Your favourite ancient relgion

Don't know a great deal about other 'ancient' religions , so can only really mention why I like the ancient Greek religion.

I like how the Greeks were always a "religious" people and no matter where they settled the first thing they built were temples.  They didn't have a God-complex and deem religion as unneccessary. 

I like the fact that there was a god to represent every aspect of life and death.  For eg, Poseidon was the ruler of the sea.  Hera, the protector of women and marriage, etc.

They had both male and female deities, therefore weren't discriminatory.

But foremost, I like how above all the 12 gods, the Greeks placed the "Unknown God", because they were aware of their own limitations and short-comings.  That is, this religion they conjured up, (which, just like other religions, is man's innate attempt at reaching God) was a figment of their own imagination and knew there was still a lot more to learn and discover about the true essence/nature of this higher power. They didn't claim to 'know-it-all.  This is why I think their transition to Christianity (=God's attempt at reaching mankind) was so fluid, and satiated that void.

Originally posted by Vivek Sharma How many of these faiths survive to this day in some form or the other. Just curious.

The ancient Greeks held many religious festivals in honour of their gods.  The purpose of a festival was to please the gods and persuade them to grant the people's wishes.

These festivals continue in Greece today, but in commemoration of the Christian Saints.

People would also pray to the appropriate gods as they went about their daily life.  For eg. someone going on a journey would pray to Hermes..

The same applies to today, but supplication made to the appropriate Saint.  One that comes to mind is St Nicholas, is the patron saint for sea-travellers.

The Anthesteria - a spring festival which was held in Athens each february.  The wine from the last harvest was put on sale and a statue of Dionysus (god of wine) was carried in triumph to his temple.  On the final day of the festival, each family prepared a meal for the spirits of the dead and left it on the altar in their house.

We have similar services today, whereby a memorial service is held at church, followed by a meal offering for the souls of the dead.

The ancients, believed the souls of the people who had led wicked or cruel existenses on Earth were sent to Tautarus, where they were condemned to eternal punishment.  And people who had led virtuous lives along with initiates of the mystery cults, were sent to Elysian Fields, a peaceful place filled with golden sunlight.  The people in between, were sent to the Asphodel Fields, a grey, boring place where the souls drifted around aimlessly in the shade, waiting for the offerings from the land of the living to cheer them up.

In accordance with Christian dogma of Hell, Heaven and [purgatory].

Funerals - when someone died, their relatives and friends wore black ( , this even continues today) and women cut their hair short as signs of mourning.  The dead body lay in that state at home for a day, (today's wake) so that people could come to pay their respects.

Even after the funeral, the continued well-being of the dead depended to some extent on the care of the living.  Families made offerings to their ancestors on the anniversaries of their births and deaths, and at special festivals of the dead.  (still done today).



Edited by Ellin - 11-Nov-2006 at 04:03

I am very interested in some religions of the Ancient world, such as that of the Greeks and the Egyptians.
However, by definiton, My 'favourite' religion of the Ancient world would be early Christianity.ie.The early church. I find the whole process in which it spread fascinating, as well as the content of Christianity as a monotheistic religion. Some of the figures of the early church like Paul of Tarsus, I have a lot of admiration for.

Edited by Knights - 02-Nov-2006 at 21:22

As far as I know they indeed had wizards and other specialists that have many in common with the druids of the Celts and other Indoeuropean magicians. I don't know if they practised "flights" to the other world, by means of drugs, dreams or trace, but I suspect they did. Theirs religious arts have clued of "visits" to other realities, like the presence of representation of supranatural animals in theirs ships.

 

Perhaps an expert, like Reginmund, knows the answer.

 

Pinguin

 

Edited by pinguin - 02-Nov-2006 at 08:03

Originally posted by gcle2003  I'll take your word for it. The question was genuine, not rhetorical.   Can you be more precise?

Another good point, faith is of course just what I described.

Boy, people sure are handing'em to me tonight.

Originally posted by Achilles Reginmund, it is faith. I believe in my gods and you believe in yours (or not). You dont have to go claiming something as false just becuase the only "documentation" of the religion/mythology was written by Christian authors. I would apprieciate it if you didnt go claiming my beleives are wrong or stupid becuase my religion is based on sources written by christians.

That's not faith, it's just naive stubbornness. Then again, that goes for all religions, so I guess you have a point.    

Originally posted by Aelfgifu   I have been studying Scandinavian Medieval culture as part of my masters. I must admit that I have not focused on women, as they are not part of my subject. But things like that a marriage can be made without the consent of the woman involved and the knowledge that they could not inherit does not seem te be very female friendly.

Edited by Hellios - 01-Nov-2006 at 00:03

Originally posted by Friggsdottir Women were important in Germanic & Norse society, it would probably be a good topic to study just for Women's History Studies.

What's that about? I haven't heard of it , can you elaborate more? Thanks!