The Lesser Mysteries Of Ancient Greek Religion

As we read the Odyssey by Homer we have learned that gods and goddess were an important part of the lives of the people in ancient Greek. The people had an admiration for the gods. They would pray, ask for help in any kind of situation, and do sacrifices for them. We can also say that the gods are like a parental figure to the people in the Odyssey; if the people respected and obey them they would not get in trouble and sometimes get rewarded, but if they disrespected and disobey them chances are that they would get punished. In the Odyssey, we see that Odysseus, the main character, is the enemy of a powerful god.

The Greeks had many underground ceremonies for Demeter to ensure a decent harvest. She was the foundation for the Eleusinian Mysteries, the most widespread rituals of Ancient Greece. The Eleusinian Mysteries, was explained in Homer’s book called, “Hymn to Demeter”. The royal family of Eleusis helped Demeter to find her daughter, Persephone. Then, Demeter,

The similarity is that there children in a way are hurt by the people around them. Persephone is hurt by the people that she trusts, her father and uncle. In the hymn to Demeter, it says “So her father’s brother, lord of many, the one who receives many, son of Kronos, worshipped under many names, with his immortal horses carried her off against her will at the prompting of Zeus”(Hymn to Demeter 30-32). This goes to show that the kidnapping and marriage of Persephone was something planned by the ones that she loved and who loved her back, her father. When Demeter found this she was furious that her daughter was taken and she wanted to find out who took her daughter.

The Relationship Between Gods and Mortals Throughout Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad there is seen a play between the gods and mortals as they all take sides throughout the Trojan War and the homecoming of Odysseus. There is a role the gods play in how the Trojan War ends and while they can hinder fate, it is ultimately unavoidable and will happen. It is also seen that both the Greeks and the Trojans worship the many gods of the divinity of Jupiter and look to them for guidance in unexpected or dangerous situation. They pray and sacrifice to them in the hope their prayers are answered, much like done today with monotheistic religion of Christianity. The relationship between gods and mortals is one of fatherly love to his children.

Demeter, she with the beautiful garlands in her hair, kept them (the seeds) covered underground,” (The Homeric Hymns 306).The strength and determination of Demeter and Persephone collectively demonstrate helps to overthrow the male dominance in this myth. Crafting a deal with Zeus, Demeter and Persephone achieve their goal and finally reunite. Throughout history, women have been used to gain power, please individuals, and finish trade deals- the Homeric Hymn to Demeter is absolutely no omission from this. Even though the portrayal of women in this myth are grim, it does bring light and legitimates the unfair power contrast between men and women of the

In the Odyssey, I feel as if the Gods role was to function more as spiritual guides and as support for the human of choice. An example being Athena reuniting Odessyus and his son after 20 years, Hermes warning Odysseus of Circes witchcraft, and Circes giving him directions. Yet, I also feel as if they punish for poor behavior as well.

Finally, if the hymn is understood as an allegory for the seasons it serves the purpose of providing an explanation for why spring is a time of celebration. When Demeter is joined each year by Persephone, plants and crops awaken from their dormancy and both mortals and immortals are satisfied, the former for receiving sustenance and the latter for receiving sacrifices. The “gloom” of winter is cast aside and the world begins to come back to life in preparation for the return of the goddess to her mother and her ascension from the realm of the dead to that of the living (HH

Catholicism is the faith and practice of the Roman Catholic church; Hellenism is the worship of the Greek gods, deities, and creatures in ancient and modern times. The two religions were both practiced and began at very different periods of time, but share a parallel structure. When one compares the creation stories from both religions, they will find many similarities and a few major differences. The Greek creation story begins with Chaos and Eurynome – the goddess of the domain and all things.

They associated each of their gods with a different aspect of life or nature. For example Zeus was the king of the gods, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, Dionysus was the god of wine, and the list goes on. The ancient Greeks erected massive temples to these gods for worship. Each god or goddess had his or her own temple for sacrifices or offerings. They Greeks believed sacrifice was necessary to appease the gods and keep everyday life fruitful and peaceful.

The relationships between the Greek gods and mortals have always been complicated. The gods can be generous and supportive, but also harsh and destructive towards the humans. They claim to be all powerful beings with unlimited power and influence, but in truth, they are far more human than they are perceived. They meddle with human lives, not because they are wise, but because of their own selfish reasons. In Homer’s

Bundy 0.1 Allyson Bundy Mr. B English 9 February 2018 Persephone, Queen of the Underworld The story of how Persephone became the Queen of the Underworld is an interesting one. This was a unique story, and that is why I chose Persephone to write my research paper on.

Each god and goddess had a unique/specific purpose, much like the roman and Greek mythology. For example: Ra, the god of the sun; Isis, the goddess of nature and magic; Horus, the god of war; and Osiris, the god of the dead (source 5). The gods and goddesses were worshipped in temples run by the priests, that were not open to the public. Due to this the citizens would have small statues to worship the gods. The citizens would also wear charms and amulets for protection against evil, according to source 5.

Greek mythology has been one of the most complicated subjects in the field of religion and mythology. This is due to the complex relations and interactions which exists in the history of Greek gods and the humans who lived in ancient Greece. Different versions of the existence and the establishment of the superior beings were developed, which at times created suspense for readers through their interactions. The various tales which exist explain the various connections between different gods, how they relate to one another, the ideological order in which they came into existence as well as the interactions they had with humans. These tales form the basis of various religious beliefs and practices since it is perceived that it is through the interactions of the gods that humans came into existence, a situation which created the dependent relationship between mortals and gods.

In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer portrays Greek gods and goddesses as possessing human qualities and faults. Through their actions and emotions, Homer emphasizes the detrimental effects of lust, envy, wrath, and greed in ancient Grecian society. He also never fails to remind readers of the importance of respect for holy figures because of their powerful abilities to create chaos and wonder". Homer wants to prove that gods and humans share a variety of traits, and the only difference is that god don’t allow these flaws negatively to impact their society. To help further his argument, we can compare Greek gods and goddesses to that of Christianity.

There is a strong relationship between mythology and religion, as both are very much faith driven. In the example of Greek mythology, there are many Gods and Goddesses, while in modern Christianity there is only one God, but the premise is still the same. In Christianity, people place their faith in God and let his will guide them throughout the trials and tribulations of their life, the same could be said of mythology, as to again use the Greeks as an example, people placed their faith in the Gods and Goddesses and let their actions be guided as such. The difference in Christianity and mythology in today’s time is that religion is thought to be fact, while mythology is believed to be fiction.