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Based on time- honored observances
Most rooted in Bronze age (3000-1050 B.C.)
No single guiding work of scripture
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Ex. Bible, Torah, Qu’ran
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Did not have strict priestly caste
Iliad and Odyssey of Homer- most powerful
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Relationships between deities and human built on concept of exchange
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Worshipped in sanctuaries within city boundaries or country side
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Gods and goddesses expected to give gifts
Votive offerings, humans physical expression of thanks
According to nature of deity
Well-defined sacred spaces
Sacred precinct containd temple with cult image of deity
Natural surroundings in accordance to nature of deity
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Outdoor altar, statues, votive offerings, sacred trees or springs
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Central ritual act was animal sacrifice, took place within sanctuary
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Took place within sanctuary
Oxen, gods, sheep
Assembled participants
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Consumed entrails and meat at altar
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Liquid offerings were made
Festivals filled entire year
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Four main festivals
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Each had own procession, athletic competitions, and sacrifices
Held every four years on a rotation
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Olympia, Delphi, Nemea, Isthmia
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Entire Greek speaking world attended
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Mystery cults
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Eleusis near Athens
Only initiates could participate
*ANCIENT GREEKS BELIEVED THAT THE MANY GODS EACH HAD THEIR
DISTINCT PERSONALITY AND DOMAIN
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Zeus
Hades
Poseidon
Hera
Athena
Apollo
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Artemis
Hermes
Aphrodite
Dionysos
Ares
Hephaistos
*MOUNT OLYMPUS, THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN GREECE, WAS BELIEVED
TO BE THE HOME OF THE GODS.
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Represented as older,
vigorous, beard -orpowerful, young man
Born in cave, Mt. Ida,
island of Crete
Mother; Rhea
Father; Kronos (ate
children)
Wife; Hera
Father or many children;
Hercules
“Tomb” on Mt. Juchtas,
outside of Heraklion
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Symbol or Attribute;
Thunderbolt
Strengths; powerful,
strong, charming,
pervasive
Weaknesses; trouble
over love affairs, moody
KING OF DEAD, LORD OF
UNDERWORLD
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Represented as vigorous,
bearded man
Born to Rhea and Kronos
(Father Time)
Born on island of Crete
Brother of Zeus and
Poseidon
Spouse; Persephone
Sometimes called “Zeus of
the Departd”
 Originally meant
“invisible or unseen”
Had dark and underworld
aspects of Zeus
Major temple sites;
Nekromanteion, on River
Styx, West Coast (spooky)
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Symbol or Attribute; sceptor
or horn of plenty
Strengths; rich with wealth of
earth, precious metals,
persistent and determined
Weaknesses; passionate over
Persephone, daughter of
Demeter
Pets; 3 headed dog, black
horses, various hounds
MYTH: Springs out of earth
and captures Persephone (to
be queen of underworld),
Persephone’s mother searches
for her and stops all
production of food. In the end
she must stay with Hades 1/3
of year, her mother 1/3 of
year, and be a handmaiden to
Zeus the other 1/3.
GOD OF THE SEA
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Represented as bearded,
older man with seashells
and sealife
Parents; Rhea and Athena
Spouse; Amphitrite
Affairs with Medusa (son
Pegasus), Demeter (sister)
Children; ½ fish son
Trident
Major temple at Cape
Sounion
 Overlooking sea
Compared with Roman
god Neptune
Created horses and zebras
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Symbol; 3 pronged
trident, associated with
horses, force behind
earthquakes
Strengths; creative,
designed all sea creatures
Weaknesses; warlike,
moody and unpredictable
He and Athena fought for
love of people. The person
who created the most
useful object had city
named after them. He
created horses, Athena,
olive. Capital is named
Athens, not Pseidonia.
