Athens
Religion
- Athenians are polytheistic
- Believe in more than 1 god
- Gods of the Greeks in Athens
- Zeus-King of the gods and ruler of the sky, thunder, and lightening. He ate his pregnant wife that was going to have Athena because he didn’t want to get overruled by his offspring. Athena broke out of his skull. 2 brothers- Poseidon and Hades
- Athens- was one of the most important goddesses in Athens. The god of wisdom, handicrafts, defense, and strategic warfare. Daughter of Zeus and Hera. Fierce and brave, but only fought to protect her homeland
- Hera- goddess of the gods. Also the god of women and marriage. Zeus’s wife
- Hades- God of the underworld and dead. Brothers- Zeus and Poseidon. Very greedy and was always trying to increase his #s
- Poseidon- God of the Sea. His weapon was the trident and it could shake the earth and shatter any object. 2nd in power next to Zeus
- Hermes- Main role was to be the messenger for the gods. He had winged shoes and a winged hats…that is what he is most known for
- Ares- God of war. Very aggressive and unpopular with the gods and humans. Personified the brutalness of war. Was immortal but when he was ever hurt he would run back to his father Zeus and be healed again
- Hephaestus- God of metalwork and fire. Born lame and weak and was an outcast of Olympus. Made the gods weapons and artifacts
- Apollo- God of Prophecy. Parton of healing. Very popular with the mortals. Master archer and fleetfooter. Won the first Olympic games.
- Aphrodite- God of love and beauty. Was loved by all the gods and humans. Married Hephaestus and had many children
- Dionysus- God of wine, wine making, ecstasy, and celebration. Zeus was father
- Demeter- Goddess of fertility of the earth, crops, nature, and seasons. Many humans praised her so that they could have a good harvest.
- Artemis- Virgin Goddess of the hunt, moon, animals, archery, and childbirth. Mater archer and practiced. Well known for the 6 golden horned deer to pull her chariot
- Why did they Pray?
- The Greeks believed that they had to worship and please the gods in order to have good fortuns
- The Greeks participated in a number of ritual, rites, ceremonies and sacrifices in order to impress and placate the Gods
- Where did the religion take place
- Temples, shrines and statues were erected as a designated place to offer sacrifice to the Gods
- The altar, usually located in front of the temple, was the most important part of a Greek sanctuary
- Compare
- Greek religion was a predominant form of early Paganism
- Their reflected many central ideas and concepts of earlier form of Paganism both ancient and Modern and witchcraft and Wicca
- Athenian Myths
- Daughter of Zeus
i. Now Zeus made his daughter with his bright-eyed Tritogeneia
- Contest of Poseidon and Athena
i. Posiden cursed Athens to not have enough water
- The Minotaur
i. Mythical creature that is part man and part bull
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