Religion in Ancient Greece

What were the Greek gods like?

• Earliest Greeks, like all primitive peoples, feared the unknown

• Nature (uncontrolled spirits) could do them harm

• They saw the spirits as monsters: part human, part animal, part imagination

• Frightening, ugly, violent, destructive, irrational

• Sacrificed to please them

What were the Greek gods like?

• at an unknown time, Greeks began to believe that the spirits were anthropomorphic – shaped like humans

• Ugly spirits became extremely beautiful• Idealised men and women• In art, gods and heroes naked (as was

the custom in athletic contests)• Goddesses depicted clothed (except

Aphrodite), following custom

What were the Greek gods like?

• Resembled humans:Ate, drank, slept, made love, produced children, had emotions (anger, compassion, jealousy, lust, spite)• More powerful than humans yet had attachments

to areas:Caves on Crete where Zeus was born, place where Aphrodite came ashore, born from the sea• Gods less frightening than original spirits• Human emotions and activities = they understand

humans and their prayers for help• They could help if they wished to help• They could think – and therefore be persuaded by

reason

What the Greek gods were like

• Feared by humans• Were not concerned about living good lives

themselves or human virture/vice• Not impressed by people who tried to be honest

or kind• Not good or evil • To humans they might be friendly, helpful,

indifferent, hostile, destructive• Attitude could change at any time• Regular sacrifices weren’t a guarantee but

‘insurance’ against their displeasure

hubris

• Weren’t bothered by human theft or murder• Got offended if ignored• Only ‘sin’ was hubris = human

pride/arrogance• Unforgiveable to try to outdo gods or to

boast about it• Many tales (teaching a lesson?) about people

trying to ‘overstep’ boundaries between human and divine who are viciously punished

Why pray?• Believed gods caused most things which

happened to humans• Avoid their displeasure• Active assistance:Demeter & Dionysus for fertilityHera for pregnancy and childbirth• No god was all-powerful – still subject to law of

Fate• Length or quality of a person’s life could be

changed:Achilles had to die but was given a choice: a short, glorious life or a long life as an unknown

The Olympian Gods and Goddesses

ZEUS

• Last child of Cronos & Rhea• Married sister Hera • Had many love affairs = many children• Supreme God / King of the Olympians• Carefree & unpredictable• Responsible for laws, justice & weather• Symbol = thunderbolt• Animal = sacred eagle• Strong body, bearded face

POSIEDON

• God of the Seas• Bad tempered, moody, greedy, unfaithful• Wife = Nereid Amphitrite (a sea nymph)• Responsible for natural events,

especially earthquakes• Strong body, bearded, flowing hair• Symbol = trident• Animals = bulls, horses, dolphins

HADES

• Ruler of the Underworld• Wife = Persephone, daughter of Demeter• Hardly ever left his gloomy kingdom• Had a 3 headed dog – Cerberus• Ferryman Charon worked with him• Dark, hair flopping over face, beard, good

looking, strong body• Symbol = helmet to help him stay

invisible

HERA• Goddess of marriage, family, protector of

married women• Wife of Zeus, had 4 children with him –

Eilithyia, Ares, Hebe, Hephaestus• Angry about Zeus’s infidelity but couldn’t

harm him so she got her own back by harming his mistresses or their children

• Hated Heracles• Shown as a beautiful woman, crowned• Symbol = pomegranate (fertility)• Animal = peacock

HESTIA

• Goddess of the hearth, home & family• Virgin goddess – never married, but

Apollo & Poseidon both wanted to• Personified by the fire which burned in

every home to cook over – never permitted to go out

• Always worshipped in any temple• Widely respected by mortals & gods –

kind, forgiving, neutral nature• Shown as a shy, seated woman

DEMETER

• Goddess of agriculture & vegetation• Peace-loving, taught people how to

grow crops, introduced wheat to earth

• Shown as a woman with golden hair holding a sheaf of wheat

• Symbols = wheat stalk & grains• Mother of Persephone• Responsible for seasonal changes

APHRODITE

• Goddess of love, pleasure, beauty• Married to Hephaestus but had affair

with Ares• Mother of Eros• Shown as attractive young woman,

semi nude• Symbols = girdle, seashell & mirror• Animal = dove

ATHENE

• Goddess of wisdom, skill & war• Born from Zeus’s head, fully grown• Taught humans weaving, sewing, metalcraft• Patron goddess of ancient Athens• Shown as tall, slim woman with armour &

helmet• Symbols = staff & shield (aegis) with

Medusa’s head• Animal = owl, symbol of wisdom

ARTEMIS

• Virgin goddess of hunting & the moon• Twin brother Apollo• Responsible for nature & fertility in nature• Hunted with arrows dipped in poison• Protector of wild animals (but she also

killed them?)• Represented armed with bow & arrows,

wearing short chiton• Sacred animals = snake & deer• Symbol = bow

APOLLO

• God of the sun, light, music & prophecy• Played the lyre beautifully• Twin of Artemis• Patron god of city of Delphi – known for

the oracle (priestess who would tell the future)

• Shown as good looking, strong young man

• Symbols = lyre & tripod• Sacred plant = laurel tree

HERMES

• God of trade, messengers and luck• Wore winged sandals & carried messages• Only god allowed to visit Heaven, Earth &

the Underworld• Had a tendency to lie & steal so became god

of thieves & cheats too• Quick witted & especially helpful to his

father Zeus• Shown as young man with travellers hat and

cloak• Wears winged sandals• Carries staff with snakes wound round it

ARES

• God of war & violence• Had secret love affair with Aphrodite• Difficult personality & fought with other

gods & goddesses• Lived on Olympus & had a throne

covered in human skin• Accompanied by Eris – goddess of discord• Symbol = spear• Animal = dogs

HEPHAESTUS

• Blacksmith - God of metal working• Married to Aphrodite• Kind & loving god but was ugly &

crippled so Hera (his mother) threw him off Mt Olympus

• Lived & worked underneath Mt Etna – a volcano

• Created weapons & armour for the gods & goddesses including thunderbolts for Zeus

• Symbols = fire, axe, pincers, hammer

DIONYSUS

• God of wine, joy, theatres• Son of Zeus & human princess Semele• Known for being lighthearted & helpful• Didn’t live on Mt Olympus but travelled the

world instead• Shown as handsome young man with longish

hair & ivy/vine wreath on head• Carries staff (thyrsos) showing vine leaves &

pine cone• Symbols = grapes, vines• Animal = panther

Write down the names of the 14 major Greek gods & goddesses.

Next to each, write:

The area in which they had more interest & influence

A summary of the main

points in their

stories.

A description

of what they looked like & how they might

be identified in

art

Greek Gods & Goddesses Write an interview with Aphrodite to appear on This Is Your Life show on tv.

You are Athene. Write an open letter to the Athenians explaining why you are without doubt the best divinity to be patron of Athens.

Debate ONE of the following statements: “Artemis is a goddess of contradictions.”“Artemis has to be respected but cannot be loved.”

Defend this statement with as many reasons as possible:“Apollo was the god of civilisation.”

In what ways was Hephaestus different from all the other Olympians? Why do you think that was the case?

Compare the behaviour & experiences of the followers of Dionysus with that of followers of pop stars in recent years.

Compare and contrast in a list or poster:

• Aphrodite & Artemis

• Athene & Hermes

You are an ancient Greek. Name your favourite divinity and explain why you like and worship your choice.

Sketch both sides of an ancient coin. An Olympian on one side and an incident from his/her tales on the other.