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. Find at least two examples of the gods being significantly flawed.
3. Why is Hera’s function as a goddess of marriage ironic?
4. Though Hades is not necessarily a bad guy, he tends to be vilified/disliked. What can you infer
from this about human nature?
5. Athena is the goddess of civilization, but she is most associated with ______________. What can
you infer about Greek values from this connection?
6. Apollo is described as the most Greek of all the gods. Considering his character as well as his
multiple functions, what can you infer about how ancient Greeks viewed themselves?
7. 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.
8. The Greeks weren’t as fond of Ares as the Romans were of Mars. What can you infer from this
about each culture?
9. 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?
10. What can you infer about what was important in Greek life and culture based on which three gods
were the most powerful?
11. Ancient Greek myth has had an impact on the development of Western language. Go through the
power point and find FIVE 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 ________________
Common Core Standards: RL 6 (Cultural POV); RL 1 (Inference)
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Gods, Culture, and Values
1.
2.
Explain the order of creation.
Nothing, chaos, night and erebus, love, light and day
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!)
3. Why is Hera’s function as a goddess of marriage ironic?
She’s the goddess of marriage but her husband cheats on her.
4. Though Hades is not necessarily a bad guy, he tends to be vilified/disliked. What can you infer
from this about human nature?
People tend to view death negatively or fear it.
5. Athena is the goddess of civilization, but she is most associated with ______________. What can
you infer about Greek values from this connection?
Wisdom is necessary for civilization to succeed. Civilization is the reflection of wisdom. Greek
civilization signified the Greeks’ advanced wisdom/learning.
6. Apollo is described as the most Greek of all the gods. Considering his character as well as his multiple
functions, 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.
7. 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! (HOW DOES ANCIENT THOUGHT CONNECT TO MODERN
THOUGHT?)
8. 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.
9. 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,
10. 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
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