Beliefs and Customs Ancient Greece Chapter 11 Lesson 2

Geography of Greece Ancient Greeks were fishers, sailors, traders (all three because of the sea) and farmers There was a favorable climate for growing some crops such as olives and grapes

Greek Gods and Myths Greeks did not think of their gods as distant beings, but felt that they were a part of peoples’ every day lives Gods had divine (godly) & human qualities Gods were flawed and had human emotions like anger and jealousy

Greek Gods and Myths Zeus was the “head” god and ruler of the other gods Greeks believed Zeus and 11 other main gods lived on Mount Olympus They also had hundreds of other less important gods Each city-state had a special god or goddesses to protect it

Greek Mythology Myths: stories that people tell to explain beliefs about their world The myth of Prometheus tells how he stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans

Honoring the Gods The Greeks built statues to honor the gods & temples as places for the gods to live Certain days were holy to different gods Some monthly, some yearly People celebrated with public festivals, sacrifices, and ceremonies The most important festivals were for the 12 Olympian Gods (those who lived on Mount Olympus)

The Olympics In Greece, games were always a part of religious festivals The Olympics were the largest games Held every four years as a part of a festival that honored Zeus in the city of Olympia

The Olympics The oldest records are from 776 B.C.E. The first games had only a foot race Over time, other events were added Wrestling, long jump, javelin throw, and discus throw Tested skills that were valuable to soldiers Women’s games were also held in a festival to honor Hera, Zeus’ wife

Early Greek Literature Epic Poems long stories passed down through generations, usually about heroes (best examples - Homer’s Illiad and Odyssey)

Early Greek Literature Aesop’s Fables Fable: a short story, usually involving animals, that teachers a moral lesson

Lesson Summary The ancient Greeks created stories about their gods, who were important to their daily lives The ancient Greeks honored their gods through festivals that included rituals and athletic games Early Greeks wrote fables and epic poems