How did they feel about the Gods?

Our ancestors loved, respected and feared the gods. That is why they showed these feelings in various ways.

Where did they worship them?

First of all, they built them temples, like our churches. Except that they decorated the temples outside, while we decorate the churches inside. Some of these temples have survived, though in ruins, to the present day.

What temples were there?

The most famous temple was the Parthenon, on the Acropolis in Athens. Other temples were those of Zeus in Olympia, Apollo at Delphi and Hephaestus in Athens.

How did they worship them?

They then offered sacrifices to the gods. The sacrifices were either fruits or wine or animals. The first fruits they gathered were offered to the gods. Or they would take an animal, bring it near the altar and the priest would sacrifice it. Then they roasted it and the entrails, limbs, bones and fat were burned, and their smell was very pleasant to the gods.

The meat was eaten at banquets. In every temple or other places, statues of the gods were erected, made by the best craftsmen.

What is divination?

In many places there was divination, that is, places where priests told people the will of the gods. The most famous divinations were those of Delphi and Dodona.

Celebrations

Finally, they had great feasts in all places to honour the gods. For example, in Athens they celebrated Panathenaea and Dionysia, to honour Athena and Dionysus. In this way people showed their love, respect and fear, that is, their worship of the gods.