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What is the name for the twelve major deities that were worshipped in ancient Greek religion?
What is the name for the twelve major deities that were worshipped in ancient Greek religion?
Olympians
What is the name for the principle that the Greeks honoured the gods in return for something they needed/required?
What is the name for the principle that the Greeks honoured the gods in return for something they needed/required?
The three virgin goddesses are Athena, Artemis, and Hera.
The three virgin goddesses are Athena, Artemis, and Hera.
False
What is the name of the Greek word for the term 'impurity' or 'pollution'?
What is the name of the Greek word for the term 'impurity' or 'pollution'?
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What is the name for the Greek word that describes the 'reason' for something, often connected to a historical or mythical explanation?
What is the name for the Greek word that describes the 'reason' for something, often connected to a historical or mythical explanation?
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What is the name for the term that refers to the main room of the temple where the cult statue was kept?
What is the name for the term that refers to the main room of the temple where the cult statue was kept?
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Which Greek hero was known for his Twelve Labours?
Which Greek hero was known for his Twelve Labours?
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Which Greek hero was associated with the healing cult, and was taught by the centaur Chiron?
Which Greek hero was associated with the healing cult, and was taught by the centaur Chiron?
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Which Greek god is associated with the Iliad in particular?
Which Greek god is associated with the Iliad in particular?
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What is the name of the Greek god of wine, theatre, and revelry?
What is the name of the Greek god of wine, theatre, and revelry?
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Which Greek god is associated with the Odyssey in particular?
Which Greek god is associated with the Odyssey in particular?
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Which were among the major areas of influence for the god Zeus?
Which were among the major areas of influence for the god Zeus?
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What is the name of the Greek god who, in Euripides' play The Bacchae, is a central character?
What is the name of the Greek god who, in Euripides' play The Bacchae, is a central character?
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What is the name of the Greek goddess who, in Euripides' play Hippolytus, is a central character?
What is the name of the Greek goddess who, in Euripides' play Hippolytus, is a central character?
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What is the name of the central figure in Homer's The Odyssey?
What is the name of the central figure in Homer's The Odyssey?
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What is the name of the place where the oracle at Delphi was located?
What is the name of the place where the oracle at Delphi was located?
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What is the name of the city-state where the most important of the Panhellenic Games took place?
What is the name of the city-state where the most important of the Panhellenic Games took place?
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What is the name of the practice of sleeping at temples dedicated to Asclepius in the hope of receiving a cure from an illness?
What is the name of the practice of sleeping at temples dedicated to Asclepius in the hope of receiving a cure from an illness?
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What is the name of the traditional practice where a person undergoes a ritualistic ceremony to change their status and join a cult?
What is the name of the traditional practice where a person undergoes a ritualistic ceremony to change their status and join a cult?
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What is the name for the type of sacrifice that involves the slaying of one hundred oxen?
What is the name for the type of sacrifice that involves the slaying of one hundred oxen?
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What is the name of the term referring to the piece of land marked off for specific religious usage?
What is the name of the term referring to the piece of land marked off for specific religious usage?
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What is the name of the Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and crafts?
What is the name of the Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and crafts?
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What is the name of the Greek goddess associated with the harvest and agriculture?
What is the name of the Greek goddess associated with the harvest and agriculture?
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What is the name of the Greek god associated with the underworld and death?
What is the name of the Greek god associated with the underworld and death?
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What is the name of the Greek god associated with war, violence, and bloodshed?
What is the name of the Greek god associated with war, violence, and bloodshed?
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What is the name of the Athenian goddess associated with the city of Athens?
What is the name of the Athenian goddess associated with the city of Athens?
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What is the name of the Greek goddess associated with beauty and love?
What is the name of the Greek goddess associated with beauty and love?
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What is the name of the Greek god associated with music, poetry, prophecy, and the sun?
What is the name of the Greek god associated with music, poetry, prophecy, and the sun?
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What is the name of the Greek god associated with the hearth, home, and domestic life?
What is the name of the Greek god associated with the hearth, home, and domestic life?
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What is the name of the Greek god associated with fire, metalworking, and craftmanship?
What is the name of the Greek god associated with fire, metalworking, and craftmanship?
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What is the name of the sacred place where the Olympic Games took place?
What is the name of the sacred place where the Olympic Games took place?
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What is the name given to the type of religious festivals celebrated in Athens that honor Demeter and Persephone, and mostly feature female participation?
What is the name given to the type of religious festivals celebrated in Athens that honor Demeter and Persephone, and mostly feature female participation?
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Which ancient Greek philosopher is best known for his Socratic method of questioning?
Which ancient Greek philosopher is best known for his Socratic method of questioning?
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What is the name of the religious festival that took place in Athens each year in honor of Athena, and included an elaborate procession, athletic games, and sacrifices?
What is the name of the religious festival that took place in Athens each year in honor of Athena, and included an elaborate procession, athletic games, and sacrifices?
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What were the names of the two legendary warriors who were ultimately defeated by the Greeks in the Trojan War, after spending ten years battling them?
