Homer? Lecture Outline How the gods behaved Gods in Greek Gods in Homer Literature Fate and the Gods Gods in Homer, Part II The Deathless Ones Greek Religion, Part I But what about the Greek Religion, Part II afterlife? Material Culture and The Afterlife, Part II Religion Belief and Context How the gods behaved in myths and legends:
Do humans appear to have free will?
How do the gods interact with humans?
How do the gods behave on Mt. Olympus?
Gods in Homer Want to be honored
Are disturbed by inhospitable treatment of
strangers and the breaking of oaths
Are anthropomorphic, that is, they resemble
humans Gods In Homer, Part II Zeus is the upholder of Justice
Limited concern with morality
Oaths taken in the name of gods are
regarded very seriously as binding contracts Greek Religion, Part I Greek gods did not make the world, but live within it
Gods do not love humans, nor do they ask
to be loved by them
Gods struggle for power amongst one
another Greek Religion, Part II No writings to reveal the will of the Greek gods
Gods are capricious
Guilt and sin (in our modern sense) do not
exist Material Culture and Religion Temples were where Consult priest or offerings, libations, priestess to know the sacrifices and prayers gods will were performed at the altar by priests Sacrifice of an animal Shrine could also take is correct ritual other forms e.g., a cave, Greek temple houses tree or mountain top the cult image of the Object of the cult could god also be a hero The gods in Greek Literature after Homer often the gods lift up men who were crushed into the dark earth by their troubles, and often they smash down on their faces those who stand firm - Archilochus Gods often appear to be either neglectful of humans or their tormentors. All are fated to die as the gods did not see fit to give humans eternal life or youth Fate and the Gods Everyone is subject to Fate, but it can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it Example of this is Oedipus Destined to marry his mother and kill his father, but not destined to know about it Oedipus freely chooses to learn the truth about himself The Deathless Ones Greek gods were called hoi athanatoi, or the deathless ones Greeks believed that gods could act as their protectors, if they honored them Every community had special gods to protect them But what about the afterlife? Happiness is found in this world, not the afterlife Death is a hostile force The realm of Hades or Pluto Soul survives death, but becomes a faint shadow The Afterlife, Part II Elysian Fields are the realm of the blessed a remote place on earth where one goes after death Ordinary Greek men and women would expect Hades as the afterlife If you offend the dignity of the gods, you can suffer endless torment in Tartarus Belief and Context: Some Conclusions Greek religion is communal
Religious experience is contextualised
Greeks NEVER develop an official set of
doctrines and set beliefs that are compulsory very comfortable with different and contradictory ideas