Greco paganism (Greek Paganism)
Greek religion was a predominant form of early
Paganism and as a result their religion reflected many central ideas and
concepts of earlier forms of Paganism, such as Druidism, both ancient and
Modern and Witchcraft and Wicca. It was polytheistic, consisting of the worship
of many Gods. The Greeks believed that the Gods would offer protection and
guide their city-states. This belief was identical to other earlier forms of
Paganism.
Divinities were the
most important element of Greek religion and much emphasis was placed on
pleasing the Gods in order to live a life free of oppression and hardship. Like
all Pagans, the Greeks believed that they had to worship and please the Gods in
order to have good fortune. The Greeks participated in a number of rituals,
rites, ceremonies and sacrifices in order to impress and placate the Gods.
Temples, shrines and statues were erected as a designated place to offer
sacrifices to the Gods.
Religion was a very important aspect of Greek
society and culture, with the sacrifices and regular worships of Gods surving
to unify the people in a common goal to please the Gods. The Greeks also placed
an immense faith in the idea that an afterlife awaited them after their death.
They firmly believed that this life was not the only reality in which the soul
lives, but after this lifetime, a whole new and different one awaited them.
The origins of Greek history has been lost in
pre-history, the only knowledge that has remained is that the Greeks
assimilated cults of pre-Greek inhabitants of the Peninsula. An example of this
can be seen when the Greeks encountered the Flourishing society of the Minoan
civilization whose central divinities influenced characteristics of later Greek
Goddesses.
Greek religion was ritual based, practicing a
flexible set of beliefs. It was unlike many modern religions, because it made
no claims of universality, they did not proselytize, they did not participate
in regular clergies, no hierarchical system, no sacred texts or moral code that
is backed by religious beliefs. Scholars of the Renaissance believed that Greek
religion simply consisted of an abundant treasury of legendary tales told by
Greek authors. However Greek religion was not simply legendary tales and
fictitious myths, it was a complex organization with each city-state containing
its own divinities, which acted to cement the body of citizens into a true
community. The Divine played an integral part in Greek religion and their
society. The Divine entered all parts of Greek society, domestic affairs, civic
organization, gender, agriculture and war. This belief is also reflected in
many other earlier forms of Paganism. The Greeks attempted to please the Gods,
fearing that they could upset them with insolence and impiety. The Greeks
placed great importance on Twelve Pantheon Gods. They also worshipped other
deities such as oracles, lesser divinities, demi Gods and Heroes.
The Greeks worshipped many Gods, creating a polytheistic society. The Gods were
admired and feared, being distinguished from man by their immortality. The
Greeks believed that the Gods controlled natural and social forces and resided
on Mount Olympus. The Greeks were an earth based culture as were most early
forms of Paganism, holding a high respect for nature and the earth. To reflect
this love of nature, the Greeks placed different Gods in charge of different
aspects of life.
They had Gods of the
countryside; Nymphs, the Goat- God Pan, Naead ( dwelling in springs),
dryads (dwelling in trees),
Nereids ( dwelling in the sea) and
Satyrs, showing their respect for nature.
The twelve main Gods were:
Hades; God of the underworld,
Aphrodite; Goddess of love,
Apollo; God of light, purity, guidance, healing
and music,
Zeus; King of Gods, thunder,
lightning, gold and kings,
Athere; Goddess of Athens, war, handicrafts and
wisdom,
Demeter; Goddess of harvest,
Hera, Hermes, Hestia, Hephaistos,
Poseidon, Artemis and Ares.
Although these twelve Gods were the most
important, facets of their personalities were altered by sporadically adding
new Gods. The Greeks believed that the Gods were pre-eminently social beings,
upholding an organized universe. The Gods were often depicted as humans as the
Romans and other early forms of Paganism did. The Gods also occasionally
assumed animal guise. Another interesting factor was that each God assumed and
represented a different aspect and function of Greek life. Sometimes Gods can
be worshipped under different names, for example Zeus can be worshipped under
the name Omrios. The Greeks used the Gods to explain the occurrence of things,
which they could not understand through lack of scientific proof. For example
they thought that the Gods controlled the rising and setting of the sun and
created great myths about such events.
Although the Greeks heavily depended on their
Gods to uphold their society, it is evident that they relied on other deities
as well. This can be seen through the Greeks faith in a deity, which they
called an Oracle. An oracles primary function was to offer guidance and advice.
In archaic times, the Greeks sought out the Oracles advice in relation to
religious and political aspects of life. They were also used as a mean to seek
out the will of the Gods. Sanctuaries were dedicated to the Oracles to indicate
their importance. Shrines were also erected for the Oracles and became places
of international prestige. Oracles controlled many human decisions about
health, sickness, peace, war, colonization, migration, crime and
punishment.
