How it Relates to Greek Religion and Culture Essay Example for Free

How it Relates to Hellenic Religion and Culture Essayancient Hellenics believed in a series of myths, which explained nature, set the moral command for the classical people, and some were just entertaining stories. These myths turned the Grecian homo from a world of venerate into a world of wondrous beauty. Many of these gods and goddesses were associated with a particular task or activity (Buxton). The classical people believed that the gods were incorporated into every aspect of their lives. The Ancient Greeks, being a polytheistic culture, created many libertine myths regarding 12 gods and goddesses that they believed to rule altogether aspects of their lives.These myths were an early science. They were the result of the Greeks trying to explain the world around them. The Greek people created their gods in their own image, naturally making heaven an enjoyable and familiar place (Hamilton). In Greek mythology the Gods did non create the universe, that instead, the universe created the gods. The mythology of the people of Greece begins with Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey. It is in these epical poems that Homer tells the stories of the many gods and heros of Greece. We now know who and what the Greek gods were, but how are they applicable to the Greek Religion?It is important to know that the Greeks did non have a word for religion. Also they did not have any written text or scripture. When we talk about Greek religion we lowly their ritual behaviors and their beliefs in sacred items, beings, and places (Cline). We excessively must remember that Greek mythology is not the same as Greek religion, though they are closely intertwined. The barely requirement of the Greeks for their religion was to believe in the gods and consummate collapses to them. These sacred acts, sacrifice and festivals, were the root of the Greek religion (Buxton).This seems to be a rather relaxing focussing to carry on in life, but not so. The Greeks attribute d anything good happening to the gods being happy with them, also when something bad happened, for example, an earthquake, famine, or the loss of a battle, it was attributed to the gods being displeased with the Greeks (Ancient Greece). The Ancient Greeks were an extremely spectral people, who spent their lives trying to please the gods with their sacrifice, festivals, and unwavering belief in them. Sacrifice was one of the most important ways to please the gods they were sentiment to be gifts to the gods. The people of Greece would give a sacrifice not nevertheless of animals, but also bloodless sacrifices, such as food, grasses, grains, and incense (Christman). Each city had a temple erected to their patron god. In Athens they had built the Acropolis, with its main temple being the Parthenon, which was dedicated to genus Athene (which whom Athens was named after). Athena was Zeuss daughter, and it is said in the myths that she was born from his head. Athena is known as the Godd ess of war and the defender of the townsfolks. She is usually shown in art dressed in full armor.Also associated with her is Nike the sign of victory (Hamilton). These temples were not for worship, but they were believed to house the gods for which the temple was built. The only people who were allowed inside were the priests and priestesses, and that was only to go for it clean and take care of the gods statue (Ancient Greece). The focus of the temple was no only the god or goddess but the sacrificial alter. Each temple had an alter outside for the worshipers to place their offerings. The sacrifices the Greeks make to their gods were their way of ensuring that they would be allowed to lead a normal happy life.The Greeks also took part in spectral festivals and for further reassurance of their pleasing the gods went to oracles. We know that the Greek people participated in many religious festivals, but the enlarge of these festivals are unknown. The main festival that the Greek s partook in was the Olympic games, in honor of Zeus. Zeus was the most properly of all the gods, his power alone was greater than all of the other gods combined. He was the God of the Sky, bearing his thunderbolt, at which he would throw to earth striking anywhere he wished. His faults, however, entertain the idea that he is a man.Zeus is portrayed as falling in love with many women and trying to hide his unfaithfulness from his wife Hera (Hamilton). The Olympic game festival occurred every fourth summer. Throughout Greece a truce was proclaimed so that all Greek citizens could come and participate (Greek Religion). The exception to this was women, they not only could not participate, but they could not even watch (Buxton). The Olympic games were held at the Stadium of Olympia, and the main exit was the pentathlon, where