Greek Religion



Greek Religion       

Religion was important to the ancient Greeks because they believed that it would make their lives better while they were living. They also believed the gods would take care of them when they died. The ancient Greeks were polytheistic, they believed in many different gods and goddesses. The Greeks believed that these gods and goddesses controlled everything, from the waves in the ocean to the winner of a race. Each god or goddess controlled one or two major aspects of life.

Greek myths explained the origins of the gods and their individual relations with mankind. There were twelve principal deities in the Greek pantheon. Foremost was Zeus, the sky god and father of the gods, to whom the ox and the oak tree were sacred; his two brothers, Hades and Poseidon, reigned over the Underworld and the sea, respectively. Hera, Zeus's sister and wife, was queen of the gods. Wise Athena was the patron goddess of Athens. She typically appears in full armor with her aegis (a goat skin with a snaky fringe), helmet, and spear. The owl and the olive tree were sacred to her. Apollo was the god of music and prophecy. Judging from his many cult sites, he was one of the most important gods in Greek religion. His main sanctuary at Delphi, where Greeks came to ask questions of the oracle, was considered to be the center of the universe. Apollo's twin sister Artemis, patroness of hunting, often carried a bow and quiver. Hermes, with his winged sandals and elaborate herald's staff was the messenger god. Other important deities were Aphrodite, the goddess of love; Dionysus, the god of wine and theater; Ares, the god of war; and the lame Hephaestus, the god of metalworking. The ancient Greeks believed that Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in mainland Greece, was the home of the gods.

Greeks built temples in every town for one god or goddess. Temples were large and beautiful buildings where Greeks went to pray or sacrifice animals. The sacrificed animals were considered gifts to the gods. Greeks were especially likely to sacrifice animals at festivals in honor of the gods. The festivals included plays, music, dancing, and then a parade to the temple where they made their sacrifices and had a feast. Religious festivals, literally feast days, filled the year. The four most famous festivals, each with its own procession, athletic competitions, and sacrifices, were held every four years at Olympia, Delphi, Nemea, and Isthmia. These Panhellenic festivals were attended by people from all over the Greek-speaking world.

There were other places where they could go to pray. These holy sites were known as oracles. Here the Greeks and the priest of the temple would pray to the gods and ask a question about their futures. They believed the gods answered their questions using signs in nature. Oracles controlled many human decisions about health, sickness, peace, war, colonization, migration, crime and punishment.

|[pic] |Religion in Ancient Greece |

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