Greek Religion
Greek Religion involves the beliefs and ritual observances of the ancient Greeks, who became the first Western civilization around 2000 BCE. It consists mainly of a body of diverse stories and legends about a variety of gods. Greek mythology had become fully developed by about the 700's BCE. Three classic collection of myths- Theogany by the poet Hesiod and the Iliad and the Odyssey by the poet Homer appeared at that time. The Greek gods resembled humans in form and showed human feelings. Greek mythology did not involve special revelations or spiritual teachings. It also varied widely in practice and belief, with no formal structure, such as a church government, and no written code, such as a scred book. The Greeks believed that the gods chose Mount Olympus, in a region of Greece called Thessaly, as their home. On Olympus, the gods formed a society that ranked them in terms of authority and powers. However, the gods could roam freely, and individual gods became associated with three main domains- the sky or heaven, the sea, and earth. The 12 chief gods, usually called the Olympians, were Zeus(head of the gods an the spiritual father of the gods and the people), Hera (the wife of Zeus, queen of heaven, and the guardian of marriage), Hephaestus(god of fire and metalworkers), Athena(goddess of wisdom and war, Apollo(god of light, poetry, and music), Artemis(goddess of wildlife and the moon), Ares(god of war), Aphrodite(goddess of love, Hestia(goddess of the earth), Hermes(messenger of the gods and ruler of science and invention), Poseidon(ruler of the sea who with his wife Amphitrite led a group of less important sea gods, such as the Nereids and Tritons), Demeter(the goddess of agriculture). The first eight of the Olympians were alll considered gods of heaven. Other gods include Hades(ruler of the underworld). The underworld was a dark and mournful place located at the center of the earth. It was occupied by souls of deceased people. Dionysus(god of wine and pleasure) was among the most popular gods. The Greeks devoted many festivals to Dionysus, and in some regions he became as important as Zeus. He often was accompanied by a host of fanciful gods, including satyrs(creatures with the legs of a goat and the upper body of a monkey or human), centaurs(had the head and torso of a man and the body of a horse, and nymphs(beautiful and charming creatures that haunted woods and forests). Greek religion emphasized the weakness of humans in contrast to the great and terrifying powers of nature. The Greeks believed that their gods, who were immortal, controlled all aspects of nature. So the Greeks acknowledged that their lives were completely dependent on the good will of the gods. In general, the relations between people and gods were considered friendly. But the gods delivered severe punishment to mortals who showed unacceptable behavior, such as indulgent pride, extreme ambition, or even excessive prosperity. The religion was interwoven with every aspect of Greek life. Each city devoted itself to a particular god or group of gods, for whom they often built temples of worship. They regularly honored the gods in festivals supervised by high officials. At festivals and other official gatherings, poets recited or sang great legends and stories. Many Greeks learned about the gods through the words of poets. Greeks also learned about the gods by word of mouth at home, where worship was common. Different parts of the home were dedicated to certain gods, and people offered prayers to those gods at regular times. Although the Greeks had no official religious institution, they universally honored certain holy places. A group of priests represented each of these places. These priests, who might also community officials, interpreted the words of the gods but did not possess any special knowledge or power. In addition to prayers, the Greeks often offered scarifices to the gods, usually of a domestic animal such as a goat. The ancient Greeks themselves offered some explanations for the development of their religion. In Sacred History, Euthemerus, a mythographer from the 300s BCE, recorded the widespread belief that myths were distortions of history and the gods were heroes who had been glorified over time. The philosopher Prodicus of Ceos taught during the 400s BCE that the gods were personifications of natural phenomena, such as the sun, moon, winds, and water. Herodotus, a Greek historian who lived during the 400s BCE, believed that many Greek rituals were inherited from the Egyptians. As Greek civilization developed, particularly during the Hellenistic period, which began about 323 BCE, the mythology also changed. New philosophies and the influence of neighboring civilizations caused a gradual modification of Greek beliefs. However, the essential characteristics of the Greek gods and legends remain unchanged.
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