Greek Mythology for Kids and Adults : the Gods of Olympus – Part One

Mythology is not just a story about gods and ancient heroes. It reveals the mysteries of being human. It speaks of fear and hope, of love and pride. It reminds us that people like us once searched for their place under the sun… and beyond the stars.That is why, even today, Greek myths are not just old stories. They live — in our books, in our paintings, in our language, and in our imagination. They are part of us, even when we don’t realize it.And they remind us of something vital:Every truth can be born from a story — if only we believe in it.GREEK MYTHOLOGY for kids and adultsPART ONE , THE GODS OF OLYMPUS Legends and Myths of Ancient GreeceMagic and RealityThis land is now called the Balkan Peninsula — a realm of mystery and wonder. There, side by side, stood Ancient Greece, known as Hellas, and Ancient Thrace, whose myths intertwined long ago and still stir the hearts of people today.We decided to tell you these stories in this book — to reveal ancient secrets, not just about the old times, but about you as well.Greek mythology is not merely a collection of old tales. It is a mighty river — springing from the voices of ancient storytellers, flowing through the ages, and watering the culture, art, and imagination of entire civilizations.These myths speak of the beginning of the world, of the battles and flaws of gods and goddesses, and of the brave deeds of mortals — mortals who became heroes: Heracles, Theseus, Perseus, Orpheus, Jason, Atalanta. And they tell of strange creatures — with wings, scales, and hearts that beat between the divine and the human.At first, these thrilling stories were passed from mouth to mouth — told by firelight, sung by Minoan, Mycenaean, and Thracian bards more than three thousand years ago. Then came Homer, who gave us the eternal epics The Iliad and The Odyssey. Some even say it was a woman who wrote The Odyssey, describing the shores of her native Sicily with uncanny precision. But that is a story for another time.After Homer, the poet Hesiod spoke of this enchanted world. He told how the universe was born from Chaos, how the gods rose to power, and how humankind passed through the golden, silver, and dark ages.Over time, these myths became the very foundation of poetry, theater, sculpture, and philosophy. The tragedies of Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides, the hymns of Homer, the tales of Plutarch and Pausanias — all are woven from this magical thread.Mythology is not just a story about gods and ancient heroes. It reveals the mysteries of being human. It speaks of fear and hope, of love and pride. It reminds us that people like us once searched for their place under the sun… and beyond the stars.That is why, even today, Greek myths are not just old stories. They live — in our books, in our paintings, in our language, and in our imagination. They are part of us, even when we don’t realize it.And they remind us of something vital:Every truth can be born from a story — if only we believe in it.In the Beginning, There Was ChaosAt the dawn of time, there was nothing—only endless Chaos between sky and earth. A vast chasm of pitch-black darkness. It was a swirling mass where all the elements clashed wildly. The sources of life were there, but life itself hadn’t begun yet. In Chaos, everything either sank or shattered. There was no order, no light, no life. Just endless motion with no direction. And no meaning.Out of the depths of Chaos, suddenly, the first being emerged—radiant and magnificent—Gaia, Mother Earth. The Great Mother, as some would later call her. The ancient Greeks simply named her Gaia. That short name meant everything to them: mother, nature, creation, and love all in one.She was stunningly beautiful and immensely powerful, crowned with mountains and coursing with rivers like veins. The oceans and seas sang hymns in her honor.