Page 16 - Resources

 To recognise that every age and culture searches for God.

 The Athenians and the Unknown god.

Way to Work (Means)

1. Review the previous lessons and ensure that the children are starting their
research on their chosen topic.

2. Write some of the names of Greek gods on the board to see if the children

know what they are. Explain that the Greeks gave their many gods human
characteristics, both strengths and weaknesses. They adopted other gods of
other civilisations met with in trading and colonization. Show pictures of a
selection, particularly those on Mount Olympus (see separate sheet). Myths
and stories were written to explain the lives of the gods.

3. Talk about the Greeks believing (like all other ancient people) that you could
communicate with the gods at certain places, at certain times, through certain

people, and that the gods would give you advice and maybe tell you what was
going to happen in the future.

4. Explain that religion was very public in Ancient Greece as the Greeks tried to
make every action of their lives a tribute to the gods. Temples were built for

each god, represented by a large statue. Sometimes gifts of precious metals
were given to the gods. There was no group worship but individuals prayed or
offered sacrifices of animals. There were lots of festivals, feasts and
competitions to honour their gods.

5. The word ‘oracle’ in Greek can mean several related things. It can mean a god
or the message itself, or the place where the priest hears the message. Most
often it means the priest or the message.

6. Divide the children into groups or pairs to suggest differences in our beliefs
to the Ancient Greeks. Eg

• One God
• Worship individually or collectively as a church or group
• No statues as we do not know what God looks like
• Our God is perfect with no imperfections
• God does not just guess at the future; he knows it

(Greek Grandeur, Hebrew Heart) 14