Create your own Greek gods and goddess characters with Little Passports

Make Greek Mythology God and Goddess Characters from Cardboard Tubes

Do you love stories? So did the ancient Greeks! They told stories called myths, a word short for mythology. Greek mythology is filled with action and tells fascinating tales of magical gods, goddesses, and creatures who experience many of the same situations that humans experience.

The ancient Greeks loved theater, which was one of the ways they told stories. While the theater was originally used for music, it became a place where actors would portray Greek gods, goddesses, and creatures, telling stories and entertaining audiences. Two of the most popular types of plays performed in Greek theaters were tragedies and comedies. A tragedy always had a sad ending and a comedy always had a happy ending.

In this hands-on Greek mythology activity for kids, your child will meet four of the most well-known Greek gods and goddesses. First, they’ll create the Greek god and goddess characters using simple craft materials and cardboard tubes. Then they can create their own Greek myth using the characters they made! What type of Greek play will they envision: a sorrowful tragedy or a delightful comedy?

Supplies

4 cardboard tubes
Construction paper in various colors
Crayons or colored pencils
Scissors
Glue
Ruler
Lined paper and pencil (optional)
Greek Mythology printable

How to Make Greek Mythology God and Goddess Characters

Step 1: Print the Greek Mythology printable. Color the images of each Greek god and goddess, and cut them out.

Greek gods and goddesses craft from Little Passports step 1

Step 2: Cut 2” x 6” strips of construction paper in different colors. For example, you can use these color combinations for each Greek god and goddess:

Artemis – brown on the top, green on the bottom
Demeter – green on the top, orange on the bottom
Poseidon – blue on the top, green on the bottom
Zeus – white on the top, yellow on the bottom

Greek gods and goddesses craft from Little Passports step 2

Step 3: Glue the construction paper around each cardboard tube to create the bodies of your characters.

Greek gods and goddesses craft from Little Passports step 3

Step 4: Then glue the head and arms of the Greek god or goddess to the top and middle of the cardboard tube.

Greek gods and goddesses craft from Little Passports step 4

Keep scrolling to read more about the Greek gods and goddesses you created. Imagine a story for them! Share your play by telling it out loud and using your Greek gods and goddesses as puppets. Or grab a pencil and paper to record the myth.

Bring on the history!

Who are Artemis, Demeter, Poseidon, and Zeus in Greek Mythology?

Artemis was the Greek goddess of the moon and of the hunt. She was happiest in the forests and mountainsides. Artemis hunted with a silver bow and silver arrows, and she liked to protect wildlife. Artemis was also known to be very clever.

Demeter was the Greek goddess of the harvest. She was very important to the farmers and people in Greece because they believed she could cause plants to grow, or not grow. People worshipped her because they depended on crops for food. She could also control the seasons.

Poseidon was the Greek god of the seas. He was also the god of earthquakes and horses. He drove a golden cart called a chariot, and he carried a three-pointed spear called a trident. Greek people believed that Poseidon sometimes became angry and used his trident to start earthquakes or bring water out of the ground.

Zeus was the king of the Greek gods and goddesses. He, along with his brothers Poseidon and Hades, were believed to be in charge of the whole universe. Zeus, often recognized with a thunderbolt symbol, ruled the earth and the sky, controlling the weather. The Greek people believed he caused wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.

If your child loves learning about new countries and cultures, check out our World Edition subscription, which features a different country every month, including Greece! Shop here.