[15] The members were known as Bacchants, and the rites had an orgiastic character. 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. Hellenism (Greek: Ellinismós, Latin: Hellenismus ), also less frequently called Olympianism (Greek: Olympianismós, Latin: Olympianismus) or Dodekatheism (Greek: Dodekatheïsmós, Latin: Duodecimdeismus ), is the traditional polytheistic and animistic orthopraxic religion, lifestyle, aesthetics, and ethos of the ancient Graeco-Roman world, and is the indigenous religion of the … The period of Hellenistic influence, when taken as a whole, constitutes one of the most creative periods in the history of religions. Hellenistic Judaism was a form of Judaism in the ancient world that combined Jewish religious tradition with elements of Greek culture. Certain cult centres remained sites of pilgrimage or objects of sentimental attachment; but the old beliefs in national deities and the inextricable relationship of the deity to certain sacred places was weakened. Updates? [10], Another mystery religion was focused around Dionysus. [3] There is also much evidence for the use of charms and curses. 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. 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. She was a healing and protecting goddess, and a guardian of fertility and wild nature. It is also called Hellenic Polytheism, Hellenic Reconstructionist Paganism, or simply Hellenism. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? Robert O. Anderson Distinguished Service Professor of the Humanities, University of Chicago. [16], Another innovation in the Hellenistic period was the institution of cults dedicated to the rulers of the Hellenistic kingdoms. Old texts in native languages (especially those related to relevant themes such as kingship) were recopied, national temples were restored, and old, mythic traditions were revived. The concept of Hellenistic kingship was that of a personal monarch (Virgilio 2003, 129; Mooren 1983)—“the king is the state”—even though the concept of “state” as we know it did not exist then.The states that were the business, personal matters, and property of the king all are referred to in Greek by the plural ta pragmata. In the Hellenistic age they attained a position essentially similar to that of modern Europe. [20] Interest in astrology grew rapidly from the 1st century BCE onwards. When the Union fell, though, they were once again free to practice their religion in the open. Hellenism and Wicca: A Perfect Fit. The Hellenistic political outlook was essentially cosmopolitan; nothing comparable to the national patriotism of modern times really prevailed. 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. [1], Religious practice would also involve the worship of heroes, people who were regarded as semi-divine. 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). Hellenismos is the term used to describe the modern equivalent of the traditional Greek religion. [5], There is, however, no reason to suppose that there was a decline in the traditional religion. In Fransham's 1769 book The Oestrum of Orpheus, he advanced a theolo… Such heroes ranged from the mythical figures in the epics of Homer to historical people such as the founder of a city. [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. Symbols would be placed on the doors of houses to bring good luck or deter misfortune for the occupants within. . D.. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Indeed, many of these native religions underwent a conscious archaism during this period, attempting to recover earlier forms and practices. ... into connection with the widespread pagan myth of a dying and rising saviour-god. By the 3rd century BCE her worship had spread from Syria to Egypt and Greece, and eventually reached Italy and the west. This led to a change from concern for a religion of national prosperity to one for individual salvation, from focus on a particular ethnic group to concern for every human. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In their homeland they were inextricably tied to local loyalties and ambitions. Hellenistic Judaism also existed in Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period, where there was conflict between Hellenizers and traditionalists (sometimes called Judaizers). [1] At the local level, the landscape was filled with sacred spots and monuments; for example, many statues of Nymphs were found near and around springs, and the stylized figures of Hermes could often be found on street corners.[1]. 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 god was honored with stone temples and statues, and sanctuaries (sacred enclosures), which, although dedicated to a specific deity, often contained statues commemorating other gods. . Hellenistic art is richly diverse in subject matter and in stylistic development. Each persisted in its native land with little perceptible change save for its becoming linked to nationalistic or messianic movements (centring on a deliverer figure) seeking to overthrow Greco-Roman political and cultural domination. [2] Figurines, manufactured from bronze, lead, or terracotta, were pierced with pins or nails, and used to cast spells. For the first time, there were museums and great libraries, such as those at Alexandria and Pergamon. [17], By doing so, the Ptolemies were adapting earlier Egyptian ideas in pharaonic worship. These religions often had a goal of personal improvement, which would also extend to the afterlife. Hellenism (neoclassicism), an aesthetic movement in … From Palestine to Persia one may trace the rise of Wisdom literature (the teachings of a sage concerning the hidden purposes of the deity) and apocalyptic traditions (referring to a belief in the dramatic intervention of a god in human and natural events) that represent these central concerns—i.e., national destiny, the importance of traditional lore, the saving power of kingship, and the revival of mythic images. Hellenistic artists copied and adapted earlier styles, and also made great innovations. Religion from the death of Alexander to the reformation of Augustus: 323–27, Religion from the Augustan reformation to the death of Marcus Aurelius: 27, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hellenistic-religion, ReligionFacts - Hellenic Reconstructionism. [14], The religion of Atargatis (related to the Babylonian and Assyrian Ishtar and Phoenician Ba`alat Gebal), a fertility- and sea goddess from Syria, was also popular. For the faithful, religious practice provides a link between humanity and the spiritual world, joining people together in communities of worship and service. His successors continued his worship to the point where in Egypt under Ptolemy I Soter, we find Alexander being honored as a god. [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. The