Around the World in Stories: Journey to Ancient Greece

The stories of the Greek gods are so old, some of them were first carved into clay tablets more than three thousand years ago. Just like the colorful alebrijes we met in Oaxaca helped tell the story of a whole community, these ancient tales helped the people of Greece understand their world. And today, we’re going to step right into one. Ready? Close your eyes. Alright, open them! We’re standing on a hill overlooking a city of white stone, shimmering in the sun. This is Athens. Take a deep breath.

Can you smell it? A little bit of sea salt on the breeze, a little bit of dust from the sun-baked earth, and something sweet… like honey and herbs. Down below, the marketplace—the agora—is buzzing with voices. Let’s go closer. We find a spot in the shade of an olive tree. Its leaves are silvery green, and the branches are gnarled and wise, like an old storyteller. And look, there IS a storyteller. An old man with eyes that sparkle. He’s sitting on a stool, breaking bread and dipping it into a small clay pot of golden honey.

He pops a dark, shiny olive into his mouth. He sees you looking and winks. He begins to speak, and the crowd quiets down. His voice is low and rumbling at first, then it soars like an eagle. He tells a story of how this very city got its name. He speaks of two mighty gods: Poseidon, ruler of the sea, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom. They both wanted to be the special protector of this city. To decide, they each had to give the city a gift. Poseidon, proud and powerful, struck the rock of the Acropolis with his trident.

And from the stone, a spring of salt water burst forth! A powerful gift, a symbol of might on the sea. But Athena… her gift was different. She simply knelt and planted a small seed in the earth. And from that seed, the VERY first olive tree grew. A gift of peace. A gift of food. A gift of shade. The people chose Athena’s gift. They chose life. The storyteller falls silent. The sun is beginning to set, painting the sky orange and purple. It glows behind the great temple on the hill, the Parthenon, built for Athena herself.

And in that quiet moment, you understand. These stories are not just stories. The Greek word for them is mythos. It means a tale that holds a whole world inside it. They are like seeds, planted thousands of years ago, that are still growing today. You can find them in books, in plays at summer festivals, and even in brand new video games about gods and monsters. The stories are ALIVE. The greatest journey isn't always across the sea. Sometimes, it's the journey a story takes through time, from a carving on a clay tablet… all the way to you.

So as we leave the scent of honey and olives behind, what feeling will you carry home from ancient Greece? Let it be the feeling of wonder. The wonder of a story that can build a city, and last forever.