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