The Odyssey Essay
Zegel 1
Hannah R. Zegel
Mrs. Hannah Zegel
Advanced English
20 Oct. 2014
When They Die
Death is all around us. Death happens to everyone no matter if he wants it or not. Every religion has a different way of treating the dead. Some believe in reincarnation, the afterlife, and
Hell. Though everyone’s beliefs are different,not all bury their dead, not all have ceremonies, and not all respect their dead. Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” did support the death, burial ritual, and belief systems of the Ancient Greek civilization.
In ancient Greek religion, one belief was when someone dies he needed to receive at least a rudimentary burial to go on to the afterlife.Then the god Hermes would bring the soul and body to the underworld , but the river Styx would not allow him to pass unless he was given coins (“Death”).
In earlier times, the afterlife was thought to be a joyless and somber existence, though the underworld was not a place of punishment (“Greek Religion”). Unless one was someone who had offended the Gods personally, then he would be punished. The most important thing to do in life was to believe in the gods and perform the proper sacrifices and rituals. This would avoid reprisals both from gods and fellow human beings(“Greek mythology”). The main way ancient
Greeks expected to build a good relationship with the gods was by sacrificing animals.
Zegel 2
Sacrificing was usually offered to the Olympian Gods, at dawn outside a temple. A sacrifice represented a gift to the Gods for forgiveness or just happiness. Sacrifices were also made to
Chthonic Gods. These sacrifices were of only black animals, and the sacrifice was performed in the evening.Unlike other animals, none of the sacrifices that went to the Chthonic gods were eaten (“ Greek Religion”). When sacrificing an animal, prayers would be said, the animal would be killed, and then burned in the fire. Only the main parts of the animals would be given to the
gods.
Hannah R. Zegel
Mrs. Hannah Zegel
Advanced English
20 Oct. 2014
When They Die
Death is all around us. Death happens to everyone no matter if he wants it or not. Every religion has a different way of treating the dead. Some believe in reincarnation, the afterlife, and
Hell. Though everyone’s beliefs are different,not all bury their dead, not all have ceremonies, and not all respect their dead. Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” did support the death, burial ritual, and belief systems of the Ancient Greek civilization.
In ancient Greek religion, one belief was when someone dies he needed to receive at least a rudimentary burial to go on to the afterlife.Then the god Hermes would bring the soul and body to the underworld , but the river Styx would not allow him to pass unless he was given coins (“Death”).
In earlier times, the afterlife was thought to be a joyless and somber existence, though the underworld was not a place of punishment (“Greek Religion”). Unless one was someone who had offended the Gods personally, then he would be punished. The most important thing to do in life was to believe in the gods and perform the proper sacrifices and rituals. This would avoid reprisals both from gods and fellow human beings(“Greek mythology”). The main way ancient
Greeks expected to build a good relationship with the gods was by sacrificing animals.
Zegel 2
Sacrificing was usually offered to the Olympian Gods, at dawn outside a temple. A sacrifice represented a gift to the Gods for forgiveness or just happiness. Sacrifices were also made to
Chthonic Gods. These sacrifices were of only black animals, and the sacrifice was performed in the evening.Unlike other animals, none of the sacrifices that went to the Chthonic gods were eaten (“ Greek Religion”). When sacrificing an animal, prayers would be said, the animal would be killed, and then burned in the fire. Only the main parts of the animals would be given to the
gods.