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“Angry gods. Cannibal giants. Ancient labyrinths. Untold evils. It’s not easy being a demigod.” Thus begins an exciting fast-paced literary adventure like no other. This tale of heroes and villains captures the imagination of school-aged kids the world over. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series is a pentalogy of fantasy adventure novels which include The Battle of the Labyrinth, The Titan’s Curse, The Sea of Monsters, The Lightning Thief, and The Last Olympians. Through these engaging stories, a child’s imagination is fired up. Bringing them on A Percy Jackson Inspired Adventure in Greece is certain to cement their interest. Greek history and mythology will come alive!
Contents
The Books
Percy Jackson is the protagonist in these fun adventure stories. Rick Riordan portrays him as a young demigod who is half mortal, half Greek god. He comes across many other gods and beasts from Greek mythology during his adventures. I know from personal experience that every child I have ever come across (including our own) loves these books and they remain a firm favourite throughout their growing years. Rick Riordan skilfully weaves mythology and fiction together and creates a series of stories which enthral children aged 9 and over.
If a trip to Greece is on the cards for your family, we strongly recommend introducing the children to the characters and legends of Greek mythology, as this will definitely enhance their experience. Children will love reading about the characters and places and then actually visiting the sites where it all supposedly happened. Whilst Percy Jackson is a work of fiction, much of it is based on genuine Greek mythology and some of the places mentioned in the books do exist in Greece today which is why A Percy Jackson Inspired Adventure In Greece is ideal. Nothing secures the experience and knowledge better than visiting the places of their favourite books.
Here is a look at some of the top sites the books mention. Kids will love discovering these in A Percy Jackson Inspired Adventure In Greece.
The Acropolis Of Athens
The Acropolis is one of the most famous and visited UNESCO world heritage sights in the world. Situated on a natural towering rock, it looks as if it stands guard over all of Athens. Better known as the Sacred Rock, it is a symbol for Ancient Greek culture. This unique location has a history that dates back thousands of years. The ancient site has been used predominantly for religious purposes and includes marvellous temples dedicated to the goddess Athena, such as the Parthenon.
Percy Jackson Books
Percy Jackson and the rest of his friends travel to the Acropolis in ‘The Blood of Olympus’. Here they battle part of the Giant Army with the gods of Olympus. Also in the Heroes of Olympus series, the Parthenon, knows as the Temple of the goddess Athena Parthenos, is where all the giants, monsters and gods gathered together to end the war with Gaea.
The Temple of Poseidon in Sounion
Poseidon’s Temple is a breathtaking structure which sits on top of a rocky promontory looking out onto the Aegean Sea. For 2000 years this magnificent temple has stood proudly in Cape Sounion, a fitting tribute to the God of the Seas.
Besides being a tribute to Poseidon, this was the site where the famous story of Aegeus took place. His son, Thesseus, was returning from his battle with the Minotaur and forgot to take down the black sails. As a result, Aegeus believed his son had perished in the battle and in anguish, jumped into he sea. For this reason, the Greek Sea has been called the Aegean.
Having withstood the test of time, the ruins of this temple are well preserved and make for a gorgeous day trip out of Athens. Stay for an incredible sunset as Helios, the sun god, rides his golden chariot across the sky and disappears into Poseidon’s realm.
Percy Jackson Books
This temple honours Poseidon, the god of the sea. Children who have read the books will know that Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon. Thanks to Poseidon he can breathe underwater, control the waves and communicate with sea creatures.
Delphi
This spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site is an archaeological wonder full of mystery and intrigue. According to Greek mythology, Zeus released two eagles. One flew to the east and another to the west. Delphi was the point where they met after circling the world.
Within this temple dedicated to Apollo dwelled an oracle, or the Pythia. This priestess would answer questions from visitors concerning the future. As a result, Delphi became a place of pilgrimage in the Ancient Greek world to which people would travel hundreds of miles. Delphi was also the site where many games were held to honour various gods of the Greek religion.
Delphi is accessible via a day trip from Athens.
Percy Jackson Books
Percy Jackson and his friends embark on many of their adventures as a result of the Oracle’s prophecies.
Corinth
Once upon a time there was a very powerful kingdom in the ancient Greek world. Their riches came from controlling the trade route across the Peloponnese. This kingdom was called Corinth. Today we are more familiar with the marvel of engineering called the Corinth Canal which acts as a route between the Peloponnese and mainland Greece. Numerous archeological sites can be found here, namely ancient Corinth and the Acrocorinth which is situated high on a hilltop offering truly spectacular views.
The museum here is well worth a visit with children as they can see statues of all their favourite gods. They can also find statues of Roman emperors who ruled over the site once Rome conquered the area. A visit here will certainly provide a textbook of history in one afternoon!
