It is perhaps misleading to speak of "Greek religion." In the first place, the Greeks did not have a term for "religion" in the sense of a dimension of existence distinct from all others, and grounded in the belief that the gods exercise authority over the fortunes of human beings and demand recognition as a condition for salvation. The Greeks spoke of their religious doings as ta theia (literally, "things having to do with the gods"), but this loose usage did not imply the existence of any authoritative set of "beliefs." Indeed, the Greeks ...

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Ancient Greek religion, Ancient Greek religion - Overview, Ancient Greek religion - Worship, Ancient Greek religion - Theology, Ancient Greek religion - Mystery religions, Ancient Greek religion - Suppression of paganism, Ancient Greek religion - Revival of paganism

Read more here: » Ancient Greek religion: Encyclopedia II - Ancient Greek religion - Overview

See also:

Ancient Greek religion, Ancient Greek religion - Overview, Ancient Greek religion - Worship, Ancient Greek religion - Theology, Ancient Greek religion - Mystery religions, Ancient Greek religion - Suppression of paganism, Ancient Greek religion - Revival of paganism

Read more here: » Ancient Greek religion: Encyclopedia II - Ancient Greek religion - Overview

Many neo-pagan religious paths, such as Wicca, use aspects of ancient Greek religions in their practice; Hellenic polytheism focuses exclusively thereon, as far as the fragmentary nature of the surviving source material allows. It reflects neo-Platonic speculation (which is represented in Porphyry, Libanius, and Julian), as well as Classical cult practice. The overwhelming majority of modern Greeks are Greek Orthodox, although there is a growing minority of people following the ancient Greek religion, especially among the educated cla ...

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Ancient Greek religion, Ancient Greek religion - Overview, Ancient Greek religion - Worship, Ancient Greek religion - Theology, Ancient Greek religion - Mystery religions, Ancient Greek religion - Suppression of paganism, Ancient Greek religion - Revival of paganism

Read more here: » Ancient Greek religion: Encyclopedia II - Ancient Greek religion - Revival of paganism

Greek religion is the polytheistic religion practiced in ancient Greece in form of cult practices, thus the practical counterpart of Greek mythology. Within the Greek world, religious practice varied enough so that one might speak of Greek religions. The cult practices of the Hellenes extended beyond mainland Greece, to the islands and coasts of Ionia in Asia Minor, to Magna Graecia (Sicily and southern Italy) and to scattered Greek colonies in the Western Mediterranean, such as Massilia (Marseille). Greek examples tempered Etr ...

Including:

• Ancient Greek religion - Overview
• Ancient Greek religion - Worship
• Ancient Greek religion - Theology
• Ancient Greek religion - Mystery religions
• Ancient Greek religion - Suppression of paganism
• Ancient Greek religion - Revival of paganism

Read more here: » Ancient Greek religion: Encyclopedia - Ancient Greek religion

The Religions of the Ancient Near East were mostly polytheistic, with some early examples of emerging Henotheism (Akhenaton, early Judaism). Especially the Luwian pantheon exerted a strong influence on Ancient Greece, see Greek Paganism, while the religion of Elam influenced the Zoroastrianism of the Achaemenid empire. Religions of the Ancient Near East - Overview. There were many different cultures in the Ancient Near East with different languages, different cultures, different religions, and differing myt ...

Including:

• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Overview
• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Ancient Near East Pagan Cultures
• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Common threads
• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Purification and cleansing
• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Offerings sacrifices and libations
• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Large pantheons
• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Religions tied to governments
• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Forms of Divination
• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Magic incantations charms and amulets
• Religions of the Ancient Near East - Neopagan movements

Read more here: » Religions of the Ancient Near East: Encyclopedia - Religions of the Ancient Near East

Polytheism is belief in, or worship of, multiple gods or divinities. The word comes from the Greek words poly+theoi, literally "many gods." Most ancient religions were polytheistic, holding to pantheons of traditional deities, often accumulated over centuries of cultural interchange and experience. The belief in many gods does not preclude the belief in an all- powerful all-knowing supreme being. In polytheistic belief systems, gods are conceived as complex personages of greater or lesser status, with individual skills, ...

