Labrys

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/labrys

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is a labrys?A labrys is an axe with two sharp heads, a special tool and symbol from ancient times.
2. Where did the labrys come from?It started in Lydia, a kingdom in western Anatolia, and was also used by people in Minoan Crete and Mycenaean Greece.

Pelekys: The standard ancient Greek term for an axe, contrasting with the specific Lydian word 'labrys'.
Minoan Civilization: A Bronze Age civilization centered on Crete, known for its palaces, art, and religious practices involving the labrys.
Chthonic: Relating to the underworld or the earth; often associated with deities of the earth and the afterlife.
Comparative Mythology: The study of myths from different cultures to find common themes, origins, and meanings.