"Beliefs & Customs in Greek"

Greek Gods and Myths

The Gods of Greece

Ø Greek gods looked like humans, only more powerful and beautiful-had human emotions, got involved in peoplesʼ lives

Ø Zeus ruled the gods-12 major gods, goddesses lived on Mount Olympus, Greeceʼs highest peak

Ø Each city protected by a god or goddess, such as Athena for Athens-Athena was goddess of wisdom, a warrior, patron of crafts

Greek Mythology

Ø Myths—stories people tell to explain beliefs about the world-often begin as oral stories, might be written down later

Ø Greek myths explained creation of world, humans-also described relationships between gods, goddesses, humans-Prometheus stole fire from gods, gave it to humans, was punished-myths often made humans, like Prometheus, heroes

Honoring the Gods

Holy Festivals

Ø Important to honor gods; did so with statues, temples, events-Greeks believed angry gods could cause trouble for humans

Ø Monthly holy days included festival of Noumenia for new moon

Ø Important festivals honored Olympian gods, such as Athena-featured weaving, procession, races, athletic games, poetry

The Olympics

Ø In Greece, games were part of religious festivals

Ø Olympics—largest games, held every four years to honor Zeus-were held in stadium in city of Olympia; only men competed

Ø Oldest Olympic records date to 776 B.C., but may have started earlier-races, wrestling, jumping, throwing tested soldiersʼ skills

Ø Girls competed at same time to honor goddess Hera, Zeusʼ wife

Early Greek Literature

Epics of Homer

Ø Epic poems—long tales of ancient heroes; show us early Greek life-most famous were said to have been composed by Homer: Iliad and Odyssey

Ø Iliad—Troy besieged; Trojan War fought over stolen wife of Greek king-story of heroes, such as Greek warrior Achilles; one weakness was heel

Ø Odyssey—an epic about Odysseusʼ difficult return home after Trojan War

Aesop’s Fables

Ø Fable—short story, often with animals, that teaches moral lesson-storyteller Aesop said to have written down many Greek fables

Ø Aesopʼs fables include “The Hare and the Tortoise” race story-overconfident hare beaten by steady, hard-working tortoise