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Showing 52 entries for country: Greece

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Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Achilles and Hector [Αχιλλέας και Έκτορας (Achilléas kai Éktoras)]

The Achaeans have been fighting at Troy for nine years. Hector is the first among the Trojans. Agamemnon is the Achaeans’ general. On the tenth year, Achilles and Agamemnon argue for two women. Chryseis is Agamemnon’s slave girl. Her father, Chryses, a priest of Apollo, begs Agamemnon to give her back. Agamemnon refuses. When Apollo punishes the Achaeans, Agamemnon has to fulfil Chryses’ wish. Having returned Chryseis to her father, Agamemnon orders Briseis, Achilles’ sla(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Achaeans Achilles Agamemnon Ajax / Aias Apollo Briseis Chryseis Hector Nereid(s) Odysseus / Ulysses Paris (Trojan Prince) Patroclus Priam Thetis Trojans Troy

Nikos Kazantzakis

Alexander the Great / In the Time of Alexander the Great [Μέγας Αλέξανδρος / Στα χρόνια του Μεγαλέξανδρου (Mégas Aléxandros / Sta chrónia tou Megaléxandrou)]

The novel covers Alexander the Great’s life, beginning with his famous taming of the wild horse Bucephalas at fifteen and ending with his death in Babylon in 323 BCE. The novel focuses primarily on Alexander’s twin ambitions, to unite Greece and to conquer Asia and how he made them a reality. He shared these aspirations with his father Philip II of Macedon, who is an important character in the early part of the book. This covers Alexander’s early life at his father’s cour(...)

literary

YEAR: 1940

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Achilles Alexander the Great Aristotle Athens Callisthenes Darius III Demosthenes Greece Hellenism Heracles Hercules Homer Kleos (Glory / Good reputation) Macedonia Olympias Persian Empire Philip II of Macedonia Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty [Αφροδίτη η θεά της ομορφιάς (Afrodítī ī theá tīs omorfiás)]

Mandilaras and Kapatsoulia recount Aphrodite’s life, starting with her birth from the sea in Cyprus and ending with her veneration in Greek temples and legacy for sculptors and painters. Aphrodite emerged from the sea in a large seashell. She was beautiful and everyone fell in love with her. Zephyrus travelled with Aphrodite, first to the island of Cythera – where he spent a night with her – and afterwards to the west part of Cyprus. In Cyprus, the Hours made Aphrodite bea(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Adonis Aphrodite Aphrodite of Melos / Venus of Milo Ares Athena Cyprus Cythera Dionysus / Dionysos Eris Eros Helen Hephaestus Hera Hermes Horae Judgement of Paris Menelaus Olympus Peleus Persephone Poseidon Pottery / Vases Thetis Troy Underworld Zephyrus Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Apollo and Artemis [Απόλλωνας και Άρτεμη (Apóllōnas kai Ártemī)]

The book starts by showing two gods as small children in a pram. We read that the boy grew up to become a patron of the arts and music, while the girl lived in the forests and hunted. Readers are asked to guess the two siblings’ names. Next, we read about pregnant Leto trying to find a place to give birth, running away from Hera’s frustration with Zeus’ infidelity. Leto takes refuge in a small island, and gives birth, first to Artemis and then to Apollo. It now becomes cle(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Actaeon Apollo Artemis Aulis Cassandra Daphne Delos Delphi Hera Hyacinth Iphigenia / Iphigeneia Leto Nymphs Python Tityos Troy Zephyrus Zeus

Kalliope Kyrdi, Evi Pini

Argos Tells Stories from the Mycenaean Period in the National Archaeological Museum [Ο Άργος αφηγείται ιστορίες από τη μυκυναϊκή εποχή στο Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο (O Árgos afīgeítai istoríes apó tī mykynaïkī epochī sto Ethnikó Archaiologikó Mouseío)]

The book is a guide to the Mycenaean antiquities in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The first page offers background information about a museum visit for parents and teachers. From page 4 onwards, the guide to the Mycenaean past begins with defining the temporal and geographical context. Readers are presented with a general narrative about the Achaeans arriving in mainland Greece. At first, the Achaeans practiced agriculture and animal husbandry, before becoming richer through(...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Achaeans Acropolis Agamemnon Argos (Dog) Bronze Age Cassandra Egypt Homer Linear B Odysseus / Ulysses Phoenicians Pylos Syria Tiryns Troy

Kalliope Kyrdi, Evi Pini

Ariadne Tells Stories from the Cycladic Period in the National Archaeological Museum [Η Αριάδνη αφηγείται ιστορίες από την κυκλαδική εποχή στο Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο (Ī Ariádnī afīgeítai istoríes apó tīn kykladikī́ epochī́ sto Ethnikó Archaiologikó Mouseío)]

