Religion and life: 1600 BC.

[trof]

As religion (or at least professions of belief in a 'higher power') seems to intrude more and more into our politics and government, I began to wonder what it was like for the ancient Greeks.

They knew little, if anything, of the causes of violent weather.
Zeus was the king of the gods and, among other things, he controlled the thunderbolts.

I try to imagine what it was like to be an Athenian back then.
During a thunderstorm.

Gryktos and his wife, Lyra, live in a small hut of the outskirts of the city.

<THUNDERCLAP!>
OH GODS! Lyra? What did you do to anger them?
ME? I didn't do ANYTHING!
Well, I sure didn't do anything. You must've done SOMETHING.
OK, maybe it's what you DIDN'T do. Did you offer up the sacrifice this morning?
No, I thought YOU did.
No. The only thing we have is the lamb from last night. I thought we'd have it for lunch.
<THUNDERCLAP!>
GOOD GODS, woman! Fetch it and place it on the altar NOW!
<THUNDERCLAP!>
HURRY! Do you want us to be struck down where we stand?
I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying. Keep your toga on. But you know what will happen, don't you? It'll just sit there all day and then get rancid and we'll have to throw it out like always.
Woman, do not question how the gods use our sacrifices. All you have to know is that the high priest tells us to do it. Do you think you know more of the ways of the gods than he does? (Muttering: ZEUS!...WOMEN!)
OK. There. The lamb is on the altar. And our last egg, just for good measure. But when Zeus finishes flinging down thunderbolts you'll have to go out and get us something for lunch.
Alright. Or...maybe after HE returns to Mount Olympus we could just go out for lunch. How about Flokti the Fishmonger's?
Oh, sweetie. Perfect.
;-)

[Droopy]

1. I wonder

I wonder if the ancient Greeks were fundamentalists or if they saw their gods and godesses the way we see them today- as metaphors?

[NewJeffCT]

2. I'm guessing

they probably had a mixture. I know Sparta was supposedly very religious.

[EstimatedProphet]

3. Why is that supposed to be 1600 BC?

That sounds like my sister's house, actually.