It is based on the modern form of Hellenism called humanism clearly descended from the human centered worldview of the Greeks. Basic Introduction to Hellenistic Polytheism Rational Pagan. Syncretism is inappropriate, he says, as it attempts to harmonize Hellenistic religious thought and behavior as a defined system while ignoring the differences: “syncretism betrays modern theological and historiographical concerns” (101). The island was sacred as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and by the 2nd century BCE was also home to the native Greek religions that follow Zeus, Athena, Dionysus, Hermes, Pan, and Asclepius. People sought to escape from the despotism of this world and its rulers (exemplified by the seven planetary spheres) and to ascend to another world of freedom. It incorporates study, ritual, philosophy, and what we call Mysteries, which are the deepest teachings of the religion. Magic was a central part of Greek religion[2] and oracles would allow people to determine divine will in the rustle of leaves; the shape of flame and smoke on an altar; the flight of birds; the noises made by a spring; or in the entrails of an animal. Hellenion stands with Black Lives Matter in support of the goal of bringing about “sustainable transformation to our communities.” (1) We support and agree with the transformational goals that will bring about equal liberty, justice and freedom for Black communities. Ancient sacred books were translated or paraphrased into Greek—e.g., the 4th–3rd-century-bc Babylonian priest Berosus’ version of Babylonian materials, the 4th–3rd-century-bc Egyptian priest Manetho’s Egyptian accounts, the Jewish Septuagint (Greek version of the Old Testament), or the 1st-century-ad Jewish historian Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews, and the ethnic histories of the 1st-century-bc Greek writer Alexander Polyhistor. Early Christianity engaged Hellenistic culture generally, and more specifically Greek philosophy, from the end of the first century on. Rather than a god who dwelt in his temple, the diasporic traditions evolved complicated techniques for achieving visions, epiphanies (manifestations of a god), or heavenly journeys to a transcendent god. The systems of Hellenistic philosophy, such as Stoicism and Epicureanism, offered an alternative to traditional religion, even if their impact was largely limited to educated élites. It was created during an age characterized by a strong sense of history. Hellenistic religion, any of the various systems of beliefs and practices of eastern Mediterranean peoples from 300 bc to ad 300. [1], Religious practice would also involve the worship of heroes, people who were regarded as semi-divine. The Hellenistic political outlook was essentially cosmopolitan; nothing comparable to the national patriotism of modern times really prevailed. In the diasporic centres, as is generally characteristic of immigrant groups, there were two circles. [9] Although the Egyptian religion found only a small audience among the Greeks themselves, her popularity spread under the Roman empire,[10] and Diodorus Siculus wrote that the religion was known throughout almost the whole inhabited world. The New Testament and other parts of the Bible are considered Hellenistic in form, and much of Christian art throughout the centuries has been based on a Greek artistic and sculptural sensibility. The Hellenistic period begins formally with the arrival of Alex­ander the Great in the Near East in 334BCE, but this date is not the beginning of Greek influence in the region. Each of these native religions also had diasporic centres that exhibited marked change during the Hellenistic period. Many people practised magic, and this too represented a continuation from earlier times. In Fransham's 1769 book The Oestrum of Orpheus, he advanced a theolo… [5], There is, however, no reason to suppose that there was a decline in the traditional religion. The period of Hellenistic influence, when taken as a whole, constitutes one of the most creative periods in the history of religions. During the 18th century, several notable authors and freethinkers embraced Ancient Greek religion to some extent, studying and translating ancient works of theology and philosophy, and in some cases composing original hymns and devotionals to the Ancient Greek pantheon. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The difference between these groups was responsible for many shifts in the character of the religion. The Beginnings of Jewishness: Boundaries, Varieties, Uncertainties (Hellenistic Culture and Society Book 31) - Kindle edition by Cohen, Shaye J. But there were also cult centers for the Egyptian Sarapis and Isis, and of the Syrian Atargatis and Hadad. What is Hellenismos? [10], Another mystery religion was focused around Dionysus. Martin critiques the modern concept of syncretism to describe Hellenistic religions. Symbols would be placed on the doors of houses to bring good luck or deter misfortune for the occupants within. Indeed, many of these native religions underwent a conscious archaism during this period, attempting to recover earlier forms and practices. Both the inner and outer circles fostered esotericism (secrets to be known only by initiates)—the former by its use of native language and its oral recollection of traditions from the homeland; the latter by its use of allegory and other similar methods to radically reinterpret the sacred texts. Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. "[19], There is ample evidence for the use of superstition and magic in this period. [2], Astrology — the belief that stars and planets influence a person's future — arose in Babylonia, where it was originally only applied to the king or nation. It is also called Hellenic Polytheism, Hellenic Reconstructionist Paganism, or simply Hellenism. For many scholars the Hellenistic age saw the emise of traditional state religion and the rise of more personal cults, thus leaving the Greeks vulnerable to the missionary zeal of Christianity. The Ancient Greek practice of Hellenism lives on as a modern religion. [2] Figurines, manufactured from bronze, lead, or terracotta, were pierced with pins or nails, and used to cast spells. The period of Hellenistic influence, when taken as a whole, constitutes one of the most creative periods in the history of religions. Although rare in mainland Greece, it was common on the islands and in Anatolia. Hellenistic religion, systems of beliefs and practices of the people who lived under the influence of ancient Greek culture during the Hellenistic period and the Roman Empire (c. 300 BCE to 300 CE) Modern. Oracular shrines and sanctuaries were still popular. [9], The Egyptian religion which follows Isis was the most famous of the new religions. [7] Other philosophies included Pyrrhonism which taught how to attain inner peace via suspension of judgment; Cynicism (philosophy), which expressed contempt for convention and material possessions; the Platonists who followed the teachings of Plato, and the Peripatetics who followed Aristotle. The religion was brought to Greece by Egyptian priests, initially for the small Egyptian communities in the port cities of the Greek world. Hellenismos is the term used to describe the modern equivalent of the traditional Greek religion. Rather it is best understood as the study of archaic Mediterranean religions in their Hellenistic phase within both their native and diasporic settings. [2], Charms, often cut in precious or semi-precious stone, had protective power. The Hellenistic period was characterized by a new wave of Greek colonization which established Greek cities and kingdoms in Asia and Africa. The characteristic religion of the Hellenistic period was dualistic. Curse tablets made from marble or metal (especially lead) were used for curses. There was much continuity in Hellenistic religion: people continued to worship the Greek gods and to practise the same rites as in Classical Greece. A Personal Monarchy. [20] The Greeks, in the Hellenistic era, elaborated it into the fantastically complex system of Hellenistic astrology familiar to later times. [3] Also long established were the Eleusinian Mysteries, associated with Demeter and Persephone. Today, much of modern Christianity has become inseparable from Greek philosophy and thought. ΘΕΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, Walter, N. Jüdisch-hellenistische Literatur vor Philon von Alexandrien (unter Ausschluss der Historiker), ANRW II: 20.1.67-120, Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hellenistic_religion&oldid=988715049, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 November 2020, at 20:57. This empire was so vast as truly to stagger the imagination. [16], Another innovation in the Hellenistic period was the institution of cults dedicated to the rulers of the Hellenistic kingdoms. Omissions? It was a shift from “birthright” to “convinced” religion. The concept of Hellenistic religion as the late form of Ancient Greek religion covers any of the various systems of beliefs and practices of the people who lived under the influence of ancient Greek culture during the Hellenistic period and the Roman Empire (c. 300 BCE to 300 CE). She was a healing and protecting goddess, and a guardian of fertility and wild nature. D.. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Until the fall of the Roman Empire and the Muslim conquests of the Eastern Mediterranean, the main centers of Hellenistic Judaism were Alexandria (Egypt) and Antioch (now Southern Turkey), the two main Greek urban settlements of the Middle East and North Africa area, both founded at the end of the 4th century BC in the wake of the conquests of Alexander the Great. [10] The religion following Cybele (or the Great Mother) came from Phrygia to Greece and then to Egypt and Italy, where in 204 BCE the Roman Senate permitted her worship. [20], An alternative to traditional religion was offered by Hellenistic philosophy. The period of Hellenistic influence, when taken as a whole, constitutes one of the most creative periods in the history of religions. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. There were slaves belonging both to individuals and the state, but their lot was mitigated in general by a steadily growing humanity. Most notable was the shift from elements characteristic of native religion in its definition of religion (e.g., local tradition and custom, informal knowledge orally transmitted, and birth) to formulated dogma, creeds, law codes, and rules for conversion and admission that were characteristic of diasporic religion. Hellenistic art is richly diverse in subject matter and in stylistic development. [3] There is also much evidence for the use of charms and curses. The religion came back in 1967, while Lithuania was under Soviet rule. [15] The members were known as Bacchants, and the rites had an orgiastic character. The first of these was established under Alexander, whose conquests, power, and status had elevated him to a degree that required special recognition. Map: The Hellenistic World after the Death of Antigonus, 300BCE; [At Internet Archive, from Acadia] Map: Ptolemaic and Seleucid Empires in 240 BCE Plutarch (c.46-c.120 CE): Life of Demetrius [At MIT] Ptolemaic Egypt (323-30 BCE) Athanaeus (fl. It was a time of spiritual revolution in the Greek and Roman empires, when old cults died or were fundamentally transformed and when new religious … [3] People were indoctrinated into mystery religions through initiation ceremonies, which were traditionally kept secret. Throughout the Hellenistic world, people would consult oracles, and use charms and figurines to deter misfortune or to cast spells. Also prominent in Hellenistic art are representations of Dionysos, the god of wine and legendary conqueror of the East, as well as those of Hermes, the god of … For the first time, there were museums and great libraries, such as those at Alexandria and Pergamon. The Soviets didn’t like it—they tried to smother and extinguish it. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In the aftermath of the conquests of Alexander the Great, Greek culture spread widely and came into much closer contact with the civilizations of the Near East and Egypt. On the Hellenistic interest in the theatre, see Pollitt, Art in the Hellenistic Age: 4-7. In each case the material was reinterpreted both in light of common Hellenistic ideals and in accord with the special traditions and needs of the diasporic community. Modern-day religions are central to the lives of billions of people around the world. It is a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. When the Union fell, though, they were once again free to practice their religion in the open. The historical Hellenistic Age is defined as the period from the death of the Greco-Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great (323 bc) to the conquest of Egypt by Rome (30 bc), but the influence of the Hellenistic religions extended to the time of Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor (d. ad 337); these religions are confined to those that were active within the Mediterranean world. Hellenistic religion, any of the various systems of beliefs and practices of eastern Mediterranean peoples from 300 bc to ad 300. [16] By the 1st century BCE there were additional religions that followed Ba'al and Astarte, a Jewish Synagogue and Romans who followed the original Roman religions of gods like Apollo and Neptune. The popular image of a nude Aphrodite, for example, reflects the increased secularization of traditional religion. [6] There is plenty of documentary evidence that the Greeks continued to worship the same gods with the same sacrifices, dedications, and festivals as in the classical period. . For the faithful, religious practice provides a link between humanity and the spiritual world, joining people together in communities of worship and service. THE RELIGION OF THE HELLENISTIC AGE. Elsewhere, practice varied; a ruler might receive divine status without the full status of a god,[9] as occurred in Athens in 307 BCE, when Antigonus I Monophthalmus and Demetrius I Poliorcetes were honored as saviors (soteres) for liberating the city, and, as a result, an altar was erected; an annual festival was founded; and an office of the "priest of the Saviours" was introduced. The decline of Hellenistic Judaism started in the 2nd century AD, and its causes are still not fully understood. [15], These newly introduced religions and gods only had a limited impact within Greece itself; the main exception was at Delos,[9] which was a major port and trading center. With few exceptions, each of these religions, originally tied to a specific geographic area and people, had traditions extending back centuries before the Hellenistic period. [7] New religions did appear in this period, but not to the exclusion of the local deities,[8] and only a minority of Greeks were attracted to them. [12] Serapis was patronized by the Greeks who had settled in Egypt. Despite the remarkable expansion of trade in the Hellenistic Age, no industrial revolution ever took place, for reasons which have already been noted. . Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. [13] Strabo wrote of the Serapeion at Canopus near Alexandria as being patronized by the most reputable men. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? This philosophy provided the foundation for Hellenism, which was devoted to the supremacy of human beings and human accomplishment. [4] Older surveys of Hellenistic religion tended to depict the era as one of religious decline, discerning a rise in scepticism, agnosticism and atheism, as well as an increase in superstition, mysticism, and astrology. Such heroes ranged from the mythical figures in the epics of Homer to historical people such as the founder of a city. "This is a book that makes extensive and expert use of the epigraphic evidence for Hellenistic Athens (with sizeable pasages quoted in translation). For example, Isis (Egypt), Baal (Syria), the Great Mother (Phrygia), Yahweh (Palestine), and Mithra (Kurdistan) were worshiped in their native lands as well as in Rome and other cosmopolitan centres. Elsewhere, rulers might receive divine status without achieving the full status of a god. In the Hellenistic age they attained a position essentially similar to that of modern Europe. The English author John Fransham(1730–1810) was one example, considered an eccentric by his peers, who was also referred to as a pagan and a polytheist. [20] Interest in astrology grew rapidly from the 1st century BCE onwards. The concept of Hellenistic religion as the late form of Ancient Greek religion covers any of the various systems of beliefs and practices of the people who lived under the influence of ancient Greek culture during the Hellenistic period and the Roman Empire (c. 300 BCE to 300 CE). Its membership was drawn from the ethnic group for whom the deity was indigenous, and the group tended to continue to speak the native language. There was much continuity in Hellenistic religion: people continued to worship the Greek gods and to practise the same rites as in Classical Greece. On Hellenistic religion see Graham Shipley, The Greek World after Alexander: 323-30 BC (New York: Routledge, 2000): 153-76; Erskine, ed., A Companion to the Hellenistic World: 405-445. Religion in the Hellenistic Age If there was one aspect of the Hellenistic civilization which served more than others to accent the contrast with Hellenic culture, it was the new trend in religion. It was a time of spiritual revolution in the Greek (Greek religion) and Roman (Roman religion) empires, when old cults died or were fundamentally transformed and when new religious movements came into being. - Confronting the Hellenism of Today "Man," said the Greek philosopher Protagoras (481-411 BC), "is the measure of all things of what is and what is not." It is usually by concentrating on the diaspora that the Hellenistic character of a cult has been described. Each of these native traditions likewise underwent hellenization (modifications based on Greek cultural ideas), but in a manner frequently different from their diasporic counterparts. In Dawson's words, this "synthesis has remained the foundation of Western culture and has never been destroyed." The prophet or saviour replaced the priest and king as the chief religious figure. This resulted in the export of Greek culture and language to these new realms, spanning as far as modern-day India. The empire of Alexander and his successors created a great world community which, whether in Macedonian, Greco-Roman, or its later Christian form, established a cultural unity that was destined to be broken only 1,000 years later with the advent of Muslim imperialism (beginning in 7th century ad). Hellenistic artists copied and adapted earlier styles, and also made great innovations. 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