The first part of the book (pages 4 to 8), which is entitled “a first familiarisation with the Cycladic civilization”, presents the geographical, chronological, and social setting of Cycladic communities. Rare words, such as βραχονησίδα, μεταλλείο, and οψιανός (“rocky islets”, “mines”, and “obsidian”), are explaine(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Aegean Sea Ariadne Crete Cyclades Melos Minotaur Naxos Paros Syros Thera Theseus

Marisa De Castro, Myrto Delivoria

At the Museum [Στο μουσείο (Sto mouseío)]

The purpose of this book is to introduce young children to a museum environment. The book starts with a drawing of a museum, recognisable as the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, which is compared, and with good reason, to a treasure house. In the book’s opening pages, we form an impression that a museum is as much about a massive building (with gigantic stairs and big glass doors) as about antiquities (statues and vases) and a plethora of vibrant visitors of different ethnic(...)

literary

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Greek Art Pottery / Vases Sculpture

Athena [Αθηνά (Athīná)]

This comic book is about the goddess Athena. On the inside of the front cover, we read about Athena’s temples on the Acropolis, her motherless status, and her many adjectives, which, we note, derive from Homer. Also, we learn about festivals honouring Athena. The book closes with Pericles praising Athena’s virtues. The story starts with young and beautiful Athena’s presentation to the world. She stands in Zeus’ hand as he sits on a throne surrounded by other O(...)

literary

YEAR: 1965

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Acropolis Alcibiades Aphrodite Apollo Argonauts Asclepius Aspasia Athena Briareus / Briareos Charites Crete Darius the Great Echo Enceladus Erechtheion Giants Hephaestus Hera Heracles Hermes Iris Marathon Medusa Minos Muses Odysseus / Ulysses Panathenaia Paris (Trojan Prince) Parthenon Pericles Perseus Persians Pheidias / Phidias Poseidon Sisyphus Socrates Solon Sophocles Tartarus Theseus Tiresias Trojan War Typhon / Typhoeus / Typhaon Zeus

The Acropolis Museum

Color the Peplos Kore [Χρωμάτισε την Πεπλοφόρο (Chrōmátise tīn Peplofóro)]

This interactive game disseminates the Acropolis Museum’s research into the colour of the archaic sculptures in its collection. Players are invited to colour one of the most notable statues, the Peplos Kore. The game is intended as a stand-alone activity at home, although it also provides an online complement to the "Archaic Colors" family backpack which enables visitors to discover statues in Museum which retain some colour. Users are shown a photograph of the statue in its curr(...)

electronic

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Ancient Fashion Artemis Greek Art Kore / Korai Sculpture

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Crete – From Minos to Today [Κρήτη – Από τον Μίνωα ως σήμερα (Krī́tī – Apó ton Mínōa ōs sī́mera)]

The narrative starts by making a point of Crete’s unique geographical location. The island resembles a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa. The book explains that Crete has seen lots of activity ever since its first inhabitants arrived eight thousand years ago. Crete has been far from a quiet place also because of its mythological connections. We are told that Zeus grew up here and brought Europa to the island. The giant Talos protected Crete end to end. Later, King Minos built the lab(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Athens Crete Europa Minos Minotaur Rhea Talos (Automaton) Theseus Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Daedalus and Icarus [Δαίδαλος και Ίκαρος (Daídalos kai Íkaros)]

Daedalus was a celebrated sculptor who produced life-looking statues in Athens. People admired Daedalus’ work, but praised also Daedalus’ nephew, Talos. When Talos was found dead, the Athenians thought that Daedalus might have been envious and killed Talos. Daedalus left for Crete. King Minos asked Daedalus to build a prison to confine the Minotaur, a monster with a human body but a bull’s head and tail. For many years Daedalus lived in King Minos’ palace. He had a b(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Ariadne Athens Crete Daedalus Icarus Minos Minotaur Talos (Perdix) Theseus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Dionysos, the Merry God [Διόνυσος, ο κεφάτος θεός (Diónysos, o kefátos theós)]

Philippos Mandilaras recounts Dionysos’ life and the god’s contribution to ancient and modern wine and performance culture. Mandilaras’ text is predominantly in rhyming verses, facilitating memorisation by children of pre-school age. Children can repeat after a teacher reads the text. Some text, e.g., Semele’s conversations with Hera and Zeus, appears in speech bubbles. The interactive experience of reading and performing fits Dionysos’ festive ambience that i(...)

literary

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Dionysus / Dionysos Maenads Satyr(s) Silens

Evangelia Desypris, Daniela Stamatiadis

Getting to Know the Olive [Γνωρίζω την ελιά (Gnōrízō tīn eliá)]

The opening pages inform us that olive oil is precious and its production labour-intensive. Oil goes well with food that is consumed on a daily basis, such as bread and salad. Next, children are asked to count the number of olives on branches and to estimate the capacity of oil containers of different shapes. Then, children are taken back to the past, to the mythic contest between Athena and Poseidon, the Olympic Games, and the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. In the closing page there are in(...)

