1. GREEK RELIGION

2. Ancient Greek Gods Zeus- Ruler of the Mount Olympus and the God of the sky, thunder and lightening. Poseidon- God of the sea and horses. His weapon is a trident. Apollo- God of the sun, music, archery and prophecy. Hermes- God of flight, thieves, commerce and travelers. Messenger of the Gods. Ares- God of war, murder and bloodshed. Hades- God of underworld. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP_ NeirFIkMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP_ NeirFIkM

3. Ancient Greek Goddesses Hera- Goddess of marriage, woman and childbirth Demeter- Goddess of fertility. Hestia- Goddess of health, fire and home. Athena- Goddess of wisdom, warfare and reason Artemis- Goddess of the hunt and the moon Aphrodite- Goddess of love and beauty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMzN PEHNxcc

4. Religious Beliefs There was no organized church and no powerful class of priests. Gods spoke to certain priests to relay messages. The ancient Greeks believed in omens, curses and superstitions. They consider thunderstorms, earthquakes or eclipses as a sign of good or bad luck. Festivals of all kinds were held across Greece to honor and celebrate the Gods. In Athens more than sixty annual festivals were held.

5. Ancient Greek Olympics The Olympics started when Pelops defeated Oenomaus in a race to marry Oenomaus’s daughter. To remember his victory he ordered athletic games to be held every four years in Olympia to honor Zeus. The Greeks formed a schedule for the Olympics. This schedule can be found on page 166 in your text book.

6. Death and Afterlife The Greeks believed that at the time of death the spirit of the dead left the body as a little breath or a puff of wind. The relatives of the deceased, most likely the women, took care of the elaborate burial rituals. After being washed and applied with oil, the body was dressed and then placed on a bed in their house. The ancient Greeks had certain methods of burial. It was believed that if you were not provided a proper burial along with the appropriate rituals, you were destined to suffer between worlds until your rites of passage into the underworld were completed. Demanding proper burial was one of the biggest reasons why ghosts would show themselves to the people of ancient Greece.

7. Death and Afterlife A coin was placed under the tongue of the dead for the purpose of paying a fare to cross the river Styx in their afterlife. The ferry that crossed the river was guarded by a miser named Charon. If the money wasn’t paid, the deceased soul would never get to cross the river. Sometimes the souls would return to haunt the people who had not provided the fare. After crossing the river, there was a big wall with a gate that was guarded by blood-thirsty Cerberus, the three-headed dog. He attacked any living thing. After passing the gate, there is a large field shaded with trees. This is where the dead would wait for judgment by Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Aeacus.

8. Notes There were twelve main Gods. Zeus and Hera were the King and Queen of the Gods. There was no organized churches. Greeks believed in omens, curses and superstitions. There were many types of festivals held in Ancient Greece. The Olympics started in honor of Zeus. It was believed when someone died a spirit left the body through a single breath. If you were not provided with a proper burial your spirit were destined suffer between the underworlds. A coin was placed under the deceased tongue in order to pay to get across the river of Styx that was guarded by Charon. After crossing you needed to pass the gate guarded by Cerberus, the three-headed dog. After that you had to wait for judgement.