I love to have a craft, 2-3 games or activities and food.
The invitations for the party were a simple scroll printed from my computer onto parchment paper and rolled from both sides, then tied with a small gold ribbon- easy and very inexpensive.
We started Ben’s party by giving the boys foam swords to play with while we waited for all the guests to arrive. I intended to make swords using pool noodles and PVC pipe, but after going to three stores I gave up on the pool noodles, everything was sold out. But I found a good deal on the swords. And I’ll tell you what, 8 and 9 year old boys know what to do when given a sword. My advice is to keep out of their way!

Once every one had arrived, I started the craft. I usually do the craft first to give time for the paint or glue to dry before the kids take it home. The kids made Greek Hoplite shields out of black foam board and gold paint. The board was nice and stiff and could take a hit from the swords. I was able to get all the boards using a 40% off coupon. Cardboard spray painted black would work wonderfully and be less expensive. You could also use poster board, but it would not feel as much like a real shield.
Once the boys were done painting and the paint was dry, my mom hot glued two strips cut from poster board to the back, so the shield could be slipped over the arm and held.

The next activity was a treasure hunt with clues. There’s a clue from Poseidon in the sharks mouth above.
Here’s an example of one of the clues:
There’s much to fear in Hades’ home
for in his kingdom
The dead do roam
Descend, descend to darkest black
If you survive
A clue bring back.
OK so I’m not a poet, but the kids loved the clues. This one took them to took them to my basement, where I had decorated with all my best and spookiest Halloween decorations… skeletons, ghosts and chains. The kids had to toss a Drachma (fake gold greek coin) from a small distance into a cauldron before they could descend into Hades (their payment to cross the River Styx.)

The favorite clue was hidden in balloons attached to our dart board. I had also covered the dart board in a picture of Medusa. With careful supervision the boys threw darts at the balloons (one at a time of course) and then at Medusa when all the balloons were gone. Those boys loved the darts, they kept wanting more turns and loved when they could hit her in the eye or one of the snakes.

The final clue took them to a sword that could kill the Minotaur (the pinata.) I could not find a Minotaur pinata or anything else remotely Greek Mythology monsterish, so I bought a sweet long lashed cow pinata, ripped it’s poor eyes off and put red angry eyes on and horns made by rolling up black foamies and gluing them on with hot glue. He looked sufficiently mean to barely pass as the Minotaur after that.

The boys all became heroes after “killing” the Minotaur and they received their gold laurel wreath crowns. Then it was on to cake and ice cream.

I posted photos of the finished products here as well: http://makeitdo.wordpress.com/2009/0...ympians-party/