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Greek Culture # 30
HMWK: Greek God Due Tomorrow
Warm Up:
If you could meet one
of the famous Greeks
who would it be? Why?
What would you talk
about?
HELLENIC AGE
800 BCE – Greece emerges from the DARK AGES
Hellenic Age – Hellas (Greek name for their country)
Greek population is scattered by the Dorian invasion
Because of the violent times, Greeks developed the
city -state
GREEK SOCIETY THRIVES
1. LITERATURE –
Homer (blind poet) – Iliad and Odyssey
2. OLYMPIC GAMES Glorification of Heroes
(in honor of Zeus)
3. POLYTHEISTIC RELIGION
More materialistic than spiritual - Greek Mythology
A New Type of Religion
Many of the civilizations that existed prior to
the Greeks believed in gods and goddesses
that were terrible, mean, and most importantly,
that were not human. Instead, these gods often
took the form of animals, monsters, and beasts.
The people believed that mankind existed for
the sole purpose of serving and pleasing
the gods.
The Greeks had a new outlook on religion.
They believed that the gods and mankind had
a partnership with one another, and that both
existed to serve one another. They believed
that their gods were human in form,
and that they exhibited human emotions,
including jealously, love, and hatred.
Their gods married, had families, and even
committed murder.
The only difference between mankind
and the gods was that the gods had
supernatural powers, while mankind
did not. Greek students were taught
to strive to be the best individuals
they could possibly be, so that they
could be more like the gods.
Each Greek city-state selected a patron
god as their protector. This god was
worshiped, in an effort to please them,
so that their good favor would fall
upon the people of that region.
Every Greek Citizen also worshiped
the chief god Zeus.
The Greeks believed that the 12 most
important and most powerful gods lived
on top of a mountain in Northern Greece
known as Mount Olympus. From this holy
mountain, the people believed that the gods
ruled, and controlled all aspects of the
natural world, as well as all aspects of the
lives of individual people.
The Greek Pantheon of Gods
Mount Olympus
Athens
Summit of Mt
Olympus
The Olympian
Gods
There are many gods in Greek mythology. The
Greeks believed that the gods lived on Mount
Olympus.
Zeus –
King of
Gods
HeraGoddess
of
Marriage
Apollo –
God of
Prophecy,
Music
AphroditeGoddess of
Beauty,love
Hephaestus –
God of Fire
Ares –
God of War
Demeter –
Goddess of
Harvest
HermesMesseng
er God
AthenaGoddess
of
Wisdom
Poseidon
God of
the Sea
ArtemisGoddess
of the Hunt
Dionysus – God of
Wine
The Greek Gods of Olympus
Zeus: king of the gods, god of sky and thunder.
Hera: wife and sister of Zeus and goddess of marriage.
Poseidon: god of the sea.
Ares: god of war.
Hermes, the messenger of the gods, was also the god
of orators, literature and poets.
Hephaestus: god of blacksmiths, craftsmen and
artisans.
Aphrodite: goddess of love.
Athena: goddess of wisdom, strategy, and war.
Apollo: god of the sun.
Artemis: goddess of the moon and hunting.
Hestia: goddess of the hearth and the family.
Demeter: goddess of agriculture.
Dionysus: god of wine, civilization and peace.
Hades: god of the underworld.
Persephone: goddess of the underworld.
The First Olympic games, 776 BCE
Olympic Running
Chariot Racing
Olive Branch
According to Greek mythology, the Olympic games
began in 776 BCE, as a treaty between three citystates. They agreed not to make war during the time
of the games.
The winner of the games was given a wreath made
out of an olive branch from Zeus’ sacred forest.
The Olympics were held every
four years during July or August.
The first Olympics lasted only
one day with one contest, the
running of one Stadion (about
200 yards).
Boxing
By 5 BCE, the games lasted five days.
There were 10 events:
running, the pentathlon, jumping, discus, javelin,
wrestling, boxing, the pancration (combination
boxing-wrestling), chariot racing, and horse racing.
All Greeks who were free citizens and had not
committed murder or heresy had the right to
take part in the Olympic Games. Women could
not participate or even watch the games.
However, they could own the race horses.
Your Greek God
• Name
• God of what?
• Picture
–At least 5 colors
–No White