the participants competed in five different events. This arena was also the very first monument of Greek Graeco-Roman art (Kleiner).Another part of the Greek r eligion was the oracles. The most famous oracle was the Oracle of Delphi. The oracles were believed to be the messengers of the gods. But not any normal person could understand their messages, only the priests and priestesses could. The Greeks believed that the gods spoke in riddles, because the gods were much complex than the humans, and so the could not reply as the humans did (Ancient Greece). The festivals and the oracles were an important part of the Greek life. The Greek gods even found a place in the everyday life of a Greek citizen.Hestia, Zeuss sister. She plays no part in the myths but was very important to the Greeks. She was the Goddess of the Hearth. Every menage in Greece had a hearth dedicated to her where the fire was not allowed out go out, along with severally city (Hunt). When a new town was founded the people would light a torch from the mother town and carry its fire to the hearth in the new town. Sound familiar this is the proposed beginning of the Olympic t orch. Also, when a child was born the family had to walk the newborn baby around the hearth before it was to be received into the family (Hamilton).Also, according to Hunt, boys were trained to have healthy strong bodies, not only to fight in the armies, but to be strong competitors in the Olympic games. Boys and girls were taught from very early ages about the gods and goddesses. They were taught how to respect and please them in their daily lives (The Ancient Greeks). Also most Greeks made some sort of sacrifice to the gods daily. This was to try and clench the gods happy and bring good fortune to themselves. There were many different ways that the people of Greece act to keep the thought of their gods present in their daily lives.Religion impinged on the warfare of the city-states in a number of ways. The commanders frequently saw themselves as walking in the footsteps of their gods and heroic predecessors (Buxton). No where in the Greek city-states did they go into battle wit hout first sacrificing. To do this was unthinkable. The soldiers of Greece usually sacrificed to either Ares or Athena. Ares was the God of War, but isnt mentioned much in the myths. He has no distinctive attributes and is difficult to identify in art. Hamilton says this is probably because the Greeks thought of him as hateful.Again, Athena is known as the Goddess of war and the defender of the towns. But then on the opposite end was the honoring of Aphrodite, who was the Goddess of Love and Beauty, but also revered for pleasure and procreation. Women of the towns and city-states would honor and sacrifice to Aphrodite, to ensure the safe delivery of a baby, or to be pleasing to their future husbands (Atsma). I Greece all marriages were arranged to keep or raise a familys social status, so many brides did not ever meet their husbands-to-be until the wedding day. Whatever men or women did in their daily activities was relevant to the enamor of the gods.The Greek mythology played an i mportant role in the every day lives of the Greek people, and even more than important one in the development of their religion. Greek mythology was a way for the people of Greece to explain the wherefores and hows of their world. Their religion and their mythology were very closely intertwined. This was shown through their various ways of honoring their gods through festivals, sacrifice, and using the oracles. Also through the passing of the beliefs from one generation to the next. The importance of the gods was shown in their magnificent temples also.These Myths for the Greeks changed their world from the unknown to kind and beautiful. Works Cited Ancient Greece. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2008. Sept. 14, 2008. . Atsma, Aaron J. Theoi Greek Mythology Exploring Mythology in Classical Literature and imposture. The Theoi Project. 2008. Sept. 14, 2008. . Buxton, Richard. Ancient Greece. Ed. Paul Cartledge. United Kingdom. Cambridge University Press, 1998. Christman, Za chary and Alfred Hanssen. Greek Religion Religion and Death. 2002. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Sept. 14, 2008.. Cline, Austin. Ancient Greek Mythology, Religion, fraud Sept. 14, 2008. . Greek Religion. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Sept. 21, 2008. . Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. New York. Back Bay Books, 1942. Hunt, Dr. Patricia. Roles of Men, Women, and Children. Richmond University. Sept. 16, 2008. . Kleiner, Fred and Christian Mamiya. Gardners Art Through the Ages. 12th ed. volume 1. California. Wadsworth/Thompson Learning, 2005. The Ancient Greeks. 2002. Sept. 16, 2008. . Wilkinson, Philip. Dictionary of Mythology. New York. DK Publishing, 1998.