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What Role Did Religion Play In Ancient Greek Society

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Religion played a significant role in ancient Greek society and cultural development. The Greeks held a pantheon of gods and goddesses that oversaw many elements of their existence and a belief in death and the afterlife. Religious rituals and ceremonies were an integral part of their society, and religion was woven into every aspect of existence. They had a strong faith in the ability of the gods to affect their lives, and their religious practices and beliefs were evident in their art, literature, and architecture. (Khan Academy, 2017) & (Tridimas, 2021). According to (Tridimas, 2021), the ancient Greeks practiced polytheism, which is the belief in several gods and goddesses, each of whom had particular attributes and duties. The Greeks …show more content…

The Greeks thought that these gods and goddesses might have an impact on their daily lives because each deity was connected with particular powers and duties. Greek art, literature, and architecture are only a few examples of how this polytheistic belief system was mirrored throughout Greek society. Greek temples, for instance, were constructed to worship particular gods and goddesses, and they were frequently adorned with carvings and sculptures that represented the gods and their mythology. The gods were portrayed as interfering in the affairs of mankind and affecting the results of battles and other events in works of literature like Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey." (Khan Academy, …show more content…

These pieces of art were frequently constructed to embellish temples and public locations, providing visible reminders of the presence and strength of the gods. Many of these sculptures were also utilized to tell stories and teach valuable moral and ethical teachings. For example, the sculptures on the Parthenon's pediments show the battle for control of Athens between Athena and Poseidon, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and strategy over physical might. (artincontext & artincontext,

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