Percy Jackson Books
A well-known character from the books is Media who is an evil sorceress and Corinth was her birthplace. She makes more of an appearance in the Heroes of Olympus, The Lost Hero but if you really want to get to know her, read about her in Greek mythology as she is even more evil in those stories! In Corinth you can find out about her dark past with Jason as she used to live there. A visit wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the ruins of Piper’s mother, Aphrodite’s sanctuary.
Epidaurus
Epidaurus was a city which became famous in the ancient world because of the Sanctuary of Asclepius. This temple honours the healer god Asclepius, who had the power to cure people. Individiuals from all over the Mediterranean would travel here to find healing for their ailments and enjoy the incredible acoustics in the theatre at Epidaurus. Travellers were provided with a room to sleep in, with an incredible 160 guest rooms on offer. It is said that to find the right treatment, guests would spend the night and the god himself would appear in their dreams and inform them of their cure.
Today it is possible to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site. It is possible to see the ruins of the temples and the incredible theatre. Children will enjoy testing out the acoustics for themselves, pondering how the theatre was designed in such a way. If one person stands in the centre of the stage and whispers a word, another person will be able to clearly hear it in the furthest seat in the theatre.
Percy Jackson Books
In ‘Blood of Olympus’, Leo, the son of Hephaestus, appeared to meet his end. However, Festus was able to revive Leo and bring him back from the dead with a powerful potion that was given to him by Asclepius. Visiting the Asclepius Healing Sanctuary will give children an insight into the famous healing centre and the role it played in the Percy Jackson books.
Ancient Olympia
The birthplace of the modern Olympic Games, Ancient Olympia is an inspiring place to discover. This UNESCO World Heritage site once attracted the best athletes from around Ancient Greece. These athletes would arrive every four years to compete in games. These games were held in order to honour the god Zeus but winners would only receive the prize of an olive branch, as competing itself was such an honour. During the time of the games, all wars would cease and everyone would participate in the festivities.
Olympia is one of the single most important archaeological sites in Greece. It comprises the ancient stadium, the temples of Zeus and Hera, the palaestra and the workshop of Phidias. There is also a fabulous Archaeological Museum with impressive exhibits relating to the games. For an exciting activity, take the kids for a run round the original race track, following in the footsteps of the ancient world’s greatest athletes.
Ancient Olympia is accessible via a day trip from Athens.
Percy Jackson Books
Percy Jackson fans can visit the historical Olympia on the Peloponnese peninsula. They will be able to see the place where a great battle took place in the books! In the ‘Blood of Olympus’, Percy, Leo Valdez, Hazel Levesque, and Frank Zhang meet and battle with Nike, the goddess of Victory. This battle turns out to be a deadly but thrilling version of the Olympic Games.
Knossos in Crete
The single most important and compelling archaeological site on the Greek island of Crete is the Palace of Knossos. This palace was once at the heart of a powerful Minoan civilisation and it is thought to have belonged to the King Minos of legends and his Minotaur, a terrifying monster with a human body and a bull’s head. It is said that Daedalus’ construction, which was built to imprison the feared Minotaur, was a series of labyrinths housed under the palace. The palace was later destroyed by a powerful earthquake and all that remains are the ruins that can be seen today.
Even if your children have not read the books, it is worth exploring here. It is a wonderful way to introduce them to Greek history and mythology. What better place to start than on the island of Crete, the birthplace of the king of the Olympian gods, Zeus!
Percy Jackson Books
Percy and Annabeth accidentally discover the Minotaur’s labyrinth in the ‘Battle of the Labyrinth’.
Cave of Zeus, Crete
According to mythology, baby Zeus was born and hidden away in a cave. His father Cronus wanted to eat him so it was imperative that others hid him well. If your kids love mythology or you want to introduce them to it, a visit to this cave on Crete will surely have them enthralled. Also known as Psychro Cave or Dikteon Cave, this eerie cavern is dripping with stalactites and stalagmites which gives it a mysterious and mythical atmosphere. Having been a Minoan sacred site, this cave is surrounded by myth and legend. Considered to be one of the top things to do on Crete, it is worth a visit just to see what all the fuss is about.
Access to this cave is mostly via a paved path. Whilst fairly steep, young children can enjoy a ride on the back of a donkey for a fee. The entrance to the cave itself comprises 200 steps that will need to be climbed down and then back up again.
Percy Jackson Books
This series mentions Zeus numerous times. Since he is the king of the gods, his role in the books is an important one.
Final Thoughts
Greece is already the perfect family-friendly destination. Taking them on a Percy Jackson Inspired Adventure in Greece will create a divine and thrilling adventure like no other. The chance to discover the myths and legends that inspired the books and exploring ancient archaeological sites is a wonderful educational opportunity and a must-do for any trip to Greece.
We enjoyed a highly engaging and informative Percy Jackson Tour through Kids Love Greece who offer various options for Percy Jackson tours in and around Athens.
Have you enjoyed reading our Percy Jackson Inspired Adventure in Greece?
For more inspiration, be sure to read our Family Travel Guide To Athens.
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