Athenian Religion Of The Classical Period

Gods and heroes were the worship objects of Athenian religion of the Classical Period. Name, epithet and locate were essential main factors for distinguishing gods of the Classical Period. Gods could be divided into Ouranic and Chthonic deities and each of them had different sacrifice method, the development of Athenian religion embraced the position elevation of the minor deities , the application to new epithets of the long-established gods, the introduction of foreign gods and abstract gods being personified, gods were the carriers on which the Athenian fixed mental ideals and religious feelings. In Classical Period , the cult to heroes of the Athenian was concentrated on Theseus. The relationship of gods and heroes was very complicated.The content of Athenian religion of the Classical Period was very abundant. The religious affection which performing public benefits relation was mental foundation on which it existed and developed. Altar , sanctuary and temple were the places where the Athenian opened the religious activities. The priest and priestess were important officials who managed the religious activity. Dedications, prayer, purify and Mysteries were the core of Athenian religious rite.In Classical Period , the religion effect on Athens was very extensive. In politics, the asseverations to the gods were sacred and inviolable, the religious business had the power of initiative to handle , heralds were sacrosanct, the peace treaties and political agreements were sacred , oracles made important political function , the foreign relations of Athens had strong religious color , the value of the Eleusinian Mysteries got developed. In economy, the main economic activities were inspected by the gods, the religion reform could turn round the public finance crisis. In military, vows were advantageous to making stronger the guard power of the city state, oracles made important function in war , deities and heroes made important influence to the course of the war , the attitude towards deities of the troop leaders affected the final outcome of the war. In culture, the problems of attitude to the gods were important topics of Athenian tragic, temples and statues were outstanding representatives of the western arts. In law, the pious attitude to the gods was made sure with the law form , murderer and betrayer were necessarily punished by the gods, sanctuaries of the gods owned sacred asylum rights , in order to insure the candor of the law, the jury must declare the sacred asseverations. In custom , the life process of an Athenian including birth , illness and death , marriage and funeral had strong religious color.