Overview
As was and remains the case with most all human civilizations, religion played an integral part in the formation of Ancient Greek culture and identity. Functioning as a means by which to explain observable phenomena, the nature of the universe, and the social codes of society (among other roles), religion provided a central backbone to Greek culture. The religious beliefs of the Greeks expressed themselves in a variety of practices and ways of thinking similar to and distinct from other contemporary religions--and certainly distinct from our modern concepts of religion, spirituality, and the nature of the universe.
Ancient Greek religion was a polytheistic belief system that derived from the religious practices of many earlier civilizations, particularly those of Ancient Egypt.
Ancient Greek religion was a polytheistic belief system that derived from the religious practices of many earlier civilizations, particularly those of Ancient Egypt.
Temples, Rituals, and Sacrifices
Among the most visible icons of Ancient Greek religion that persist to modern times are the various temples and shrines that remain (in various states of decay) across much of Greece. Such shrines contained enormous statues sculpted in the likeness of various gods and goddesses and provided a place for rituals and sacrifices dedicated to the shrine's particular god. Ancient Greek religion placed a heavy emphasis on correctness of practice, meaning that properly performing a ritual was as important (if not more important) than whether or not one had deep spiritual belief or conviction. (Religions that emphasize the importance of practice--today, we would include Judaism and Islam--are called orthopraxic religions. Those that emphasize how deeply, or correctly, the believer believes the religions principles--this would include Christianity and, to an extent, Hinduism and Buddhism--are called orthodoxic religions.) This emphasis on practice meant that the Ancient Greeks often went to great lengths to provide rituals and sacrifices that would appease the gods; not doing so might mean displeasing the gods, which could have catastrophic real-world consequences.
Sacrifices usually involved the ritual slaughter of livestock, commonly pigs, lambs, or goats. (This is where we get the phrase "scapegoat" from: one goat sacrificed to save the many.) Such sacrifices indicated one humbling oneself before the power of the gods since each and every piece livestock was prized in early agricultural societies.
Sacrifices usually involved the ritual slaughter of livestock, commonly pigs, lambs, or goats. (This is where we get the phrase "scapegoat" from: one goat sacrificed to save the many.) Such sacrifices indicated one humbling oneself before the power of the gods since each and every piece livestock was prized in early agricultural societies.
The Weaving of Lives
A central element of Ancient Greek religion, and one that recurs again and again in both the mythology and literature of that period, is fate. Personified as three weavers who spun every single detail of every single human life, fate was considered by the Greeks to be one's inescapable destiny. Upon birth, one's life could only follow one predetermined course and no amount of effort could enable one to escape that destiny. Even those gifted with the power of foresight and prophecy (called oracles) could not change the futures they envisioned; they could do nothing more than report what would inevitably come. The prophetess Cassandra, for example, could foresee her own death, and when the destined moment came, she made no effort to escape it but simply walked in to embrace it.
It is worth noting, however, that even the gods themselves were not above fate. They, like humans, could delay the inevitable, but they could not overpower destiny and affect the course of their lives. In practice, this preoccupation with fate brought great fame to oracles and others believed to have the power to predict the future. They were well-respected, and their authority was never questioned; if their predictions did not come to pass, it was because their predictions were misunderstood, not because they themselves made an actual mistake. |
After the Thread is Cut: Death and the Afterlife
While early Greek religion believed that the dead all went to the same place, Hades, later developments in Ancient Greek religion led to the belief in three potential habitations for the dead; where one wound up depended on one's character while alive. The three regions were Tartarus, a place of eternal torture and suffering for those who were grossly immoral while alive (similar to the Hell in Christianity, Gehenna in Judaism, and Jahannam in Islam). The vast majority of people, however, went to gloomy Hades, itself neither a place of torture nor pleasure just as the majority of people are neither exceptionally wicked nor virtuous. A select few virtuous heroes went to Elysium, a place of pleasure and eternal rest, as a reward for the great character they demonstrated while alive.