literary

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Athena Olympic Games Poseidon

Kalliope Kyrdi, Evi Pini

Glafki at the Athenian Agora [Με τη Γλαύκη στην Αρχαία Αγορά της Αθήνας (Me tī Gláfkī stīn Archaía Agorá tīs Athī́nas)]

The opening page, entitled “instead of a preface,” explains that the book is about an explorative journey to the past, for which teachers and parents can prepare children before visiting the Agora. A talking bird guides children throughout the book. Appropriately, for Athens, the bird is an owl called “Glafki”, and we are given information about its symbolism in ancient Greece and about owls nesting in the Acropolis today. An illustration with a reconstructed view o(...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Agora Apollo Artemis Athena Ergane Attalos II Cimon / Kimon Eponymous Heroes Hephaestus Hephaisteion Hermes Ostracism Pindar Poseidon Pottery / Vases

Anna Gkoutzouri

Heracles [Ηρακλής (Īraklī́s)]

Heracles is part of the "My First Greek Myths" board book series by Anna Gkoutzouri. The book features interactive levers that allow you to push, pull, and slide palimpsestic images revealing various characters from the Heracles myth. These reveals also allow for playful plot developments. There are four, thick double-page spreads in total in the book. In the cover image, Heracles is flanked in a characteristic lion’s mane, bearing a sword and fiery torch. He approaches what is p(...)

literary

YEAR: 2019

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Apples of the Hesperides Hera Heracles Hydra Olympus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Herakles [Ο Ηρακλής (O Īraklī́s)]

At the very beginning of the book, we read about Herakles’ conception by Zeus and Alkmene. This affair made Hera jealous. Mandilaras presents Herakles’ labours in the following order: the Nemean Lion; the Lernean Hydra; the Erymanthean Boar; the Hind of Artemis; the Stymphalian Birds; the Augean Stables; the Cretan Bull; the Horses of Diomedes; the Belt of Hippolyte; Geryon's Cattle; the Cerberus; and the Apples of the Hesperides. Each labour is mentioned briefly, as is appr(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Amphitryon Augeas Centaur(s) Deianeira Eurystheus Hesperides Nessus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Hermes. The god for all chores [Ερμής, ο θεός για όλες τις δουλειές (Ermī́s, o theós gia óles tis douleiés)]

The book begins by explaining that Hermes is known for helping the thieves, for serving as the messenger of the Olympians, for befriending heroes, and for travelling to the underworld. Zeus fell in love with the nymph Maia, who gave birth in a cave. While Maia was asleep, we are told, baby Hermes stepped out of his cradle and started wandering in the forest. Inventive Hermes made a lyre out of a turtle’s tortoiseshell. Soon, tired of singing, Hermes became hungry. In search for food, he wa(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Apollo Arcadia Hades Hermes Maia Nymphs Olympus Zeus

Kalliope Kyrdi, Evi Pini

Icarus Tells Stories about Statues in the National Archaeological Museum [Ο Ίκαρος αφηγείται ιστορίες για αγάλματα στο Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο (O Íkaros afīgeítai istoríes gia agálmata sto Ethnikó Archaiologikó Mouseío)]

A talking animal, a duck called Icarus, takes us through the galleries with sculpture at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Icarus shows us statues of males, females, and animals (as we notice also on the front cover), prompting us to pay attention to their style, meaning, and material.The value of experiential learning is emphasised in the introduction (page 3), so that teachers and parents can prepare for the museum visit. Throughout the book, Evi Pini and Kalliopi Kyrdi address bot(...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Alexander the Great Aphrodite Apollo Artemis Athena Athens Aulos Croesus Cycladic Culture Daedalus Delphi Dodona Egypt Greece in the Roman Era Hera Hermes Icarus Iris Kerameikos Kore / Korai Kouros / Kouroi Labyrinth Leto Marathon Marsyas Minoan Civilization Minos Olympia Pan Paris (Trojan Prince) Persians Poseidon Sounion Sparta Syrinx Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Jason and the Argonauts [Ο Ιάσονας και η Αργοναυτική Εκστρατεία (O Iásonas kai ī Argonaftikī́ Ekstrateía)]

Mandilaras’ narrative starts with Jason’s childhood on Mount Pelion and ends with the hero’s adventures in Colchis. Aeson, Jason’s father, entrusted the child Jason to the centaur Chiron. When he turned twenty Jason headed for Iolcus to dethrone Pelias, his uncle. At a river crossing, Jason assisted an elderly woman, who was the goddess Hera in disguise. Jason lost one sandal in the river. King Pelias was terrified when he saw Jason. He remembered an oracle that he w(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Achilles Aeëtes Aeson Amphiaraus Argonauts Argos (City) Boreas Calais Chiron / Cheiron Clashing Rocks / Symplegades / Cyanean Rocks Colchis Greece Harpies Hera Hercules Iolcus Jason Lemnos Medea Mysia Nymphs Orpheus Peleus Pelion Phineus Theseus Thrace Zetes

Thetis Authentics Ltd.

