Role of deities in ancient religious practices

¶ … role of deities in "The Iliad," by Homer, the poetry of Sappho, and "Pericles Funeral Oration," by Thucydides. Specifically it will discuss how significant the deities are in the three pieces, and why deities played such an important part in ancient literature.

IMPORTANCE of the DEITIES

The Gods (deities) play an extremely important part throughout these three pieces, and through much of ancient literature. The gods were extremely important to the Greeks, who believed they lived atop Mount Olympus, ruled by Zeus, the father and leader of the Gods. In "The Iliad," Achilles often turns to the Gods to aid him in battle and in his personal life. People believed the Gods could influence everything in their lives, and so often asked them for help and advice, as Achilles does. "I came to see if I could check this temper of yours, / Sent from heaven by the white-armed goddess / Hera, who loves and watches over both of you men./

Now come on, drop this quarrel, don't draw your sword."

In turning to Zeus, Achilles turns to a realm of powerful beings who are constantly involved in human affairs and who resemble human beings but who also differ from them in important ways. The Homeric gods can control all the different forces that shape human life, from the weather to emotions to social practices and institutions.

Sappho often wrote of the Gods and Goddesses, Aphrodite seems to be one of her favorite deities, she often wrote poems and odes dedicated to her. "Richly throned, O deathless one, Aphrodite, / Child of Zeus, enchantress-queen, I beseech thee / Let not grief nor harrowing anguish master, / Lady, my spirit."

Sappho writes often of love and affection, but her affinity for the deities is never far from her poems. She often asks for guidance and aid in love and life, just as Achilles did in "The Iliad." Sappho writes most commonly about Aphrodite, Peitho, Ares, Hecate, Hera, Hermes, Hephaestus, and the Muses. Her poems also show the Gods interacting with humans, and aiding them at important times, such as blessing them at weddings. "All the High Gods from Olympus, to bless the Two, descend."

Her lyric poetry (meant to be sung along while playing a lute) was different in that it was often written from the deities' point-of-view. Homer and Pericles mostly wrote from the human, heroic point-of-view.

Thucydides "Funeral Oration," spoken by Pericles, is a classic look at the beliefs and customs of the Greeks. This funeral oration was given for all the warriors who were victims of the Peloponnesian War.

Unlike the other two pieces, Pericles in this speech does not mention the deities; in fact, he speaks only of Athenians, and their great democratic government. Any reverence he makes to the Gods and their importance is extremely veiled, such as "a spirit of reverence pervades our public acts."