Note: This post is part of our series, "Netflix Academy: The best educational videos available for streaming." Be sure to check out our previous Netflix Academy posts on dinosaurs; aquatic life; insects; frogs and other amphibians; Ancient Asian Cultures; the Maya, Inca, and Aztec; Native American cultures; Christopher Columbus and the Age of Discovery; the American founders; movie adaptations of classic children’s books; and American folk heroes. Thanks to research interns Melissa Reynolds and Singer Crawford for their help in compiling these lists.
The Greeks might be the most accessible of all ancient civilizations, especially for children. It’s not hard for kids to relate to the ancient Olympics or to enjoy the richness of Greek mythology. And the influence of the Greeks on Western culture and civilization is, of course, undeniable. So the sooner our children are exposed to Greek ideas, ideals, and history, the better. These videos are one way. Enjoy!
The best streaming videos on ancient Greece
1. Cyberchase: Zeus on the Loose
Cyberchase follows three Earth children as they use their math and problem-solving skills to stop the evil deeds of The Hacker and save Cyberspace. Each episode is followed by a live-action educational supplement, linking concepts learned in the show to real-life experiences. In this episode, the kids must complete Zeus’s challenge in order to get Pandora’s Box back from Hacker, encountering characters from famous Greek myths and discussing fractions at the same time.
Length: 23 minutes
Rating: TV-G
2. Greek Gods
This short animated piece is a quick crash course on the heavenly residents of Mount Olympus. (The other seven clips on Greek mythology linked on this page, which include “Odysseus’ Ship” and “Hercules and the 12 Labors,” are also of interest.)
Length: 4 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
3. Secrets of the Dead: Sinking Atlantis
Five thousand years ago the Minoans, Europe’s first great civilization, flourished on the island of Crete. Yet in their heyday, they mysteriously disappeared. Sinking Atlantis digs deep into the Minoan soil and history, following archaeologists who are finding evidence of a massive tsunami that devastated the Minoans—and may have spawned the myth of Atlantis.
Length: 54 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
4. King Midas and the Golden Touch
This child-friendly adaptation of an ancient Greek myth, narrated by Michael Caine, is the story of King Midas, who wishes for the power to turn all things he touches to gold. But once his desire is granted, he soon comes to realize that there are some things in life more precious than gold. Music by Ellis Marsalis and Yo-Yo Ma.
Length: 25 minutes
Rating: NR
5. Legacy of Ancient Civilizations: The Mycenaeans
There were many interesting and important civilizations in the Mediterranean region in ancient times, but the Mycenaeans were especially fortunate in one way: Their legends and deeds became the subjects of the finest works of literature to be handed down from antiquity—Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and the dramas of the great Greek playwrights.
Length: 26 minutes
Rating: NR
6. Nova: Secrets of the Parthenon
How did the ancient Athenians build this near-flawless icon of Greece's golden age? Secrets of the Parthenon received a 2009 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Science, Technology and Nature Programming.
Length: 55 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
7. National Geographic: Beyond the Movie: Alexander the Great
Arguably the most extraordinary warrior of all time, by the age of thirty, Alexander the Great was ruler of one of the largest empire the world has ever known. The conqueror brought east and west together in a mighty clash of cultures. However, much of his legend remains shrouded in mystery. Join National Geographic on a quest to find the real Alexander and examine what pushed him ever onward.
Length: 53 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
8. The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization: "The Revolution, The Golden Age, and Empire of the Mind"
Arguably the most extraordinary warrior of all time, by the age of thirty, Alexander the Great was ruler of one of the largest empire the world has ever known. The conqueror brought east and west together in a mighty clash of cultures. However, much of his legend remains shrouded in mystery. Join National Geographic on a quest to find the real Alexander and examine what pushed him ever onward.
Length: 53 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
