Greece:Religious Beliefs

Overview Polytheistic - worshipped many gods.Believed gods communicated with them.

Through songs of birds, rustling of leaves, etc.

All gods thought to have human forms and characters.Gods married, had children.Gods displayed human characteristics such as

love, jealousy and/or deceitfulness.

Private Worship

Prayers said every day at the altar in the courtyard of the home.

Offering of wine (libation) was poured over the altar during daily prayers.

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Mount Olympus

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Mount Olympus Where the most important gods dwelt in a palace. They are known as the

Olympians.

It was to these gods that the Greeks built beautiful temples and sanctuaries.

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Top Olympian Gods Zeus Hera Apollo Artemis Hephaestus Hermes Athena

Demeter Poseidon Aphrodite Hestia Dionysus Hades Ares

TemplesBuilt for gods as their earthly homes.Richer the city, greater the temple.Symbols of wealth and power.Were NOT places of worship.

Worship/rituals took place at altars outside of temples.

Example: The Parthenon in Athens.

The ParthenonBuilt in Athens from 447-438 BCE.Built for goddess Athena.A peristyle (covered row of columns)

surrounds the structure.A room inside called a cella. The cella

contained a 12 m statue of Athena made of gold & ivory.

Behind cella was treasury room containing offerings of jewelry, vases and statues.

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FestivalsHeld to honour, please, and persuade

gods to grant their wishes. Popular festivals had competitions in

poetry, music, dance, and athletics.Included procession of priests,

worshippers, sacred objects and animals for sacrifice.

“Great Panathenaea” - important festival in Athens, held for goddess Athena.Held every 4 years for 6 days.

“Antheseria”Spring festival in honour of Dionysus.Held in Athens.Wine from previous harvest was put on

sale and god of wine, Dionysus, was carried to his temple.

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Myths Stories about significant events in the

lives of the gods. Greeks firmly believed in these stories.Now considered myths.

Legends

Stories surrounding great heroes of the past and the foes they fought.

Heroes accomplished superhuman deeds with the help of the gods.

Many cities had hero shrines where people could worship a local hero and ask for help in their lives.

Examples: Jason and the Argonauts, Hercules, Theseus, Odysseus, Perseus, and Bellerophon.