Greek Religion Expressed in Greek Art
The ancient Greeks’ religion found expression in their prayers, their sacrifices, their temples, their sculpture, their paintings, their myths, their coinage, their politics, their festivals, and just about every other aspect of their society. But yet today, we don’t understand what their religion meant to them at all.
If we are to understand Greek religion as it is expressed in Greek art, we must approach it with a sense of wonder; and I don’t mean wonder in the sense of mindless awe. I mean wonder in the sense of this dictionary definition: “To feel doubt and curiosity, to query in the mind, to want to know.” We need to be skeptical about what we’ve been taught about it, and curious as to its true meaning. Let’s call this combination of skepticism and curiosity, “skeptiosity.” With this approach, and given enough information, time, and insight, we can understand what the great Greek myths, previously misunderstood, really mean. Let’s jump out of those dead-end mental ruts, and start thinking with an alacrity worthy of our Greek ancestors.
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