1. gods
key terms
● pantheon
○ collective name for all the gods
● hiera
○ holy affairs
● religio
○ the correct worship of the state gods
● polytheism
○ the belief of many gods
● iconography
○ representation of gods in art + literature
● epithet
○ an adjective/word/phrase applied to the gods to show a personal or physical quality
● what do epithets show?
○ shows how great a god is
○ used for poetic effect
○ distinguishes a god from another
● why do they have anthropomorphic gods?
○ makes gods more relatable
○ allows humans to sympathise/empathise with gods
○ explains situations that are otherwise unexplainable
○ demonstrates relationship between people and gods
● what are the benefits of having a religion with many gods?
○ linked with specific traits and skills
○ means they can be specific in worship
○ in order to receive maximum favour
● why do they pray to gods?
○ associates themselves with the gods
○ improve a skill
○ personal worship
○ before war, sailing etc. for luck
○ to seek a favour
● magna graecia
○ the many independent Greek city-states around Southern Italy + Sicily
● Etruscans
○ pre-Roman Italian civilisation from whom many Roman gods developed
, gods
● Zeus / Jupiter
○ god of the sky, heavens, lightning, king of the heavens
○ brings order + structure to life, balance in all things
○ Jupiter protected the Roman State, able to achieve greatness
● Hera / Juno
○ goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, queen of the heavens
○ important for marriage (especially Romans)
○ childbirth was dangerous, important for family line
● Demeter / Ceres
○ goddess of harvest, regeneration, fertility
○ agriculture was vital for survival
○ fertility - childbirth was dangerous, important for family line
○ Ceres - Cerealia
● Hestia / Vesta
○ goddess of the hearth, home
○ Vestal Virgins symbolised security of state
○ coming home safely was very important
○ first sacrifice / offering of meals
● Poseidon / Neptune
○ god of the sea, horses, earthquakes
○ sea travel, expansion of land
○ drinking - clean water
○ horses for chariots etc.
● Athena / Minerva
○ goddess of wisdom, tactical warfare
○ when going to war
○ political wisdom
○ weaving, crafts
○ associated with Nike, goddess of victory
○ aegis
■ breastplate as armour, goatskin, gorgon head, aegis
● epithets of Athena
○ Parthenos - the virgin
○ Polias – protector
○ Promachos – ready for battle
○ Nike - victorious
● Apollo
○ phoebus (shining)
○ god of prophecy, music, education, medicine, archery
○ prophecy for haruspex / mantis
○ medicine for sickness, plague etc.
● Artemis / Diana
○ phoebe (shining)
○ goddess of hunting, virginity, childbirth
○ good outcome from a hunt (food)
○ childbirth being difficult
● Ares / Mars
○ god of war (Roman: agriculture (vital to survival))
key terms
● pantheon
○ collective name for all the gods
● hiera
○ holy affairs
● religio
○ the correct worship of the state gods
● polytheism
○ the belief of many gods
● iconography
○ representation of gods in art + literature
● epithet
○ an adjective/word/phrase applied to the gods to show a personal or physical quality
● what do epithets show?
○ shows how great a god is
○ used for poetic effect
○ distinguishes a god from another
● why do they have anthropomorphic gods?
○ makes gods more relatable
○ allows humans to sympathise/empathise with gods
○ explains situations that are otherwise unexplainable
○ demonstrates relationship between people and gods
● what are the benefits of having a religion with many gods?
○ linked with specific traits and skills
○ means they can be specific in worship
○ in order to receive maximum favour
● why do they pray to gods?
○ associates themselves with the gods
○ improve a skill
○ personal worship
○ before war, sailing etc. for luck
○ to seek a favour
● magna graecia
○ the many independent Greek city-states around Southern Italy + Sicily
● Etruscans
○ pre-Roman Italian civilisation from whom many Roman gods developed
, gods
● Zeus / Jupiter
○ god of the sky, heavens, lightning, king of the heavens
○ brings order + structure to life, balance in all things
○ Jupiter protected the Roman State, able to achieve greatness
● Hera / Juno
○ goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, queen of the heavens
○ important for marriage (especially Romans)
○ childbirth was dangerous, important for family line
● Demeter / Ceres
○ goddess of harvest, regeneration, fertility
○ agriculture was vital for survival
○ fertility - childbirth was dangerous, important for family line
○ Ceres - Cerealia
● Hestia / Vesta
○ goddess of the hearth, home
○ Vestal Virgins symbolised security of state
○ coming home safely was very important
○ first sacrifice / offering of meals
● Poseidon / Neptune
○ god of the sea, horses, earthquakes
○ sea travel, expansion of land
○ drinking - clean water
○ horses for chariots etc.
● Athena / Minerva
○ goddess of wisdom, tactical warfare
○ when going to war
○ political wisdom
○ weaving, crafts
○ associated with Nike, goddess of victory
○ aegis
■ breastplate as armour, goatskin, gorgon head, aegis
● epithets of Athena
○ Parthenos - the virgin
○ Polias – protector
○ Promachos – ready for battle
○ Nike - victorious
● Apollo
○ phoebus (shining)
○ god of prophecy, music, education, medicine, archery
○ prophecy for haruspex / mantis
○ medicine for sickness, plague etc.
● Artemis / Diana
○ phoebe (shining)
○ goddess of hunting, virginity, childbirth
○ good outcome from a hunt (food)
○ childbirth being difficult
● Ares / Mars
○ god of war (Roman: agriculture (vital to survival))
