Theseus and the Minotaur

Theseus volunteers to travel to Crete with a group of young Athenians being sent into the Labyrinth, where the terrifying Minotaur waits. He plans to kill the monster and end the terrible tribute. On Crete, Princess Ariadne gives him two extremely useful things: a sword and a ball of thread. Theseus unwinds the thread as he enters the maze, defeats the Minotaur and follows the line back to safety. Unfortunately, his journey home ends in tragedy when he forgets to change his ship’s black sail to white. I like this story because it proves that defeating the monster is only half the job. You also have to remember how to get home.

Perseus and Medusa

Perseus is sent on what sounds like an impossible mission: bring back the head of Medusa, the Gorgon whose gaze turns people to stone. Luckily, he does not simply charge in with a sword. Athena, Hermes and other helpers provide magical equipment, including a reflective shield, winged sandals and a cap of invisibility. Perseus defeats Medusa by watching her reflection instead of looking directly at her. On his journey home he also rescues Andromeda from a sea monster. I like Perseus because his greatest weapon is not really his sword. It is his ability to listen, prepare and find a clever way around a problem.

Jason and the Golden Fleece

Jason’s adventure begins with a stolen throne and an impossible mission. His uncle Pelias sends him across the sea to Colchis to bring back the Golden Fleece, hoping he will never return. Jason gathers a crew of famous heroes called the Argonauts and sails aboard the Argo. They face Harpies, crashing rocks, fire-breathing bulls and warriors that grow from the ground! Jason is brave, but he needs plenty of help, especially from the clever magician Medea. I like this story because it is not really about one hero doing everything. The whole adventure works because different people bring different skills to the team.

The Twelve Labours of Heracles

Heracles was the strongest hero in Greece, but his Twelve Labours prove that muscles were not enough. After a terrible tragedy caused by madness sent by Hera, Heracles was ordered to serve King Eurystheus and complete a series of almost impossible tasks. He fought the Nemean Lion and Hydra, captured dangerous animals, cleaned enormous stables, travelled to the edge of the world and even entered the Underworld to fetch Cerberus. Some jobs required strength, but others needed patience, teamwork or clever tricks. That is what I like about the Labours. Heracles starts as the strongest hero, but the adventures constantly force him to become a smarter one too.

The Trojan Horse

After ten years of fighting, the Greeks still could not break through the enormous walls of Troy. Odysseus finally came up with a completely different plan: build a gigantic wooden horse, hide soldiers inside it and pretend the Greek army had sailed home. The Trojans brought the horse into their city despite warnings from Laocoön and Cassandra. That night the hidden soldiers climbed out, opened the gates and let the Greek army inside. Troy fell. I think the cleverest part of this story is also its warning. The Trojans wanted the war to be finished so badly that they accepted the answer they hoped was true.

Prometheus Steals Fire

Prometheus was a clever Titan who cared about humans. When Zeus kept fire away from them, Prometheus decided that people needed it to survive and grow. He stole a glowing ember from the gods, hidden inside a hollow fennel stalk, and brought it to humanity. Fire gave people warmth, cooked food, light and the ability to work metal, but Zeus was furious. Prometheus was chained to a mountain and terribly punished until Heracles eventually freed him. I like this myth because fire is both useful and dangerous. Prometheus gives humans an amazing power, but what they choose to do with it becomes their responsibility.