Introduction
Ancient Greek Gods
The Twelve Olympians
Greek mythology is not really clear whether or not Mount Olympus was a place on earth or in the heavens. But the Greeks did name the tallest mountain peak Mount Olympus.
In Greek mythology, 12 gods made up the council of twelve. They were the most powerful gods, the rulers of heaven and earth. Whenever the council met, they met on Mount Olympus. Except for Hades, who preferred his home in the underworld, each Olympian made their home on Mount Olympus.
Hestia, the goddess of the hearth (and a favorite with Greek mortal women), was once on the council, but she grew tired of all the fighting and bickering among the gods. She was very happy to give her place to Dionysus, the god of wine.
It is interesting to note that in Greek mythology, Hephaestus, the husband of Aphrodite, is not always considered one of the 12 Olympians, although he built all the homes on Mount Olympus. But if you refer to the statues of the 12 Olympians displayed in the Parthenon, you'll find a statue of Hephaestus but not of Hades. So which one was the 12th Olympian? Nobody knows. It varies from myth to myth, and depends really upon who is telling the story.
Task
By the end of this webquest you will have met all of the Greek Gods. Complete the worksheet provided.
Process
Use the following links to search for information and answer the questions on your worksheet. While you are working, think about which god you would like to replace
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0881990.html
http://greece.mrdonn.org/index.html
Conclusion
The Greek Gods are all going on vacation. Because you are awesome, the Gods have asked you to fill in. Which God or Goddess would you most like temorarily replace?
You will need to write a letter to Zeus, convincing him that you are the right person for the job.