Greek religion, as portrayed in the Homeric epics, is characterized as "anthropomorphic." That means that the gods have "human forms." They are similar to humans in more than just outward form. Despite being stronger and more powerful than humans, they have human motivations and emotions. Zeus, the king of the gods, is a lecher, chasing after women and boys. Hera, his wife, is jealous. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, commits adultery. The gods are subject...
Greek religion, as portrayed in the Homeric epics, is characterized as "anthropomorphic." That means that the gods have "human forms." They are similar to humans in more than just outward form. Despite being stronger and more powerful than humans, they have human motivations and emotions. Zeus, the king of the gods, is a lecher, chasing after women and boys. Hera, his wife, is jealous. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, commits adultery. The gods are subject to jealousy, anger, lust, pride, and benevolence. Also, rather than acting together, they tend to squabble with each other, just as human families do.
Next, the relationship between gods and mortals is often described by the Latin phrase "do ut des" ("I give that you might give"). Mortals offer the gods worship, loyalty, and sacrifices in exchange for practical aid in war, marriage, farming, and other daily activities. Mortals also arrange sacrifices to propitiate the gods and avert their anger.
The gods intervene in every aspect of daily life, giving advice, deflecting weapons, creating magical disguises, sending plagues, and generally using their powers to help the mortals they favor and harm the ones they dislike, limited only by laws of necessity.
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