Greek Religion

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses and explains Greek religion. It describes the vast influence of religion on Greek life and how Greeks worshiped numerous gods that each covered a particular domain in life. It discusses how each god had its own purpose, personality and mythical origin and how the Greeks dedicated much of their life to contacting and appeasing the gods. The paper also describes the Greek temples and sacrifices and the importance of priests.

From the Paper:

"Ancient Greek religion is defined by its polytheistic and informal nature. It is a system which changes from polis to polis without dilemma. Yet there are some Pan-Hellenic aspects including the twelve Olympians, the importance of a sacred sanctuary for the gods, and the need to please the gods through sacrifice and festivals. The form Greek religion took on society can largely be attributed to the nature of Greek religion. As there were numerous gods, each with his or her own domain, there was always a place for new gods as the existing number of gods could not cover all aspects of life. This was important because Greek religion was incorporated into all aspects of Greek life and thus was not separate from the political or public sphere. This was common to all the Greek religions; each cult believed in the importance and practice of religion in all capacities of daily life. As a result, the gods must be pleased and the Greeks responded with an elaborate system of sanctuary, rituals, sacrifices, and initiations to help ensure that the gods were properly honored and no god was excluded. Ultimately, this meant Greek religion would have an even larger impact on life as it was completed and deeply ingrained on ancient Greece."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion. United States of America: Harvard University Press, 1985.
• Festugiere, Andre Jean. Personal Religion Among the Greeks. Berkelely & Los Angeles, California: University of California Press, 1954.
• Mikalson, Jon D. Ancient Greek Religion. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2005.
• Price, Simon. Religions of the Ancient Greeks. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

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