Medusa & Athena | Athena & Poseidon | Greek Mythology for Kids | Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses

Summary

The script tells the tale of Medusa, a beautiful maiden in Athens who was cursed by Athena for her vanity, transforming her into a monster with snakes for hair. It also recounts a contest between Athena and Poseidon over a coastal village, where Athena's gift of an olive tree won the villagers' favor, leading to the city being named Athens.

Takeaways

• 🧝‍♀️ The story begins with Medusa, a maiden renowned for her beauty in Athens, Greece.
• 🦄 Medusa's vanity was her downfall; she was so proud of her beauty that she constantly boasted about it.
• 🪞 Medusa's obsession with her reflection led to her neglecting her duties, such as fetching water for her father's horses.
• 🏛 During a visit to the Parthenon, Medusa's pride led her to compare herself unfavorably to Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
• 🗣️ Medusa's arrogance angered Athena, who punished her by transforming her into a hideous monster with snakes for hair.
• 🔮 Athena's curse also included a reflection that would turn anyone who saw Medusa's face into stone.
• 🐍 Medusa was then sent to live with the Gorgon sisters, away from the sight of innocent people.
• 🌊 The narrative shifts to discuss the gods of Ancient Greece, highlighting the power and influence of Poseidon, the lord of the sea.
• 🏞️ A new coastal village becomes the subject of a contest between Athena and Poseidon, as both claim it as their own.
• 🎁 The contest involved the gods providing gifts to the village; Poseidon gave a stream, but it was saltwater, while Athena gave an olive tree, which was very beneficial to the villagers.
• 🏆 Athena won the contest due to the usefulness of her gift, and the village was named Athens in her honor.

Q & A

Who was Medusa and where did she live?

Medusa was a beautiful maiden who lived in the city of Athens, in the country of Greece.

What was Medusa's attitude towards her own beauty?

Medusa was very proud of her beauty, often boasting about it and admiring herself in mirrors and reflections.

What significant event happened when Medusa visited the Parthenon?

Medusa made comments comparing her beauty to Athena's, which angered the goddess and resulted in Athena turning Medusa into a hideous monster with snakes for hair.

What was the consequence of Athena's curse on Medusa?

Medusa was turned into a monster and was sent to live with the Gorgons at the ends of the earth, so that her reflection would not accidentally turn others to stone.

What was the relationship between Athena and Poseidon in the context of the new coastal village?

Both Athena and Poseidon claimed the new coastal village as their own, leading to a contest where each would give a gift to the village to determine which god would be the guardian.

What gifts did Athena and Poseidon give to the coastal village during their contest?

Poseidon gave a stream, which turned out to be of salt water, and Athena gave an olive tree, which provided multiple benefits to the villagers.

Why did the villagers not want to choose between Athena and Poseidon?

The villagers feared the consequences of angering either god and did not want to risk the wrath of the Lord of the Sea, Poseidon.

What was the outcome of the contest between Athena and Poseidon?

Poseidon conceded the contest to Athena, acknowledging that her gift was more useful to the villagers, and Athena became the guardian of the village.

What was the significance of the olive tree gift from Athena?

The olive tree was significant as it provided the villagers with wood for building, branches for kindling, and olives for food and oil, contributing to their livelihood.

How did the village honor Athena after she became their guardian?

In honor of Athena becoming their guardian, the villagers named their village Athens.