In order to show their appreciation to the Gods
and Oracles, the Greeks would perform a series of rituals, ceremonies,
sacrifices and offerings as other forms of Paganism did. Sacrifices of animals;
sheep, cows, goats, pigs and bulls were made, as well as the occasional human
sacrifice as a present to the Gods. Chosen animals for sacrifice formed a
procession, they were crowned, adorned, purified with water and sprinkled with
barley. Many temples and shrines were also erected as a mark of respect and for
a place to offer their sacrifices. It is obvious that the Greeks placed a lot
of pride in their temples and shrines, for extensive time was taken to
re-build, preserve and beautify them. Further evidence of the Greeks desire to
please the Gods can be seen through their offerings. The Greeks offered such
things as stone freezes, "gold vessels, wheat, wine and honey, milk, water and
firstfruits." Prayers and hymns accompanied sacrifices and sometimes
performances and other ritual acts followed such as dances or early forms of
drama.
The function of these sacrifices aside from
pleasing the Gods was to unite the people in a common and regular pattern and
to intergrade them into the city. It is clear that many similarities can be
drawn between other forms of Paganism and Greek religion, through their similar
worshiping techniques, their desire to please the Gods and their polytheistic
nature.
The after life was also very important to the
Greeks, as they believed that their souls were carried on to another dimension
and lived on after death. This ideology about death was a direct contrast to
other forms of Paganism. Other Pagan religions believed that there was no
Heaven or Hell, rather they believed in re-incarnation. They believed that the
soul was passed on to another body at the time of death. This is one of the
only aspects that distinguishes Greek religion from other forms of
Paganism.
The Greeks held a strong belief that your body
needed to be buried with the goods and wealth that you had accumulated in this
lifetime in order to carry them through into the next life. Gravesites
recovered have shown that people have been buried with food, cloths and jeweled
ornaments. Kings were buried with bronze weapons, chariots and their horses. In
some cases the wives and slaves were killed and buried beside the dead so that
the person could take their family with them into the next lifetime. Their
bodies are well preserved and embalmed so that they are not ruined for the next
life.
It
is obvious that the Greeks shared many common aspects with other forms of
Paganism. Both held the Gods in high esteem, and attempted to placate them with
rites, worships and sacrifices. Another common theme was the fact that both
Greek religion and other forms of Paganism were earth based cultures, placing a
high respect upon nature. Another link between Greek religion and other forms
of Paganism can be seen by their polytheistic nature. The worship of many Gods
is linked throughout all of the Pagan religions; Wicca, Druidism, Witchcraft
and Neo-Paganism. The only contrast between Greek religion and other forms of
Paganism can be seen through their differing beliefs about the after-life.
Whilst most Pagan religions hold the belief that their spirit was passed on
from one body to the other, Greek religion centered on the belief that the soul
moved onto another life, such as Heaven or Hell.
Paganism and as a result their religion reflected many central ideas and
concepts of earlier forms of Paganism, such as Druidism, both ancient and
Modern and Witchcraft and Wicca. It was polytheistic, consisting of the worship
of many Gods. The Greeks believed that the Gods would offer protection and
guide their city-states. This belief was identical to other earlier forms of
Paganism.
Divinities were the
most important element of Greek religion and much emphasis was placed on
pleasing the Gods in order to live a life free of oppression and hardship. Like
all Pagans, the Greeks believed that they had to worship and please the Gods in
order to have good fortune. The Greeks participated in a number of rituals,
rites, ceremonies and sacrifices in order to impress and placate the Gods.
Temples, shrines and statues were erected as a designated place to offer
sacrifices to the Gods.
Religion was a very important aspect of Greek
society and culture, with the sacrifices and regular worships of Gods surving
to unify the people in a common goal to please the Gods. The Greeks also placed
an immense faith in the idea that an afterlife awaited them after their death.
They firmly believed that this life was not the only reality in which the soul
lives, but after this lifetime, a whole new and different one awaited them.
The origins of Greek history has been lost in
pre-history, the only knowledge that has remained is that the Greeks
assimilated cults of pre-Greek inhabitants of the Peninsula. An example of this
can be seen when the Greeks encountered the Flourishing society of the Minoan
civilization whose central divinities influenced characteristics of later Greek
Goddesses.
Greek religion was ritual based, practicing a
flexible set of beliefs. It was unlike many modern religions, because it made
no claims of universality, they did not proselytize, they did not participate
in regular clergies, no hierarchical system, no sacred texts or moral code that
is backed by religious beliefs. Scholars of the Renaissance believed that Greek
religion simply consisted of an abundant treasury of legendary tales told by
Greek authors. However Greek religion was not simply legendary tales and
fictitious myths, it was a complex organization with each city-state containing
its own divinities, which acted to cement the body of citizens into a true
community. The Divine played an integral part in Greek religion and their
society. The Divine entered all parts of Greek society, domestic affairs, civic
organization, gender, agriculture and war. This belief is also reflected in
many other earlier forms of Paganism. The Greeks attempted to please the Gods,
fearing that they could upset them with insolence and impiety. The Greeks
placed great importance on Twelve Pantheon Gods. They also worshipped other
deities such as oracles, lesser divinities, demi Gods and Heroes.
