriage, love, the arts, commerce,
crafts, truth, purity, sex,
11. What can you infer about what was important in Greek life and culture based on which three
gods were the most powerful?
The need for rain, a dependence on the sea, and respect/fear of death
12. Consider Zeus’s cabinet on Olympus. What does this suggest about the Greek view of justice?
There is a distinction between divine justice and mortal justice. With 4 cabinet members devoted
to this concept, justice was of great importance. With Aidos, there is clearly a belief that men
have a natural sense of shame (conscience?)
13. What values does the story of Demeter promote?
Maternal love and filial devotion
14. What does the behavior of the Maenads (from the story of Dionysus) suggest about the effects of
wine? What character archetype does Dionysus himself appear to resemble?
Wine can feel pretty good but have some horrific effects.
Dionysus is a Christ figure—he is a new god, introduced by his father and appearing far later
than the others. He travels to spread his teaching (of the vine), but is rejected by his own
homeland. He also dies each year and resurrects.
15. Review the story of the fall of man and Pandora’ box. What conclusions can you draw about the
perception of women in ancient Greek culture?
Women are seen as destructive to men’s well-being. Women cannot be trusted. Women are
ruled by their impulses (like curiosity). Women need male supervision and guidance. We will
see this again with Helen (but her impulse is lust). And again with Eve.
16. Review the story of the deluge. Identify the archetypal symbols and themes presented here.
Symbol: water (cleansing, renewal). Theme: What goes around comes around; evil will be
punished.
17. How did the ancient Greeks envision the Underworld? How is it divided? What does this
suggest about the Greek view of death as well as justice? What do the stories of the suffering
sinners suggest? What purpose do these stories serve?
It was in a far away, mysterious location. Divided into “heaven,” “hell,” and a sort of waiting
area—but all in the same area. The good are rewarded while the bad must suffer—but there are
levels of goodness, and death isn’t an end, but it’s not really great for anyone. The suffering
sinners are a reminder that evil deeds will be punished—and about the worst thing you can do is
tangle with or disrespect the gods.
18. Science is, essentially, an effort to explain the world around us. Myths don’t appear to our
modern eyes to be very good science, but they were often an effort to accomplish what science
does: explain natural phenomena and processes. Give at least three examples of myth
functioning as science.
Zeus brings rain; Persephone’s time in the underworld determines the seasons; volcanoes are
Hephaestus’ workshop; Athena created the olive tree; Poseidon causes earthquakes and created
the horse; Zeus causes storms; Apollo’s effort to rape a girl created the laurel tree; ETC, ETC,
ETC!
The Gods and Daily Life: For each of the following, identify the god or gods to whom to appeal.
A farmer growing crops: Zeus, Demeter, and Athena
The guys over at Treehouse Wineries: Dionysus and Zeus
A young housewife: Hera, Hestia, and Aphrodite
A fisherman hoping for a good catch: Poseidon
A shopkeeper: Hermes
A boy in love: Aphrodite and Cupid
A miner: Hades
An aspiring musician:Apollo, the Muses
A horse trainer: Athena and maybe Poseidon
Guests at a funeral: Hades
A lost camper trying to get a fire started: Hephaestus
A craftsman trying to make and sell his wares: Athena, Hephaestus, and Hermes
The crew of Duck Dynasty out hunting ducks: Artemis
A doctor:Apollo
A student:Athena
A poet desperate for inspiration: the Muses
A girl trying to maintain her purity: Athena, Artemis, and Hestia
California residents gearing up for another earthquake: Poseidon
A navy captain going into battle: Poseidon and Ares