Greek Religion Book 6 Flashcards

1
Q

Who was a known atheist?

A

Diagoras of Melos

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2
Q

What was the enlightenment?

A

The period between the 6th and 5th century BC where traditional religion was challenged

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3
Q

Who were the first group of philosophers?

A

The pre Socratics

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4
Q

When was Xenophanes alive?

A

570-475 BC

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5
Q

Where was Xenophanes from?

A

Colophon in western Turkey

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6
Q

What ideas of Xenophanes’ do we know from fragments?

A

Challenged the human flaws of Homer and Hesiod’s gods, challenged the anthropomorphic nature of the gods, suggested one superior god, said nobody would ever know the truth about the gods for certain

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7
Q

What did Xenophanes say about the anthropomorphic characteristics given to the gods?

A

A horse would give its gods horse-like forms- we create the gods in our own image but this doesn’t mean they are anthropomorphic

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8
Q

What text describes Persian religious practice?

A

Herodotus Histories

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9
Q

What aspects of Xenophanes ideas were similar to Persian practice?

A

They didn’t see the gods as anthropomorphic, and they had one god who was superior

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10
Q

Who was Heracleitus?

A

A pre Socratic philosopher

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11
Q

What did Heracleitus say?

A

‘The dead are nastier than dung’- i.e there is no afterlife or spirit of the dead that remains

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12
Q

Who were the Sophists?

A

Philosophical tutors of rhetoric in Athens

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13
Q

What ideas did the Sophists suggest?

A

Element of doubt as to the existence of the gods

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14
Q

How is Socrates presented in Aristophanes’ The Clouds?

A

Extreme views- says the gods aren’t real- disrespectful of traditional religion- calls it rubbish- arrogant and unlikeable. Also see the Socratic method in use.

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15
Q

Who wrote accounts of Socrates’ trial?

A

Plato and Xenophon

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16
Q

How did Socrates defend himself in Plato’s Apology?

A

Twists the truth- says he never imparted any teaching but he did unofficially; claims what he does is question men, not the gods; says he does believe in the gods and oracles, uses the Socratic method

17
Q

How many years did traditional religion continue for after the Enlightenment?

A

1000 years

18
Q

Who wrote Characters (Superstitious Man)?

A

Theophrastus

19
Q

What does Superstitious Man mock?

A

The overly zealous religious man, who practices every superstition and never seems to have time to do anything else

20
Q

Who wrote about the plague in Athens?

A

Thucydides

21
Q

What does the reaction to the plague in Athens suggest?

A

A lack of stability in faith in the gods, fear is a large part of worship, gods may not care about humans

22
Q

Who wrote Frogs?

A

Aristophanes

23
Q

In Aristophanes’ Frogs, how is Dionysus presented?

A

A subject of mockery, ridiculous comedic figure

24
Q

Where was Aristophanes’ Frogs performed?

A

At the Dionysia- festival to Dionysus

25
Q

Who wrote Bellerephon?

A

Euripides

26
Q

What happens in Bellerephon (that we know)?

A

Bellerephon questions the existence of the gods and is struck down by Zeus’ thunderbolt