1. Warm Up: What form of religion was followed in Ancient Greece?
Do you know any names of famous Greek Gods/Godesses?

2. Religion in ancient Greece
…and the divinities

3. Religion in ancient Greece
Greeks, like Egyptians and Mesopotmians before them, were polytheistic (belief in more than one deity).
The deities of the ancient Greeks were also like the gods of the ancient Egyptians in that they were anthropomorphic (appearnce of humans experiencing the same emotions as humans).
The name anthropomorhic comes from the greek; anthrôpos (man) and morhpê: (form)
Together, the deities, both male and female, were part of a large family believed to have originated from Mount Olympus (which you will see later in the presentation…pay attention).

4. Religion of the ancient Greeks
All of the deities possessed, as has already been mentioned, human emotions. Even with their supernatural powers they still felt and acted on (it was believed) their anger, jealousy, pity, love and hatred, to name a few.

5. Religion of the ancient Greeks
For this reason, the Greeks respected and feared the deities. If their life was going well, it was most certainly because they had pleased the deities and they were happy with them.
If ever there were a problem or a disaster, it was surely due to something a mortal had done to enrage one of the deities (a seafaring accident that claimed lives, for instance would be due to the fact that Poseidon had been angered by someone).

6. Religion of the ancient Greeks
The Greeks, believing that the gods could intervene in their lives for good or evil, worshipped often.
Each city-state had their own protector deity and they were all worshipped differently. Some ways were as follows:
Constructed temples or sanctuaries in their honor
Constructed statues made of precious metals
Sacrificed animals on sacred altars
Made offerings of jewels, harvests, etc..
Held honorific customs (celebration or an event in honor of the deity)

7. Religion of the ancient Greeks
As the city-states of ancient Greece were independent of one another (even at times enemies) these common religious beliefs were one of the two things that held the Greeks civilization together…the other being the language!!!
1. Language
2. Religious beliefs

8. La religion en Grèce City: Olympia City: Athens Deity: Athena
Deity: Zeus
Custom: the Olympic Games
5 day competition
Men only, competed in the nude
sacred truce amongst city-states
running, discus, javelin, wrestling, chariot races
winners received a crown of olivs,
a hero’s welcome upon return to their
city-state and free dinners for life
City-state: Delphi
Deity: Apollo
Custom: The Oracles
Believing that the gods governed nature and the life of man, Greeks would go
Go to the altar in the sanctuary of Apollo in the hope of learning about their future.
They would question the priestess of the sanctuary, called the pythie, who would then
translate the words of the god Apollo. These were called the Oracles…the pythie could also
interpret omens in one’s life.
City: Athens
Deity: Athena
Custom: The Panathénées; a procession
(parade religieuse) in the streets of Athens
to the Acropolis where the temple
of Athena was situated.
La religion en Grèce

9. Religion of the ancient Greeks
Here we see, in a piece of art, a Greek at the sanctuary of Apollo in the hope of learning more about his future.
He would question the young lady, the Pythia, who would then translate the words of Apollo, to the man to let him know what his future was…there was always a priest there to determine what the Pythia was saying, as she was often hallucinating…for good reason, she was chewing hallucinogens.

10. Religious beliefs practiced alone no formal texts
no priests with great powers (some travelled the country preaching to the poor)
no organized church
no special task of trying to persuade to live better lives

11. Death & the Afterlife
Upon death, it was believed, the messenger god, Hermes, would lead the deceased across the River Styx (the chasm between the land of the living and the dead). Here they would be met by the boatman, Cheron, who would ferry the dead into Hades, paying a toll called the obolus.
Cerebus, a watchdog, sat guard at the gates to ensure no one who ever entered ever left.
Hades was not a happy place and people did not look forward to death!!!

12. The Gods: A strange and incestuous family
The ‘family’ had 12 members to which you will be introduced…these gods were called the Olympians.
There were also two other gods who were adored, Hades and Dionysus.
Zeus, the god of gods, had 2 brothers and two sisters.
Zeus had 8 children and his wife was also his sister…ewww!!!
Here is the family tree…

13. Zeus Hades Poseidon Hera Demeter Hermes Dionysos Apollo Athena Ares
god of gods
Hades
Underworld
Poseidon
Sea
Hera
Marriage
Demeter
pregnancy
Hermes
Protector of
travelers/
Messenger of
the gods
Dionysos
Wine &
Theatre
Apollo
Sun
Athena
Intelligence
Ares
War
Artemis
Hunting,
the moon
and the night
Hestia
The home
Hephaistos
Blacksmith of weapons
For the gods
Aphrodite
Beauty &
love
female
male

15. Your Task
In groups you will be required to do a mini presentation on one God (to be assigned).
Your presentation will be completed tomorrow and can be of any form including powerpoint, skit, poster, song, dance, etc
You have the remainder of class to come up with and create your presentation.