The Greeks worshipped many Gods, creating a polytheistic society. The Gods were
admired and feared, being distinguished from man by their immortality. The
Greeks believed that the Gods controlled natural and social forces and resided
on Mount Olympus. The Greeks were an earth based culture as were most early
forms of Paganism, holding a high respect for nature and the earth. To reflect
this love of nature, the Greeks placed different Gods in charge of different
aspects of life.
They had Gods of the
countryside; Nymphs, the Goat- God Pan, Naead ( dwelling in springs),
dryads (dwelling in trees),
Nereids ( dwelling in the sea) and
Satyrs, showing their respect for nature.
The twelve main Gods were:
Hades; God of the underworld,
Aphrodite; Goddess of love,
Apollo; God of light, purity, guidance, healing
and music,
Zeus; King of Gods, thunder,
lightning, gold and kings,
Athere; Goddess of Athens, war, handicrafts and
wisdom,
Demeter; Goddess of harvest,
Hera, Hermes, Hestia, Hephaistos,
Poseidon, Artemis and Ares.
Although these twelve Gods were the most
important, facets of their personalities were altered by sporadically adding
new Gods. The Greeks believed that the Gods were pre-eminently social beings,
upholding an organized universe. The Gods were often depicted as humans as the
Romans and other early forms of Paganism did. The Gods also occasionally
assumed animal guise. Another interesting factor was that each God assumed and
represented a different aspect and function of Greek life. Sometimes Gods can
be worshipped under different names, for example Zeus can be worshipped under
the name Omrios. The Greeks used the Gods to explain the occurrence of things,
which they could not understand through lack of scientific proof. For example
they thought that the Gods controlled the rising and setting of the sun and
created great myths about such events.
Although the Greeks heavily depended on their
Gods to uphold their society, it is evident that they relied on other deities
as well. This can be seen through the Greeks faith in a deity, which they
called an Oracle. An oracles primary function was to offer guidance and advice.
In archaic times, the Greeks sought out the Oracles advice in relation to
religious and political aspects of life. They were also used as a mean to seek
out the will of the Gods. Sanctuaries were dedicated to the Oracles to indicate
their importance. Shrines were also erected for the Oracles and became places
of international prestige. Oracles controlled many human decisions about
health, sickness, peace, war, colonization, migration, crime and
punishment.
In order to show their appreciation to the Gods
and Oracles, the Greeks would perform a series of rituals, ceremonies,
sacrifices and offerings as other forms of Paganism did. Sacrifices of animals;
sheep, cows, goats, pigs and bulls were made, as well as the occasional human
sacrifice as a present to the Gods. Chosen animals for sacrifice formed a
procession, they were crowned, adorned, purified with water and sprinkled with
barley. Many temples and shrines were also erected as a mark of respect and for
a place to offer their sacrifices. It is obvious that the Greeks placed a lot
of pride in their temples and shrines, for extensive time was taken to
re-build, preserve and beautify them. Further evidence of the Greeks desire to
please the Gods can be seen through their offerings. The Greeks offered such
things as stone freezes, "gold vessels, wheat, wine and honey, milk, water and
firstfruits." Prayers and hymns accompanied sacrifices and sometimes
performances and other ritual acts followed such as dances or early forms of
drama.
The function of these sacrifices aside from
pleasing the Gods was to unite the people in a common and regular pattern and
to intergrade them into the city. It is clear that many similarities can be
drawn between other forms of Paganism and Greek religion, through their similar
worshiping techniques, their desire to please the Gods and their polytheistic
nature.
The after life was also very important to the
Greeks, as they believed that their souls were carried on to another dimension
and lived on after death. This ideology about death was a direct contrast to
other forms of Paganism. Other Pagan religions believed that there was no
Heaven or Hell, rather they believed in re-incarnation. They believed that the
soul was passed on to another body at the time of death. This is one of the
only aspects that distinguishes Greek religion from other forms of
Paganism.
The Greeks held a strong belief that your body
needed to be buried with the goods and wealth that you had accumulated in this
lifetime in order to carry them through into the next life. Gravesites
recovered have shown that people have been buried with food, cloths and jeweled
ornaments. Kings were buried with bronze weapons, chariots and their horses. In
some cases the wives and slaves were killed and buried beside the dead so that
the person could take their family with them into the next lifetime. Their
bodies are well preserved and embalmed so that they are not ruined for the next
life.
It
is obvious that the Greeks shared many common aspects with other forms of
Paganism. Both held the Gods in high esteem, and attempted to placate them with
rites, worships and sacrifices. Another common theme was the fact that both
Greek religion and other forms of Paganism were earth based cultures, placing a
high respect upon nature. Another link between Greek religion and other forms
of Paganism can be seen by their polytheistic nature. The worship of many Gods
is linked throughout all of the Pagan religions; Wicca, Druidism, Witchcraft
and Neo-Paganism. The only contrast between Greek religion and other forms of
Paganism can be seen through their differing beliefs about the after-life.
Whilst most Pagan religions hold the belief that their spirit was passed on
from one body to the other, Greek religion centered on the belief that the soul
moved onto another life, such as Heaven or Hell.