Including:

• Polytheism - Overview
• Polytheism - Ancient polytheism
• Polytheism - Gods and divinity
• Polytheism - The Indic Traditions

Read more here: » Polytheism: Encyclopedia - Polytheism

There were many different cultures in the Ancient Near East with different languages, different cultures, different religions, and differing mythologies. The religion of Ancient Mesopotamians (Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, Elam) is treated under Mesopotamian mythology. For the religion of Ancient Egypt, see Egyptian mythology. The early Hittite religion bore traits descended from Proto-Indo-European religion, but the later Hittite religions becomes more and more assimilated to Assyria. The religion of the ancient Minoans. Ancient Greek religion, Greek Mythology. The Myster ...

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Religions of the Ancient Near East, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Overview, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Ancient Near East Pagan Cultures, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Common threads, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Purification and cleansing, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Offerings sacrifices and libations, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Large pantheons, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Religions tied to governments, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Forms of Divination, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Magic incantations charms and amulets, Religions of the Ancient Near East - Neopagan movements

Read more here: » Religions of the Ancient Near East: Encyclopedia II - Religions of the Ancient Near East - Overview

In antiquity, authors like Herodotus speculated that the Greeks had borrowed their gods wholesale from the Egyptians. Later, Christian writers would attempt to explain Hellenic paganism as a degeneration of Biblical religion. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, however, the sciences of archaeology and linguistics were brought to bear on the origins of Greek mythology. To begin with, extant literary sources indicate that the ancient Greeks used the word Αιθιοπία to refer to a peoples: whom they considered sacred, favored by the gods, and li ...

See also:

Greek mythology, Greek mythology - Nature and sources of Greek mythology, Greek mythology - An overview, Greek mythology - The age of gods, Greek mythology - The age of gods and men, Greek mythology - The age of heroes, Greek mythology - Theories of origin, Greek mythology - Did the Greeks believe their myths?, Greek mythology - Hellenistic rationalism, Greek mythology - Syncretizing trends, Greek mythology - Belles and Beaus of Greek Mythology, Greek mythology - Modern interpreters, Greek mythology - Greek cosmology, Greek mythology - Related subjects, Greek mythology - Sources

Read more here: » Greek mythology: Encyclopedia II - Greek mythology - Theories of origin

In antiquity, historians such as Herodotus theorized that the Greek gods had been stolen directly from the Egyptians. Later on, Christian writers tried to explain Hellenic paganism through degeneration of Biblical religion. Since then, the sciences of archaeology and linguistics have been applied to the origins of Greek mythology with some interesting results. To begin with, extant literary sources indicate that the ancient Greeks used the word Αιθιοπία to refer to a peoples: whom they considered sacred, favored by the gods, and li ...

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Greek mythology, Greek mythology - Nature and sources of Greek mythology, Greek mythology - An overview, Greek mythology - The age of gods, Greek mythology - The age of gods and men, Greek mythology - The age of heroes, Greek mythology - Theories of origin, Greek mythology - Did the Greeks believe their myths?, Greek mythology - Hellenistic rationalism, Greek mythology - Syncretizing trends, Greek mythology - Modern interpreters, Greek mythology - Greek cosmology, Greek mythology - Related subjects, Greek mythology - Sources

Read more here: » Greek mythology: Encyclopedia II - Greek mythology - Theories of origin

Until the 19th century, the main sources of information regarding ancient Egyptian medicine were the writers from a later period of antiquity. Homer, writing in the Odyssey (c. 800 BC) remarked: "In Egypt, the men are more skilled in medicine than any of human kind". The Greek historian Herodotus visited Egypt around 440 BC and wrote extensively of his observations of their medicinal practices. Pliny the Elder also wrote favorably of them in historical review. Hippocrates (the "father of medicine"), Herophilos, Erasistratus and later Galen studied at the temple of Amenhotep, and acknowled ...

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Ancient Egyptian medicine, Ancient Egyptian medicine - Sources of Information, Ancient Egyptian medicine - Magic and religion, Ancient Egyptian medicine - Doctors and other healers, Ancient Egyptian medicine - General overview

Read more here: » Ancient Egyptian medicine: Encyclopedia II - Ancient Egyptian medicine - Sources of Information

Well-known polytheistic pantheons in history include the Sumerian gods, the Egyptian gods, the Greek religion, Norse Æsir and Vanir, the Yoruba Orisha, the Aztec gods, and many others. Today, most historical polytheistic religions are referred to as "mythology", though the stories cultures tell about their gods should be distinguished from their cultus or religious practice. Few ancient religions, indeed, were not polytheistic. Those that weren't include early Vedic Hinduism (which has been termed at the most henotheistic with ...

