Sisyphus is the founder and king of the city of Epirus (later Corinth). The gods invited him to their feasts, where he listened to gossip, which he repeated among the mortals. When he betrayed a secret of Zeus he was sentenced to death, which he avoided for a long time thanks to the capture of the god of death Tanatos. After the release of this god, the wife of Sisyphus, following his will, buried her husband against the ceremonial. For this reason, Hades agreed to return Sisyphus to the living and see to the burial. Thanks to this he hid many years among the people. Eventually, he was punished for many years of disobedience by an eternal boulder rolling. 1)
The Olympic Games were dedicated in honor of Zeus. Olympia was a well-known center of Zeus worship. It was famous for its huge statue of Zeus (by Phidias), made of gold and ivory, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. 2)
Arcadia is a historical land located in the central part of the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece. Mountainous, forested, and barren, it has been poor and sparsely populated since ancient times. It has become a symbol in the art of a happy, simple life and escape from the worries of civilization. 3)
Pandora was the first woman on Earth, who Zeus sent as punishment to humans for Prometheus stealing fire from Olympus to the gods. She married his brother the titan Epimetheus, and as her dowry, she received a tightly-sealed barrel, which she opened out of curiosity. In it were all the misfortunes that had spread throughout the world. At the bottom of the barrel, however, was hope, but Pandora trapped it as she slammed the lid shut. 4)
Pygmalion was an avid sculptor, and he created a statue out of ivory of the perfect woman (Galatea) that he fell in love with. The sculpture was made perfectly, and could only be distinguished from the real woman by touch. Pygmalion then prayed to the goddess Aphrodite to bring the statue to life, she did, and during Pygmalion's caresses, Galatea came to life. 5)
The Ancient Greeks believed in a pantheon of gods and goddesses, led by Zeus, the king of the gods. 6)
The gods were believed to live on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. 7)
The gods were immortal, but they could still be injured or killed. 8)
The goddess Athena was the patron of Athens and was associated with wisdom, war, and crafts. 9)
Apollo was the god of music, poetry, and prophecy, and was also associated with the sun and healing. 10)
Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, childbirth, and wild animals. 11)
The god Dionysus was associated with wine, fertility, and ecstasy. 12)
Hades was the god of the underworld, which was the realm of the dead. 13)
The god Hermes was associated with travel, trade, and communication, and was often depicted with wings on his sandals and hat. 14)
Poseidon was the god of the sea and earthquakes. 15)
The goddess Demeter was associated with agriculture and was responsible for the changing of the seasons. 16)
The goddess Aphrodite was associated with love, beauty, and sexuality. 17)
The god Ares was the god of war and was often depicted as violent and bloodthirsty. 18)
The god Hephaestus was the god of fire and the forge and was associated with metalworking and craftsmanship. 19)
The Ancient Greeks believed that the gods could intervene in human affairs, and often prayed to them for guidance and protection. 20)