38 The Ancient Greek Civilization 3A | Mount Olympus, Part II
Presenting the Read-Aloud 15 minutes
Mount Olympus, Part II
Show image 3A-1: Hermes hovering over Greek landscape^1
Hermes, messenger of the gods, was on a mission for his
father, Zeus, the king of the gods.^2 Zeus was calling the most
powerful gods back to their palace at the very top of Mount
Olympus. Already Hermes had passed along Zeus’s message to
Apollo—the handsome god of music, poetry, and light—and to
Apollo’s sister, the huntress Artemis. Hermes had also carried the
message to Zeus’s brother, the mighty Poseidon, god of the sea.
Hermes’s task was not yet done, however, and now he hovered
above Greece, looking and listening for the signs that would lead
him to the next god he wished to fi nd.^3
This did not take long. In the distance, Hermes saw fl ashes
of light from Earth beneath him. Flying in that direction, he soon
heard screams and angry shouts, and now he could see below him
two armies engaged^4 in a battle. The lights Hermes had seen were
fl ashes of sunlight refl ecting off armor and weapons. The soldiers
of one army were pushing back the soldiers of another army,
which had now begun to panic and run.
Show image 3A-2: Ares explaining battle to Hermes
Perched on a cloud high above the battle, and clearly excited
by the spectacle below, stood Ares (AIR-ees), the god of war.^5
Dressed all in red, tall and strong he stood, and his smile grew
broader^6 as Hermes landed beside him. “Hail, brother!” said
Ares, for he was also a son of Zeus. Pointing down, he asked,
“Isn’t it glorious?^7 Here are humans at their best and worst, some
displaying heroic courage and others cowardly fear.”
He pointed, and a beam of light shone on one of the desperate
soldiers.^8 “I have been watching that fellow there,” said Ares.
“See how he seeks to bring his fellow soldiers together to win the
battle?”1 Who do you see in this image?
What do you think Hermes is
doing?
2 A mission is a special job or task.
What is Hermes’s mission?
3 Where do you think Hermes will
go next?
4 or involved together
5 A spectacle is an eye-catching and
amazing sight.
6 or wider
8 If you are desperate, you are in
need of something and will do
anything to change your situation.
Why do you think this soldier is
desperate?
7 or magnifi cent