What were the names of the two legendary warriors who were ultimately defeated by the Greeks in the Trojan War, after spending ten years battling them?
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Study Notes
Part 1: Nature of the Olympian Gods
The Olympians
Although ancient Greek religion was polytheistic, they had twelve major deities that their worship revolved around. These
deities were known as the Olympians, so-called this because they were believed to live in the clouds above Mount Olympus
in northern Greece.
Greek God
Responsibilities
Iconography
Additional Information
Zeus
King of the Gods, King of the
Skies, Keeper of Justice, Fate
of Men, Xenia, Thunder
A bearded man, wielding a
lightning bolt, often holding an
eagle. He is often seen seated
on a throne with a sceptre
He defeated Cronus, his father,
during a war with the Titans and
subsequently divided the earth
between himself and his
brothers. He married his sister
Hera but had lots of children
with mortal (and divine) women
Poseidon
God of the seas, Earthquakes,
Rivers, Storms, Horses
A bearded man holding a
trident, sometimes with horses
He was the Brother of Zeus.
The Trojans never paid him for
having helped built their city. He
was in a contest for Athens with
Athena, but eventually lost and
was important to sailors
Hades
Ruler of the Underworld
Cornucopia, depicted with his
wife Persephone and
Cereberus. He was shown to
be an older, bearded man
He abducted Persephone as
told in the Homeric Hymn to
Demeter. He was a chthonic
deity and did not reside on
Olympus
Hera
Queen of the Gods, Marriage,
Women, Childbirth and the
Family
Wearing a diadem, sometimes
with children
Wife of Zeus who was a
powerful and independent
goddess not to be crossed. She
opposes the Trojans due to
Paris not choosing her as victor
in the Story of the Golden
Apple. She took revenge on
women who bore children with
Zeus
Athena
War and Wisdom (military
tactics and intelligence)
Owl, helmet, spear, aegis,
shield engraved with the head
of a gorgon, Nike, armour
Patron deity of Athens who was
born from Zeus’ head, fully
grown in armour, after Metis
(her mother) had been turned
into a fly and swallowed
Demeter
Goddess of Agriculture,
Harvest, Childbirth and Fertility
Diadem, holding a bundle of
wheat, grain or flowers
Sister of Zeus, whose daughter,
Persephone was abducted by
Hades. Greek society was
dependent on the harvest for
survival
Hestia
Hearth
Veiled head
They were a civilisation without
electricity so was vital to their
survival and every sacrifice in
the home started with her. Fire
came to symbolise the security
of the state
Hephaestus
Metalworking, Fire, Craftsmen
and Blacksmiths
Hammer, tongs, anvil
He was thrown from Mount
Olympus by Zeus and fell for a
day
3
Aphrodite
Love and Beauty
Rising from a sea-shell, naked,
doves and swans, Eros
Winning goddess in the story of
the Golden Apple. She was
caught having an affair with
Ares by her husband
Hephaestus who called upon
the gods to witness her
humiliation. No-one could resist
her except for the three virgin
goddesses as it was believed
that she was the most beautiful
woman in the world
Artemis
Hunting, Wildlife, Childbirth,
Moon, Wild Animals, Nature,
Young Maidens
Bow and arrow, dogs, moon,
deer
Twin sister of Apollo who was
associated with the moon. She
was associated with virginity
and was one of three virgin
goddesses. The deer was
sacred to her
Apollo
Music, Arts, Education,
Archery, Prophecies, Sun,
Medicine
Bow and arrow, lyre, youthful,
naked, wavy hair, sun, tripod,
laurel
Born in Delphi, the site of the
biggest oracle in the Greek
world
Hermes
Travel, Trade, Messenger of
the Gods
Caduceus, winged sandals,
traveller’s cloak
A chthonic deity who was able
to travel to the Underworld.
