Polytheism and piety

Greek religion was polytheistic: they believed in more than one god. Unlike modern monotheistic religions where followers believe in only one god who has control over all aspects of life, ancient Greeks believed that each god had a limited area of influence. For example Poseidon, the god of the sea, did not have influence over the harvest. For that, a worshipper would have to pray to Demeter, the goddess of the harvest who, likewise, would have no control over storms or shipwrecks at sea. This means that the world was controlled by a delicate system of relationships between different gods. Some gods may help each other and work together, but some may be opposed to each other. The Greeks believed that every aspect of the natural world had a divine spirit behind it and all of these were types of god whose level of power varied. In a major city like Athens, therefore, there were shrines and temples dedicated to a large number of different gods. In less cosmopolitan areas, there would not be nearly as many different places of worship. So we can safely conclude that the average ancient Greek did not pray to and worship all the gods.

There was nothing wrong, however, with worshipping only some of them; but it was not considered a noble position to be faithful to only one god. In fact, the play Hippolytusby Euripides showed that this is actually dangerous as the lead character is finally struck down because he worships Artemis and refuses to worship Aphrodite.

The idea of loving a god was not one which made sense to the ancient Greeks. Gods were to be feared and respected but not to be trusted or loved. As Aristotle, one of the greatest of all philosophers, said:

It would be absurd if someone were to say that he loves Zeus.

Aristotle, Magna Moralia 1208 b 30

Correct religious behaviour (called piety) required that humans showed a suitable sense of awe and wonder and maintained all the customs of worship and reverence which had been passed down by their ancestors.

Piety consists not in expensive expenditures but in changing nothing of what our ancestors have handed down.

Isocrates 7.30

Gods did, however, have local areas associated with them and it appears that the average worshipper was duty bound to respect local gods and heroes more than others. For example, Athens is the city of the goddess Athena. She is a goddess connected with wisdom, order and warfare, but for those living in Athens she ought to be worshipped regardless of how you felt about these things. She should be worshipped simply because she was the local goddess. At the end of the play Antigonethe chorus calls on Bacchus (Dionysus) to save them because he is the patron god of their city, Thebes.

Bacchus,

You who dwell in Thebes …

Thebes of all cities,

You hold highest in honour …

Come on your healing way …

Appear to us, Lord …

Sophocles, Antigone 1075 ff