Athena Resources are Abundant on Stones of Erasmus: Plus, A Free Coloring Book (Just Click the Link!)

Greetings, dear readers!

Download a free PDF of an Athena-Inspired coloring book.

As part of our ongoing journey to make learning both engaging and fun, Stones of Erasmus is thrilled to announce a unique offering – a free, Athena-inspired coloring book! This isn't your ordinary coloring book; it's a piece of art, designed with dedication and love, intended to bring the mesmerizing world of Greek mythology closer to you and your students.

Meet Athena: The Goddess of Wisdom

For those who are new to Greek mythology, Athena, also known as Minerva in Roman mythology, is the goddess of wisdom. She is often depicted as a perpetual virgin and is symbolized by the owl. This powerful and wise goddess is the star of our coloring book. Each coloring book page displays Athena in myriad ways, ranging from serious to whimsical interpretations. We've applied our creative license, delivering unique depictions of the goddess to inspire your imagination. To deepen the learning experience, we've also included a "Further Reading Guide" with links to mythology-related books and websites where you can discover more about Athena and her fascinating stories.

Use the Coloring Book in the Classroom

This Athena-inspired coloring book is an excellent resource to supplement a mythology unit for middle or high school students. Each student could be assigned a different 'Athena' and invited to develop their creative writing skills by crafting a backstory, detailing the goddess's character traits, or elaborating on a specific myth.

And of course, the book can also serve its traditional purpose: providing hours of coloring fun!

Let's Respect Copyright

We feel it's important to mention that this coloring book is protected by U.S. copyright law. It is intended for educational purposes in a classroom setting and not for wider distribution. If you know a fellow teacher or educator who might benefit from this resource, we encourage you to share the link to this post. Let's respect creativity and the hard work of creating these resources.

Get Your Free Coloring Book Today

Our Athena coloring book is more than just a book; it's an invitation to explore, learn, and have fun. So why wait? Click the link, download your free Athena-inspired coloring book, and embark on a fascinating journey into the world of Greek mythology!

(Note: This blog post is subject to copyright. Please ensure you adhere to the terms mentioned above. For the premium version of the coloring book, click here!)

Happy coloring!

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Exploring Artistic Marvels: Unveiling the Spinario at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

I’m at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and admiring a 16th-century copy of a bronze sculpture from an ancient work now held at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. It’s called the Spinario and it depicts a youth pulling a thorn out of his foot.

Exploring art's timelessness at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captivated by the Spinario—a 16th-century replica of a poignant ancient masterpiece, depicting a youth's tender act of self-care.

Clip Art: Athena Fights the Titan Enceladus

Athena fights Enceladus

Minerva with her shield of serpents attacks the Titan Enceladus with her lance. Enceladus holds a shield on which is a triskelion, symbol of Sicily, where he was swallowed by Aetna. A falcon or hawk seems to combat Minerva's owl. Rouen Museum. Source note: Elite des monuments céramographiques : matériaux pour l''histoire des religions et des moeurs de l''antiquité. (Paris : Leleux, 1844-1861) Lenormant, Charles (1802-1859), Author. Retrieved from the New York Public Library Digital Collections. The image is in the public domain. Uploaded by Stones of Erasmus.

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Rediscovering Ancient Myths with "Narcissus and Echo" Teaching Resource and Educational Digital Download

In Greek mythology's vast and enthralling realm, two tragic characters stand out, captivating the hearts of students and teachers alike: Narcissus and Echo. These emblematic figures, embodying love, beauty, and vanity, have permeated our culture and language, leaving indelible imprints. To immerse ourselves and our students in their dramatic tale, I have created an educational resource, a comprehensive teaching kit that explores their narrative in engaging and thought-provoking ways.

This resource is not just a static, lifeless document. It is an interactive, vibrant educational tool designed to spark interest and facilitate discussion. With a target audience of middle and high school students, the kit is available as a PDF, Google Slides, and as an Easel Activity and Assessment (exclusive to TpT), offering multiple avenues for engagement.

Educational Digital Downloads Like This One are Available from Stones of Erasmus. 

Feature-Rich Learning Experience

The resource features a meticulously curated three-day lesson calendar with helpful teacher's notes. An intuitive anchor chart detailing key characters and places provides learners with context and geographical understanding of where these tragic Greek youths lived. A map activity brings this historical context to life, setting the stage for the narratives of Narcissus and Echo.

For the heart of the lesson, there are two-story versions of the Narcissus and Echo myth, each provided with a student-friendly reading protocol. The narratives, followed by a 9-count question bank, aid comprehension and promote discussion. A custom note-taking template ensures students actively engage with the material.

To further enrich the lesson, Frayer Model Vocabulary Cards are included. This innovative technique encourages students to explore vocabulary visually, diving deeper into the terms and contextual entries that fit the story.

Active Understanding and Summative Assessment

The learning process doesn't stop there. Half-sheet exit tickets offer a quick way to gauge student understanding at the end of the lesson. Simultaneously, a writing activity serving as a summative assessment challenges students to write a detailed five-paragraph essay exploring the characters of Echo and Narcissus.

A further reading list, often mistaken as merely a bibliography, provides a wealth of additional resources for those wanting to delve deeper into the myth. Whether for additional assignments or individual exploration, these resources facilitate a more profound understanding and engagement with the tragic tale of Echo and Narcissus.

Teachers will appreciate the included answer keys for all student-facing documents. These keys guide students on what to expect in their written and oral responses.

Integrating the Old with the New

This resource, created with high school students in mind, is an excellent addition to any English Language Arts Mythology unit. It encourages students to discuss beauty, vanity, unrequited love, anthropomorphic personification, and more.

Moreover, this resource can easily be paired with a larger unit on Ovid's Metamorphoses, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Robert Graves's Greek Myths, or Edith Hamilton's Mythology. It supplements a unit on Graeco-Roman Mythology, offering links to full-text primary resources online.

To explore more myths and legends, check out similar resources on the stories of Cupid and Psyche, Zeus and Metis & The Birth of Athena, Apollo and Daphne, and many more lessons included in the Middle and High School Mythology Series.

A Gift of Knowledge

Lastly, I'd like to thank the New York Public Library Digital Collections. They have made a wealth of public domain material available to the public, a generous gift to educators and learners alike.

Discover a new world of ancient tales with this resource, and join me on a journey through the enthralling stories that have shaped human culture and thought. Embark on the path of knowledge at Stones of Erasmus, © 2023 stonesoferasmus.com.

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Discovering the Divine Huntress: A Journey into the Realm of Artemis, Or, Diana

In the bustling city of Ephesus, amid the bustling marketplaces and thriving harbors, stood the magnificent Temple of Artemis. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this sacred edifice was a testament to the divine Artemis (or Diana), the revered Olympian goddess of the moon and the hunt. A deity of nature and wildlife, her influence, much like her arrows, stretched far and wide. Today, let us rekindle the flickering flames of ancient fires and bring to life the enigmatic goddess and her magnificent temple.

As an educator who designs digital downloads, I've found that the allure of Artemis provides a rich, captivating context for teaching and learning. With this in mind, I've created an engaging, resource-packed digital download that uncovers the mysteries surrounding Artemis and her legendary temple.

Take a Sneak Peak at the Artemis (Or, Diana) Educational Digital Download

The Quintessence of Artemis

With this comprehensive resource, navigate the mythic landscape of Artemis, or, as the Romans called her, Diana, tracing her origins from a probable river or vegetation goddess to the celestial twin of Apollo. The fascinating intricacies of her cultic status offer fertile ground for intriguing discussions and insights.

An Array of Learning Tools

The resource comes with a plethora of pedagogical tools designed to foster a deep understanding of Artemis and her world. It includes a three-day lesson calendar complete with teacher’s notes, an anchor chart of key characters and places, and student-friendly reading cards exploring Artemis at Ephesus and her representations in literature and art.

