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Greek Mythology ● The ancient Greeks practiced
polytheism, the worship of many gods
or deities. A deity is a being with
supernatural powers.
● Unlike the gods of Egypt, Greek gods
looked-- and behaved-- like human
beings.
● Greeks expressed their religious beliefs
in their mythology. Mythology is the
collection of myths or stories that
people tell about their gods and heroes.
○ Myths explained the changing of the
seasons, revealed why so much suffering
exists in the world, explained human
behavior, taught moral lessons, and told the
stories of heroes, such as Hercules.
Gods and Goddesses ● Greek gods and goddesses behaved
like human beings. They fell in love,
got married, and had children. They
liked to celebrate and play tricks. They
also felt jealousy and rage.
● Athena was a popular goddess
because, according to myth, she had
given the Greeks the gift of the olive
tree. Athena was also the guardian of
the city of Athens. When the Greeks
fought against other peoples, they
believed Athena would appear to help
them.
● Zeus was the supreme ruler of the gods, as
well as the lord of the sky and the god of
rain. He lived on Mount Olympus and
threw thunderbolts at those who
displeased him.
● Zeus had two brothers. The first,
Poseidon, was god of the sea. His anger
made the earth shake and the seas churn.
● Zeus’s other brother, Hades, did not live
on Olympus. He ruled and lived in the
underworld, which was inhabited by the
souls of the dead.
The Twelve Olympian GodsZeus Father of many of the other gods; bringer of storms; god of justice.
Hera Wife of Zeus and queen of the gods; goddess of marriage.
Athena Daughter of Zeus; goddess of wisdom and protector of cities.
Apollo God of prophecy, healing, music, and poetry; god of light.
Artemis Twin sister of Apollo; goddess of hunting and childbirth.
Poseidon Brother of Zeus; god of the sea.
Ares God of war.
Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty.
Hermes Messenger of the gods; patron of merchants; protector of travelers.
Demeter Goddess of agriculture and the harvest.
Hephaestus God of fire and of craftworkers.
Hestia Goddess of the hearth.
Greek Religion and Life● The Greeks honored their gods with
public and private religious rituals.
○ Public meetings began with prayers and
animal sacrifices.
○ Women played important roles in some of
these public ceremonies.
○ In private homes, families maintained
household shrines, where they honored
their favorite gods or goddesses.
● Each city-state built temples to its
patron deity. On holy days, citizens
made sacrifices in front of the gods’
temples.
○ People offered gold, cakes, and wine, or
prized animals such as bulls.
○ They asked the gods for favors, such as
good crops or good health.
Athletic Contests● Some religious festivals included
athletic contests.
○ Athletes competed in boxing, wrestling, and
running as well as in throwing the javelin
and discus.
○ They displayed their skill and strength to
honor the gods.
● The leading competitions brought
together athletes from many
city-states. The most famous sports
event was the Olympic Games, which
honored Zeus.
● These games took place every four years. During
the games, all conflicts between the city-states
stopped.
● Travelers came from all over the Mediterranean
to attend the games.
● The festival site at Olympia was crowded with
merchants, food sellers, and artisans.
● Winners became celebrities, or famous people.
Successful athletes were rewarded not with
money but with privileges and fame.
Sacred Sites● The Greeks considered groves of trees,
springs, and other places to be sacred because
they were home to a god or spirit.
● Mount Olympus, in northern Greece, was an
important sacred spot. The Greeks believed it
was home to the major gods.
● Another sacred site was Delphi, on the slopes
of Mount Parnassus.
○ Delphi contained many shrines, but the most
important was the holy temple of Apollo. This
temple housed Apollo’s priestess, who was known
as the Delphic oracle. An oracle is someone who
predicts the future.
○ People traveled to Delphi from all over Greece
and other lands to ask the priestess a question.
Many left confused, however, because the oracle
answered with puzzling statements or riddles that
could be interpreted in several ways.
The ParthenonA temple to Athena on the Athens
Acropolis. Also served as a
treasury to the Delian League.
https://www.360cities.net/image/acrop
olis-of-athens-parthenon-south-easter
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