Nature of the Olympian Gods

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  • The Nature of the Olympian Gods
    • Olympian Gods
      • Polytheistic (worshiped may Gods)
        • Zeus
          • King of the Gods. God of Order & Justice
            • thunderbolt
            • eagle
        • Hera
          • Goddess of Marriage. Wife of Zeus
            • crown
            • peacock
        • Poseidon
          • God of Sea & Horses. Brother of Zeus
            • Trident
            • Horses
            • dolphin
        • Athena
          • Goddess of Strategy in War, Crafts & Wisdom. Daughter of Zeus
            • often depicted with an owl
            • helmet & armour
            • aegis
        • Artemis
          • Goddess of Archery& Maidens. Daughter of Zeus.
            • Twins
            • moon
            • deer
            • Quiver
        • Apollo
          • God of Music, Sun & Prophecy. Son of Zeus
            • Twins
            • sun
            • Lyre
            • bow
            • laurel
            • dolphin
            • crow
        • Aphrodite
          • Goddess of Beauty & Love
            • cupid
        • Demeter
          • Goddess of Agriculture, Sister of Zeus
            • Cornucopia
        • Hermes
          • Messenger of the Gods. Gods of Travellers, Merchants & Theives. Son of Zeus
            • Wingedboots & cap
            • staff
            • purse
        • Ares
          • God of War. Son of Zeus
            • Armour
            • Weapons
        • Hephaestus
          • God of Blacksmiths. Son of Zeus & Hera
        • Hestia
          • Goddess of the Hearth.Sister of Zeus
            • Donkey
            • Fire
        • Dionysus
          • God of Wine & Theatre. Son of Zeus
            • wine
            • theatre
        • Hades
          • God of the Under-world. Brotherof Zeus
            • Ceverus
    • Olympian Deities
      • Homeric Hyms
        • not composed by Homer
        • explain cause for the gods cults or aetiology
        • little depiction & understanding of Athena has changed
      • Hesiod
        • advice when to perform certain agricultural tasks
        • advice how to lead a morally good life & how to worship the Gods
        • emphasises power of Zeus & influence of Athena who personifies justice
      • Informed us what the Greeks thought about the Gods
      • Homer
        • God are v. powerful but rules but impulse & desire
        • they pick favourites whom they support & influence
        • can cause harm to their enemies
        • Gods sometimes used as light relief in contrast to mortals situations
    • Anthropomorphism & scope of power
      • Olympian Gods depicted & described as Anthropomorphic
        • But with powers that went significantly beyond those of humans
        • means appear human
          • Athena depicted large on Panathenaic  Amphora
            • But with powers that went significantly beyond those of humans
            • shows grander and superiority
      • Gods have emotions and needs of humans
    • Reciprocal Relationship
      • They deserve it
        • valued & helped mortals in return
      • Asking for something
        • 'I give so that you might give'
      • Thanking the Gods
      • fear
        • punished if not worship
      • honoured gods in may ways
        • sacrifice
          • in return Gods would help them in every aspect of their lives,
            • libations
            • prayers
            • votive offerings
            • BOTH personal (marriage & health) and Public (war & city)
        • libations
        • votive offerings
        • prayers
      • mortals rewarded for continuous piety & worship
      • Jon Mikalson - relationship based on honour not love
      • integral to religion
    • Epithets (different roles)
      • Some times confuses who to worship
      • Zeus
        • ZEUS AGORAIOS
          • Zeus of the marketplace, oversight of selling & buying goods
        • ZEUS PHRATRIOS
          • Zeus of the brotherhood, legitimate sons where into to their father's phratry when 1 & again at 16
        • ZEUS PHILIOS
          • God of individual and household well-being, consulted on property, marriage & childbirth
        • ZEUS HERKEIOS
          • Zeus  of the fence/courtyard, protector of families
    • Role & Nature of Hero Cults
      • Gunnel Erkroth - 'a hero can be defined as a person who had lived & died, either in myth or real life ... main distinction between hero & God'
      • to be a hero one had to achieve some-thing unusual in one lifetime.
        • Heracles - 12 labours
        • Cleomedes - killed opponent in Astypalea shows
      • widespread across Greece but Heracles most popular
      • Hero doctor - Asclepious
    • Worship of Gods
      • Panhellenic
        • Athena  Chalkioikos - Sparta
        • Athena Pronoia - Delphi
        • Athena Lindia - Rhodes
        • Athena Alea - Tegel
      • Localised - Demes
      • Personal
        • individuals chose to take part in cults & oracle consultations

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