Download Ancient Greece

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Ancient Greece
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Higher Level Questions
Why?
Why did the Delphic Oracle have such an influence on the
Greeks?
Why did people trust what the oracle said?
How did Greek government function with the influence of
gods?
Why were some of the prophesies so surreal and
outlandish?
TA
Greek Religion
Religion in the ancient greek world was present
everywhere.
Olympian Gods led by Zeus- Athena, Apollo, Poseidon,
Hermes, Hera, Aphrodite, Demeter, Ares, Artemis,
Hades, Hephaistos, and Dionysos.
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Zeus
God of thunder
Poseidon
God of the Ocean
Athena
God of Wisdom
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These Gods were all well respected and if they were
disrespected only “The Gods” know what would happen
to you.
These immortals also helped any mortals who they liked.
(The Odyssey)
Ex] Apollo- God of music, truth
and prophecy, and more.
GR
The Gods served as a way to describe why things
happened. As undeveloped as they were they didn’t have
powerful enough technology to know why waves,
lightning, or other natural events occurred. This also
influenced what they thought of their emotions.
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In many Polii, or citystates, the people were
Polytheistic. But most of
the time a Polis respected
a single God. (Chose a
favorite) (Henotheistic)
For example Athens, a
very large and established
City-State honoured the
Goddess of wisdom,
Athena.
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Most of the ancient Greek people didn’t fully worship all
of their Gods. It was analyzed that the villages only really
focused on one and didn't really care for the others. This is
an example of henotheism, the belief in and worship of a
single god while accepting the existence of other deities.
This was an early form of monotheism, which
became popular during the classical period.
GR
Greek Gods were used in many stories.
One of the most famous of these epics was
created by Homer. He is described to be one of
the best writers for his creation of the novels of
“The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”.
(No matter how strange).
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His stories spread throughout Greece and other
areas describing of tales of Odysseus and his
men throughout “The Odyssey, or the battles
between the trojans and the Achaeans in “The
Iliad.”
Greek Religion
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The Delphic Oracle
The Delphic Oracle was a way for people to
gain insight of what was in their future. It was
believed that the god Apollo used a Pythia
(human priestess) as an extension of himself.
For over a thousand years (before and after
christ) people from all over the world came to
consult the Oracle.
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The Oracle was
very influential
across Ancient
Greece.
In the process of
making her prophecies
she would breathe
fumes and either speak
the prophesy or allow
another priestess to
interpret what she was
saying.
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Was the Oracle influenced by
something other than Apollo?
The priestess that
many came to see
could have just been a
fluke. An act by a
temple that was either
insane or did it for
popularity and luxury.
This is thought to be
believed because she
inhaled fumes that could be
related to hallucinogenic
gases. The vapors were
created out of a stream that
ran across a rock bed that
included ethylene or even
methane. This is only a
theory that The Oracle was
entranced by a substance
higher than their era knew.
Delphic Oracle Video
TA
Some Romans could be labeled as Henotheistic, meaning
they believed that a deity could be worshipped, while
accepting the existence/possible existence of other deities.
Most religious beliefs the Romans had originated in Greece,
they too believed in gods and goddesses.
Ex.] Diana a Roman goddess was moved to Rome, where
she became identified with the Greek goddess Artemis;
goddess of chastity, virginity, the hunt, the moon, and natural
env.
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The Fall of Greek Beliefs
The Oracle and Gods were all heavily
influential, but after the time change into A.D. or
common era, people referred to it less. Due to
Aristotle and his teachings of questioning
everything possible, and the rise of the
Christianized Roman Empire.
GR
Now, are there any questions related
to our topic?
Sources and Citation
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2.
Jones, Peter. “Ancient & Modern” Spectator- 287.9043 (Dec. 1, 2001): p24. From Literature Resource Center
Accessed: 8/29/15
de Boer, Jelle Zeilinga, John Rigby Hale & Henry A. Spiller, "The Delphic Oracle: A Multidisciplinary Defense of
the Gaseous Vent Theory." Clinical Toxicology 40.2 189–196 (2000)
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Burkert, Walter Greek Religion, Harvard University Press, ISBN 0-674-36280-2 (1985); Orig. in German (1977)
4.
Delacroix, Eugène. Lycurgus Consulting the Pythia -1835/1845 Currently at: University of Michigan Museum of
Art. commons.wikimedia.org, Wikimedia Foundation. (Accessed August 29 2015) URL:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eug%C3%A8ne_Delacroix_-_Lycurgus_Consulting_the_Pythia__Google_Art_Project.jpg
http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/perspectives_in_biology_and_medicine/v057/57.
3.harissis.html
http://io9.com/5965349/what-really-caused-the-oracle-at-delphi-to-utter-madprophesies?commerce_insets_disclosure=off&utm_expid=6686609048.Ej9760cOTJCPS_Bq4mjoww.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism
5.
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