Greek and Roman GodsAnd Polytheism
Greek and Roman Gods And Polytheism Polytheism Overview Polytheism is the belief in and worship of many gods. ... However, in polytheism, these supernatural forces are personified and organized into a cosmic family. ... (Unknown Author, 1) Polytheism in Greece and Rome Polytheism was wide spread in the ancient world. ... The Greek gods often took on human forms and personalities, and in many cases, directly interfered with human activities. When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks, the Romans assimilated much of the Greek polytheistic culture. ... Polytheism still represents much of the world today. ... (Unknown Author, 1) Greek Gods Greek gods are an integral part of Greek mythology. Our formal knowledge of the ancient Greek gods can be traced back to the writings of Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Greek gods were created by man to explain the world around them, act as a means of exploration, provide legitimacy and authority to ancient Greek aristocracy, and provide entertainment for the masses. ... Generally, a Greek city-state would devote itself to a particular god or a set of gods and depending on the location of the city-state, the characteristics of the gods could vary widely. ... (Unknown Author, 1) The ancient Greek gods normally took on human form and lived in a society similar to human society. ... The most significant difference between the Greek gods and humans was that the gods were immortal and human beings were not. (Unknown Author, 1) Creation It is difficult to trace the ancestry of the ancient Greek gods since there are several creation myths. A combination of the account put together by the Greek Poet Hesiod in the 8th century BC and an account written by the mythographer (compiler of myths) Apollodrous would have been recognized by most ancient Greeks. ... Polytheism in Greece and Rome: The gods and heroes in stone and bronze, Michele Delattre, 2003 Poseidon Zeus’s bother Poseidon ruled the seas (Unknown Author, 1). ... His ability to summon earthquakes earned Poseidon the epithet of “Earth Shaker”, a name that is fairly common in Greek poetry and literature. ... Polytheism in Greece and Rome: The gods and heroes in stone and bronze, Michele Delattre, 2003 Hades Zeus and Poseidon also had a brother Hades who ruled the underworld (Unknown Author, 1) .