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The Legacy of Greek Mythology: Heroes, Worship, and Afterlife Beliefs

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Chapter 6 of Part II delves into the world of godlike heroes in Greek mythology, focusing on figures like Heracles, Theseus, and Jason, who performed daring feats such as slaying monsters and embarking on epic journeys. It highlights the significance of prayers, sacrifices, and local deities in ancient Greek religion, revealing their superstitions and the moral codes governing their lives. The chapter also explores Greek beliefs about death, the journey to the Underworld, judgment, and the varying afterlife realms, alongside the crucial role of oracles and their communication with the divine.

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The Legacy of Greek Mythology: Heroes, Worship, and Afterlife Beliefs

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  1. Chapter 6 Part II

  2. Godlike Heroes • Children of the gods • Heracles • Son of Zeus and a mortal • Very strong, courageous • Became a god upon his death • Performed ten great labors • Killed the Nemean lion • Captured the Minoan bull • Battled the Cerberus

  3. Godlike heroes, continued • Theseus • Killed the Minotaur • Jason • Led the Argonauts on a quest for the Golden Fleece • Cadmus • Killed a dragon • Bellerophon and Pegasus • Killed the Chimera monster • Atlanta • Part of the Argonauts, a runner

  4. Prayers and Sacrifices • Greeks worshipped the Olympians • If things did not go well for them, they assumed that they had angered the gods • Sacrificed animals • Very superstitious about what the entrails showed

  5. Prayers and sacrifice, continued • Each city had its own patron deity and local gods (in addition to the Olympians) • Altars in homes and the city • Festivals • Beginnings of Greek theater and the Olympic Games • All towns had a hearth (Hestia)

  6. Prayers and sacrifice, continued • What was missing from Greek society? • Moral code • Hubris – excessive pride or arrogance • What was the job of the priest? • What was the purpose of a temple?

  7. The Greek Concept of death • Woman of the household washed the body with olive oil, dressed it in white, placed a wreath on the head • Funeral procession • Both men and women buried with special possessions

  8. The greek concept of death, continued • Life after death • Soul went to the Underworld • Guided by Hermes to the River Styx • Coin given to Charon to cross • Cerberus on other side • Drank from the Lethe River • So you forget about life on earth

  9. Judgment • Souls were judged on the person’s former life • Tartarus • For the wicked • Asphodel Fields • Where most ended up; a boring, aimless afterlife • Elysian Fields • For those who had led a virtuous life • Isles of the Blessed • Nearly impossible to achieve

  10. The Oracles • Oracles – religious shrines • Special priests relayed messages and interpreted the answer • Over 250 oracles in Greece • Delphi • Most famous oracle at Apollo’s temple • On Mt. Parnassus • Greeks considered this the center of the world • Priestess was called Pythia

  11. The oracles • How did Pythia communicate with Apollo? • What was the process to have your question answered? • What happened to Pythia? • Who was the oldest oracle? • Dodona

  12. Religion and Science • Greeks questioned the world around them, despite their belief in supernatural deities • Saw no contradiction between religion and science

  13. Questions on page 63 • #7 – Who was Cerberus? • #8 – What were the Elysian Fields? • #9 – How did the priests at the oracles solve the problems of finding acceptable answers to difficult questions? • #10 – How did the Greeks reconcile their religious beliefs with their respect for human reasoning?

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