10 questions · Mythology
Gods hurling lightning from Mount Olympus, heroes slaying monsters, and a wooden horse that topples an entire city: few worlds of legend have shaped our language, art and imagination like Greek mythology. Its tales are over 2,500 years old: yet they are still everywhere, from an „Achilles heel“ to „Pandora's box“. In this pack you will meet the great names and myths: the mighty Olympians Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, the twelve labours of Heracles and the tragic flight of Icarus. Afterwards you will spot the references everywhere: in films, in books and in everyday life. Good to know: Many figures have other names in Rome: Zeus becomes Jupiter, Poseidon Neptune and Heracles Hercules. Hades abducted Persephone, whose return in spring explains the seasons, and legend says Athena sprang fully armed from the head of her father Zeus. The chief gods on Mount Olympus are called the 'Olympians'. Icarus's fate still stands for hubris and overreaching, and malware called a 'trojan' is named after the Trojan Horse.
Practise for freePurFact brings every card back right before you would forget it. That's how knowledge sticks.
Zeus
Zeus rules as father of the gods over sky and weather and hurls lightning. He overthrew his father Kronos and divided the world with his brothers Poseidon and Hades.
💡 Did you know? In Roman mythology he corresponds to Jupiter.
Poseidon
With his trident Poseidon rules the seas, storms and earthquakes. Sailors both feared and worshipped him.
💡 Did you know? The Romans called him Neptune: the planet is named after him.
Hades
Hades rules the realm of the dead, which also bears his name. He is not an 'evil' god but a stern, just ruler of the underworld.
💡 Did you know? He abducted Persephone, whose return in spring explains the seasons.
Athena
Athena is goddess of wisdom, strategy and craft and patron of Athens. The city is named after her.
💡 Did you know? Legend says she sprang fully armed from the head of her father Zeus.
Mount Olympus
At almost 2900 m, Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. On its summit the Greeks imagined the palace of the twelve chief gods.
💡 Did you know? These chief gods are called the 'Olympians'.
twelve
As penance the demigod Heracles had to perform twelve near-impossible tasks, including killing the Nemean lion and defeating the Hydra. They made him immortally famous.
💡 Did you know? The Romans called him Hercules.
Icarus
Icarus escaped with his father Daedalus on home-made wings of wax and feathers. Despite the warning he flew too high, the wax melted, and he fell into the sea.
💡 Did you know? His fate still stands for hubris and overreaching.
Trojan Horse
The Greeks hid warriors inside a wooden horse that the Trojans unwittingly dragged into their city. At night the soldiers climbed out and opened the gates.
💡 Did you know? Malware called a 'trojan' is named after it.
Medusa
Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, with snakes for hair; her gaze turned anyone to stone. The hero Perseus beheaded her using a mirror-shield.
💡 Did you know? From her blood sprang the winged horse Pegasus.
heel
Achilles was the greatest hero of the Trojan War. As a child he was made invulnerable: only the heel by which his mother held him stayed unprotected.
💡 Did you know? That's why a weak spot is still called an 'Achilles' heel'.
Home · All topics · Legal notice · Privacy · Terms · Contact
