Religion in Ancient Greece
Although the Greek city-states developed somewhat independently, they shared a polytheistic religion with a large set of gods and goddesses. The relationships and actions of these gods and goddesses were collected into myths, or stories. Each independent polis took pride in its identity as a people, and formulated its own symbols and patron gods. For instance, the goddess Athena was the patron goddess of Athens. Greek gods and goddesses were used to explain occurrences ranging from weather and natural phenomena like earthquakes and flooding, human emotions and personality traits like love and hate, and major and minor life events like childbirth and marriage. The Greek religion impacted culture, politics, and art.

Greek mythology includes many myths that depict the gods and goddesses interacting with one another, and with their human contemporaries. The gods and goddesses played a significant role in Greek life throughout the year in rituals and festivals, as humans attempted to appease or receive favors from the heavens. In this interactivity, you will learn more about several of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses. Click the player button to begin.
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