CKLA Knowledge 4 Review

Prometheus created humans and his brother Epimetheus created animals.

Zeus liked the animals, but did not like the humans.

Prometheus knew that the humans needed fire, so he stole fire from Zeus.

Zeus punished Prometheus for stealing fire by chaining him to a rock and having a bird peck at him for eternity.

Hercules was the son of Zeus and he was strong and powerful.

He did many great deeds, but he had a temper and was sent away.

Theseus found Hercules and told him to go to Athens and ask the god Apollo how to control his temper.

The god Apollo told Hercules “Go to King Eurystheus and do as he commands.”

King Eurystheus sent the hero out to perform the most difficult tasks he could think of, twelve in all, and these daring deeds became known as “The Labors of Hercules.” 

Hercules defeated a lion with magical hide and got the three golden apples of Hesperides

Daedalus was locked in a tower for helping Theseus defeat the Minotaur and escape from Crete with Minos’s daughter.

He asked the king for some candles and books, so he could at least read while he was locked up.

Daedalus would feed birds crumbs of bread and take a few of their feathers each day.

Daedalus and Icarus used the candles, feathers, and thread from a blanket to make wings.

They flew out the window to escape the tower.

Daedalus told Icarus not to go to high or the sun would melt the wax.

Icarus didn't listen and his wings fell apart.

The ancient Greeks believed Demeter was the reason that fruits hung heavy on the trees, wheat grew in the fields, and vegetables ripened on the ground. 

Demeter had a daughter named Persephone, who was the joy of her life. As long as the two of them were together, it was summer year round.

 Hades stole Persephone and Demeter was so sad that no food would grow.

Zeus went and demanded Hades return Persephone.

Hades said she could not go if she ate any food in the underworld.

Persephone had eaten 6 pomegranate seeds. Zeus worked it out that she would spend 1 month with Hades for each seed.

The Greeks believed that during the 6 months that Demeter and Persephone are together the earth is warm and grows food - Spring and Summer.

During the months when she is with Hades the earth is cold and nothing grows - Fall and Winter.

Arachne was a wonderful weaver that bragged that she was better than Athena.

Athena heard of this and challenged Arachne to a weaving contest.

Arachne saw that she was not as good as Athena and said she would never weave again.

Athena did not let that happen by turning Arachne into a spider.

 That is why some people say all spiders are the children of Arachne the Weaver.