The earliest Greek civilisations thrived nearly 4,000 years ago. The Ancient Greeks endured in Greece
and the two countries that we call Bulgaria and Turkey.
The Greek empire spread over Europe from as far as east France. The Greek empire was the most
powerful between 2000bc and 146bc.
The ancient Greeks developed new ideas for government, science, philosophy and art.
Ancient Greece was split into many different states-each one ruled in its own way. The different
states had their own government, money and laws but they all shared the same language and
religion. The two most important states were the Athens and Sparta.
Gods
Fact
The Greeks believed that their
gods and goddesses had human
qualities.
Religion was important to the Greeks because they believed that it would make their lives better
while they were living. They also believed that the gods would take care of them when they died. The
Ancient Greeks believed in many different gods and goddesses. The Greeks believed that these gods
and goddesses controlled everything in their lives and their environment-there was a god for every
aspect of their lives. It was important to please the gods; happy gods help, unhappy gods punish.
People had a special place in their home where they could pray to the gods-there were also public
shrines were people could pray and leave presents.
Temples
The Greeks (to show the gods how important they were) built temples in every town for one god or
goddess. The temples were not like modern places of worship for ordinary people to pray in, they
were homes for statues of gods, cared for by a priest. Religious ceremonies and festivals were held
outside the temple.
Priests
Priests were important people in the community. They were believed to have the power to talk to
gods and so were respected and trusted.
There were only two ways to become a priest. Either your mother or father were a priest,or you were
made a priest by a dying priest.
A priest’s main job was to look after the temple and the visitors to it.
Greek gods
The Ancient Greeks believed that all gods came from Gaia (the Earth) and Uranos (the sky). They
thought they were like adult humans-always falling in love, having children, arguing, playing music
and partying. Like the Romans, they believed different gods were responsible for different things.
Mount Olympus
The Greeks thought the twelve most important gods and goddesses lived on top of Mount Olympus.
They were like a family, alike to a human family, they argue as well as taking care of each other.
Mount Olympus (in Northern Greece) is the highest mountain in the country. It is believed to be home
of the gods because it is always cloudy and you can never see its summit.
Who was the ruler of the gods?
The Gods
The ruler of the gods was Zeus. His symbol was a thunderbolt.
*Zeus-ruler
More interesting facts
*Poseidon-brother of Zeus
*Most festivals were for the gods
*Hades-brother of Zeus
*The Greeks built temples to be the gods’ and goddesses’
homes. The temples showed how powerful and wealthy the
city was. Rich cities like Athens, built their temples with the
greatest stone and decorated it with amazing artwork and
strong statues.
*Aphrodite-wife of Hephaestus
*People prayed and gave offerings to the gods to grant
their wishes.
*Hestia-sister of Zeus
*Hera-wife and sister of Zeus
*Ares-son of Hera and Zeus
*Apollo-son of Leto and Zeus,
twinned with…
Theatre
*Artemis-daughter of Leto and Zeus
Almost every Greek city had a theatre because plays were part
many religious festivals. The Greeks enjoyed singing and
*Athena-daughter of Zeus, has no
mother
dancing. At first, theatres were only used for festivals.
*Hermes-son of Zeus and Maia
*Hephaestus-son of Zeus and Hera,
husband of Aphrodite.