During the 6th century bc the rationalist thinking of Ionian philosophers had offered a serious challenge to traditional religion. At the beginning of the 5th century, Heracleitus of Ephesus and Xenophanes of Colophon heaped scorn on cult and gods alike. The Sophists, with their relentless probing of accepted values, continued the process. Little is known of the general success of these attacks in society as a whole. The Parthenon and other Athenian temples of the late 5th century proclaim the taste and power of the Athenians rather than their awe of the gods; but, it is said, ... (100 of 6,287 words)The Classical period
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The gods on Olympus: Athena, Zeus, Dionysus, Hera, and Aphrodite. Detail of a painting on a Greek cup; in the National Archaeological Museum, Tarquinia, Italy.
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Zeus hurling a thunderbolt, bronze statuette from Dodona, Greece, early 5th century bc; in the Collection of Classical Antiquities, National Museums in Berlin.
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Head of Hera, sculpture from the votive group in the Heraeum at Olympia; in the Archaeological Museum, Olympia, Greece
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Painted Greek vase showing a Dionysiac feast, 450–425 bc; in the Louvre, Paris.
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Ruins of the sanctuary at Eleusis, Greece.
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The Varvakeion, a Roman marble copy (c. ad 130) of the colossal gold and ivory statue of the Athena Parthenos by Phidias (438 bc); in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
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The theatre at Delphi, Greece, was built in the 4th century bc with 35 rows of seats; the Temple of Apollo, with six columns still standing, is at the left.
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Temple of Athena Lindia (5th–3rd century bc), Lindos, Rhodes, Greece.
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Aphrodite and Eros, gilt bronze mirror with incised design, Greek, 4th century bce; in the Louvre, Paris.
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Achilles slaying Penthesilea, the queen of the Amazons, Attic black-figure amphora signed by Exekias, c. 530 bc; in the British Museum, London.
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Electra and Orestes killing Aegisthus in the presence of their mother, Clytemnestra; detail of a Greek vase, 5th century bc.
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Hippolytus in his quadriga, detail from a Greek vase; in the British Museum
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The punishment of Sisyphus, detail of a painting on an amphora by the Achelous Painter, late 6th century bc; in the State Collections of Classical Art, Munich
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The Acropolis and surrounding ruins (foreground), Athens.
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c. 525 bc"/> Runners depicted on a vase given as a prize in the Panathenaea, c. 525 bc.
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Ruins of the Temple of Zeus at the archaeological site of Olympia, Greece, built about 460 bc by the architect Libon of Elis.
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Artemis as a huntress, Classical sculpture; in the Louvre, Paris.
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The Calf Bearer, marble statue, c. 570 bc; in the Acropolis Museum, Athens.
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c. 1400 bc"/> An offering of a votive ship and two calves, with a priestess pouring a libation, painting on a terra-cotta sarcophagus, Ayías Triádhos, Crete, c. 1400 bc; in the Archaeological Museum, Crete, Greece.
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c. 300 bc"/> Pan, terra-cotta statuette from Eretria on the Greek island of Euboea, c. 300 bc; in the National Museums in Berlin.
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Probably Hestia, Dione, and Aphrodite, marble figures from the east pediment of the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis, c. 432 bc; in the British Museum, London. Over life-size.
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Greek religion and mythology pervaded Classical life and survive in compelling stories.
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The Greek Myths"/> This 1973 film, produced by Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation, explores Greek myth as primitive fiction, as history in disguise, and as the outgrowth of prehistoric ritual.
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The Parthenon and the Acropolis.
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Macedonia is considered the birthplace of the Greek race and of the twelve Greek gods.
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Learn which gods were worshipped at Dion.
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There are still remnants of sects, in rural Greece, which practice rituals of worship to Dionysus.
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Ancient Greeks in the Hellenistic and Roman era also worshiped Dionysus and credited him with being the God or creator of many things.
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Alexander the Great was attributed with many of Dionysus’ characteristics.