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Polytheism, Polytheism - Overview, Polytheism - Ancient polytheism, Polytheism - Gods and divinity, Polytheism - The Indic Traditions A form of Inclusive Monotheism not Polytheism

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This practice of Christianization has at times been relatively peaceful and at times has been a very violent process, ranging from inspired works of charity which convinced populations to adopt Christianity to forced conversions. When Yale historian Ramsay MacMullen treated the Christianization of the Roman Empire, he divided his book in two sections, before and after the year 312, which marked the momentous conversion of Constantine. Constantine ended the persecution of Christianity (and other religions) with the Edict of Milan, so t ...

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Christianization, Christianization - Overview, Christianization - Christianized populations, Christianization - Christianized sites, Christianization - The Christianized landscape, Christianization - The Christianized calendar, Christianization - Christianizing the Lemuria, Christianization - Cultural history of Halloween, Christianization - Christianizing the Saturnalia, Christianization - Suppressing Yule, Christianization - External link

Read more here: » Christianization: Encyclopedia II - Christianization - Overview

When referring to Northern Europe, the means of this conversion were chiefly Proselytism directed towards monarchs and chieftains whose people then followed their conversion, on the pattern established by the baptism of Clovis, King of the Franks. Main article: Baptism of Poland. The Christianization of Poland provides an example of this process. The "Baptism of Poland" (Polish: Chrzest Polski) in 966 refers to the baptism of Mieszko I, the first ruler of a united Polish state. His baptism was followe ...

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Christianization, Christianization - Overview, Christianization - Christianized populations, Christianization - Christianized sites, Christianization - The Christianized landscape, Christianization - The Christianized calendar, Christianization - Christianizing the Lemuria, Christianization - Cultural history of Halloween, Christianization - Christianizing the Saturnalia, Christianization - Suppressing Yule, Christianization - External link

Read more here: » Christianization: Encyclopedia II - Christianization - Christianized populations

The British Isles and other areas of northern Europe that were formerly druidic are still densely punctuated by holy wells and holy springs that are now attributed to some saint, often a highly local saint unknown elsewhere. These water sources have always been guarded by supernatural forces in the European imagination. An example of the pre-Christian water spirit is the melusina. As the official Catholic Church expanded its requirements for Christian baptisteries in the 5th and 6th centuries, sacred pagan springs presented natural op ...

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Christianization, Christianization - Overview, Christianization - Christianized populations, Christianization - Christianized sites, Christianization - The Christianized landscape, Christianization - The Christianized calendar, Christianization - Christianizing the Lemuria, Christianization - Cultural history of Halloween, Christianization - Christianizing the Saturnalia, Christianization - Suppressing Yule, Christianization - External link

Read more here: » Christianization: Encyclopedia II - Christianization - The Christianized landscape

Several Christian feasts occupy moments in the year that were formerly devoted to pagan celebrations. Familiar examples are the Roman Saturnalia, converted to Christmas, the festivities of Yule in northern Europe, the name of Eostre converted to English "Easter" to identify the Paschal festival, the celebration of Midsummer Day as the birthday feast of John the Baptist, and the celebrations of Celtic ...

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Christianization, Christianization - Overview, Christianization - Christianized populations, Christianization - Christianized sites, Christianization - The Christianized landscape, Christianization - The Christianized calendar, Christianization - Christianizing the Lemuria, Christianization - Cultural history of Halloween, Christianization - Christianizing the Saturnalia, Christianization - Suppressing Yule, Christianization - External link

Read more here: » Christianization: Encyclopedia II - Christianization - The Christianized calendar

Homer applies the Greek word ηρως to all free men who were fighting in the Trojan War. Another epic poet, Hesiod, uses it in the context of the Fourth Age of Men. The most common mythological meaning comes from the Greek poet Pindar, who presents them as the offspring of mortals and the gods or those who had done a great service to mankind.[1] Hero - Nature of hero cult. Hero cults were one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion. Greek hero-cults were distinct from ancestor worship: they were usually a civic rather than familial affair, and in many cases none of the worshipers ...

