Year 9
Unit 2 - Classical Greece
Lesson 6 - Greek Gods
The ancient Greeks believed that the weather, the crops, the sea - in fact everything in life - was controlled by several gods and goddesses (deities). These deities were always to be respected and feared, though they were not always perfectly behaved. Some of them could sometimes be jealous, violent, or unfaithful. Many of the deities of the ancient Greeks were thought to live in the clouds above Mount Olympus. So they were referred to as the Olympian gods.
Zeus (Jupiter) - King of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the sky and thunder. Symbols include the thunderbolt, eagle, oak tree, sceptre and scales.
Hera (Juno) Queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage and family. Symbols include the peacock, pomegranate, crown, lion and cow. Wife and sister of Zeus.
Poseidon (Neptune) Lord of the seas, earthquakes and horses. Symbols include the horse, bull, dolphin and trident. Brother of Zeus and Hades.
Zeus (Jupiter) - King of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the sky and thunder. Symbols include the thunderbolt, eagle, oak tree, sceptre and scales.
Hera (Juno) Queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage and family. Symbols include the peacock, pomegranate, crown, lion and cow. Wife and sister of Zeus.
Poseidon (Neptune) Lord of the seas, earthquakes and horses. Symbols include the horse, bull, dolphin and trident. Brother of Zeus and Hades.
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Dionysus (Bacchus) - God of wine, celebrations and ecstasy. Patron god of the art of theatre. Symbols include the grapevine, ivy, cup, tiger, leopard, dolphin and goat. Apollo (Apollo) God of light, music, poetry, prophecy and archery. Symbols include the sun, lyre, bow and arrow, raven, dolphin, wolf, swan and mouse Artemis (Diana) Virgin goddess of the hunt, virginity, archery and all animals. Symbols include deer, hound, she-bear, snake, cypress tree and bow and arrow. Hermes (Mercury) Messenger of the Gods; god of commerce and thieves. Symbols include the caduceus (staff with two snakes), winged sandals, stork and tortoise Athena (Minerva) Virgin goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, defence and strategic warfare. Symbols include the owl and the olive tree. Ares (Mars) God of war, violence and bloodshed. Symbols include the boar, serpent, dog, vulture, spear and shield. Mars, gave us the word "martial." Aphrodite (Venus) Goddess of love, beauty, and desire. Symbols include the dove, bird, apple, bee, swan, myrtle and rose. Her name gave us the word "aphrodisiac." Hephaestus (Vulcan) Master blacksmith and craftsman of the gods; god of fire and the forge. Symbols include the fire, anvil, axe and quail. Demeter (Ceres) Goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature, and the seasons. Symbols include the poppy, wheat, torch, and pig. Latin name gave us the word cereal." |
Praying to the gods
Worship was very important to the Ancient Greeks and most families had a little altar at home. Here they could pray each day sometimes pouring water or wine on the altar as an offering. Special prayers would be made to specific deities regarding particular activities. Before going on a sea journey, for example, one would pray to Poseidon. If one wanted a girlfriend or boyfriend, Aphrodite was the Goddess to pray to. On special occasions, people would visit the temple of a deity to pray and to make a sacrifice.
Worship was very important to the Ancient Greeks and most families had a little altar at home. Here they could pray each day sometimes pouring water or wine on the altar as an offering. Special prayers would be made to specific deities regarding particular activities. Before going on a sea journey, for example, one would pray to Poseidon. If one wanted a girlfriend or boyfriend, Aphrodite was the Goddess to pray to. On special occasions, people would visit the temple of a deity to pray and to make a sacrifice.
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The Greeks believed that there were several ways of finding out the future. Oracles were people who predicted the future by speaking directly to a deity (though the word "oracle" can also be used to describe the sacred place where the priestess spoke or the message which she gave). Perhaps the most famous oracle of all was the Pythia or the Oracle of Delphi, a woman through whom the god Apollo spoke. Even kings looked for advice from the Oracle of Delphi. Soothsayers were people with mysterious powers to predict the future. One such soothsayer was Cassandra of Troy. Apollo had placed a curse on Cassandra so that while she would always foretell the future correctly, nobody would ever believe her. Her most important prediction, she warned that the wooden horse of Troy was a trap and that it should not be brought into the city. Everybody laughed at her. You know the result!
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Omens were signs of things to come. There were many possible omens and special priests were trained to interpret them. The condition of the liver of a sacrificed animal could be a sign of good or evil. So could the formation of a flock of flying birds. Thunder or lightning could sometimes also be powerful omens.
What happened after death?
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The ancient Greeks believed that after death, the soul of the dead person would begin the journey to the Underworld, the underground kingdom ruled over by Hades. Hermes would be sent to help out in this task. He would call the spirit to follow him. They would fly through caves deep underground and eventually they would come to the banks of a dark and frightening river. This was the Styx - the boundary between the living world and the Underworld. Hermes would now have to leave.
The soul, terrified at the side of the Styx, would soon sense something moving towards her/him across the water. It would be Charon, the ghostly ferryman who would carry the soul in his boat to the other side. But Charon had to be paid. For this purpose, the relatives of the newly dead would always place a coin under the tongue of the dead person. |
At the other side, the soul would see a terrifying sight: a savage three-headed dog named Kerberos. His job was to guard the Kingdom of the Dead against any live person entering or against any ghost leaving. The soul would have to wander along a strange, dark path until it came to a cross-road. There would sit Minos (remember him?) and two others who were to judge the soul. This was the most important moment of all. Depending on how good or bad the dead person had been in life, the soul would be sent to everlasting happiness or everlasting torture.
- Tartarus was the place where the souls of the wicked were sent. Imagine being burned and flogged and beaten for ever and ever.
- The Elysian Fields were only for the souls of the very good. They were places of everlasting happiness and light.
- The Asphodel Fields were for the spirits of people who were neither very good nor very bad. It was a peaceful but rather boring place to be.
Activity
1. Make a copy of the picture of the Olympian gods. Read the descriptions and add the correct name to each image. This is not as easy as it seems, four of the gods are not Olympian!
2. Explain why people made sacrifices to the gods.
3. What is the difference between oracles, soothsayers and omens?
4. Using the text and the film to help you, write a guide for someone in ancient Greece about what to expect after you died. Your guide should be between 250 and 300 words long and must be in your own words.
Extension
Want to know more about Greek and Roman gods? Watch the crash course episode below
1. Make a copy of the picture of the Olympian gods. Read the descriptions and add the correct name to each image. This is not as easy as it seems, four of the gods are not Olympian!
2. Explain why people made sacrifices to the gods.
3. What is the difference between oracles, soothsayers and omens?
4. Using the text and the film to help you, write a guide for someone in ancient Greece about what to expect after you died. Your guide should be between 250 and 300 words long and must be in your own words.
Extension
Want to know more about Greek and Roman gods? Watch the crash course episode below
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