The pagan religion of ancient Greece, perhaps the most famous among the rest. Indeed, who among us does not know the great Zeus, who reigns over the whole world with high Mount Olympus, warlike Athena, the beautiful goddess of love Aphrodite, (in wide circles better known as Venus) rogue Hermes, the sea god Poseidon (Neptune). Well, many, many different gods of the Greek pantheon, who entered the everyday language of many people and not just the Greeks. For example, diseases related to the failed (or maybe the other way around too successful) sexual intercourse, we call “venereal” in honor of the goddess Venus, the ocean is not just a big sea, the Ocean was called one of the Greek Titans, the names of the planets of the solar system comes from the Greek gods, Well, this list of Greek names in our everyday life can continue indefinitely. (There is even a vodka “Olympus”)

Greek culture and religion in particular at the time had a huge impact on all Eurasian peoples, especially the Romans, who, under the banner of his legionaries tore her wherever stretched the vast territory of the Roman Empire. Religion in ancient Greece – is not only a large number of fascinating myths and fairy tales, but also the most valuable cultural heritage of humanity. Greek myths about the brave heroes, fabulous creatures, and powerful gods are not just interesting, but also deeply symbolic and instructive. Maybe that’s why they do not lose their relevance for our times. It should be noted that an outstanding Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung engaged in a thorough study of Greek myths, seeing them as the key to understanding the great mysteries of the human soul.

Also, the Greek religion and mythology has a huge impact on the culture and art, and stories of Greek myths have become a great source of inspiration for painters, sculptors, architects, writers and artists of all time, from the Renaissance and modern times.

This Mount Olympus – relocate a large part of the Greek gods.

At first glance it may seem that the ancient Greeks believed in many gods, and Zeus was the chief among them. It has not so. There is a mysterious God, which is almost never mentioned in the myths, but where is mentioned, it is said that this God decide the fate of everyone, not just people, but also the gods. His name is Rock. (Of course this is not the rock music hard rock) and even Zeus can not do anything against his will. Maybe this is the only and the great God? Who knows …

At the time, the Greeks borrowed much from the Egyptians. Egyptian civilization was the cradle of the ancient world, so part of the great wisdom of ancient Egypt is reflected in the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, who were like the younger disciples of the ancient Egyptians. “You – the Greeks, will always remain children,” – said the Egyptian priests known Greek historian (and one of the first bloggers) – Herodotus. Could the ancient Egyptians to the Greeks, and were children, but for all others the then (and barbarian) peoples of Eurasia Greek culture has become a beacon of civilization. And no wonder that the Romans (who first too were real barbarians) when they came to conquer Greece, fully adopted its culture and religion, renaming the Greek gods to your Roman style (it was called Venus Aphrodite, etc.).

This ends the introduction to a fascinating religion of the ancient Greeks, to be continued.