Culture
Introduction
Have you ever heard of the term polytheistic? The term polytheistic means that you believe in many gods. In fact, the Ancient Greeks were polytheistic. The Greeks held their Gods to a high standard and lived day to day trying to make them happy. Sometimes they would even sacrifice humans in order to impress their Gods. The following is information regarding the Ancient Greeks culture.
Ancient Greek’s Religion
Previously you learned that the Ancient Greeks were polytheistic. Some of their gods names were Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, Demeter, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Hades, and Dionysus. These Gods were in charge of different things. For example, Zeus was the god of lightning. The Greek gods had a huge part in their lives. The Ancient Greeks wrote Mythology and fables about how the Gods made an impact on the world.
An Ancient Greek Myth
The following Ancient Greek Myth explains why we have different seasons.
“ Happy Demeter, goddess of the harvest, made the world’s plants and trees bloom and grow all year. Her daughter, Persephone, helped her in this work. All was well when they were together, and Demeter allowed the mortals to enjoy the fruits and vegetables that she grew on Earth.
Zeus’ brother Hades, god of the underworld, loved Persephone from afar. He asked Zeus, who was not only the king of the gods but also Persephone’s father, for permission to marry her. Zeus didn’t say yes, because he knew Demeter would never part with her daughter. But he also didn’t say no, as he was loyal to his brother. Finally, Hades decided to act for himself.
One day, when Persephone was alone in a meadow, Hades kidnapped her and took her to the underworld. In that dark place, where almost nothing grew, Persephone was miserable. She refused to drink or eat anything except a few pomegranate seeds.
Demeter was equally miserable without her daughter, and she neglected the world’s plants as she searched for Persephone. Harvests failed, trees and plants withered. The mortals were in danger of starving.
When Demeter finally discovered Persephone in the underworld, she begged Zeus for help.
“Command Hades to release our daughter!” she cried. “Look at her! Persephone is withering away like the plants of the earth.”
Zeus agreed. “As long as Persephone hasn’t eaten any food of the dead she shall be free.”
“I ate almost nothing,” cried Persephone from inside the underworld's gates. “Just six pomegranate seeds.”
“Then you shall spend six months of each year as Queen of the underworld,” said Zeus. “The other six months you may live with your mother.”
Though Demeter and Persephone cried and pleaded, Zeus was firm. For six months every year, Persephone stayed with Hades in the underworld. While Demeter mourned for her daughter, Earth’s plants and trees drooped, withered, and died. When Persephone returned and Demeter rejoiced, the growing things revived and bloomed again."
Ancient Athenian Beliefs
Unlike Sparta, Athenians valued mental sharpness. This caused them to always try new things, and to always be improving.
Ancient Spartans' Beliefs
The Spartans were all about physical strength and military strategy. Along with this they didn’t trust other people. Some things they did to prevent communication with the outside was using iron rods as a currency, and build a wall around their civilization.
Greek Gods The following is a list of the Greek Gods
Zeus (King of all the gods)
Hera (Queen of all the gods and goddess of marriage)
Poseidon (Lord of the Sea)
Hades (ruler of the Underworld)
Hermes (the messenger and the deal maker of the gods)
Ares (god of war)
Artemis (the goddess of the hunt)
Athena (the goddess of wisdom)
Apollo (brought up the sun. Another was to watch over music and musicians.)
Hestia (the goddess of hearth and home)
Demeter (of the harvest)
Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty)
Hephaestus (the god of fire and forge)
Heracles (half man and half god)
Eros (made people fall in love)
Dionysus (god of wine and theatre)
Orpheus (gifted musician)
Echo (a magical wood nymph)
Pan (Hermes son)
Pandora (first women created by the Gods)
Pegasus (a flying horse)
Prometheus (gave humans fire)
Introduction
Have you ever heard of the term polytheistic? The term polytheistic means that you believe in many gods. In fact, the Ancient Greeks were polytheistic. The Greeks held their Gods to a high standard and lived day to day trying to make them happy. Sometimes they would even sacrifice humans in order to impress their Gods. The following is information regarding the Ancient Greeks culture.
Ancient Greek’s Religion
Previously you learned that the Ancient Greeks were polytheistic. Some of their gods names were Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, Demeter, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Hades, and Dionysus. These Gods were in charge of different things. For example, Zeus was the god of lightning. The Greek gods had a huge part in their lives. The Ancient Greeks wrote Mythology and fables about how the Gods made an impact on the world.
An Ancient Greek Myth
The following Ancient Greek Myth explains why we have different seasons.
“ Happy Demeter, goddess of the harvest, made the world’s plants and trees bloom and grow all year. Her daughter, Persephone, helped her in this work. All was well when they were together, and Demeter allowed the mortals to enjoy the fruits and vegetables that she grew on Earth.
Zeus’ brother Hades, god of the underworld, loved Persephone from afar. He asked Zeus, who was not only the king of the gods but also Persephone’s father, for permission to marry her. Zeus didn’t say yes, because he knew Demeter would never part with her daughter. But he also didn’t say no, as he was loyal to his brother. Finally, Hades decided to act for himself.
One day, when Persephone was alone in a meadow, Hades kidnapped her and took her to the underworld. In that dark place, where almost nothing grew, Persephone was miserable. She refused to drink or eat anything except a few pomegranate seeds.
Demeter was equally miserable without her daughter, and she neglected the world’s plants as she searched for Persephone. Harvests failed, trees and plants withered. The mortals were in danger of starving.
When Demeter finally discovered Persephone in the underworld, she begged Zeus for help.
“Command Hades to release our daughter!” she cried. “Look at her! Persephone is withering away like the plants of the earth.”
Zeus agreed. “As long as Persephone hasn’t eaten any food of the dead she shall be free.”
“I ate almost nothing,” cried Persephone from inside the underworld's gates. “Just six pomegranate seeds.”
“Then you shall spend six months of each year as Queen of the underworld,” said Zeus. “The other six months you may live with your mother.”
Though Demeter and Persephone cried and pleaded, Zeus was firm. For six months every year, Persephone stayed with Hades in the underworld. While Demeter mourned for her daughter, Earth’s plants and trees drooped, withered, and died. When Persephone returned and Demeter rejoiced, the growing things revived and bloomed again."
Ancient Athenian Beliefs
Unlike Sparta, Athenians valued mental sharpness. This caused them to always try new things, and to always be improving.
Ancient Spartans' Beliefs
The Spartans were all about physical strength and military strategy. Along with this they didn’t trust other people. Some things they did to prevent communication with the outside was using iron rods as a currency, and build a wall around their civilization.
Greek Gods The following is a list of the Greek Gods
Zeus (King of all the gods)
Hera (Queen of all the gods and goddess of marriage)
Poseidon (Lord of the Sea)
Hades (ruler of the Underworld)
Hermes (the messenger and the deal maker of the gods)
Ares (god of war)
Artemis (the goddess of the hunt)
Athena (the goddess of wisdom)
Apollo (brought up the sun. Another was to watch over music and musicians.)
Hestia (the goddess of hearth and home)
Demeter (of the harvest)
Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty)
Hephaestus (the god of fire and forge)
Heracles (half man and half god)
Eros (made people fall in love)
Dionysus (god of wine and theatre)
Orpheus (gifted musician)
Echo (a magical wood nymph)
Pan (Hermes son)
Pandora (first women created by the Gods)
Pegasus (a flying horse)
Prometheus (gave humans fire)