Greek religion, spreading as it did over many centuries and many different city-states, incorporated a great deal of variety in its beliefs. Nevertheless, the "pantheons current among different communities have enough in common to be seen as essentially one system, and were generally understood as such by the Greeks." [1]
Spirits, Monsters and Other Mythological Beings
Another aspect of Greek religion worth mentioning is the set of mythological and sometimes monstrous creatures that populate its myths, the most notable being the following:
- Amazons - race of female warriors
- Keres - evil female spirits
- Medusa –a winged female monster with hair made of snakes.
- Satyrs – half-man, half-goat nature spirits who dwelled in woods and mountains and were lusty followers of Dionysus
- Centaurs – half-man, half-horse creatures who were wild and lawless but possessed cultural knowledge
- Sirens -
- Typhon - represents disorder and devastation
Human Nature and Purpose of Life
Plato emphasized the existence of a soul that is separate and distinct from the body. He also insisted on its natural immortality.
Religiously speaking, the most important thing to do in life is believe in the gods and perform the proper sacrifices and rituals. This would avoid reprisals both from gods and fellow human beings and encourage gifts from the gods. Greek religion was this-world oriented; any postmortem benefits of religious beliefs and actions were only peripherally considered, if at all.
References
- "Greek religion," The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, 231.
- "fate." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, 213.
- The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, 5.
- "Greek mythology." Encyclopaedia Britannica; Hesiod, Theogony 126ff.
- "death, attitudes to." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, 150.