What values were important to the Greeks? How did this relate to religion?

Case study: The Olympics

Complete the reading and use it to answer the questions (front side only!)

Greek values and its connection to religion:

• Arete – ideal of excellence • Showing excellence (through sports) to

the gods during athletic events, and behaving in honorable ways, showed the gods that you respected them

• Winning was even better! It showed strength and determination

• Training for the games was hard work! Training showed the gods you were devoted to them

More on the Olympic Games!• Held every 4 years in honor of Zeus• Athletes made animal sacrifices and prayed for

success in the games • Only Greeks could compete (and they traveled from

all over!)• Winners were awarded with an olive wreath. Olives

were sacred in Greek culture!

Comparison!

• Do the Olympic Games today illustrate a true continuity to ancient times, or do the games today represent different values?

What’s with the stadiums and theaters at religious sites?

• It didn’t need to be an Olympic game happening to show respect and honor to the gods.

• But anytime a significant religious site was built…a stadium wasn’t far behind

• Same with theaters! Acting was a way to change your behavior and please the gods

Why was Delphi so influential to the Greeks?• The oracles and priestesses at Delphi were thought to

have powers that could predict the future• Delphi was in independent place located up in the

mountains-- (in a hidden nook) to help protect from invaders

• The oracles would tell prophecies. They were usually cryptic in nature

• Were the predictions accurate? Before the Persian Wars (to be continued next week), officials from the city state came to Delphi to ask for a prophecy. The Oracle told the Athenians they would win with timber (you’ll see why next week) but that no Spartans would return (again…stay tuned!).

• Fighting over oracle interpretation was common

Why was Delphi so influential to the Greeks?• Scholars often used Delphi as a focal point for

intellectual inquiry • No fighting between city states was allowed to

happen here…but people did try to rob it (there was lots of loot!)

• Even though fighting wasn’t allowed—it was a common place of rivalry and competition– city states wanted to show off to the oracles. They would send gifts!

• The concept of oracles/the use of Delphi will come to an end later in history when the Romans take over

How did city states choose to honor the gods? Case study-Athens?

• Athena was portrayed as powerful but wise! They built gigantic statues and temples to honor her.

• According to the ancient Greek history, Poseidon, god of the sea and Athena, goddess of peace and wisdom, disputed over whose name would be given to the newly built city. To end this dispute, it was decided that the city would be named after the one who offered the most precious gift to the citizens. Poseidon struck his trident on a rock and salt water began to flow. Athena struck her spear on the ground and it turned into an olive tree.

• The Athenians picked the olive tree! Olives were symbolic of peace, triumph, and wisdom.

• Fun fact- the Acropolis temple to honor Athena wasn’t the first one. The first one was destroyed by the Persians so when Athenians rebuilt it they wanted to make it look stronger and more powerful than the first!

The entire frieze around the Parthenon pays tribute to Athena and the gods

• This frieze is called the Parthenon Procession. Once a year people marched to the Parthenon for a religious festival. The frieze depicts scenes from this event

• But it mixes scenes and man and gods—blurring the lines between those who were immortal and those who were mortal

Why are some pieces of the Parthenon frieze missing?The Brits stole it…but that’s not what they say!

• In the 19th century Greece was controlled by Ottoman Turks who had no problem selling pieces of the Parthenon off to the highest bidder

• Thomas Bruce—an earl--bought the most (75,000 £) to show them off to a girl he liked

• But then the girl dumped him and he was broke. So he sold the pieces to the British Museum

• Museums are centers of cultural heritage, but they also showcase wealth

• Owning these panels (called marbles) was worth a lot of money and brings the museum prestige

• Now the Greeks have built their own museum and want the panels back

• Who do you think is right?

``Getting the British to return the marbles has always been a major part of daily government life. We have no positive indication that the British will ever give them back. The British Museum has continually failed to realize that the

Acropolis is our sacred place and how special the Parthenon Marbles are for us.'’ -Papazoi, Greek cultural minister

Summary Question:

• How did religion influence Greeks’ everyday lives? Give 2 specific examples? How do old relics of Greek religion still influence Greek

culture?