People in ancient Greece believed in many gods. On one hand gods and goddesses were like normal people who showed feelings but on the other hand they possessed abilities that humans didn’t. They could foretell the future and live forever.

Normal people thought that gods and goddesses watched them and observed what they did in everyday life. They spoke to the people through oracles, holy places where priests had contact with gods. The most important oracle was at Delphi.

Zeus was the most important god. He and his wife Hera lived on Mount Olympus. Other gods and goddesses included

  • Aphrodite, the goddess of love
  • Eros, god of love
  • Apollo, the god of light
  • Ares, the god of war
  • Athena, the goddess of wisdom



Words

  • ability = skill, talent that you have
  • foretell = to say what will happen in the future
  • goddess = a female god
  • human = a person
  • observe = watch
  • possess = have, own
  • priest = a person who performs special church events
  • wisdom = what you have learned over many years