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Legends of Olympus

A simple guide to the greatest Greek Gods and Heroes.

1. Zeus: The King of All Gods

Zeus is the most powerful ruler of the Greek gods. He is known as the "Father of Gods and Men." He lives on top of Mount Olympus, where he controls the sky, the weather, and the laws of the world.

His power is absolute. He controls the rain, clouds, and most importantly, lightning. His main weapon is the Thunderbolt. He is so strong that a simple frown from his face is enough to scare other gods.

Did you know? The famous Olympic Games were created to honor Zeus. Every four years, athletes gathered at Olympia to compete and win his favor.

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2. Athena: The Goddess of Wisdom

Athena is a very special goddess. She was not born like a normal baby. Instead, she came out of Zeus's head, fully grown and wearing armor! This shows that she represents deep thought and intelligence.

Unlike the god of war (Ares) who loved violence, Athena loved strategy and peace. She taught humans important skills like pottery, ship-building, and weaving.

The Story of Arachne A woman named Arachne said she was a better weaver than Athena. This pride (called "Hubris") made Athena angry. After a contest, Athena turned Arachne into a spider. Now, she weaves webs forever.

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3. Heracles (Hercules): The Strongest Hero

Heracles was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. He is famous for his incredible strength. However, he had a hard life. He often got very angry, and in a fit of rage, he made a terrible mistake that hurt his family.

To fix his mistake, he had to complete The Twelve Labors (twelve impossible tasks).

• He fought the Nemean Lion, a beast with skin so hard no sword could cut it.
• He killed the Hydra, a monster with nine heads.
• He captured the three-headed dog, Cerberus, from the Underworld.

Because of his hard work and bravery, he became a god after he died.

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4. Achilles and the Trojan War

The Trojan War was a long fight between the Greeks and the city of Troy. It started because a Trojan prince named Paris took Helen, the queen of Sparta.

Achilles was the greatest Greek fighter. When he was a baby, his mother dipped him in a magical river to make him invincible. However, she held him by his heel, so his heel remained dry. This was his only weak spot.

Achilles won many battles, but in the end, Paris shot him with an arrow right in his heel, and he died.

The Trojan Horse The Greeks finally won the war with a trick. They built a giant wooden horse and hid soldiers inside. The Trojans brought it into their city as a gift. At night, the soldiers came out and opened the gates.