Knucklebones and Marbles [Αστράγαλοι και βώλοι (Astragáloi kai vṓloi)]

The Thetis Authentics range of puzzles and games are reproductions of sections of ancient vases, recreated on flat ceramic plaques, and, as in this instance, reproductions of ancient games. The Thetis website describes the puzzles as “archaeologically inspired” and as “museum quality ancient ceramic replicas”. In this instance, the set consists of two sets of play things: a set of six ceramic knuckle-bones decorated with a “K”, and a set of six ceramic spheres(...)

material

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Greek Art Greek History

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Leonidas and the Battle at Thermopylae [Ο Λεωνίδας (O Leōnídas)]

As we read in the opening page, this book is about a person who left his mark on Greek history. We learn about his family background. Leonidas’ father, Anaxandridas, was king of Sparta. Leonidas, like other Spartan boys, received military training. When he became king, he had to take action against the Persians who invaded Greece. Leonidas consulted an oracle about what to do, and gathered together leaders from other Greek city-states to discuss whether or not to surrender to the Persians.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Anaxandridas Ephialtes Leonidas Persians Sparta Thermopylae Xerxes

Marisa De Castro

Let’s Go to Crete! [Πάμε στην Κρήτη; (Páme stīn Krī́tī?)]

Marisa Decastro and Mark Weinstein take young children and their guardians on a sightseeing tour of Crete, which is, as we read in the opening page, Greece’s largest island. Children are encouraged to mark places of interest on a sketch-map of Crete. The exploration of Crete starts with its diverse landscapes. These range from high mountains with gorges to plains with olive groves. Mention is made of the Cretan ibex, the so-called “kri-kri”, an indigenous wild goat. The descrip(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Artemis Athena Calypso Crete Cronus / Kronos Daedalus Europa Greek History Hephaestus Ithaca Labyrinth Minos Minotaur Odysseus / Ulysses Rhadamanthus / Rhadamanthys Rhea Sarpedon Talos (Automaton) Theseus

Marisa De Castro

Let’s go to Nafplio [Πάμε στο Ναύπλιο; (Páme sto Náfplio?)]

The book starts with an illustration of a typical nuclear family in a car. The mother in the front, father at the wheel, and the daughter son at the back. The mother and son’s red-blond hair could imply a family of foreign visitors to Greece, driving to Nafplio from other Greek cities. Subsequently, we see a simplified map of the Peloponnese and southern central Greece, dotted with places of interest, such as the Corinth Canal. Nemea is marked with a drawing of a man, presumably Her(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Achilles Acrocorinth Alexander the Great Argolid Argos (City) Athena Athens Epaminondas Isthmus of Corinth Leonidas Miltiades Mycenae Nauplius Nemea Palamedes Persians Phocion Poseidon Themistocles Thermopylae Tiryns

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Odysseus' Journey [Το ταξίδι του Οδυσσέα (To taxídi tou Odysséa)]

The author and the illustrator offer an entertaining account of a well-known story about Odysseus, his companions, and their travels to foreign lands. Ancient figures are made accessible by resembling personas from modern popular culture.The account begins with the fact that Odysseus sailed from Troy with 12 ships and reached the land of Kikones. Subsequently, Mandilaras writew about the land of the Lotus Eaters, Odysseus’ dealings with the Cyclops Polyphemos, and the damages to the fleet (...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Calypso Circe Cyclops / Cyclopes Odysseus / Ulysses Polyphemus Poseidon Sirens Troy Underworld

Thetis Authentics Ltd.

Ostrakon [Óστρακον (Óstrakon)]

The Thetis Authentics Ostrakon game challenges people to "excavate" a slab of plaster to discover reproductions of pottery fragments (ostracons or "ostraca"). One of the fragments will be an imitation of an ostracon used in a political ostracism – an occasion when adult male Athenians of the classical period would scratch (or get someone else to scratch) onto a sherd of pottery the name of an individual whom they wished to see exiled from the city for a certain limited (...)

electronic

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Aristides Athens Cimon / Kimon Graeco-Persian Wars Greek Art Greek History Miltiades Ostracism Pericles Themistocles

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Paris and Beautiful Helen [Ο Πάρις και η ωραία Ελένη (O Páris kai i ōraía Elénī)]

