In what ways are the Greek gods conceive

1
Chapter 6

• The Nature of the Gods

2
Anthropomorphism

• What is anthropomorphism?
• In what ways are the Greek gods conceived
  anthropomorphically?

3
Greek Humanism

• Choral Ode from Sophocles, Antigone what a
  work is man!
• Protagoras (late 5th c. BC) Man is the measure
  of all things.

4
Xenophanes

• Presocratic Philosopher whats that?
• What problems did he have with an anthropomorphic
  depiction of the gods?

5
Quote worth noting

• P. 131 The range from devout belief to
  agnosticism and atheism was as diverse and rich
  in the ancient world as it is in our world.

6
Why anthropomorphism?

• The Greek gods may be seen as reflection or
  meditation on the divine.
• It may be that humanizing gods was a way to help
  people grasp the concept of god.
• It may be Greek humanism was too strong an urge.
• There is a danger in anthropomorphizing.

7
Solon Croesus

• Solon, Athenian politician and poet, (c.
  639-c.559 BC)
• Croesus, King of Lydia, (ruled from c. 560-c. 547
  BC)
• rich as Croesus
• Did this meeting happen?
• Consideration of source Herodotus Historiae
• Herodotus aim West v. East culminating in
  Persian Wars (490-479 BC)

8
Story of Solon and Croesus

• What is happiness?
• What lesson does Croesus learn?
• What happens to Croesus?

9
Some other stories

• Arion and the dolphins (late 7th c. BC)
• Polycrates, tyrant of Samos (d. c. 522 BC)