For centuries, ancient religions have been around. They have provided answers to many life- and death-related questions. Find out more about the Greek, Roman and Mesopotamian religions. We can learn from ancient religions how to identify ourselves and the lives of those around us. The importance of rituals and their impact on the lives of different groups will also be discussed.
Mesoamerican religions
Mesoamerican religions had many deities, most of which were linked to nature or the cycles of nature. A prominent divinity was the feathered serpent. The feathered serpent was worshiped between heaven and Earth as a messenger. The Pre-Classic through the Post-Classic periods saw widespread worship of this creature throughout Mesoamerica. This divinity was honored in temples built in Nahua and Teotihuacan.
Religion was an important part of Maya culture. It gave authority to rulers and served as a moral code for people involved in conflicts. It could also be used to inspire communities or justify war. However, many Mesoamerican civilisations saw religion as more than just a religious role.
The Greek religions
One of the most interesting ancient religions is Greek religion. The rituals were centered around animal sacrifices as well as a sense of community. Prometheia is a classic drama by the Greeks. It combines classical drama and lessons about Greek religion. Many Greeks now practice religion but the Greeks were an exceptional group who often considered themselves to be outsiders in their society.
The Greeks viewed religion as a way of life, and their gods were very human. And unlike modern religions that separate the church from the state, the Greek gods are very real. These stories could have been inspired from real-life events.
Roman religions
Ancient Roman religions were not based on a single central belief, but on a variety of rituals, superstitions, and taboos. The result was a religion less spiritual than a contractual relationship between man with the forces and nature. For example, the god Jupiter was the god of the sky, similar to the sky gods of other Indo-European peoples.
Romans believed that there were many gods, the majority of which were animistic. Animistic beliefs taught that spirits inhabited everything and that citizens were watched over by the spirits of their ancestors. They gradually added deities that represented abstract social forces. Dea Roma was the personification for the spirit of Rome and Concordia the goddess of peace. Deva Victoria, the Roman equivalent to Nike the Greek goddess, was also known as Victoria.
Mesopotamian religions
The ancient Mesopotamian religions were based on the worship of gods, which were often linked with different aspects of nature. These gods were also associated to specific cities and animals. They were believed to have human-like appearances and react with emotion and reason to their surroundings. Their worship was founded on fulfilling the gods' requirements, which included rituals and festivals for birth, death, and marriage.
Priests were primarily responsible for acting as intermediaries between gods and people. Mesopotamia would eventually be ruled by kings. These kings were imbued in semi-divine authority. They ruled with the gods' favor. Priests, however, were still the most powerful members of Mesopotamian societies.
Indian religions
Jainism is an ancient religion in India that dates back to around the ninth century BCE. This religion is rooted in the dharma (morality) of the past and focuses on the consequences of one's actions. It is peaceful and nonviolent religion that promotes the freedom from violence and the exploitation animal.
Indians hold many different religious traditions and beliefs. Some religious beliefs are cross-religious, but most Indians believe strongly in karma. This is the belief that good deeds earn rewards and bad deeds get punished in the next life. Seventy-two percentage of Hindus, Christians, Jains, and Jains believe karma. A majority of Hindus or Muslims also believe in some sort of heaven.