Greek Religious Belief

Gods, Goddesses, and MythologyGods, Goddesses, and Mythology

Greek Gods and Goddesses In the classical period (5th Century BCE),

the Greeks recognized twelve major gods and goddesses, called the Twelve Gods of Olympus, named after the mountain where they were said to live.

Greek Worldview

The Greeks, like other civilizations we have studied, saw the natural world inhabited by supernatural powers.

For the Greeks, the gods possessed very human characteristics and embodied human emotions and were even depicted in art as very human-like.

Greek WorldviewThe gods, although similar to humans,

were forever young, beautiful, and powerful.

Greek ReligionBased on a polytheistic religion

POLY - Latin prefix meaning many

THEISM - Latin word for “god”

Early ReligionGreek mythology was based upon polytheistic religion that was central to culture, politics, and

art. Symbols and images found in western literature, art and architecture!

Explained natural phenomena (thunder, earthquakes, floods), human characteristics

(jealousy, anger, love), and life events (marriage, birth, death, war)

Greek Worship

Greeks built large temples dedicated to individual gods and goddesses. These temples were seen as the houses of the gods.

Inside the temple would be a large statue of the god or goddess. The statue might be made of wood, bronze, gold, and/or ivory.

Greek Worship

Outside the temple, priests would sacrifice animals and burn (roast) the flesh.

This is the origin of the term a “burnt offering.”

The smoke was said to be the essence of the animal given to the gods. The meat would be shared among the population.

Greek Temples

Greek temples were often rectangular or round, surrounded by columns with a small, enclosed sacred center.The Parthenon is an example of a

temple dedicated to Athena.The temples were elaborately

decorated and painted with scenes from mythology.

Zeus

King of the gods God of thunder and

lightning Uses Thunderbolts as

his weapon Most powerful

This is an artist’s conception of the famous statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was made of ivory and gold and was created by Phidias, the same sculptor who created the statues on the Parthenon. The statue was probably about 4 stories tall.

Hera Queen of the Mt. OlympusQueen of the Mt. Olympus Goddess of marriage,

childbirth and jealousy Wife/sister of ZeusWife/sister of Zeus The peacock and geese are The peacock and geese are

symbolssymbols

The Temple of Hera at Olympia

Aphrodite

Goddess of beauty and love

Married to Hephaestus, Married to Hephaestus, the god of ironworking, the god of ironworking, but had many affairs but had many affairs with gods and mortals, with gods and mortals, most famously with the most famously with the god of war, Aresgod of war, AresMother of ErosMother of Eros

Roman times he will be Roman times he will be known as Cupidknown as Cupid

Athena

Goddess of battle, wisdom Daughter of Zeus and

Titan – she popped out of his head after he swallowed the pregnant Titan

Parthenon was dedicated to the Goddess Athena!

Parthenon

Apollo

God of music, poetry, prophesy, truth, light, medicine, healing and archery

Sun God in some Sun God in some myths (drive his myths (drive his chariot with the sun chariot with the sun across the sky)across the sky)

Son of Zeus and LetoSon of Zeus and Leto Apollo asteroids are near-earth asteroids

DelphiDelphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the

most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew the Python

At Delphi, every four years they would hold the Pythian Games, similar to the Olympic Games.

At the archaeological site, scientists have found a stadium and a gymnasium

The starting line at the stadium at Delphi. Runners would place their toes in the slots. An elaborate set of strings tied to sticks would prevent false starts.

Artemis

Apollo’s Twin sisterApollo’s Twin sister Goddess of the hunt and wild

things Moon Goddess Moon Goddess

The Artemis

navigation satellite

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (Asia Minor) was another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. At the time, it was said to be the largest building in the world.

Poseidon

God of the Sea and earthquakes

Trident is weaponTrident is weaponZeus’s brotherZeus’s brotherConsidered 2Considered 2ndnd most most

powerfulpowerful

Temple of Poseidon at Sounion

Hades God of the Underworld and

Wealth King of the dead but he is not King of the dead but he is not

DeathDeath Zeus’s brotherZeus’s brother Has a helmet that makes the Has a helmet that makes the

wearer invisiblewearer invisible Persephone is his wifePersephone is his wife NOT EVIL! (but he is NOT EVIL! (but he is

unpitying)unpitying) Considered 3Considered 3rdrd most powerful most powerful

Other Five Gods and Goddesses

DemeterDemeter – Goddess of Harvest and Fertility – Goddess of Harvest and FertilityHestia – virgin Goddess of Hearth (Home) Hestia – virgin Goddess of Hearth (Home)

and Architectureand ArchitectureAresAres – God of War and Spring – God of War and Spring

Son of Zeus and HeraSon of Zeus and HeraHermes –God of the Traveler, Messenger of Hermes –God of the Traveler, Messenger of

the Gods and Guide to the Underworldthe Gods and Guide to the UnderworldHephaestus – God of IronworkingHephaestus – God of Ironworking

Married to AphroditeMarried to Aphrodite

Quick CheckMatch them up…Match them up…1.1. ZeusZeus A. God of the Underworld A. God of the Underworld 2.2. HeraHera B. God of the SeaB. God of the Sea3.3. ArtemisArtemis C. God of ThunderC. God of Thunder4.4. ApolloApollo D. Goddess of MarriageD. Goddess of Marriage5.5. PoseidonPoseidon E. Goddess of the HuntE. Goddess of the Hunt6.6. AthenaAthena F. God of music, prophesyF. God of music, prophesy7.7. HadesHades G. Goddess of battleG. Goddess of battle8.8. AphroditeAphrodite H. Goddess of loveH. Goddess of love