The story starts with pregnant Hecuba, Queen of Troy, having a bad dream. The seer Aesacus advises Hecuba to kill her child. If she does not Troy will be destroyed. Priam asks a herdsman to abandon the newborn child in the mountains. The herdsman leaves the baby under an olive tree. When he returns in a week’s time he sees the infant playing with a bear and decides to raise the child as his own. He names the child Paris. The years go by and Paris becomes handsome and good with words. When (...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Achaeans Aphrodite Ares Athena Hecuba Helen Hera Iris Menelaus Olympus Paris (Trojan Prince) Peleus Priam Sparta Thetis Troy Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Pericles and the Golden Century [Ο Περικλής και ο Χρυσός Αιώνας (O Periklī́s kai o Chrysós Aiṓnas)]

The purpose of this book is to showcase Pericles’ life, from childhood to death, and the politics and warfare during Athens’ “Golden Age”, as noted in the subtitle. The front cover shows a helmeted and bearded Pericles before his major construction project, the Parthenon. Builders are shown carrying a Doric capital for the façade’s eighth column, which is missing from the incomplete temple. Yet, we are not only in ancient Athens. At the bottom of the co(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Agariste Aspasia Attica Callicrates Cimon / Kimon Democracy Ephialtes Ictinus Mnesikles Oligarchy Ostracism Paralos Parthenon Pericles Pheidias / Phidias Propylaia Sparta Xanthippos

Thetis Authentics Ltd.

Pinax. Gods and Heroes [Πίναξ. Θεοί και Ήρωες (Pínaks. Theoí kai Īrōes)] (Series): Athena [Αθηνά (Athīna)]

The Thetis Authentics puzzles are reproductions of sections of scenes from ancient vases, each recreated on a flat ceramic plaque (pinax) which has then been broken into 9–12 sherds. In this archaeologist role-play game, the challenge is to reassemble the vase scene using the sherds. The Thetis website describes the puzzles as "archaeologically inspired" and as "museum quality ancient ceramic replicas". These descriptions are based on the unusual nature of the reproduct(...)

electronic

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Athena Gods Greek Art Minerva Zeus

Thetis Authentics Ltd.

Pinax. Gods and Heroes [Πίναξ. Θεοί και Ήρωες (Pínaks. Theoí kai Īrōes)] (Series): Heracles [Ηρακλής (Īraklī́s)]

For a summary introduction to the series, please see the Pinax. Gods and Heroes. Athena [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες. Αθηνά] entry in this database.This particular pinax shows Heracles fighting the Lernaean Hydra, a scene from the Twelve Labours. There is a cardboard mount that can be used to display the pieces once the scene has been assembled.(...)

electronic

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Greek Art Heracles Hercules Hydra Twelve Labours of Heracles

Thetis Authentics Ltd.

Pinax. Gods and Heroes [Πίναξ. Θεοί και Ήρωες (Pínaks. Theoí kai Īrōes)] (Series): Theseus [Θησέας (Thīséas)]

For details summarising the game series, please see Pinax. Gods and Heroes. Athena [πίναξ. θεοί και Ηρωες. Αθηνά] entry in this database.This particular puzzle should have shown Theseus fighting the Minotaur, but the wrong puzzle was included in the box so that instead it features an incomplete puzzle of Odysseus blinding the Cyclops (the manufacturers have been contacted for comment). Ther(...)

electronic

YEAR: 2013

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Crete Cyclops / Cyclopes Gods Greek Art Homer Labyrinth Maze Minotaur Odysseus / Ulysses Odyssey Polyphemus Theseus

Playmobil Group

Playmobil Play + Give (Series): Greek God Zeus

The figure is wearing traditional ancient Greek dress with a purple cloak around its shoulders. Upon the edge of the dress, much like with the Athena figure which was released at the same time, there is a geometric motif that reinforces the "Greekness" of the figure. The figure is crowned with a golden laurel garland, which identifies it as a king, or leader. In combination with the long white beard, and white hair of an older man the figure is identified also as a patriarch.Much like (...)

material

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Zeus

Playmobil Group

Playmobil Play + Give (Series): Greek Goddess Athena

Many of the historical sets feature Roman military figures including: Roman soldiers, Roman troops, a Roman military ship, a chariot, and a tribune. Playmobil historical sets concern themselves primarily with Roman and Egyptian history. This differs from the stance of LEGO minifigures which include Greek and Roman historical and mythological figuresThe Playmobil Play & Give initiative was introduced in November 2012, supporting the ELPIDA association (Association of Friends of Children with (...)

material

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Athena

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Poseidon. The sea god [Ποσειδώνας. Ο Θεός της θάλασσας (Poseidṓnas. O theós tīs thálassas)]

Poseidon, we are told, lives in the depths of the sea and always carries a trident. When he gets angry, he can upset the sea and cause earthquakes. We turn the page, and we are offered biographical information. Poseidon was Cronus’ and Rhea’s son. Cronus swallowed five of his children, so that they could not challenge his leadership of the Titans. Sorrowful Rhea, when she had a sixth baby, she gave a stone to Cronus to devour. So, we are told, Zeus grew up and became strong and overt(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Amphitrite Chronos Demeter Giants Hades Hera Hestia Nereid(s) Olympus Rhea Titans Troy