GODDESS OF MARRIAGE
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Young beautiful woman,
most beautiful of
goddesses
Birthplace; island of
Samos or at Argos
Parents; Rhea and Kronos
Spouse; Zeus
Siblings; Zeus, Hestia,
Demeter, Hades, Poseidon
Ares (Zeus)
Hebe, goddess of health
Eileithyia, Cretan goddess
of Childbirth
Typhon, serpent of Delphi
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Symbol; peacock
Strengths; determined
defender of sanctity of
marriage and monogamy
Weaknesses; determined
defender of sanctity of
marriage and monogamy,
but married Zeus
Temple site; Samos (300
year honeymoon)
Relationship oriented
“Diva”
Restored Virginity each
year by bathing in
Kanathos
GOD OF THE SUN
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Young man, curly blonde
hair
Born at Delos
Twin sister Artemis
Symbol; son, lyre, the bow,
chariot
Strengths; creative,
handsome, supportive of all
arts
Weaknesses; too happy to
enjoy charms of nymphs
Child, Orepheus with
Callipe
Temple at Dephi, patron god
of the oracle
GODDESS OF WILD
THINGS
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Eternally young woman,
beautiful, wearing short
costume with leaves
Symbol; bow (lunar crescent)
and hounds
Strengths; physically strong,
able to defend herself,
defender of women in
childbirth and wildlife
Weaknesses; dislikes men
(bathing), opposes marriage
Parents; Zeus and Leto
Brauron Temple
Freedom-loving young
woman who roams in forests
with maidens
Goddess of contradictions
GOD OF TRAVELERS &
TROUBLESHOOTING
GODDESS OF WISDOM
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Young woman wearing
helmet and shield
Symbol; owl (watchfulness
and wisdom), Aegis (small
shield)
Strengths; rational,
intelligent, powerful,
defendent in war, potent
peacemaker
Weaknesses; reason rules her
Parthenon Temple
Sometimes called “Greyeyed”
Her gift was the olive tree
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Young man with winged hat,
sandals, golden staff twined
with serpents
Symbol; staff
Strengths; clever, bold,
determined, athletic, powerful
magician; charm monsters
with flute
Weaknesses; can’t stay still for
long
Parents; Zeus and Maia
Born in cave on Mt. Cylene,
Arcadia
Affairs with Aphrodite and
Dryope
Children; Pan, lusty god of
wine, Hermaphrodities,
Abderus
Generally had no temples;
statue placed everywhere
GODDESS OF LOVE
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Gorgeous, perfect, eternally
young woman
Symbol; girdle, magical
powers to compel love
Strengths; potent sexual
attractiveness, dazzling
beauty
Weaknesses; stuck on herself
Parents; Zeus and Dione
Born from sea foam near
islands of Cyprus or Kythira
Spouse; Hephaestus
Children; Eros, cupid like
Temple; Kythira; Cyprus
Enchanted anyone who saw
her
GOD OF WINE, VEGETATION,
PLEASURE & FESTIVITY
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Dark haired, young man
Symbol; grapes, wine cups,
wine skins; pine cone tipped
staff
Strengths; Creator of wine
Weaknesses; god of
intoxication and
drunkenness
Parents; Zeus and Semele
Spouse; Ariadne, Cretan
princess/ priestess
Accompanied by troop of
Satyres and Mainades
GOD OF WAR
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Good-looking man in prime of
life
Symbol; spear, vultures and
dogs
Strengths; decisive,
determined, fearless
Weaknesses; impulsive,
bloodthirsty
Affairs; Aphrodite
Children; Diomedes, Cycnus,
Oenomaus
Temples were rare, enjoyed
Northern Greece
LOVED WAR
GOD OF FORGE, CRAFTS,
AND FIRE
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Dark haired man, deformed
feet
Symbol; forge and fire
Strengths; creative, cunning,
able metal worker
Weaknesses; can’t handle
liquor, crafty, vindictive
Parents; Zeus and Hera
Spouse; Aphrodite
Children; Pandora
Temple Hephaestaion near
Acroplis, Athens
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Regula, deTraci. "The Tweleve Olympian Gods and Godesses of Greek
Mythology." About.com: Greece Travel. 2010. The New York Times Company,
Web. 27 Feb 2010.
<http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/olympiangods.htm>.
Atsma, Aaron J. "Dionysos." Theoi Poject. 2002-2008. Web. 1 Mar 2010.
<htt://www.theoi.com/Olympious/Dionysos.html>.
Hillyer, Virgil M. A Child's History of the World. Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA:
Calvert Education Services, 1997. 64-72; 141-148. Print.
Hemingway, Colette, and Sean Hemingway. "Greek Gods and RElifious Practices."
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2000-2010. The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
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<http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/grlg/hd_grlg.htm>.
"Zeus." Greek Mythology. Web. 27 Feb 2010. <http://
www.fanpop.com/sports/greek-mythology>.
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<http://hubpages.com/hub/Greek-Goddess-Artemis>.
"Poseidon/ Neptune." Web. 1 Mar 2010.
<http://www.nlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Poseidon.html>.
"Temple of Hera I at Paestum." Greek Art. Web. 1 Mar 2010.
<http://sasgreekart.pbworks.com/Temple-of-Hera-I-at-Paestum>.