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