什麼是希臘宗教

古希臘人的信仰、儀式與神話的統稱。雖然對天神宙斯的崇拜最早開始於西元前第二千紀，有確定意義的希臘宗教開始於西元前750年左右，並持續了一千餘年，其影響遍及地中海及其以外的地區。希臘人崇拜很多神，被認為能主宰種種自然的或社會的力量，例如波塞頓司海洋、蒂美特管收穫、赫拉掌婚姻。不同地區崇拜不同的神只，但荷馬的史詩為這些神創立了一個統一的宗教，據信主要的神都住在奧林帕斯山上，受宙斯管轄。希臘人也禮拜鄉間的種種神只，例如潘，仙女那伊阿得斯（Naiads）、德萊雅、涅莉得（Nereids），薩堤爾（參閲Satyr and Silenus），以及復仇女神和命運女神；此外，亡故的英雄人物，如赫拉克勒斯（Heracles）和阿斯克勒庇俄斯（Asclepius），也受到崇拜。牲畜祭品相當重要，通常供在神廟中的神壇前。其他禮拜活動包括祈禱、獻酒、遊行、運動競賽和占卜（特別是藉神諭或鳥而作）。大型宗教節慶有在雅典的酒神節和在西伯羅奔尼撒為宙斯舉行的慶典，包括奧運會。死後的世界是一個充滿怨恨的地方，死者住在哈得斯的國度裏，只有英雄能前往埃律西昂（Elysium），作惡多端的人在塔爾塔羅斯（Tartarus）受處罰。為了滿足個人想要獲得指引、救贖或永生的渴望，因而有祕密教派的出現。希臘宗教因為基督教的興起和最大的護持者尤里安（Julian）在363年去世而消退。亦請參閲greek mythology。

Greek religion

Beliefs, rituals, and mythology of the ancient Greeks. Though the worship of the sky god Zeus began as early as the 2nd millennium BC, Greek religion in the established sense began c. 750 BC and lasted for over a thousand years, extending its influence throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond. The Greeks had numerous gods who controlled various natural or social forces (e.g., Poseidon the sea, Demeter the harvest, Hera marriage). Different deities were worshiped in different localities, but Homer's epics helped create a unified religion, in which the major gods were believed to live on Mount Olympus under the rule of Zeus. The Greeks also worshiped various gods of the countryside: Pan, nymphs, naiads, dryads, Nereids, and satyrs (see satyr and silenus), along with the Furies and the Fates. Heroes from the past, such as Heracles and Asclepius, were also venerated. Animal sacrifices were of great importance, usually made at a temple on the altar of the god. Other cultic activities included prayers, libations, processions, athletic contests, and divination, particularly through oracles and birds. Great religious festivals included the City Dionysia at Athens and the festival of Zeus in the western Peloponnese that included the Olympic Games. Death was seen as a hateful state; the dead lived in the realm of Hades, and only heroes enjoyed Elysium. Great wrongdoers suffered in Tartarus. Mystery religions emerged to satisfy the desire for personal guidance, salvation, and immortality. Greek religion faded with the rise of Christianity and lost its last great advocate with the death of Julian in AD 363. See also Greek mythology.