A Level Greek Religion: The Olympian Gods
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Questions and Answers

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?

  • Agon
  • Theogony
  • Xenia
  • Do ut des (correct)

    • The three virgin goddesses are Athena, Artemis, and Hera.

    False

    What is the name of the Greek word for the term 'impurity' or 'pollution'?

    <p>Miasma</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name for the Greek word that describes the 'reason' for something, often connected to a historical or mythical explanation?

    <p>Aetiology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name for the term that refers to the main room of the temple where the cult statue was kept?

    <p>Naos</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which Greek hero was known for his Twelve Labours?

    <p>Heracles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which Greek hero was associated with the healing cult, and was taught by the centaur Chiron?

    <p>Asclepius</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which Greek god is associated with the Iliad in particular?

    <p>Zeus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek god of wine, theatre, and revelry?

    <p>Dionysus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which Greek god is associated with the Odyssey in particular?

    <p>Athena</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which were among the major areas of influence for the god Zeus?

    <p>Kings, marketplaces, and property.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek god who, in Euripides' play The Bacchae, is a central character?

    <p>Dionysus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek goddess who, in Euripides' play Hippolytus, is a central character?

    <p>Aphrodite</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the central figure in Homer's The Odyssey?

    <p>Odysseus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the place where the oracle at Delphi was located?

    <p>The Temple of Apollo</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the city-state where the most important of the Panhellenic Games took place?

    <p>Olympia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the practice of sleeping at temples dedicated to Asclepius in the hope of receiving a cure from an illness?

    <p>Incubation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the traditional practice where a person undergoes a ritualistic ceremony to change their status and join a cult?

    <p>Initiation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name for the type of sacrifice that involves the slaying of one hundred oxen?

    <p>Hecatomb</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the term referring to the piece of land marked off for specific religious usage?

    <p>Temenos</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and crafts?

    <p>Athena</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek goddess associated with the harvest and agriculture?

    <p>Demeter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek god associated with the underworld and death?

    <p>Hades</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek god associated with war, violence, and bloodshed?

    <p>Ares</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Athenian goddess associated with the city of Athens?

    <p>Athena</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek goddess associated with beauty and love?

    <p>Aphrodite</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek god associated with music, poetry, prophecy, and the sun?

    <p>Apollo</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek god associated with the hearth, home, and domestic life?

    <p>Hestia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Greek god associated with fire, metalworking, and craftmanship?

    <p>Hephaestus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the sacred place where the Olympic Games took place?

    <p>The Altis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name given to the type of religious festivals celebrated in Athens that honor Demeter and Persephone, and mostly feature female participation?

    <p>The Thesmophoria</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which ancient Greek philosopher is best known for his Socratic method of questioning?

    <p>Socrates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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?

    <p>The Panathenaia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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?

    <p>Hector and Achilles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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

     

     

    5  

     Hesiod instructs his brother Perses in the agricultural arts as well as moral advice on how he should live his life  

     He encourages Perses to avoid Eris (goddess of strife) and not let her influence him  

     He emphasises the power of Zeus and Right (Justice) as well as providing advice on how to worship the gods (i.e.  

    washing hands to remove religious pollution so that prayers are accepted)  

    Hesiod’s Theogony  

     Focuses on the origins of the gods, why they are deserving of worship and how they should be treated by mortals  

    The Gods in Homer’s Works  

     Powerful  

     Governed by personal impulse and desire  

     Interested in mortals and have favourites i.e. Athena supports Odysseus (Odyssey) and Achilles (Iliad)  

     Most often used for light relief in order to contrast with the severity of the situation that mortals find themselves in  

     The gods can physically intervene  

     Gods can feel pity for humans but sexual relationships between gods and mortals are common  

     In the Odyssey, the Gods are more moralistic and mortals suffer because of their own folly. They also work  

    together to ensure that Odysseus can return home and punish the Suitors  

    Anthropomorphism and the Scope of their Power  

     The Olympian Gods were usually described and depicted as anthropomorphic but had powers that went beyond  

    anything that a mortal could have  

     They appeared as humans in artwork, recognised by their iconography, being distinguished only through their  

    larger size. Literature shows that they have the emotions and needs of humans such as jealously, love, hate and  

    desire  

     Pan, is a hybrid, as he is half-human, half-goat  

     There is an indication in Euripides’ Hippolytus that Artemis cannot be around death for it is so different to her  

    nature. In the thirty-two surviving tragedies, only one character dies on stage, perhaps to not tarnish Dionysus’  

    image with death  

     The gods can often be shown to be embodiments of the concept they represent i.e. Ares as War, Hades as the  

    Underworld  

    Myths that Show the Anthropomorphic Qualities of the Gods  

     The rape/abduction of Persephone at the hands of Hades shows how Hades is overcome with passion for  

    Persephone, Demeter is overcome with grief and distress at the loss of her daughter and how Zeus has to fill the  

    role of an arbitrator  

     Zeus is overcome with passion for Leda and takes the form of a swan to sleep with her  

     Poseidon’s anger at Odysseus for having blinded Polyphemus  

     Hera despised Heracles for he was the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. She sent Madness to drive him into a  

    fit of madness during which he killed his wife and children  

    Zoomorphism  

     The Gods can also be shown as animals i.e. Zeus as an eagle and Diana as a swan  

     Animal forms were linked with qualities of the gods i.e. Hera Bo-opis (‘doe-eyed Hera’) and Athena Glaukopis  

    (‘bright-eyed Athena’) 

     

    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.

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