Throughout The Odyssey, Greek values and the Greek culture are constantly shaped by the flow of the author’s pen, which narrates a story with an intricate plot. Greek religion - Greek religion - Beliefs, practices, and institutions: The early Greeks personalized every aspect of their world, natural and cultural, and their experiences in it. The Odyssey is a story dominated by the presence and influences of gods and goddesses, particularly Zeus, Poseidon and Athena. It emerged in c. 1600 BC, when Helladic culture in mainland Greece was transformed under influences from Minoan Crete and lasted until the collapse of the Mycenaean palaces in c. 1100 BC. It indicates a notion of public honor and social responsibility by which Greeks are measured in the eyes of society. Furthermore, most of the traditions and festivals still celebrated today are religious. What we call "mythology" today, was a big part of ancient Greek culture and taken as a whole it represent the bulk of what we know as Pagan religion mixed in with the ancients' heritage (the concept of "History" was born later in the 5th c. BCE). Customs and traditions in Greece and the Greek Islands are an important aspect of the Greek culture. Through each of the tales circling the life of Odysseus and the Greek people, Homer depicts the history, legends, values, and merits of the ancient Greeks. Some of these values are shown through the story of the Odyssey, which tells of the adventures of Odysseus and his family. Social Life. Soranus, an ancient Greek physician, actually believed that women sneezing would act as a form of contraception, thus preventing pregnancy. Tags: greece , Greek culture , Greek customs , Greek history , Greek society , Greek traditions , Kalo Marti , March , March 1 , Marti , Spring , Spring in Greece , του Μάρτη ο ήλιος μην τη δει’ , ‘Απού ‘χει κόρη ακριβή The concept of philotimi holds a unique place in Greek social culture. If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked. Greek culture is known to be one of the most flavored and thorough in history, and each facet of it—from religion to ideology to mentalities and beliefs. As such, it was later suppressed in favor of other religions. The main things that characterize a nation are its history, tradition, and culture. The earth, the sea, the mountains, the rivers, custom-law (themis), and one’s share in society and its goods were all seen in personal as well as naturalistic terms. The most important action of Alexander the Great was spreading Greek culture throughout his empire. In this post, we will explore some Greek traditions in order … Mycenaean civilization originated and evolved from the society and culture of the Early and Middle Helladic periods in mainland Greece. There are either of a religious character or coming from paganism. Here are some of the funniest and weirdest Greek beliefs and traditions. Meet Eleni, the immensely talented Greek artist from Byron Bay Advertisment. Sneezing prevents you from getting pregnant This isn’t just some old wives’ tale, you see. By bringing the Greek language and customs to the eastern countries he began the Hellenistic era. In order to understand Greek values and how they are portrayed in Greek society, one must examine how some values are portrayed in the Odyssey: hospitality, intellect, and beauty. You all know that Greece is famous for its history and sunny days, so we have the first out of the three points. 1.