Mythology Crafts

Teaching Kids History and Mythology with Crafts

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Edmund Cain

I love art and mythology and teaching others about history.

Greek and Roman Activities

The Panathenaia: Celebrate Athena In Ancient Athens with MythologyCooks
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Bust of Athena, (inlaid eyes are lost). Copy of the 2nd century CE after a votive statue of Kresilas in Athens (ca. 430–420 BC).

Athena, on the other hand, had something better to offer. She gave the Athenians a special gift: an olive tree! As a symbol of peace, these trees brought wealth and grew yummy olives. The people were won over by Athena and thought her wisdom would be a great benefit in the future. 

Impressed, the people dedicated the city to her and named it after the goddess. To honor her, the people built temples and made lovely works of art. In return, Athena helped the Athenians in battle and inspired them to make better arts and crafts.

The people of Athens loved Athena so much they put her symbol, an owl, on their coins. (To learn more about Athena and the owl, check out our coin craft.)

The city became famous for its love of art and wisdom. They celebrated with a large festival dedicated to Athena called the Penathenaia. 

Print this picture of Athena and color it in!

 

 

Like the Olympics, the Panathenaia featured athletic competitions for young athletes. Foot races, wrestling matches and horse races all encouraged teamwork, sportsmanship and physical fitness. 

At the Acropolis, a religious area overlooking the city, citizens gathered to offer sacrifices and prayers to Athena. Burning animal offerings like sheep or goats created smoke from the altars that would rise into the sky carrying the gratitude of the people to goddes.

After the religious ceremonies, it was time for feasting and merriment. Families and friends would gather for lavish banquets enjoying Greek delicacies like fruit, olives, honey cakes, and freshly baked bread. 

The people in the Greek city-state of Athens celebrated a grand festival in late July or August every year. The festival honored the Goddess Athena. 

The Importance of Athena

Athena, the goddess of wisdom and courage held a special place in the hearts of the ancient Athenians and was the city’s official god. The legend suggests the people of Athens wanted a special god to protect their city. Two mighty gods, Poseidon and Athena, competed for the honor.

Poseidon, the god of the sea, used his powerful trident to make a spring of water appear. (You can make your own trident and learn more about Poseidon with our Staff of the Gods Craft). It was amazing, but the water was salty and so not very helpful to the city. 

Greek youths harvest olives

The Panathenaia

Months before the Panathenaia, the city of Athens buzzed with excitement and preparations. Young girls and boys participated in art workshops, creating beautiful crafts to honor Athena. They would learn to paint, weave, and sculpt. (You can learn about Athena’s famous weaving contest here.).

One of the highlights of the Panathenaia was the grand procession, where citizens, musicians, and athletes paraded through the streets of Athens. Imagine joining the lively march, wearing colorful robes and carrying olive branches. At the front of the procession, a large specially woven robe called the peplos was carried in honor of Athena.

 

Now that you have learned about the festival, try making your own Greek honey cakes!

Honey Cake Recipe

Here’s a simple ancient Greek-inspired honey cake recipe:

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 3 large eggs
  • Zest of 1 orange

 

 

For the Syrup:

  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Juice of 1 lemon

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a round cake pan.

  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves (if using).

  3. In another bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, Greek yogurt, eggs, and orange zest until well combined.

  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

  5. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top.

  6. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

  7. While the cake is baking, prepare the syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the honey, water, and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and cook for a few minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and let it cool.


  9. Once the cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.

  10. Use a skewer or fork to poke holes all over the cake. Pour the cooled syrup evenly over the warm cake, allowing it to soak in.

  11. Let the cake cool completely in the pan before removing and serving.

  12. Optional: Before serving, you can drizzle a little extra honey on top and sprinkle with some chopped nuts or a dusting of cinnamon.

This ancient Greek-inspired honey cake is a delightful treat that pays homage to the flavors and ingredients of ancient times. Enjoy a slice of this moist and aromatic cake with a cup of tea or coffee!

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