The 18-count question bank ensures comprehensive topic coverage and encourages critical thinking. A custom note-taking template fosters active engagement, while the Frayer Model Vocabulary Cards help students visually explore and grasp complex terms and ideas.

Evaluating Understanding and Deepening Knowledge

Exit tickets, collected at the end of each lesson, provide immediate feedback on students’ understanding. As a summative assessment, a writing activity encourages students to delve deeper into the characteristics and symbolism of Artemis, particularly focusing on her as a representation of female power, nature, and fertility.

The included further reading list isn't just a bibliography—it's a portal for deeper exploration and individual or group projects. By assigning different sources to students, you can create an engaging space where learning expands beyond the confines of the classroom.

Fitting Mythology into the Middle and High School English Language Arts Curriculum

Designed with high school students in mind, this Artemis resource fits seamlessly into an English Language Arts Mythology unit. It provides an opportunity to discuss female goddesses, the role of women in society, and fertility symbolism in art and literature.

The resource stands strong as an independent lesson but can also be paired with a broader unit on early Greek myths, primordial stories, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Robert Graves's Greek Myths, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, or Edith Hamilton’s Mythology.

So, take your students on a mesmerizing journey into the realm of Artemis—a world where gods, goddesses, and the intricacies of the ancient Mediterranean world come to life. Explore more mythology-related resources at Stones of Erasmus, © 2023 stonesoferasmus.com.

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Keeping the Hearth Fire Burning: The Tale of Hestia and the Vestal Virgins

A flame flickered persistently in ancient Rome at the heart of the city. This was no ordinary fire but the sacred flame of the goddess Vesta, the Roman equivalent of Hestia, the Greek goddess of the hearth. Handpicked from Rome's noble families, six Vestal Virgins were tasked with a sacred duty — keeping the flame from going out. It was believed that the stability of Rome, its people, and its vast empire depended on this flame. So important was this duty that should a Vestal Virgin fail and the flame extinguished, she would be buried alive. Such was the reverence to Vesta, the humble goddess of the hearth.

Just as the Vestal Virgins were responsible for maintaining the sacred flame of Vesta, I believe it is our role as educators to keep the love of knowledge alive and burning brightly in our students' minds. With this ethos, I have created an educational resource that delves into the story of Hestia (or Vesta), offering a fascinating three-day lesson plan designed to fully engage students in exploring this remarkable goddess.

Hestia, or as the Romans know her, Vesta, is the Goddess of the Hearth Fire.

A Pathway to Ancient Mythology

This resource, available as a digital download in PDF, Google Slides, and Easel Activity and Assessment formats begins with an overview of Hestia and her place within ancient mythology. The daughter of Titans Kronus and Rhea, and one of Zeus's siblings, Hestia was an original Olympian. Although not as well-known as some of her Olympian siblings, her significance, particularly to the Romans in the form of Vesta, is fascinating and illuminating.

With an extensive teacher three-day lesson calendar, complete with notes, this resource guides educators through an immersive exploration of Hestia and her role in ancient society. Reading cards focus on aspects of Hestia's life and influence, including her depiction in art and culture, her symbolization as the goddess of the hearth fire, and an intriguing look at the Vestal Virgins and their crucial role in Roman society.

A Bronze Sculpture of Hestia Now
Housed in the Louvre Museum

To ensure your students are making the most out of this resource, it includes a 22-count question bank for quick comprehension checks and a custom note-taking template to encourage accountability. To further help students fully engage with the subject matter, the resource offers Frayer Model Vocabulary Cards, helping students to think about vocabulary visually in a four-section square, encouraging a deep understanding of terms and concepts related to the story.

Extend the Learning Journey

I've included a further reading list, not just as a simple bibliography but as a way to encourage students to delve deeper into the subject. Assign different sources to students and organize presentations where learning can go deeper into the story. Answer keys are provided for all student-facing documents, giving teachers plenty of guidance on what to expect from students in their written and oral responses.

