Arachne
Arachne was a talented human weaver who bragged that she was better than the goddess Athena. Offended by Arachne’s pride, Athena challenged her to a weaving contest. Although Arachne’s work was flawless, the scene she weaved on the tapestry insulted the gods. Out of anger, Athena turned Arachne into a spider. Based on this story, what is one element you can infer about Greek mythology?
Challenging the gods will bring mortals trouble
The gods granted King Midas a wish. King Midas wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. At first, Midas loved his power, until he realized *everything*, including food and his family, turned to gold. Based on this story, what can you infer about an element of Greek mythology?
Be careful what you wish for because gifts cannot be reversed
Zeus favored his son Hercules and often helped Hercules with heroic tasks, such as his Twelve Labors. When Hera sent dangers to try to stop Hercules from achieving success, Zeus sometimes intervened to protect or to guide Hercules. Based on this story, what can you infer about an element of Greek mythology?
Gods can offer assistance to mortals that they favor
Odysseus faced years of trials on his way home from the Trojan War, battling monsters like the Cyclops and resisting temptations such as the Siren’s song. Even when Odysseus outsmarted his enemies, the sea god Poseidon kept throwing obstacles in Odysseus’ way, making his journey home incredibly difficult. Throughout his journey, Odysseus had to rely on his cleverness and his courage to achieve success. Based upon this story, what can you infer about an element of Greek mythology?
The hero will go through many challenges
Greek heroes often battled terrifying creatures and monsters. For example, the Hydra had numerous heads; if you cut off one head, two would grow back. Another example is Medusa: she had snakes on her head and if you looked at her, you would turn to stone. Based upon this story, what can you infer about an element of Greek mythology?
Heroes face monsters with supernatural abilities and characteristics