Greek Mythology ● The ancient Greeks practiced

polytheism, the worship of many gods

or deities. A deity is a being with

supernatural powers.

● Unlike the gods of Egypt, Greek gods

looked-- and behaved-- like human

beings.

● Greeks expressed their religious beliefs

in their mythology. Mythology is the

collection of myths or stories that

people tell about their gods and heroes.

○ Myths explained the changing of the

seasons, revealed why so much suffering

exists in the world, explained human

behavior, taught moral lessons, and told the

stories of heroes, such as Hercules.

Gods and Goddesses ● Greek gods and goddesses behaved

like human beings. They fell in love,

got married, and had children. They

liked to celebrate and play tricks. They

also felt jealousy and rage.

● Athena was a popular goddess

because, according to myth, she had

given the Greeks the gift of the olive

tree. Athena was also the guardian of

the city of Athens. When the Greeks

fought against other peoples, they

believed Athena would appear to help

them.

● Zeus was the supreme ruler of the gods, as

well as the lord of the sky and the god of

rain. He lived on Mount Olympus and

threw thunderbolts at those who

displeased him.

● Zeus had two brothers. The first,

Poseidon, was god of the sea. His anger

made the earth shake and the seas churn.

● Zeus’s other brother, Hades, did not live

on Olympus. He ruled and lived in the

underworld, which was inhabited by the

souls of the dead.

The Twelve Olympian GodsZeus Father of many of the other gods; bringer of storms; god of justice.

Hera Wife of Zeus and queen of the gods; goddess of marriage.

Athena Daughter of Zeus; goddess of wisdom and protector of cities.

Apollo God of prophecy, healing, music, and poetry; god of light.

Artemis Twin sister of Apollo; goddess of hunting and childbirth.

Poseidon Brother of Zeus; god of the sea.

Ares God of war.

Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty.

Hermes Messenger of the gods; patron of merchants; protector of travelers.

Demeter Goddess of agriculture and the harvest.

Hephaestus God of fire and of craftworkers.

Hestia Goddess of the hearth.

Greek Religion and Life● The Greeks honored their gods with

public and private religious rituals.

○ Public meetings began with prayers and

animal sacrifices.

○ Women played important roles in some of

these public ceremonies.

○ In private homes, families maintained

household shrines, where they honored

their favorite gods or goddesses.

● Each city-state built temples to its

patron deity. On holy days, citizens

made sacrifices in front of the gods’

temples.

○ People offered gold, cakes, and wine, or

prized animals such as bulls.

○ They asked the gods for favors, such as

good crops or good health.

Athletic Contests● Some religious festivals included

athletic contests.

○ Athletes competed in boxing, wrestling, and

running as well as in throwing the javelin

and discus.

○ They displayed their skill and strength to

honor the gods.

● The leading competitions brought

together athletes from many

city-states. The most famous sports

event was the Olympic Games, which

honored Zeus.

● These games took place every four years. During

the games, all conflicts between the city-states

stopped.

● Travelers came from all over the Mediterranean

to attend the games.

● The festival site at Olympia was crowded with

merchants, food sellers, and artisans.

● Winners became celebrities, or famous people.

Successful athletes were rewarded not with

money but with privileges and fame.

Sacred Sites● The Greeks considered groves of trees,

springs, and other places to be sacred because

they were home to a god or spirit.

● Mount Olympus, in northern Greece, was an

important sacred spot. The Greeks believed it

was home to the major gods.

● Another sacred site was Delphi, on the slopes

of Mount Parnassus.

○ Delphi contained many shrines, but the most

important was the holy temple of Apollo. This

temple housed Apollo’s priestess, who was known

as the Delphic oracle. An oracle is someone who

predicts the future.

○ People traveled to Delphi from all over Greece

and other lands to ask the priestess a question.

Many left confused, however, because the oracle

answered with puzzling statements or riddles that

could be interpreted in several ways.

The ParthenonA temple to Athena on the Athens

Acropolis. Also served as a

treasury to the Delian League.

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