See also:

Hero, Hero - Overview, Hero - The Greek Hero, Hero - Nature of hero cult, Hero - Types of hero cult, Hero - Heroes politics and gods, Hero - Later European History, Hero - Operatic Hero, Hero - The Modern Fictional Hero

Read more here: » Hero: Encyclopedia II - Hero - The Greek Hero

Homer applies the Greek word ηρως to all free men who were fighting in the Trojan War. Another epic poet, Hesiod, uses it in the context of the Fourth Age of Men. The most common mythological meaning comes from the Greek poet Pindar, who presents them as the offspring of mortals and the gods or those who had done a great service to mankind.[1] Hero - Nature of hero cult. Hero cults were one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion. Greek hero-cults were distinct from ancestor worship: they were usually a civic rather than familial affair, and in many cases none of the worshipers ...

See also:

Hero, Hero - Overview, Hero - The Greek hero, Hero - Nature of hero cult, Hero - Types of hero cult, Hero - Heroes politics and gods, Hero - Later European history, Hero - The validity of the hero in historical studies, Hero - Operatic hero, Hero - The modern fictional hero

Read more here: » Hero: Encyclopedia II - Hero - The Greek hero

The swastika is common as a design motif in current Hindu architecture and Indian artwork as well as in ancient Western architecture, frequently appearing in mosaics, friezes, and other works across the ancient world. Ancient Greek architectural designs are replete with interlinking swastika motifs. Related symbols in classical Western architecture include the cross, the three-legged triskele or triskelion and the rounded lauburu. The swastika symbol is also known in these contexts by a number of names, especially gammadion. Pictish r ...

See also:

Swastika, Swastika - Overview, Swastika - Etymology and alternative names, Swastika - History, Swastika - Adoption of the swastika in the West, Swastika - Geometry and symbolism, Swastika - Sauwastika, Swastika - Art and architecture, Swastika - Religion and mythology, Swastika - Hinduism, Swastika - Buddhism, Swastika - Jainism, Swastika - The Abrahamic religions, Swastika - Other Asian traditions, Swastika - Native American traditions, Swastika - Pre-Christian European traditions, Swastika - Asatru, Swastika - Early 20th century, Swastika - Europe, Swastika - North America, Swastika - Nazi Germany, Swastika - Taboo in Western countries, Swastika - Apperance in Media

Read more here: » Swastika: Encyclopedia II - Swastika - Art and architecture

The swastika is common as a design motif in current Hindu architecture and Indian artwork as well as in ancient Western architecture, frequently appearing in mosaics, friezes, and other works across the ancient world. Ancient Greek architectural designs are replete with interlinking swastika motifs. Related symbols in classical Western architecture include the cross, the three-legged triskele or triskelion and the rounded lauburu. The swastika symbol is also known in these contexts b ...

See also:

Swastika, Swastika - Overview, Swastika - Etymology and alternative names, Swastika - History, Swastika - Adoption of the swastika in the West, Swastika - Geometry and symbolism, Swastika - Sauwastika, Swastika - Art and architecture, Swastika - Religion and mythology, Swastika - Hinduism, Swastika - Buddhism, Swastika - Jainism, Swastika - The Abrahamic religions, Swastika - Other Asian traditions, Swastika - Native American traditions, Swastika - Pre-Christian European traditions, Swastika - Early 20th century, Swastika - Britain, Swastika - North America, Swastika - Russia, Swastika - Poland, Swastika - Finland, Swastika - Sweden, Swastika - Latvia, Swastika - Icelandic, Swastika - Ireland, Swastika - Nazi Germany, Swastika - Taboo in Western countries, Swastika - Popular culture and media, Swastika - Notes

Read more here: » Swastika: Encyclopedia II - Swastika - Art and architecture

Prior to and outside the influence of the major Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), sex with animals (also known as zoophilia, or bestiality) was sometimes forbidden, and sometimes accepted. Occasionally it was incorporated into religious ritual. The Abrahamic religions by and large forbid it, and make it a sin against God[1], and during the Middle ages in Europe people and animals were often executed if found guilty. With the Age of Enlightenment, bes ...

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Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - Overview, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - Zoophilia through history, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - Ancient Greek and Roman, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - Europe: Middle Ages, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - China and Asia, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - Tribal and other cultures, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - c.1700 - 1950, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - Modern era, Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - Sources

Read more here: » Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia: Encyclopedia II - Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia - Overview