Anastasia D. Makri, Akis Melachris

Prometheus – Pandora’s Box [Προμηθέας – Το κουτί της Πανδώρας (Promīthéas – To koutí tīs Pandṓras)]

This book adapts stories about Prometheus and Pandora for children. The stories are accompanied by colourful illustrations. The story of Prometheus begins with his parentage (Themis and Iapetus) and with his gift to mankind. The author tells that he first gave them intelligence and how he taught them arts, sciences and how to fight. He then stole fire for them and consequently was punished by Zeus for this act. Prometheus is later saved by Heracles who pleads with Zeus for him.The second story r(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Athena Epimetheus Hephaestus Heracles Hermes Pandora Prometheus Zeus

Eleni Svoronou , Mark Weinstein

Shall we go to Athens? [Πάμε στην Αθήνα; (Páme stīn Athī́na?)]

The book’s purpose is to offer young children an overview of Athens’ history and monuments. The author and the illustrator invite children to walk through Athens, to observe sights and architecture, and to think logically and creatively via the book’s exercises. The front cover depicts the Parthenon and the New Acropolis Museum. These two buildings appear on more pages of the book. Readers will likely form an impression, and with good reason, that this guide is mostly abou(...)

literary

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Acropolis Agora Apeliotes Athena Cecrops Cleisthenes / Clisthenes Hadrian Hephaisteion Kerameikos Muses Nymphs Odeon of Herodes Atticus (Athens) Peisistratus Pericles Pheidias / Phidias Pnyx Poseidon Temple of the Olympian Zeus Theatre of Dionysos Theseus

Marisa De Castro, Mark Weinstein

Shall we go to Delphi? [Πάμε στους Δελφούς; (Páme stous Delfoús?)]

As we read on the opening page, here we have a guide to Delphi in central Greece, "one of the most sacred locations for the ancient Greeks" (my translation). Mythology, archaeology and art history feature prominently in this booklet, accounting for the site’s significance.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Antinous (Hadrian's Favourite) Apollo Artemis Asclepius Biton Castalian Spring Charioteer Daphne Delphi Hadrian Kleobis Kore / Korai Kouros / Kouroi Leto Oedipus Omphalos Orpheus Pan Phaethon Pythia Sphinx Theatre Themistocles Tholos Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Solon. The Wise Statesman [Σόλωνας, ο σοφός νομοθέτης (Sólōnas, o sofós nomothétīs)]

Solon is presented, right from the book’s opening page, as a wise and well-travelled individual who set the foundations of Athenian democracy. The city-states of Solon’s time were governed by tyrants. Solon travelled around the world, studying the laws of different places. When he returned to Athens, the book continues, people were distressed that the Megarians had taken over Salamis. After Solon’s motivational speech in the Agora, the Athenians followed his crafty plan to figh(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Agora Areopagus / Areios Pagos Athens Croesus Cyprus Egypt Heliaia Lydia Megara (Polis) Salamis Solon

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

The Battle of Marathon [Η μάχη του Μαραθώνα (I máchī tou Marathṓna)]

The textual and pictorial narrative starts with a contemporary setting: parents and children enjoy the sun and the sea in a crowded beach, ‘Marathon Beach’. As we read in red letters, this is the place where an important battle in history happened. We turn the page, and we are introduced to the Persian Empire, its geographical vastness and its great King, Darius I. By contrast, the reader comes to appreciate, Greece is much smaller. In the Greek city-states decisions were reached dem(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Artaphernes Athens Callimachus Darius the Great Datis Ionia Marathon Miltiades Persians

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

The Cyclades: Jewels in the Aegean [Κυκλάδες. Πετράδια στο Αιγαίο (Kykládes. Petrádia sto Aigaío)]

This book offers an informative and concise overview of the history and culture of the Cycladic islands for young children. The narrative starts with a reference to the Aegaeis to a continental shelf with mountains and plains that covered the present-day Aegean Sea. The book recounts how the earth trembled and everything was covered with water. Only the tops of the mountains stayed above sea level. Leto found refuge to give birth to her children in one of the rocks sticking out of the sea. This (...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Apollo Artemis Athenians Cycladic Figurines Delian League Greece in the Roman Era Leto Persians

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

The Frogs [Βάτραχοι (Vátrachoi)]

The book opens with a presentation of the main characters in the plot. The Greeks, we read, believed that dead people descended to the underworld, to Hades. Dionysos, however, wanted to bring a great poet back to the world of the living. Hence, Dionysos, disguised as Herakles, made his way to Hades together with his servant, Xanthias. The real Herakles helped Dionysos with directions. When they reached a bottomless lake, Charos, who had a boat, refused to take Xanthias’ donkey on board. Th(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Aeacus Aeschylus Cerberus Charon Dionysus / Dionysos Euripides Hades Heracles Pluto / Plouton

