Throughout history, most
cultures have embraced a myriad of various deities. The ancient Greeks were
without exception. Deities worshipped by the ancient Greeks were numerous and
diverse, from Zeus, the father of the Gods, to Athena, Goddess of War and Wisdom,
to Artemis, the Virgin Huntress, to Poseidon, Lord of the Seas, the
Earthshaker, and countless others, both major and minor in rank and worship.
The
questions stand, where did these gods come about? Were they thought to be
physical “superhuman” beings, personified forces of nature, somewhat of a cross
between the two, or something else?
Most
of the Greek gods possessed human nature and human flaws, as well as “mortal”
interests, i.e. Artemis was the goddess presiding over hunters and young
maidens, Dionysus was the god of wine and theater, Athena presided over
strategic warfare, intellectuals, and weavers.
In
the cases of the Greeks, most gods/goddesses were equal to humans for the
majority of the part. The exception was Zeus, “Father of the Gods” who never
communicated directly with humans, but instead used his daughter Athena, the
closest to his equal to intervene in the affair of “mortals”- the success of
mortal “heroes” can almost invariably be attributed to the intervention of
Athena.
Athena
is a perfect example of a “bridge” between true Godlike nature, and “mortal”
nature. On the one hand, as did all Greek deities, she possessed mortal, human
interests and inclinations – weaving and warfare. On the other hand, as stated,
she was also the deity linked directly to Zeus – the Father of the Gods, the
one that was so great that he never walked among humans or spoke to them
himself. A small reflection of Athena’s “godly” status would be that she was a
female war deity, in a time and place where the idea of women in warfare was
absolutely unheard of. Yet, this culture that so opposed women in warfare – did
not want women having power, period, worshipped a female war goddess very,
very, high up.
Zeus, the “father of all Gods” serves as a somewhat
complex entity. Unlike most of his “children,” Zeus, as said, never
communicates directly with mankind. Zeus seems to be a reminder, in some ways,
that even the gods ultimately had someone to answer to. Even the gods who
walked alongside and communicated with mortals had their own ultimate supreme
ruler. So what does this teach us about the majority of the “gods?” Were they
truly “gods” or simply enlightened, empowered mortals? Zeus is a play on the
concept that in the end – even the gods must have “a God.” Zeus is the actual
deity of “the gods.” This is a stealthy hint that few are “truly free.”
So
why did the Greeks turn to this myriad of polytheistic deities? If one delves
deep down into it, it’s easy enough to see. As stated, the Olympian deities
were more or less “divine” humans with human interests, human strengths, and
human flaws. Greek religion was all about finding the “middle ground.” The gods
were greater than the mortal humans overall, but at the same time on the same
level in many ways.
A
good example of a deity with a human emotion would be the story of
Athena/Minerva, and the mortal Arachne. (Ovid, Metamorphoses.) Arachne was an extremely gifted weaver, greater so
apparently even than Athena/Minerva, who was the goddess of weaving herself. Overcome
with jealousy at Arachne’s weaving skills, Minerva challenges the mortal girl
to a weaving competition. When the goddess is, in fact, bested by the mortal,
her rage is so great that she transforms Arachne into the first spider, where
she continues to weave to this day. This is an example of how gods are capable
of feeling human emotions – and not necessarily positive either. This story
goes to show that even gods are not without their faults.
Oftentimes,
the gods and goddesses end up becoming the confidants and equals to humans. In
reading Homer’s “The Odyssey,” this gradually becomes apparent. Athena spends
much of the tale working tirelessly with both Telemachos and Odysseus. And, by
the end of the story, she is not just a goddess – both have established a firm,
mutual relationship with her. This is another example of “middle ground” – the
gods want the respect of mortals, but they will provide mutual respect to
mortals in return. (Homer, The Odyssey.)
A
somewhat unique and interesting example would be that of Hippolytus, one of the
few male disciples of the goddess Artemis. Hippolytus is an interesting case –
he was, indeed thought to be strange for being a male that followed Artemis, a
powerful female goddess. He was even thought to be somewhat weak and effeminate
in his ways due to his worship of her. However, Hippolytus also seemed to get
his comfort from Artemis. He didn’t seem to care what others thought of him. Multitudes
of individuals belonging to all belief systems have said through the ages that
their faith “freed them.” Hippolytus could nearly be an example of this. While
he may have been scoffed at by those around him for honoring a female goddess,
particularly spending time in the meadow picking flowers for her, his faith in
Artemis gave him a sense of peace – even power. One can see this in his joyous
hymns of praises that he sings to her returning from the hunt and laying the
garland that he painstakingly picked in her honor at the feet of her statue.
(Euripides, Hippolytus.)
Today,
many individuals are renouncing monotheistic faith and turning back to the “Old
Ways,” i.e. paganism, polytheism. This is the case of many Greeks, who have
chosen to turn away from the Greek Orthodox church and revert back to the honor
of the Olympian gods.
Why,
one should ask, are modern day Greeks choosing to renounce the Orthodox faith
that their country has followed for over a millennium – and bring back the
Olympians? The same reason for the ancient Greeks honoring the same gods. They
feel like they’re back on equal footing, so to speak, with the old pagan gods.
A convert was quoted as saying that “they make him feel whole” even going as
far as to say that they make him feel “part of the universe.” (“Ancient Greek
Gods’ New Believers” BBC News, Athens.) This is exactly how the ancient Greeks
felt. Humans, by true nature, find more “common ground,” so to speak, with
multiple “humanoid” deities, then with one “all-powerful, almighty God.”
As
mentioned, there are such a myriad of deities with “natural” human interests,
strengths and flaws, that literally anyone on Earth could find at least one god
or goddess to relate to, to honor, to confide in. To give some examples, an
independent female hunter may feel very drawn to Artemis – and of course a male
hunter (particularly a bowhunter) to Apollo, her brother. A woman who is both a
female soldier and an intellectual would naturally feel drawn to Athena. A
sailor may feel drawn to Poseidon.
Modern
Pagans – Hellenic (Greek) and otherwise (i.e. Celtic – there are numerous
pantheons) have much in common with the ancient worshippers of the pagan gods.
The ancients had their plentiful deities who for the majority of the part, were
more or less “human.” Today, after thousand of years of monotheistic worship,
individuals are turning back to the “Old Ways” to once again find common,
middle ground. Many truly have had a difficult time coming to terms to the fact
that there is but one overall Supreme Being who demands nothing but worship and
to be bowed down to. It’s no wonder that many have asserted to turning back to
polytheism has given them more peace and freedom – feelings that they never got
from monotheistic religion.
No comments:
Post a Comment