Mythology and their religion: By Alre Hudson

The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods, each with a distinct personality and domain. Greek myths explained the origins of the gods and their individual relations with mankind. The art of Archaic and Classical Greece illustrates many mythological episodes, including an established iconography of attributes that identify each god. There were twelve principal deities in the Greek pantheon. Foremost was Zeus, the sky god and father of the gods, to whom the ox and the oak tree were sacred; his two brothers, Hades and Poseidon, reigned over the Underworld and the sea, respectively. Hera, Zeus's sister and wife, was queen of the gods; she is frequently depicted wearing a tall crown or polos. Wise Athena, the patron goddess of Athens (1996.178), who typically appears in full armor with her aegis (a goat skin with a snaky fringe), helmet, and spear (07.286.79), was also the patroness of weaving and carpentry. The owl and the olive tree were sacred to her. Youthful Apollo (53.224), who is often represented with the kithara, was the god of music and prophecy. Judging from his many cult sites, he was one of the most important gods in Greek religion. His main sanctuary at Delphi, where Greeks came to ask questions of the oracle, was considered to be the center of the universe (63.11.6). Apollo's twin sister Artemis, patroness of hunting, often carried a bow and quiver. Hermes (25.78.2), with his winged sandals and elaborate herald's staff, the kerykeion, was the messenger god. Other important deities were Aphrodite, the goddess of love; Dionysos, the god of wine and theater; Ares, the god of war; and the lame Hephaistos, the god of metalworking. The ancient Greeks believed that Mount Olympos, the highest mountain in mainland Greece, was the home of the gods.Ancient Greek religious practice, essentially conservative in nature, was based on time-honored observances, many rooted in the Bronze Age (3000–1050 B.C.), or even earlier. Although the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer, believed to have been composed around the eighth century B.C., were powerful influences on Greek thought, the ancient Greeks had no single guiding work of scripture like the Jewish Torah, the Christian Bible, or the Muslim Qu'ran. Nor did they have a strict priestly caste. The relationship between human beings and deities was based on the concept of exchange: gods and goddesses were expected to give gifts. Votive offerings, which have been excavated from sanctuaries by the thousands, were a physical expression of thanks on the part of individual worshippers.

The Greeks worshipped in sanctuaries located, according to the nature of the particular deity, either within the city or in the countryside. A sanctuary was a well-defined sacred space set apart usually by an enclosure wall. This sacred precinct, also known as a temenos, contained the temple with a monumental cult image of the deity, an outdoor altar, statues and votive offerings to the gods, and often features of landscape such as sacred trees or springs. Many temples benefited from their natural surroundings, which helped to express the character of the divinities. For instance, the temple at Sounion dedicated to Poseidon, god of the sea, commands a spectacular view of the water on three sides, and the Parthenon on the rocky Athenian Akropolis celebrates the indomitable might of the goddess Athena.

The central ritual act in ancient Greece was animal sacrifice, especially of oxen, goats, and sheep. Sacrifices took place within the sanctuary, usually at an altar in front of the temple, with the assembled participants consuming the entrails and meat of the victim. Liquid offerings, or libations (1979.11.15), were also commonly made. Religious festivals, literally feast days, filled the year. The four most famous festivals, each with its own procession, athletic competitions (14.130.12), and sacrifices, were held every four years at Olympia, Delphi, Nemea, and Isthmia. These Panhellenic festivals were attended by people from all over the Greek-speaking world. Many other festivals were celebrated locally, and in the case of mystery cults, such as the one at Eleusis near Athens, only initiates could participate. (www.metmuseum.org)

My Thoughts

Okay Okay enough with that long detailed description. Here comes my real thoughts and opinions on this whole topic.  In my opinion I feel that all religions have somewhat of the same purpose. Each religion praises that of a higher power. The problem I notice with religion is that each faith believe that they are correct when in reality each religion is looked at in a different way. For example, A person of Muslim faith that praises Allah will look down upon a person who is of the Christian faith. The Muslims believe that Allah is superior than Christ, but in reality Both God are the same. They in fact also have the same reputation. So you can't really compare religions because to me it just wouldn't add up and make since to me, and each religion is all the same just a different name of the higher power they worship.  If you think about it each religion has somewhat of the same kinds of rules they just be worded in a different way. In Greek Mythology religion is looked at differently because the gods cherish and worship more than one god.  Now can you imagine living in the world they lived in while everything you do or have already done is being watched or looked over by a God.? I don't think I could but that's me I guess. The Mortal would praise the gods everyday and night to stay in good standing with them because they knew if the did anything to anger the Gods the gods would punish them for their wrong doings.
In my opinion I feel that Religion is a way to keep people under control because if you think about it when you go to church to worship the pastor tells you you're not supposed to be doing this and that and if you are you will be punished by God. Have you stop to realize that the pastor telling you this might have somethings that he or she had been doing that were wrong and are in the same boat and need to repent to be forgiving of there sins. This leads to a perfect example of the gods in Greek Mythology. They put some much fear into the mortals of the town that the people are like little puppets doing any and everything to stay on the Gods god side keeping them happy.  So this makes my point very valid saying that Religion is somewhat of a mind control. There's so many different ways and so many different opinions toward this subject.I'm sticking to my opinion saying that all religions are the same and not one is superior to the other. Now I do feel that is a form of mind control in the state of "perfectness" but for some reason you always here that no one is perfect in the eyes of god but yet and still they want you to be perfect. I understand where they are coming from but c'mon really? Give me a break here you cant be serious. Then again it really is that serious to those people that try to achieve that so called "perfectness" and if you think about it they had all ready achieved it. I hope everyone reading this understands my point of view and has a time to think more into it to get your own message out of it.