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Yang, Michaels, Gayer 1
Nana Yang, Chloe Michaels, Abby Gayer
Mr. Clarkson
Honors English 10 Period 8
30 March 2009
Ancient Literature - History
In Ancient Greece, people saw mythological gods as the forces which caused the
outcomes of life's occurrences. As shown in mythology, the Greeks created numerous
legends and Gods which were used to explain human and natural events. People believed
the gods lived at the top of Mount Olympus and each controlled one or two major aspects
of life (Mythweb). For instance, Artemis was responsible for sudden death and childbirth
while Poseidon controlled the sea and caused earthquakes, and that infertile weather
conditions in late autumn and winter were caused by Demeter, the goddess of agriculture.
Because of their almighty powers, the Greeks turned to these gods for favors and
blessings. Many temples and altars such as the Parthenon, in honor of Athena, were built
for religious ceremonies and worship. These Greek gods were celebrated everyday
because their people believed they caused or had part in the events of everyday life.
Many times a year, the Greeks preformed various ceremonies in order to appease
certain gods so that they might be blessed. Sacrifices such as goats and other animals
were offered to the gods as gifts. Holy sites known as oracles were other places the
Grecians went for answers. Delphi, the major site for the worship of the god Apollo, was
also the site of the Delphic oracle: the most important oracle in the classical Greek world.
There, the people and the priest of the temple would pray to the gods and ask questions
about their futures as well as advice on problematic situations. Depending on the outcome
Yang, Michaels, Gayer 2
of particular situations, the god either accepted or rejected the worshipper’s request. In
the Iliad, Apollo revived Hector after he was wounded by Ajax. This shows that the gods
of Greece favor certain people just as people favor certain gods (Messagenet).
The Greeks believed that the gods answered them by using signs in nature, such
as the sound of rustling leaves of sacred oak trees which the oracle of Zeus at Dodana
listened to (Oncampus). Also, according to myth, Zeus threw lightning bolts at people
whom he was upset with. Many Gods used their power over the elements to punish the
people they were displeased with, such as Zeus to Odyssus in The Odyssey. From these
phenomenons, the Greek deciphered messages from their gods and bended to their will
because, according to the Greeks, the gods caused the outcomes of life's occurrences.