| Hellenic polytheism, also known as the Ancient Greek | | | | portray their gods' superpowers or human |
| religion or "Dodekatheon"-a term that comes from the | | | | weaknesses and associate their everyday practices |
| number twelve, which in Greek is pronounced | | | | or behaviors with those of their gods. This uniquely |
| "dodeka"-has been extensively studied over the | | | | defined line between divinity and humanity illustrated |
| centuries as a vital part of the ancient Hellenic times. | | | | the ancient Greeks desire to understand the forces of |
| The Twelve Olympians, residing according to Hellenic | | | | nature and to comprehend, to a certain extend, the |
| mythology in Mount Olympus, encompassed human | | | | world around them. |
| and divine characteristics that were portrayed in the | | | | Conducting some form of sacrifice was the most |
| popular stories of the times. Although Greeks did not | | | | widespread public act of worship and ancient Greeks |
| have a term for religion back then in the sense of a | | | | usually sacrificed animals to ask for gods' forgiveness |
| dimension of existence distinct from all others, they | | | | or assistance on the subject matter of their interest. |
| believed that gods exercised authority of the fortunes | | | | For a variety of causes, Greeks tended to visit their |
| of human beings and demanded recognition as a | | | | temples and request their clergy's feedback on their |
| condition for salvation. | | | | past or future actions; legendary this feedback came |
| One distinct characteristic, of the ancient Hellenic | | | | through the priests' ability to communicate with the |
| beliefs in the "theia" (things having to do with gods), | | | | gods and ask their opinion. Moreover, votive gifts were |
| was that there was not a single truth about gods. The | | | | offered to the gods as a ritual of recognition for their |
| twelve main gods, which were Zeus, Hera, Demeter, | | | | divine interference in their lives. Whether given for |
| Hades, Poseidon, Ares, Hephaestus, Athena, Hermes, | | | | benefits already conferred or in anticipation of future |
| Apollo, Artemis, and Aphrodite, had been depicted | | | | favors, gifts and sacrifices were since the ancient |
| within different contexts and they shared different | | | | Hellenic times the generally accepted practices through |
| virtues, depending on the each locality's legends. The | | | | which an individual would experience divinity. Up until |
| vast collection of beliefs and rituals practices in Ancient | | | | today, in many religions practiced around the world, |
| Greece demonstrated that there was no single way | | | | votive gifts are kept on public display illustrating the |
| to live in accordance with the gods' wishes. Through | | | | belief of the worshipers and their hope for the desired |
| the worship of the main deities in temples located all | | | | divine interference in their lives. |
| over the Greek peninsula and islands, Greeks used to | | | | Today, the overwhelming majority of modern Greeks |
| identify different ways to deal with their gods | | | | are Greek Orthodox, but there is still a minority of the |
| "commandments." There was no single place that one | | | | ancient Greek gods' worshipers. Although |
| should or should not worship the god of his or her | | | | contemporary Greeks and of course the Greek |
| choice, while practices varied in forms and duration. | | | | Orthodox Church generally condemn these type of |
| Games, rituals, theatrical works, festivals, processions, | | | | paganism practices, there is evidence that these |
| and autonomous religious practices within households | | | | ancient rituals still carry a very familiar concept of the |
| were held in honor of the gods. This autonomy in | | | | old Greek beliefs to the modern religious practices. |
| dealing with the "theia" gave Greeks the opportunity to | | | | |