Sophocles’ audience had beliefs far different from today’s modern religions. They were polytheistic and gave praise to several gods like Zeus and Athena, instead of any Christian, Hindu, or Islamic god. Such a pantheon included gods for every element in nature--Poseidon for the sea, Apollo for the sun, and Iris for the rainbow. Although many of these gods were important to different Greek polises, most agreed upon a central twelve known as the Twelve Olympians. These were Aphrodite, Hermes, Ares, Demeter, Hera, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Hephaestus, and Dionysus. Likely, the most important of the Twelve Olympians to Sophocles and his ilk was Dionysus, god of wine and theatre. With belief in many gods came along a belief