![]() ![]() ![]() The study of a religion’s history includes the study of the history of those who espoused it, together with their spiritual, ethical, political, and intellectual experiences. Priests simply looked after cults they did not constitute a clergy, and there were no sacred books. The most-striking characteristic of Greek religion was the belief in a multiplicity of anthropomorphic deities under one supreme god. The rediscovery of Greek literature during the Renaissance and, above all, the novel perfection of Classical sculpture produced a revolution in taste that had far-reaching effects on Christian religious art. ![]() Under Christianity, Greek heroes and even deities survived as saints, while the rival madonnas of southern European communities reflected the independence of local cults. Its effect was most marked on the Romans, who identified their deities with those of the Greeks. During that period its influence spread as far west as Spain, east to the Indus River, and throughout the Mediterranean world. Although its origins may be traced to the remotest eras, Greek religion in its developed form lasted more than a thousand years, from the time of Homer (probably 9th or 8th century bce) to the reign of the emperor Julian (4th century ce). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |