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Greek Mythology Worksheet

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Greek Mythology Worksheet

Read the source passage, then complete the activities. Use details from the passage and your own historical thinking.

Source: Myths in ancient Greece

Ancient Greeks told stories about gods, goddesses and heroes. These stories, called myths, were shared aloud and performed at festivals. People used myths to explore questions about the world and human behaviour. For example, a story about Demeter and her daughter Persephone offered an explanation for the changing seasons. In one version, Persephone spent part of each year in the underworld. Demeter’s sadness was linked to the months when crops did not grow, while her joy was linked to the return of spring. Myths were not history in the same way as a record of a real event: they were traditional stories that could have different versions. The gods were often shown with human feelings and flaws. Zeus was associated with the sky and thunder; Poseidon with the sea; and Athena with wisdom and warfare. Heracles (also called Hercules in Roman stories) was famous for completing twelve difficult labours. Myths could entertain, explain events people did not yet understand scientifically, and invite listeners to think about choices, courage and consequences.

Read and investigate

Answer using the source passage unless a question asks for your own interpretation.

1.Which statement best describes how myths were used in ancient Greece?

They were only written as lists of kings.
They could entertain, explain the world and explore human behaviour.
They were scientific reports with no supernatural characters.
They were used only to predict the weather.

2.According to the passage, which god was associated with the sea?

3.Fill in the missing names: Zeus was associated with the sky and thunder; Athena with wisdom and warfare; and with the sea.

4.True or false? The passage says that every Greek myth had exactly the same version.

TrueFalse

5.Match each figure or story to the description from the passage.

Demeter and Persephone
Heracles
Athena

A hero famous for twelve labours
A story connected with the seasons
A goddess associated with wisdom and warfare

6.In the Demeter and Persephone story described, what did the changing seasons help explain?

7.A listener hears a myth about a god making a poor choice and facing consequences. Which purpose of myths could this support?

Exploring human behaviour and choices
Recording the exact date of a battle
Giving instructions for building a ship
Listing the names of every Greek citizen

8.The passage says myths are not history in the same way as a record of a real event. Give one reason a historian should be careful about treating a myth as a factual account.

9.Choose one detail from the passage that shows Greek gods were imagined as having human qualities. Explain what that detail suggests.

10.Imagine you are explaining a natural event to an ancient Greek audience. Name one event a myth might help explain, and give one reason a story could be memorable or useful to listeners.