Recently, 4^th and 5^th have been leaning about Ancient Greek Myths in history.

 

Why did the Greeks compose these myths?

The Ancient Greeks did not understand the world like we do today. So they made up stories to understand how and why these things happen.

 

How?

They used word of mouth. They were passed down from parent to child, from storyteller to storyteller, person to person.

 

Here is a little bit of information about some Greek myths and characters.

 

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE

Orpheus and Eurydice fell in love and got married. Eurydice loved nature and one day she was walking in a nearby forest and got bit by a very deadly snake and died. Orpheus was sad and he did not eat or drink for days on end. And then he came up with a plan to go to the Underworld to get Eurydice back so he played a lyre to please the Underworld god Hades and he let her go on one condition. He could no look at her till they left the Underworld. He looked back and she faded away so he had lost her forever.

 

THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR

Long ago in Greece there was a king called Minos. He had a monster on his island and the monster loved to eat kids. When the king was bored he attacked the land of Athens. Eventually, the king of Athens got fed up of this behaviour so he made a deal with the king. Every nine years, they would send over seven girls and seven boys. Nine years past and they sent over 14 kids. The prince of Athens and the princess made a deal to slay the minotaur and for the princess to go back to Athens so everyone can adore her beauty. The minotaur was slain and they went back to Athens. After all a deal is a deal!