GREEK RELIGION

1. GREEK RELIGION By: Jazzmen Walker, Emilia Rosten, and Raj Jain

2. Greek Gods • Over 300 gods and goddesses in the Greek religion. • Each god has a different influence to Earth. • Main gods: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and Athena. • Main 12 gods were called Olympians, they were responsible for the everyday things Greek people did

3. Polytheism • Worship of multiple gods. • Each deity is distinguished by special functions. • Gods functions usually related to describe things on earth. (ex: Zeus is god of thunder and lightning) • Characterized many undefined spirits such as demons and other supernatural powers.

4. Zeus • God of all the gods • Thunder and Lightning • Father- Cronus • Mother- Rhea • Wife- Hera • Cronus ate all of his children due to fear of the children overthrowing him • Poisoned his father • Zeus was the only survivor and got revenge on his father by saving his siblings

5. Delphic Oracle • Most famous prophetess • Said that she received her prophecies from Apollo, god of truth • One of the most influential forces in ancient Greece • Young men consulted her before they sought fortunes • Kings consulted her before they began a war

6. Sacrifices • Held in temples, dwelling places of the gods • Cattle, goats, sheep, and swine were sacrificed by the temple priests • Priests would examine the organs of the animal • Healthy - Good omen • Corrupted and rotten – Unlucky sign • Sacrifices determine the future • The animal was then cooked and was served to the people • In Greece the word sacrifice was synonymous with feast.

7. Omens • The Greeks believed in augury, the technique of telling the future by watching the flight patterns of birds • Sighting specific birds fortuitous, while seeing others was a bad sign (ex. Seeing an owl during the day indicated death) • Proper burial and hospitality were sacred to the Greeks. • If anyone murdered or dishonored a guest was guilty of capital offense • Anyone who failed to properly bury a body was also guilty of capital offense.

8. After Life • The Greeks believed everyone went to the underworld after death. • In Hades realm there were different locations you would go depending on how you lived your life • The newly arrived dead were ferried across the river Styx. • The underworld was separated from the land of the living by five rivers. • The river Styx- hateful, Lethe-forgetful, Acheron-woeful, Phlegethon- fiery, and Cocytus- wailing

9. Citations • McGill, Sara Ann. "Ancient Roman Religion." Ancient Roman b Religion (2009): 1. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. Aug. 28, 2013 • "Polytheism." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 28 Aug. 2013. • "Zeus." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.