Report: The Ancient Greece Legacies And Their Religion

Ancient Greece has been a religion- centered culture since the earliest period of habitation in Greece, the Pre-Mycenaean/Mycenaean period. Also through to the Dark Ages to the Classical period. It is a religiously centered civilization, and did have significant changes in the how it was incorporated into people’s daily lives. Religion is important to know about the Ancient Greeks because through it we are able to understand how they lived their lives.

For example, in world history we could learn about Greeks Olympic Games, they were held every four years to honor the Greek god Zeus. Also, during the Greeks times there was many wars, for example the first war that they had was called the Ionian Revolt. Ancient people had many beliefs in gods for example they thought that Zeus was the god of the sky and the rulers of all the gods, the god that had the most power of all the other gods.

Greeks went to temples to present sacrifices to please the gods or to ask for the judgment of the gods on a problem. Greeks thought the gods had control over a aspect of there life and to get help they had to please the gods. They thought that if the gods were happy good things would happen to them. the Greeks believed that the gods controlled all parts of society.

Towering mountains. Bright blue seas. Glittering white temples dedicated to the gods. Though Ancient Greece was made up of many different regions and colonies, these 3 things were almost always in view. The ancient Greeks worshiped many different gods and goddesses that each controlled something in the mortal world. What was different about their gods and goddesses was that they were very human like. They looked like mortals, had thoughts like mortals, and they even quarreled with each other like we do. Ancient Greek religion is also known as Greek Mythology, Classical Religion, and Classical Mythology. Though whatever people call it, decisions made in Ancient Greece were heavily influenced by their religion.

Ancient Roman religion was quite similar to ancient Greek religion. The Romans worshiped the Dii Consentes, the twelve main gods including Jupiter, Juno, Minerva,

Religion answered many question people had about their life that no one else had been able to answer before. Many ancient civilizations linked events to certain gods, such as why it rained or snowed. The Greek Empire was one of the many civilization to hold polytheistic views. Polytheism meaning believing in many gods. The Greeks believed twelve main gods and goddesses with one chief god named Zeus.

The Greeks were deeply religious people. They worshiped many Gods who they believed appeared in human like form and yet had superhuman strength including ageless beauty. The “Iliad” and the “Odyssey,” were cultures earliest surviving examples of Greek literature that told stories of men encountering with a variety of Gods and goddesses. Roman Religion was more practical and less poetical than the Greek religion was however; they both had similar roles and duties. “The Greek religion was more of some ceremonies and big rituals. It included all sorts of deities including Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon,” (Alchin). The Greeks focused their entire life on pleasing their gods with the exception of wine and animal offerings for the gods. The Romans

and never leaning to one over the other. Specific gods/goddesses, such as Artemis with supporting Sparta remained strong to the end.

Religion was a very important factor in Ancient Greek society. The city-states had the same religion. Zeus is the God of Gods according to their belief system. The ancient Greeks have a polytheistic religion with twelve main Gods. In Greek Mythology, people believe that the gods are a part of every aspect of life and they influence the events in life.

They believed, for example, if a sailor worshipped Poseidon the god of the sea, they would have a safe journey traveling the waters. The origin of the Greek god beliefs and myths came from the book, the Illiad by Homer, but the belief the Romans had of these gods came a thousand years after the Greeks. The belief between the two are fairly the same, but there are some differences. For example, the have different names, and the Romans did not believe that the gods had an exact visual appearance, but lived inside the heads of the people. They believed that their gods were just like normal people but with powers, and ruled over certain things in everyday life, like the sea or sky.

There were three unique cultures, we studied this semester that had rich religious practices. Each culture had their own beliefs, that developed the way they lived. Which in turn established their literature, fine arts, politics and any philosophy they might of had. The first culture I’ll discuss is the Ancient Egyptians, who lived in Africa. Second culture I’ll discuss are the Ancient Greeks, who were located in the Mediterranean Sea. Then lastly, I’ll discuss the Ancient Romans, who polished and used the culture of Hellenic from the Ancient Greeks.

Religion was a big thing in ancient Greece. It was personal but also present everywhere in Greece. The Greeks were polytheistic which means a belief in many gods. Each god that the Greeks believed in was in charge of an emotion or some piece of nature. The main gods lived in Mount Olympus. The main gods and goddesses were Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hestia, Demeter, Hermes, Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus. Athens was named after the goddess Athena who is the goddess of war, arts, crafts, and wisdom. During this time goddesses were dominant so Greek woman had a big influence on religion. Since women were more soft spoken and had a higher voice than men they would whisper to the gods or sing softly to them. Women in ancient Greece were seen as oracles because of this.

In the period of Ancient Greece or Classical Greece, the teachings of this time would help future regions to grow into powerful structures as they would hear of the stories belonging to their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their religious practices.

Like the Egyptians, Greek civilization had multiple gods that were immortal and very powerful, but there were twelve major gods that were the most important. Some of these gods and goddesses were Zeus, Hera, Athena, and Apollo to name a few. They were believed to reside on Mt. Olympus. Greek gods were immortal. The people of Greece built temples (much like the pyramids that were in Egypt), and gods were worshipped at these temples. Ceremonial rituals or any other special occasions took place here also. Most of the temples were constructed to honor a god, and they were sacred in their being. They sacrificed animals, held festivals, and sporting events. It is apparent that the Greeks adapted some similar qualities from Egyptian religion, but they are still unique in their own way.

Every idea has a start and a history that can be traced back in time. An incredible amount of these ideas and thoughts were started by great ancient civilizations. These ancient civilizations are the base of all modern knowledge. No ancient civilization has contributed more to this base than the civilization of Ancient Greece. The unique ways of ancient Greek agriculture have left a profound influence on the agriculture of today.