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

The Golden Fleece [Το χρυσόμαλλο δέρας (To chrysómallo déras)]

King Athamas, prompted by his second wife Ino, intends to sacrifice his son, Phrixus, but a golden ram appears and carries Phrixus away. Phrixus and his sister, Helle, ride the flying ram across the seas. Helle falls to her death over a narrow sea passage. At Colchis, Phrixus sacrifices the ram to Zeus and offers its golden fleece to king Aeetes. A dragon guards the fleece. Many years later, Jason requests the golden fleece from Aeetes. To receive it Jason is tasked with ploughing the land (...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Aeëtes Apollo Athamas Colchis Corinth Crete Helle Ino Iolcus Medea Orchomenus Orpheus Pelias Phrixus Sirens Talos (Automaton) Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

The Olympic Games [Οι Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες (Oi Olympiakoí Agṓnes)]

In this book, Mandilaras and Kapatsoulia chart the history of the Olympic Games. The origins of the Games are to be found in myth. According to the book, Heracles liked the location near the rivers Alpheus and Cladeus, and he decided to honour his father there. Hence, Heracles built an altar to Zeus and organised games at that place. We read that according to another version of the myth, the first Games were organised by Heracles Idaios, one of the Kouretes that kept company to infant Zeus. Yet (...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Alpheus Apollo Augeas Chronos Cladeus / Kladeos Coroebus of Elis Diagoras of Rhodes Hera Heracles Heracles Idaios Hippodameia Iphitos of Elis Kallipateira Kouretes Leonidas of Rhodes Oenomaus / Oinomaos of Pisa Olympic Games Pelops Pheidias / Phidias Theagenes of Thasos Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

The Trojan Horse [Ο δούρειος ίππος (O doúreios íppos)]

After Achilles’ death, morale was low in the Achaean army. Odysseus came up with a cunning plan for capturing Troy. Agamemnon agreed to the plan “with a heavy heart”, because the operation was risky. Epeius was tasked with constructing a large wooden horse with a hollow stomach to accommodate one thousand soldiers. Once completed, an inscription was carved on the horse’s head reading “a present by the Achaeans to Athena”. Next, the Achaeans burnt their camp an(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Achaeans Achilles Agamemnon Apollo Athena Cassandra Epeius Laocoon Odysseus / Ulysses Priam Trojan Horse Trojans Troy

Anna Gkoutzouri

The Trojan Horse [Ο Δούρειος Ίππος (O Doúreios Íppos)]

The Trojan Horse is part of the "My First Greek Myths" series of babies' board books, by Anna Gkoutzouri. The cover image depicts the Trojan Horse and contains a surprise for readers. Sliding the middle panel upwards as a small arrow directs, reveals several pairs of eyes inside the belly of the horse. Two guards also pop up in the turrets of the castle. At the same time, bars slide across on the right-hand side of the page and the beautiful Helen is revealed at her windowsill, smi(...)

literary

YEAR: 2019

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Achilles Hector Helen Iphigenia / Iphigeneia Odysseus / Ulysses Trojan Horse Trojan War

Evi Pini, Elisa Vavouri

The Trojan War. The Beginning of History [Τρωικός Πόλεμος. Η αρχή της ιστορίας (Trōikós Pólemos. Ī archī́ tīs istorías)]

Evi Pini explains how the Trojan War started. The text is in the form of a fairy tale, as implied by the standard phrase “once upon a time” (my translation) at the very beginning. The book begins with Eris and ends with Iphigeneia’s last-minute rescue from being sacrificed to Artemis. Neither fighting nor bloodshed is presented. Instead, we have an account of human and divine passions and emotions, as well as a description of logistical preparations for going to war.&nbs(...)

literary

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Achilles Aeolus Agamemnon Aphrodite Argos (City) Artemis Athena Athens Boeotia Calchas Clytemnestra Crete Diomedes (Son of Tydeus) Eris Euboea Gods Greek History Helen Hera Hermes Idomeneus Iphigenia / Iphigeneia Ithaca Lykomedes Menelaus Menestheus Mycenae Nestor Odysseus / Ulysses Paris (Trojan Prince) Peleus Phocis Priam Pylos Skyros Sparta Thetis Troy Tyndareus Zeus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

The Twelve Gods of Olympus [Οι 12 θεοί του Ολύμπου (Oi 12 theoí tou Olýmpou)]

