Ancient Greece

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Higher Level QuestionsWhy did the Delphic Oracle have such an influence on the Greeks?

Why did people trust what the oracle said?

How did Greek government function with the influence of gods?

Why were some of the prophesies so surreal and outlandish?

Why?

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Greek ReligionReligion in the ancient greek world was present

everywhere.

Olympian Gods led by Zeus- Athena, Apollo, Poseidon,

Hermes, Hera, Aphrodite, Demeter, Ares, Artemis,

Hades, Hephaistos, and Dionysos.

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ZeusGod of thunder

PoseidonGod of the Ocean

Athena God of Wisdom

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These Gods were all well respected and if they were

disrespected only “The Gods” know what would happen

to you.

These immortals also helped any mortals who they liked.

(The Odyssey)

Ex] Apollo- God of music, truth

and prophecy, and more.

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The Gods served as a way to describe why things

happened. As undeveloped as they were they didn’t have

powerful enough technology to know why waves,

lightning, or other natural events occurred. This also

influenced what they thought of their emotions.

GR

In many Polii, or city-

states, the people were

Polytheistic. But most of

the time a Polis respected

a single God. (Chose a

favorite) (Henotheistic)

For example Athens, a

very large and established

City-State honoured the

Goddess of wisdom,

Athena.

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Most of the ancient Greek people didn’t fully worship all

of their Gods. It was analyzed that the villages only really

focused on one and didn't really care for the others. This is

an example of henotheism, the belief in and worship of a

single god while accepting the existence of other deities.

This was an early form of monotheism, which

became popular during the classical period.

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Greek Gods were used in many stories.

One of the most famous of these epics was

created by Homer. He is described to be one of

the best writers for his creation of the novels of

“The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”.

(No matter how strange).

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His stories spread throughout Greece and other

areas describing of tales of Odysseus and his

men throughout “The Odyssey, or the battles

between the trojans and the Achaeans in “The

Iliad.”

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Greek Religion

The Delphic OracleThe Delphic Oracle was a way for people to gain insight of what was in their future. It was believed that the god Apollo used a Pythia (human priestess) as an extension of himself. For over a thousand years (before and after christ) people from all over the world came to consult the Oracle.

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The Oracle was

very influential

across Ancient

Greece.

In the process of making her prophecies she would breathe fumes and either speak the prophesy or allow another priestess to interpret what she was saying.

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Was the Oracle influenced by something other than Apollo?The priestess that many came to see could have just been a fluke. An act by a temple that was either insane or did it for popularity and luxury.

This is thought to be believed because she inhaled fumes that could be related to hallucinogenic gases. The vapors were created out of a stream that ran across a rock bed that included ethylene or even methane. This is only a theory that The Oracle was entranced by a substance higher than their era knew.

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Delphic Oracle Video

Some Romans could be labeled as Henotheistic, meaning they believed that a deity could be worshipped, while accepting the existence/possible existence of other deities. Most religious beliefs the Romans had originated in Greece, they too believed in gods and goddesses. Ex.] Diana a Roman goddess was moved to Rome, where she became identified with the Greek goddess Artemis; goddess of chastity, virginity, the hunt, the moon, and natural env.

TA

The Oracle and Gods were all heavily

influential, but after the time change into A.D. or

common era, people referred to it less. Due to

Aristotle and his teachings of questioning

everything possible, and the rise of the

Christianized Roman Empire.

The Fall of Greek Beliefs#1

Now, are there any questions related to our topic?

GR

Sources and Citation1. Jones, Peter. “Ancient & Modern” Spectator- 287.9043 (Dec. 1, 2001): p24. From Literature Resource Center

Accessed: 8/29/15 2. de Boer, Jelle Zeilinga, John Rigby Hale & Henry A. Spiller, "The Delphic Oracle: A Multidisciplinary Defense of

the Gaseous Vent Theory." Clinical Toxicology 40.2 189–196 (2000)

3. Burkert, Walter Greek Religion, Harvard University Press, ISBN 0-674-36280-2 (1985); Orig. in German (1977)4. Delacroix, Eugène. Lycurgus Consulting the Pythia -1835/1845 Currently at: University of Michigan Museum of

Art. commons.wikimedia.org, Wikimedia Foundation. (Accessed August 29 2015) URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eug%C3%A8ne_Delacroix_-_Lycurgus_Consulting_the_Pythia_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

5. http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/perspectives_in_biology_and_medicine/v057/57.3.harissis.html

6. http://io9.com/5965349/what-really-caused-the-oracle-at-delphi-to-utter-mad-prophesies?commerce_insets_disclosure=off&utm_expid=66866090-48.Ej9760cOTJCPS_Bq4mjoww.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henotheism