Educational Digital Downloads from Stones of Erasmus are
Chock Full of Resources for the Middle and High School Classroom

Designed for high school students and suitable for an English Language Arts Mythology unit, this resource can be used as a standalone lesson or paired with a larger unit on early Greek myths, primordial stories, or well-known literature such as Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Robert Graves's Greek Myths, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and Fasti, or Edith Hamilton's Mythology.

Explore other Middle and High School Mythology Series lessons for more comprehensive mythology resources, such as Artemis (Or, Diana), Hades the God of the Underworld, Niobe and Her Children, and the highly popular Plato's Cave lesson.

Join me in bringing ancient mythology to life in the classroom. Keep the flame of knowledge burning, just like the Vestal Virgins kept the flame of Vesta. Head over to my website, Stones of Erasmus, and explore the world of mythology through these captivating educational resources. © 2023 stonesoferasmus.com.

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The Marble Maiden: Pygmalion, Galatea, and the Art of Love

In the sun-bathed island of Cyprus, a young artist named Pygmalion sought a beauty so perfect, so flawless, it could not be found in any living woman. Driven by an obsession of his ideal, Pygmalion turned to the marble blocks of his studio. His skilled hands chiseled the cold stone, shaping curves and contours until a woman of unearthly beauty emerged. She was so lifelike that one could swear she would move if spoken to. He named his creation Galatea, and against all odds, fell passionately in love with her.

As strange as it sounds, Pygmalion's tale is more than a story of love; it is a tale of artistic devotion, obsession, and the blurred lines between the creator and creation. And now, you have the opportunity to bring this intriguing Greek myth to your classroom, through an engaging and comprehensive resource I've crafted especially for middle and high school students.

Educational igital downloads like
This One are Available from Stones of Erasmus.

Introducing Pygmalion and Galatea: An Exploration of Myth and Art

This resource, offered as a PDF, Google Slides, and an Easel Activity and Assessment (exclusive to TpT), centers around the captivating narrative of Pygmalion and Galatea. With a three-day lesson plan complete with teachers' notes, it provides a structured, in-depth look at this myth, setting the geographical context with a map activity that situates the tale in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Within this resource, reading cards offer two different versions of the Pygmalion and Galatea story, as well as an analysis of the myth through Clement of Alexandria's perspective. There are also art and literature connections which include a 16th-century artistic representation of the tale by Hendrick Goltzius, and a study of the myth's representation in various other forms of art.

To ensure your students' engagement, the resource offers a 14-count question bank for comprehension checks, and a custom note-taking template to encourage personal accountability. Frayer Model Vocabulary Cards offer students an effective way to visually understand the vocabulary related to the story. And just before wrapping up the class, a half-sheet exit ticket helps you gauge your students' understanding of the lesson.

Dig Deeper, Learn More

The learning doesn't stop here! I have included a further reading list, not just as a simple bibliography, but as a stepping stone to deeper exploration. By assigning different sources to students and organizing presentations, the learners can delve further into the story.

A unique aspect of this resource is the writing activity, which serves as a summative assessment. It asks students to analyze Pygmalion's character as either a "creator" or a "misogynist," stimulating thought-provoking discussions about gender, representation of women in literature and art, and more.

Answer keys are provided for all student-facing documents, giving you ample guidance on what to expect from students in their written and oral responses.

This resource can stand on its own, or can be paired with a larger unit on Graeco-Roman mythology or other popular texts like Ovid's Metamorphoses, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Robert Graves's Greek Myths, or Edith Hamilton's Mythology.

If you found this resource compelling, you might also be interested in other lessons included in the Middle and High School Mythology Series, such as Cupid and Psyche, Zeus and Metis & The Birth of Athena, Apollo and Daphne, and the ever-popular Plato's Cave lesson.

Come, join me on my journey as we breathe life into ancient myths. Visit Stones of Erasmus on the web and together, let us make learning an adventure. © 2023

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