Ancient Greek Religion

Ancient Greece -- Religion and the Olympics

Multiple Choice

Greece is located near what body of water?

• Huang He River

• Athens River

• Mediterranean Sea

• Pacific Ocean

Multiple Choice

Why was communication difficult between communities in Ancient Greece?

• They did not have telephones

• Mountains and Water

• communication was easy

• most people had horses

Multiple Choice

What did Cronus do to all of his children but 1?

• He ate them

• He loved them

• He gave them powers

• He banished them to the Sea

Multiple Choice

What are the one eyed giants called?

• Gods

• Cyclops

• Hecatonchieres

• Titans

Multiple Choice

What did Rhea trick her husband with instead of Zeus?

• A rock

• A ball

• A banana

• An apple

Multiple Choice

Land surrounded by water on three sides

• peninsula

• agora

• polis

• bard

Multiple Choice

Ancient Greeks grew

• corn and beans

• rice and wheat

• olives and grapes

• potatoes and corn

Greek Gods

The ancient Greeks practiced polytheism, the worship of many gods. These gods had super natural powers, yet looked and acted like humans.

Mythology

Greeks expressed their religious beliefs through their mythology. Mythology is the collection of myths or stories that tell people how the gods want them to behave. Myths were also used to explain scientific mysteries for ancient Greeks.

Multiple Choice

What did Mythology help the Greeks do?

• Make great stories

• Explain the unexplainable

• Plant crops

• Gain wealth and power

The Olympians

Zeus was the supreme ruler of the gods as well as the lord of the sky. He lived on Mount Olympus and threw thunderbolts at those who displeased him. His wife, Hera, protected married women and their households.

Multiple Choice

What did they call all of the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus?

• Titans

• Olympians

• Zeus

• Polytheistic

Honoring the Gods

It was very important to honor and respect the gods. Some religious festivals included athletic contests. Athletes competed in sports such as boxing, wrestling, and running. They displayed their skills to honor the gods.

The Olympic Games

The most famous sport event was the Olympic Games which honored Zeus.

Travelers came from all over the Mediterranean to attend the games.

Multiple Choice

The Olympics were held to honor

• Jesus

• Zeus

• Hera

• Athena

The Olympic Games

- Began in 776 B.C. to honor the chief God Zeus

- They were held every four years

- During the Olympics all wars were suspended/stopped.

Location of Olympia in Ancient Greece

Multiple Choice

Who participated in the Olympics?

• Only people from Olympia

• The gods and goddesses from Mt. Olympus

• People from all over the Mediterranean Sea.

• Only people from Athens

Olympic Games

• Brought city-states together

• Held in the city-state of Olympia every 4 years

• Sacred disk (emblem of the games) was carried to all Greek city-states that were expected to compete

• Messenger delivered the disk and informed everyone when the games would be held

Events

Some events included in the Olympic games were

- Discus

- Running

-Javelin throwing

- boxing

- chariot racing

Winners won crowns made of olive wreaths, food, money, and fame throughout Greece.

Open Ended

What was one event in the Ancient Greek Olympics?

Prizes

• Official prize = wreath of olive leaves

• Real (unofficial) prize = honor

• Winners achieve hero status in their city-state

• Songs and/or sculptures made of the victor to immortalize them

  
  

Olympic Agreement

• City-states agreed to stop fighting during Olympics

• Includes travel time to and from the games

• Could last 1-3 months

Multiple Choice

During the Olympic Games ...

• no one ate meat.

• no battles were allowed.

• everyone was required to watch.

• only the competitors could go to Olympia.

Olympic Games & Women

• Women were not allowed to watch OR participate at all in the Olympic games!

• Women who broke these rules faced the death penalty if caught!

Poll

How do you imagine women responded to not being included?

• They didn't care

• They created their own games

• They were angry and protested

• They constantly tried to sneak their way in to the games and were often put to death

The Heraean Games

Women created their own games and called them the Heraean games!

Much of what we know about the Ancient Olympics comes from stories painted on the sides of Greek pottery left behind.

What event do you think is shown on this pot?

Multiple Choice

How do we know so much about the Ancient Olympics?

• Archeologists and historians made this up as they went along.

• We read it in a book.

• Someone told us.

• Archeologists discovered stories painted on ancient pottery describing the events.

Even though they were not used to honor Gods anymore, they were started to show friendly competition and athleticism between countries.