Greek Mythology
This king of the gods ruled from Mount Olympus and was known for throwing lightning bolts
Zeus
She was known as the most beautiful women in the world. Abducted by the Trojan Prince named Paris
Helen
This city-state was known for its powerful military and trained boys to be soldiers starting at age 7
Sparta
The Greeks invented this type of government whose name means 'rule by the people.
Democracy
Greek soldiers called hoplites carried a large round shield and this long, pointed weapon for stabbing
A Spear
This goddess of wisdom sprang fully grown from Zeus's head and had the city of Athens named after her
Athena
Greece is made up of a mountainous peninsula and hundreds of these, which made sea travel necessary.
Islands
This capital city of the Minoans was discovered by archaeologists who found palaces with richly decorated rooms and beautiful pottery
Knossos
These sporting competitions were held every four years at Olympia to honor Zeus
The Olympics
This Greek god of the sea carried a trident and was the brother of Zeus.
Poseidon
This hero completed 12 labors as punishment, including slaying the Nemean Lion and capturing Cerberus.
Hercules (Heracles)
Because Greece's rocky terrain made farming difficult, Greeks grew these two crops that didn't need much flat land—one for oil and one for wine.
Olives and Grapes
The Mycenaeans captured this city around 1250 B.C. Some 500 years later, the Greek poet Homer described the events in his epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Troy
The Greeks created these two types of drama still performed today—one makes audiences laugh, the other makes them cry.
Comedies and Tragedies
This messenger god had winged sandals and delivered messages between the gods and humans
Hermes
This god of the underworld kidnapped Persephone, which the Greeks used to explain the changing seasons
Hades
The first major Greek victory over Persia happened at this battle, after which a messenger reportedly ran 26 miles to Athens
The Battle of Marathon
According to the background reading, the Mycenaeans invaded this island and helped end the Minoan civilization there
Crete
The Greeks built these outdoor stone structures where thousands of people could watch plays and performances
Theaters (amphitheater)
This warrior was the greatest Greek hero of the Trojan War and was only vulnerable in his heel
Achilles
This three-headed dog guarded the entrance to the underworld, preventing the living from entering and the dead from escaping
Cerberus
After the Mycenaeans were overrun by invaders from the north, some Greeks moved eastward across this sea to found the Greek cities of Ionia.
The Aegean Sea
This city-state built a powerful navy and used its fleet to defeat the Persians at the Battle of Salamis
Athens
This Greek thinker asked questions to help students think critically, and his method of questioning is still used in classrooms today
Socrates
The Greeks worshipped many gods, making their religion this type—the opposite of monotheism
Polytheism