The text and illustrations in the book offer a humorous overview of how the Olympian gods came to establish themselves. The book’s opening page presents snow-laden and surprisingly barren-from-trees Mount Olympus, with a bird, perhaps a blackbird but painted red-brown here, and a goat in hiking boots looking at the text and directing readers’ attention to it. The text summarises the book, telling us where the gods lived and how they became conquerors of the world by combating (...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Cronus / Kronos Cyclops / Cyclopes Demeter Dionysus / Dionysos Gaia / Gaea Giants Hades Hecatoncheires / Hundred-Handed Hephaestus Hera Heracles Hermes Hestia Nymphs Ouranos / Uranus Poseidon Rhea Titans Zeus

Anna Gkoutzouri

The Twelve Gods of Olympus [Οι δώδεκα Θεοί του Ολύμπου (Oi dṓdeka theoí tou Olýmpou)]

The Twelve Gods of Olympus is a board book, a part of Anna Gkoutzouri's charming "My First Greek Myths" series. The book introduces three of the Gods per page and mentions what they were rulers of. Zeus is introduced as the overriding leader of the twelve gods of Olympus. Hera is introduced as his wife. Ares the war god – their son – appears when a lever on the right-hand side of the page is pulled, running after Hera who is waving a white handkerchief in farewell from (...)

literary

YEAR: 2019

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Demeter Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hestia Poseidon Zeus

Antonis Antoniadis

The Wolf of Sparta [Ο λύκος της Σπάρτης (O lýkos tīs Spártīs)]

The novel is set during the Greek-Persian wars, from the battle of Thermopylae to the Battle of Plataea as seen by the only survivor of the 300 Spartan warriors of King Leonidas I, who set out to guard the Helladic world against the Persians. Aristodemos – a descendant of the royal line of the Herakleides – and his companion Eurytos lose their sight upon being sprayed in their faces with viper poison on the battlefield. They are sent to consult Aesculapius’ priests in the milit(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Aphrodite Apollo Asclepius Cronus / Kronos Delphi Demeter Erinyes Graeco-Persian Wars Greek History Greek Philosophy Hades Heracles Hercules Morpheus Oracles Persephone Pythia Sparta Zeus

Anna Gkoutzouri

Theseus and the Minotaur [Θησέας και Μινώταυρος (Thīséas kai Minṓtavros)]

On the cover of this charming board book which has four double-page spreads in total, Ariadne stands with her string, ready to help Theseus who stands to her right. With the pull of a small lever, a Minotaur appears sandwiched between the two figures, waving a tiny toy drum. On the first page of the story we encounter Minos, who demands that he receive fourteen youths to serve him each year. Seven female-presenting youths are holding little boxes with the numbers 1–6 on them. When a lever (...)

literary

YEAR: 2019

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Ariadne Athens Crete Knossos Labyrinth Minos Minotaur Theseus

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Theseus [Ο Θησέας (O Thīséas)]

This book aims to educate young learners about Theseus, presenting episodes from Theseus' life in a compact and entertaining manner. The textual and visual narrative starts with Theseus’ parents, Aegeus and Aethra, and ends with the hero’s long rule as a wise king of Athens. The plot unfolds like a fairy tale, appropriate for a story about the four kings mentioned: Aegeus, Theseus, Pittheus, and Minos. There is constant action, and we move on swiftly from one event to(...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Aegeus Aethra Ariadne Athens Crete Marathon Midas Periphetes Procrustes Sciron Sinis Sounion Troezen

Natalia Kapatsoulia, Filippos Mandilaras

Thessaloniki – Town at the Crossroads of Two Worlds [Θεσσαλονίκη, πόλη στο σταυροδρόμι δύο κόσμων (Thessaloníkī, pólī sto stavrodrómi dýo kósmōn)]

The book starts by mentioning the different peoples that have lived in Thessaloniki. The city is said to have been named by Cassander, one of Alexander the Great’s successors, after Alexander’s sister, who was a mermaid. Cassander founded Thessaloniki as a great trading port. The Romans built a road that connected East with West, as well as palaces and arches. Later, we are told, when Constantinople became a capital city, Thessaloniki served as a co-capital city. Thessaloniki was bes(...)

literary

YEAR: 2018

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Alexander the Great Greece in the Roman Era Macedonia Thessalonike of Macedon

Kalliope Kyrdi, Evi Pini

Young Visitors to the Acropolis Museum [Μικροί επισκέπτες στο Μουσείο της Ακρόπολης (Mikroí Episképtes sto Mouseío tīs Akrópolīs)]

Both authors show that a museum guide should be informative, interactive, fun, and far from a long catalogue of exhibits. In addition to children of pre-school and early school age, the target audience is parents and teachers. The latter will find “ideas” for organising the museum visit on the opening page and additional information about the Museum, the Acropolis, and the Parthenon at the end of the book. Indeed, the book’s content is exceptionally rich. There is inform(...)

literary

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: Greece

TAGS: Acropolis Caryatids Erechtheus Giants Hekatompedon Hephaestus Metis Olympus Ouranos / Uranus Pandrosos Poseidon Zeus