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What did the ancient Greeks believe in?

Part of HistoryAncient GreeceYear 3Year 4

Who were the Greek gods?

Athena and Poseidon were two Greek gods.
Athena and Poseidon were two 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.

Athena and Poseidon were two Greek gods.
Athena and Poseidon were two Greek gods
A Greek coin showing Pegasus and the goddess Athena.
A Greek coin showing Pegasus and the goddess, Athena.
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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.

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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.
The Parthenon on top of the Acropolis
The most famous temple in Greece was the Parthenon in Athens. Inside stood a giant statue of Athena, the patron goddess of the city.

  • 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.

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Who was the Greeks' favourite hero?

Heracles takes aim of his bow and arrow at the approaching metallic Stymphalian birds
One of the 12 legendary tasks of Heracles was to defeat the Stymphalian birds. These man-eating metallic birds were the pets of the god Ares.

  • 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.

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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.

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What happened to Greeks when they died?

The three headed dog, Cerberus, guarding the Underworld.
The entrance to the Underworld was guarded by a three headed dog called Cerberus.

  • 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.

The three headed dog, Cerberus, guarding the Underworld.
The entrance to the Underworld was guarded by a three headed dog called Cerberus.
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Activities

Activity 1: Quiz 鈥 Greek gods and heroes

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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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Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.

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