Question

In the Greek myth, Prometheus was a crafty human being who snuck up to Mount Olympus to steal fire from the gods. He brought it back down to the humans below and became a hero among men. When the gods discovered his treachery, they punished him to a life of pain. Prometheus was chained to a boulder in the underworld where he must stay for the rest of eternity. During the day, birds peck out his eyes and liver. At night, his liver and eyes grow back, so the birds can punish him again What can you infer about the ancient Greeks and how they regarded the gods from this passage? a. The ancient Greeks believed the gods to be kind and generous. c. The ancient Greeks didn’t believe in the gods. b. The ancient Greeks believed the gods to be vindictive and cruel, fearing them. d. none of the above

Answer 1

The correct answer is b. The ancient Greeks believed the gods to be vindictive and cruel, fearing them.

Indeed, Greek gods and goddesses were not seen as superior beings in terms of morality but in terms of power. They were to be feared because they were powerful and they behaved just like many humans, incapable of controlling their tempers and instincts an always indulging in whims that had nefarious consequences on mortal humans.

Greek gods were at the image of the humans who invented them; they could be good, peaceful and loving or wrathful, mean and bellicose depending on the circumstances and their emotional state.