什么是希腊宗教

古希腊人的信仰、仪式与神话的统称。虽然对天神宙斯的崇拜最早开始於西元前第二千纪，有确定意义的希腊宗教开始於西元前750年左右，并持续了一千余年，其影响遍及地中海及其以外的地区。希腊人崇拜很多神，被认为能主宰种种自然的或社会的力量，例如波塞顿司海洋、蒂美特管收获、赫拉掌婚姻。不同地区崇拜不同的神只，但荷马的史诗为这些神创立了一个统一的宗教，据信主要的神都住在奥林帕斯山上，受宙斯管辖。希腊人也礼拜乡间的种种神只，例如潘，仙女那伊阿得斯（Naiads）、德莱雅、涅莉得（Nereids），萨堤尔（参阅Satyr and Silenus），以及复仇女神和命运女神；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。牲畜祭品相当重要，通常供在神庙中的神坛前。其他礼拜活动包括祈祷、献酒、游行、运动竞赛和占卜（特别是藉神谕或鸟而作）。大型宗教节庆有在雅典的酒神节和在西伯罗奔尼撒为宙斯举行的庆典，包括奥运会。死後的世界是一个充满怨恨的地方，死者住在哈得斯的国度里，只有英雄能前往埃律西昂（Elysium），作恶多端的人在塔尔塔罗斯（Tartarus）受处罚。为了满足个人想要获得指引、救赎或永生的渴望，因而有秘密教派的出现。希腊宗教因为基督教的兴起和最大的护持者尤里安（Julian）在363年去世而消退。亦请参阅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.