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Ancient Greece : A Civilization

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Ancient Greece was a civilization that began during the archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries B.C. The Greeks were polytheistic in religion, worshipping the 12 Olympian gods and goddess. Zeus (Jupiter) was the chief god in charge, followed by his brother Poseidon (Neptune), and Hades (Pluto). Neptune and Pluto were then followed by Hestia (Vesta), Hera (Juno) who was both Jupiter’s sister and wife, Ares (Mars) who was the son of Jupiter and Juno, Athena (Minerva), Apollo, Aphrodite (Venus), Hermes (Mercury), depicted in Giacomo Amiconi’s painting “Mercury about to Slay Argus” above. Artemis (Diana) and lastly Hera’s son Hephaestus (Vulcan). These gods and goddess were not equal in power and also rained over different aspects of human lives as well as nature. The 12 Olympians were all the children of the titans who were defeated by Jupiter, who was famously known for caring a lightning bolt, but also for the many affairs he had outside of his marriage with Juno, who was both his wife and sister. In the Greek society, being looked upon favorably was essential for the family and community so despite the not so godly actions committee by the gods/goddess, they were still respected and worshipped. The Greek gods and goddess were intricately connected to every aspect of the Greek daily life; “it was both social and practical” (Spielvogel). Public functions served specific purposes, those purposes were to prepare the boys to be warriors and the girls to be mothers. Giacomo

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