Ancient Greek Myths
Ancient Greek Myths are great if you're doing a cross-curricular link with the Olympics or simply finding the features of a myth. This unit of work is great for role play, hot-seating and encouraging boys (in particular) into discussions about mythical beasts and creatures. If there's time, let your class create their own beasts based on the Minotaur or Medusa and use this as the basis for some exciting descriptive writing. There's so much to do and only 3 weeks to get it all done! The most well-known tales to study during this unit are: Pandora's Box; Daedalus and Icarus; Theseus and the Minotaur, King Midas and the Golden Touch; and the 12 Labours of Heracles.
Key Features:
So what are the key characteristics of an Ancient Greek Myth?
- Originally told in Ancient times- approximately 1500-3000 years ago
- Are passed down by oral tradition (by word of mouth) from generation to generation
- Contain good characters facing evil or tasks set by evil characters
- Often have unhappy endings or suddenly kill off one of the main protagonists
- Have some sort of message or discussion point to consider, but not a moral
- Some tell the stories of creation and how the world begun; others are based partly on real events
- Tend to have mystical or fantastical creatures that are unknown to the human world
- Contain a multitude of heroes and heroines who overcome all obstacles in their way
- Have well-known objects or symbols repeatedly referred to: a box, a labrynth, a set of wings and so on
- Contain Gods, Goddesses and supernatural forces beyond our world
- Originally told in Ancient times- approximately 1500-3000 years ago
- Are passed down by oral tradition (by word of mouth) from generation to generation
- Contain good characters facing evil or tasks set by evil characters
- Often have unhappy endings or suddenly kill off one of the main protagonists
- Have some sort of message or discussion point to consider, but not a moral
- Some tell the stories of creation and how the world begun; others are based partly on real events
- Tend to have mystical or fantastical creatures that are unknown to the human world
- Contain a multitude of heroes and heroines who overcome all obstacles in their way
- Have well-known objects or symbols repeatedly referred to: a box, a labrynth, a set of wings and so on
- Contain Gods, Goddesses and supernatural forces beyond our world
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