Ambrosia facts for kids

Ambrosia is a special food in Greek mythology. It was eaten by the Greek gods and demigods. Eating Ambrosia gave them immortality, meaning they could live forever and never get sick or old. It also made them strong and beautiful.

What is Ambrosia?

Ambrosia was thought to be incredibly delicious. It smelled wonderful, like sweet flowers or perfumes. The gods often ate it during their feasts on Mount Olympus, their home. It was believed to be a very rare and sacred substance.

Ambrosia and Immortality

The most important power of Ambrosia was granting immortality. If a god or demigod ate it, they would become immune to death and aging. Sometimes, even mortals were given Ambrosia to make them immortal, but this was very rare. For example, some stories say the hero Achilles was rubbed with Ambrosia by his mother, Thetis, to protect him.

Ambrosia and Nectar

Ambrosia was often paired with Nectar. Nectar was the drink of the gods, just as Ambrosia was their food. Like Ambrosia, Nectar also had special powers. It was said to be very sweet and delicious, like honey. Together, Ambrosia and Nectar kept the gods healthy, powerful, and immortal.

Who Else Used Ambrosia?

While Ambrosia was mainly for the gods, sometimes it was given to special mortals.

• Heroes: Some heroes, like Heracles or Psyche, were given Ambrosia when they became gods themselves.
• Mortal favorites: Occasionally, a god might share Ambrosia with a favorite mortal. This was a huge honor and a sign of great favor.
• Punishment: In some myths, trying to steal or misuse Ambrosia could lead to terrible punishments. The famous king Tantalus was punished for trying to steal Ambrosia and Nectar from the gods.

Images for kids

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  The Food of the Gods on Olympus (1530), majolica dish attributed to Nicola da Urbino

See also

In Spanish: Ambrosía para niños