popular image of a nude Aphrodite, for example, reflects the increased secularization of traditional religion. Central to Greek religion in classical times were the twelve Olympian deities headed by Zeus. The most significant changes to impact on Greek religion were the loss of independence of the Greek city-states to Macedonian rulers; the importation of foreign deities; and the development of new philosophical systems. Each of these native religions also had diasporic centres that exhibited marked change during the Hellenistic period. It is usually by concentrating on the diaspora that the Hellenistic character of a cult has been described. Throughout the Hellenistic world, people would consult oracles, and use charms and figurines to deter misfortune or to cast spells. Hellenistic religion, any of the various systems of beliefs and practices of eastern Mediterranean peoples from 300 bc to ad 300. There was much continuity in Hellenistic religion: people continued to worship the Greek gods and to practise the same rites as in Classical Greece. The religion came back in 1967, while Lithuania was under Soviet rule. The major literary product of the contact of Second Temple Judaism and Hellenistic culture is the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible from Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic to Koiné Greek, specifically, Jewish Koiné Greek. [3] People were indoctrinated into mystery religions through initiation ceremonies, which were traditionally kept secret. There’s arguably no Pagan religion that’s been as influential on language, politics, philosophy, art, and literature. Omissions? Hellenic Paganism, as of Holy Fury (Patch 3.0), can now be revived as a religion. c. 200 CE): The Great Spectacle and Procession of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, 285 BCE [This Site] The difference between these groups was responsible for many shifts in the character of the religion. The first (or inner circle) was composed of devout, full-time adherents of the cult for whom the deity retained a separate and decisive identity (e.g., those of Yahweh, Zeus Serapis, and Isis). On the Hellenistic interest in the theatre, see Pollitt, Art in the Hellenistic Age: 4-7. "This is a book that makes extensive and expert use of the epigraphic evidence for Hellenistic Athens (with sizeable pasages quoted in translation). The period of Hellenistic influence, when taken as a whole, constitutes one of the most creative periods in the history of religions. One of these philosophies was Stoicism, which taught that life should be lived according to the rational order which the Stoics believed governed the universe; human beings had to accept their fate as according to divine will, and virtuous acts should be performed for their own intrinsic value. "[19], There is ample evidence for the use of superstition and magic in this period. [13] Strabo wrote of the Serapeion at Canopus near Alexandria as being patronized by the most reputable men. THE RELIGION OF THE HELLENISTIC AGE. This religion involved initiation rites like the Eleusinian Mysteries. . 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. The history of Hellenistic religions is rarely the history of genuinely 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. It was called the Romuva movement, a call to connect Lithuanians back to their roots. ... A basic introduction to the religion, including symbols and ritual. [1] The city-states would conduct various festivals and rituals throughout the year, with particular emphasis directed towards the patron god of the city, such as Athena at Athens, or Apollo at Corinth. The prophet or saviour replaced the priest and king as the chief religious figure. Martin critiques the modern concept of syncretism to describe Hellenistic religions. The characteristic religion of the Hellenistic period was dualistic. 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). In Dawson's words, this "synthesis has remained the foundation of Western culture and has never been destroyed." It incorporates study, ritual, philosophy, and what we call Mysteries, which are the deepest teachings of the religion. Although rare in mainland Greece, it was common on the islands and in Anatolia. 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). It is a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. The religion was brought to Greece by Egyptian priests, initially for the small Egyptian communities in the port cities of the Greek world. Another philosophy was Epicureanism, which taught that the universe was subject to the random movements of atoms, and life should be lived to achieve psychological contentment and the absence of pain. It is based on the modern form of Hellenism called humanism clearly descended from the human centered worldview of the Greeks. [20] The Greeks, in the Hellenistic era, elaborated it into the fantastically complex system of Hellenistic astrology familiar to later times. This resulted in the export of Greek culture and language to these new realms, spanning as far as modern-day India. The first of these was established under Alexander, whose conquests, power, and status had elevated him to a degree that required special recognition. [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. Extending from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Indus River, from the forests of Germany and the steppes of Russia to the Sahara Desert and the Indian Ocean, it took in an area of some 1.5 million square miles (3.9 million square kilometres; most of Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa, Persia, and the borderlands of India) and had a total population of more than 54 million. There was a noticeable lessening of concern on the part of the members of the dispersed religious group for the destiny and fortunes of the native land and also a relative severing of the traditional ties between religion and the land. The Ancient Greek practice of Hellenism lives on as a modern religion. 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 … Mentionable are also the philosophic and ethical treatises of Philo and the historiographical works of the other Hellenistic Jewish authors.[21][22]. Loading... Unsubscribe from Rational Pagan? The complex system of Hellenistic astrology developed in this era, seeking to determine a person's character and future in the movements of the sun, moon, and planets. There was much continuity in Hellenistic religion: people continued to worship the Greek gods and to practise the same rites as in Classical Greece. Each of these native traditions likewise underwent hellenization (modifications based on Greek cultural ideas), but in a manner frequently different from their diasporic counterparts. 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