The History of Mt. Olympus

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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Located between the two regions Thessaly and Macedonia, Mt. Olympus is 9,570 feet tall and is the highest mountain peak in Greece.

In total, this mountainous range holds 52 mountain peaks. In the summer months, the mountain is warm and dry. During the winter, it is typically wet and is covered in snow seven months out of the year.

In Greek mythology, Mt. Olympus was a very important region. Mythology is defined as a collection of stories. For ancient Greeks, these stories were about the gods and goddesses they worshiped.

Mt. Olympus was said to be the home for twelve gods. These gods lived within the gorges. A gorge is a narrow valley or area between two hills or mountains. The highest peak of the mountains was where the throne of Zeus sat.

Zeus was one of many gods ancient Greeks worshiped. They believed he was the sky and thunder god and that he could throw lightning bolts. With this belief, the story was told that Zeus fought Cronus and Titans (both gods, as well) in an epic battle on Mt. Olympus that resulted in Zeus’s victory. After winning the battle, Zeus and the twelve gods made their home amongst the mountain peaks.

Statue of Zeus

There are neighboring cities along the mountain, but since Mt. Olympus was considered the home of the gods, people were not permitted to live on the mountain. Instead, they lived along the foothills of the mountain. The neighboring cities included Herakleion/Platamon, Pythion, Petra, Pimpleia and Leivithra.

Today, Mt. Olympus is considered a National Park in order to preserve the flora (meaning plants) and fauna (meaning animals) of the mountain region. The core of Mt. Olympus is restricted from any visitors in order to protect the area. In permitted areas, visitors can hike and explore the beautiful mountain and the history it holds.

Consider how your religion compares to the ancient Greeks.

• Are there certain places you worship and honor just as the Greeks had with Mt. Olympus?
• Are there any similarities with Greek mythology?

Continue on to the Got It? section, where you will be challenged on what you just learned about the fascinating Mt. Olympus!