1. Ancient Greece Religion

2. Introduction A MYTH is a traditional story that reveals something about a particular culture or person. The Greeks believed their gods controlled everything, much like Mesopotamians and Egyptians. The Greeks believed that 12 brilliant and powerful gods, called the Olympians, loved on Mount Olympus in northern Greece.

3. Deities: student research Fill out the chart as the students present the god or goddess researched. We’ll begin with the 12 Olympian gods.

4. The Olympian gods Zeus Hera Poseidon Demeter Hestia Athena Apollo Artemis Hermes Aphrodite Hephaestos Ares

5. Other lesser deities Muses Inspired artists, writers, and musicians Fates Three female deities who controlled the destinies of human begins. Furies Born from the spilled blood of Uranus Enforced family law and avenged those who were killed by family members.

6. Practice of Religion Individual beliefs Shrines, altars, and temples available No organized church No class of priests No established religious teachings and laws.

7. Oracle Ancient Greeks believed the gods spoke through certain priests or priestesses at particular shrines. The story of Croesus, king of Lydia Page 164-165.

8. Festivals The purpose of festivals was to honour the gods. Competitions were important part of festivals Athens held 60 festivals a year Sparta held 30 festivals a year

9. Assignment: List festivals/holidays celebrated in Canada that is linked to religion. Why are these festivals held?

10. Food for thought: When a person dies, what rituals are done by the deceased person’s family and friends? What happens to the body? Where does the body go? What happens before the body is buried?

11. Death and the Afterlife The messenger god, Hermes, led the deceased to the River Styx, the place separating the world of the living from the world of the dead. The dead went to Hades, the underworld. The underworld was seen a bleak and cheerless – not something to look forward to.

12. Death and the Afterlife Women prepared the dead body for the afterlife. The body was washed, anointed, wrapped, and then given a coin to pay the fare demanded to get into the underworld. The head was given a crown or wreath. The body laid out one day for relatives to gather to express their grief.