Recent comments in /f/history

cinimod35 t1_ivviwhx wrote

Reply to What was the societal role of polytheistic Mediterranean religions and their priests? by bhejda

Generally Roman and Greek people in classical antiquity would worship the God(s) who they wanted favours from or who might grant them protection. So if you were going to War you might burn an effigy and make a sacrífice to a God that could lend a hand (Zeus, Apollo, Ares), if sailing at sea (Neptune).

Some Gods like Bacchus were physically harmful, and people would hang phallic totem outside their doors to ward off Bacchus from breaking into their home and sodomising them (literally).

The Gods were generally troubled and fallible like people, but had special powers. Moral virtue was something that living people taught, the philosophers for instance.

The Romans had soothsayers who could predict the future based on the reading of natural phenomenon (flight pattern of birds, congealed blood of slaughtered beasts). The Greeks had oracles (mad woman) who talked in riddles that required imaginative interpretation. They had the vestal virgins protect the holy eternal flame (Rome). But as far as I know they did not have priestly class who had a working relationship with the divine, if that's what you are asking.

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edric_o t1_ivvd6mv wrote

Reply to What was the societal role of polytheistic Mediterranean religions and their priests? by bhejda

To vastly oversimplify:

The gods are powerful and you are afraid of what they might do.

So, you want to make sure you don't piss off the gods, and if possible you want to appease them and persuade them to help you. The priests have special knowledge about what will piss off or appease the gods, and special abilities to communicate with the gods and make sure the gods notice you when you try to appease them (because these gods are not omniscient; they might fail to notice things).

So as you can see, there is little connection between morality and religious belief/worship in this system. The gods aren't good, they are powerful. The gods also don't necessarily want or expect you to be good - they want you to do the things they like.

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artaig t1_ivvbd8r wrote

Reply to What was the societal role of polytheistic Mediterranean religions and their priests? by bhejda

What you say about monotheism and later Hinduism, is the work of Zoroaster. He deduced that if there is "the good" the that's the virtue of the one god (oversimplifying). He single-handedly gave birth to philosophy and religion as we understand it in the West. Before him, gods were but anthopomorfizations of vices/virtues and natural forces.

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Jonathan3628 t1_ivvaoo6 wrote

Reply to What was the societal role of polytheistic Mediterranean religions and their priests? by bhejda

The gods are powerful; it doesn't matter if you like them or think they are "good", what matters is if you don't keep the gods happy, they can mess you up. The priests are the people who are most knowledgeable about how to keep the gods happy, and this ensures successful harvest, success at fighting, safe childbirth, etc.

I recommend reading https://acoup.blog/2019/10/25/collections-practical-polytheism-part-i-knowledge/ It explains how Mediterranean polytheism worked quite well.

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LSofACO t1_ivva7ff wrote

Reply to What was the societal role of polytheistic Mediterranean religions and their priests? by bhejda

There's a great series on practical polytheism here: https://acoup.blog/2019/10/25/collections-practical-polytheism-part-i-knowledge/

tl;dr the gods cause problems if you don't appease them, and sometimes even if you do. It's basically a reminder that before you do anything you should consider relevant factors that are outside your control: the weather, for instance.

EDIT: A more direct answer to your question is that the virtue being promoted by these religions is humility, or lack of hubris (a greek concept). They want you to never forget that forces outside your control and comprehension (personified by the gods) govern every aspect of your life.

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