A-LEVEL CLASSICAL CIVILISATION: GREEK RELIGION
TOPIC 01
THE NATURE OF THE
OLYMPIAN GODS
Sections:
1.1: The Olympian deities
1.11: Anthropomorphism of the gods
1.12: The reciprocal relationship between gods and mortals
1.13: The significance of Homer and Hesiod for Greek ideas about gods
1.2: The different roles, contexts and functions of the Olympians as reflected in their common
epithets and the extent to which these were thought of as separate, distinct identities
1.3: The role and nature of hero cults
1.4: The extent to which worship of gods and heroes were Panhellenic, localized or personal
Topic 01| Nature of the Olympian Gods
,ANTHROPOMORPHISM OF THE GODS
Appearance:
The Panathenaic Amphora and the depiction of Athena
Epiphanies
- Pheidippides and the cult of Pan at Athens (Herodotus)
- Healing cult of Asclepius
- Anchises and Aphrodite (Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite)
In artwork and architecture, they are often depicted in a human form (Panathenaic frieze)
Character:
Apulian Red-Figure Loutrophoros- Zeus’ lust for Leda; turns himself into a swan
Zeus favors Heracles and welcomes him onto Olympus
Demeter’s reaction to the abduction of Persephone (Homeric Hymn to Demeter)
In general, different gods favor different mortals (c.f. The Iliad)
Birth:
Immortals yet are born
- The birth of Aphrodite; Gaia and Ouranos (Hesiod)
- The birth of Athena in her armour (Homeric Hymn to Athena 28)
Xenophanes identifies inconsistency in his fragments
Not Like Mortals:
Scale
- Panathenaic amphora
- Poseidon takes four steps to get from Samothrace to the palace at Aegae (Homer)
Power
- Iliad, BK17- Zeus makes it rain blood
- Iliad BK 1- Zeus nods his head and ‘great Olympus shook’ (Homer)
Brilliance
- Anchises recognizes Aphrodite due to her radiance (Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite)
Theomorphic deities
2
, - The red-figure vase of Pan
RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP
Place of Ritual:
Sacrifice These make the
Libation gods propitious
Burnt-offerings (Hesiod)
Propitious:
Zeus recognizes Hector’s devotion to his cult and mourns his downfall- he burnt ‘many
oxen thighs’
Vengeful:
Dionysus punishes Cadmus- his own mother severs his head (The ‘Bacchae’, Euripides)
Iliad BK 1- Chryses appeals to Apollo who sends down the plague (Homer)
HOMER AND HESIOD
Homer and Hesiod are Panhellenic writers whom Herodotus marked as the layers of the
foundations for Greek religion, specifically the view of the gods and how they worshipped them.
Their Roles:
As poets: to evoke the gods, inspired by the Muses
Hesiod: could be considered a spokesperson
Hesiod: explains the origins and genealogies
Homeric Hymns: how the gods acquired their roles and cults (Homeric Hymn to Demeter)
3
TOPIC 01
THE NATURE OF THE
OLYMPIAN GODS
Sections:
1.1: The Olympian deities
1.11: Anthropomorphism of the gods
1.12: The reciprocal relationship between gods and mortals
1.13: The significance of Homer and Hesiod for Greek ideas about gods
1.2: The different roles, contexts and functions of the Olympians as reflected in their common
epithets and the extent to which these were thought of as separate, distinct identities
1.3: The role and nature of hero cults
1.4: The extent to which worship of gods and heroes were Panhellenic, localized or personal
Topic 01| Nature of the Olympian Gods
,ANTHROPOMORPHISM OF THE GODS
Appearance:
The Panathenaic Amphora and the depiction of Athena
Epiphanies
- Pheidippides and the cult of Pan at Athens (Herodotus)
- Healing cult of Asclepius
- Anchises and Aphrodite (Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite)
In artwork and architecture, they are often depicted in a human form (Panathenaic frieze)
Character:
Apulian Red-Figure Loutrophoros- Zeus’ lust for Leda; turns himself into a swan
Zeus favors Heracles and welcomes him onto Olympus
Demeter’s reaction to the abduction of Persephone (Homeric Hymn to Demeter)
In general, different gods favor different mortals (c.f. The Iliad)
Birth:
Immortals yet are born
- The birth of Aphrodite; Gaia and Ouranos (Hesiod)
- The birth of Athena in her armour (Homeric Hymn to Athena 28)
Xenophanes identifies inconsistency in his fragments
Not Like Mortals:
Scale
- Panathenaic amphora
- Poseidon takes four steps to get from Samothrace to the palace at Aegae (Homer)
Power
- Iliad, BK17- Zeus makes it rain blood
- Iliad BK 1- Zeus nods his head and ‘great Olympus shook’ (Homer)
Brilliance
- Anchises recognizes Aphrodite due to her radiance (Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite)
Theomorphic deities
2
, - The red-figure vase of Pan
RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP
Place of Ritual:
Sacrifice These make the
Libation gods propitious
Burnt-offerings (Hesiod)
Propitious:
Zeus recognizes Hector’s devotion to his cult and mourns his downfall- he burnt ‘many
oxen thighs’
Vengeful:
Dionysus punishes Cadmus- his own mother severs his head (The ‘Bacchae’, Euripides)
Iliad BK 1- Chryses appeals to Apollo who sends down the plague (Homer)
HOMER AND HESIOD
Homer and Hesiod are Panhellenic writers whom Herodotus marked as the layers of the
foundations for Greek religion, specifically the view of the gods and how they worshipped them.
Their Roles:
As poets: to evoke the gods, inspired by the Muses
Hesiod: could be considered a spokesperson
Hesiod: explains the origins and genealogies
Homeric Hymns: how the gods acquired their roles and cults (Homeric Hymn to Demeter)
3
