History knows no more common and well-known pagan belief than a religion of ancient Greece.The Greeks - skilled people: were able to borrow ideas from the Egyptians, and make them known to the whole world.Besides, think of the following story of the Pantheon of gods up to the peculiarities of character - not an easy task.Though our ancestors - Slavs - had their pagan beliefs, the Greek myths we know much better.
pantheon of gods of ancient Greece
Religion of Ancient Greece, like other pagan beliefs, assumes the existence of many gods.Who does not know the almighty gromometalschika Zeus - the supreme god, who won the throne of his father Kronos dropping into a bottomless Tartarus.Zeus's wife was Hera, the patroness of the hearth and a happy marriage.According to legend, their relationship with Zeus began long before marriage and after marriage Hera repeatedly arranged husband jealousy, and brutally punished lovers of Zeus.Lord of the water element and the ocean was called Poseidon, portraying him a man of large build with a huge trident in his hand.In the underworld, which fell after the death, he sat Hades.Religion Ancient Greece could not do without the goddess of love and beauty - Aphrodite, which the government submitted to both humans and the gods.Myths tell of the birth of Aphrodite from the foam of the sea near the island of Cyprus.From the head of Zeus was born goddess of wisdom Athena, which was not subject to Aphrodite.The sun god Helios every day in the morning went to the chariot of the sun in the morning sky, symbolizing the beginning of a new day.The most beautiful of the divine beings Greeks believed the god Apollo Art.Hunting has been an integral part of the power of ancient peoples, respectively, and there was a deity who symbolizes this occupation - Artemis.Entertain and celebrate the Greeks helped the god of wine, Dionysus, and the forces of nature, in whose honor they are often organized various fun.As if the gods lived without messengers, brings the latest information.Hermes managed to limp everywhere: and announce the start of the Olympic Games, and tell fresh rumors on Olympus, and protect athletes, shepherds and speakers, as well as to defend fair trade.Greek Mythology even explain the change of seasons.Is the only daughter of the goddess Demeter, Persephone Nature in Hades stole his underground kingdom.One day he saw a beautiful girl and fell in love with Hades, passing by on a chariot, grabbed her and dragged her along the ground.Suffering Demeter impact on nature: it is withered, nothing grew, it began the drought and famine spreading among people.Gods worried and decided to ask for the return of Persephone, Hades.Since then, the daughter lives with her mother six months, and the nature of blooms, gives fruit (spring and summer), and then for six months she returns to Hades and the nature of stops (autumn and winter).
Thank the gods
Religion Ancient Greece was not only in legends and myths.The Greeks invented the gods, even the place of residence: they all lived on Mount Olympus, at the foot of which they sacrificed.The ancient Greeks loved their gods, portraying them beautiful, perfect in their view, strong.How many temples built in their honor, the construction of which took more than a decade of effort and money?Recall, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus - one of the wonders of the world, a structure with a large number of columns and beautiful precious halls.Statue of Olympian Zeus - another wonder of the world, created from ivory and gold, unfortunately, did not make it to this day.The Greeks believed the gods, and thus tried to placate them.Although one of the deities are very few mentions, but his power was unlimited, which even Zeus is submitted.His name - Rock: Greeks believed that the destiny of men and gods are not heard by the gods, and some other force, perhaps the chaos that ruled Rock.
Even after the Roman conquest civilization of ancient Greece did not fall in spirit, and managed to keep their faith.The Romans came to their land, fully adopted the customs and religion of the Greeks.