Small shrines were dedicated to
him along roads
Ares
War (brutality)
Armour
In the Iliad, he is a merciless
killer
Dionysus
Wine, Theatre, Revelry,
Childbirth, Ritual Madness
Thyrsus, vines, animal skin,
maenads, satyrs, naked, wild
animals
Son of Zeus and the mortal
Semele, so was attracted to the
wrath of Hera. He was pivotal to
private and public celebrations
and even had his own festival:
the City Dionysia
Athena, Artemis and Hestia were the three virgin goddesses
Dionysus and Hestia are interchangeable in the Olympian Pantheon because Dionysus was a demi-god and
Hestia supposedly left Olympus to live with mortals
Prescribed Source
Panathenaic Amphora showing Athena
Date: 333-332 BC
Style: Black Figure
Reverse: Three athletes running
Athena is proactive and moving in battle, showing herself to be
involved in mortal affairs and fulfilling the role of both a punisher and
a protector
Her head stretches into the neck of the amphorae, showing how as
an immortal, she transgresses all boundaries and is incredibly
powerful
Able to be identified because only the Amazons and herself were
shown in armour
Long tunic shows herself to be a virgin goddess as she dresses
modestly
6
Zeus Philios – God of individual and household well-being, prosperity and purification consulted on
issues regarding property, marriage and childbirth
Zeus Herkeios – ‘Zeus of the Fence/Courtyard’ who was a protector of families. Magistrates being
interviewed for a position were asked whether or not they were enrolled in this cult
Epithets for Zeus
Epithets for Athena
Epithets for Demeter
Zeus Xenios, protector of
guests
Zeus Ktesios, guardian of
possessions in a house
Zeus Olympios, overseer of
the Olympic Games
Zeus Horkios, oaths
‘’Zeus Averter of Flies’’ used
by individuals attending the
Olympic and Delphic Games
in Greece who would buy
small figurines of Zeus and
then pray to him in the hope
of killing the flies
Athena Polias, protector of
cities
Athena Parthenos, Athena
the virgin
Athena Nike, granter of
victories
Pallas Athene, morale-
booster
Athena Areia, warlike Athena
Demeter Chthonia, earthly-
one
Demeter Karpophoros, fruit-
bringer
Purpose of Epithets
Addressing a god/referring to a god
Specific to a god
To identify whether worship was local or Panhellenic
To understand how the cult was paid for
To understand the way in which the god was worshipped (goat-eating Hera in Sparta)
Bending of Gods
Creation of Epithets
We have no idea on how or why epithets were created
Pausanias, a Greek travel writer and geographer from the 2nd century AD explains some local epithets
Herodotus tells us that when the Greeks received news of the providential storm that had wrecked much of the
Persian fleet in 480 BC, they prayed and made libations to Poseidon Soter (Saviour) and used this name ever
since
The variety of epithets presented a challenge to worshippers – if a woman was pregnant, which one of the
numerous deities should she pray to? This was incredibly difficult for the Greeks who consulted oracles in order to
understand which god they should worship
A typical approach was to worship groups of deities in order to ‘cover all bases,’ particularly in cases concerning
the rearing and raising of children
Hero Cults
The Olympian Pantheon was not an enclosed entity but rather permeable with various deities joining throughout.
There were unclear boundaries between the gods, demi-gods and mortals
Ekroth defines a hero as being a person who had ‘’lived and died, either in myth or real life, with this being the
main distinction between a god and hero.’’ They had to have achieved something that was unusual for one’s own
lifetime, being either positive or negative
Heracles’ Twelve Labours
Clemoedes of Astpalea had killed his opponent in the pankration at the Olympic Games. When he was
disqualified, in a fit of anger, he ripped down a school roof, leaving sixty children dead and he vanished
from the earth. The Pythia declared him a hero
A hero was worshipped in a way that went far beyond the usual rituals surrounding burial and were worshipped at
their grave site. It was attended by weeping and lamentation
Heroisation was initiated by family members and beneficiaries and became widespread in the Hellenistic Period
Heracles was the most popular hero worshipped – he was honoured at Olympia, where his Twelve Labours were
displayed on the metopes of the Temple of Zeus. Asclepius was worshipped throughout the Greek world and was
perceived as a god but of mortal descent
Heroes and gods were worshipped with rites very similar to each other, with an animal sacrifice at its centre and
the consumption of sacrificial meat
Evidence for Hero Cults
Homeric Epics
Homeric Hymns
Works and Days
Catalogue of Women which explores the relationships between gods and mortals and the heroes that were born
from this
Pausanias
The best preserved sacrificial calendar from Attica showing that of 170 sacrifices, 40% were to heroes and 38% of
these were of budget
Panhellenic, Localised or Personal
Zeus
Personal – Zeus Philios, god of individual and family wellbeing
Local – Zeus Phratrios, protector of Athenian phratries
Panhellenic – Zeus Olympios, Zeus at Olympia (many people from around the ancient world came to compete in
the Olympic Games)
Athena
Athena Chalkioikos, Athena of the Bronze House in Sparta
Athena Pronoia, Athena of Forethought in Delphi
Heracles
Personal – worshipped as a household god. His statue stood in homes to ward off evil
Local – Heracles’ main cult was in Thebes, the place of his birth in mythology
Panhellenic – He was worshipped at the sanctuary of Olympia because of his strength and endurance (by athletes
who competed in the games) and because he was considered to be one of the founders of the games
Some gods and heroes only had local significance. For example, in Erchia, Epops, Leucaspis and Menedeius are three
heroes who are unattested for anywhere else.
Personally, gods and heroes could be worshipped through mystery cults, healing cults or oracular consultation.
Key Term
Definition
Aetiology
The reason or cause for something, often deriving from a
historical or mythical explanation
Agora
The marketplace in a Greek city where economic, political,
social and religious events took place
Anthropomorphic
The attribution of human characteristics and emotions to
non-human forms
Epithet
An adjective or phrase that accompanies one’s name to
denote a quality or characteristic about the individual
Theogony
The genealogy of a group of gods
Zoomorphism
Animal attributes are imposed upon non-animal objects,
humans and gods
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Description
This guide explores the nature of the Olympian gods in Greek religion, specifically tailored for the OCR A Level curriculum. It details the responsibilities, roles, and iconography of each of the twelve major deities and their significance in Greek mythology and society.
