Divine Interventions

The gods are far from ambiguous, ready to blow the wind in favor of some, and ready to shape the world into what they like. Greeks knew this, and used it to favor their desires and ideas, always keeping gods at their side. Different gods would fight over territories and people to be the one who most people pray to. Cities had their local god, to which they gave the most importance over the others, being careful not to offend other gods in the process. “Athens was her chosen seat, her own city, awarded to her as the prize of a contest with Neptune, who also aspired to it.” Minerva was the main goddess of Athens, title she by gifting humans with olive oil. Most of the deeds and tales of heroes told in myths would not have been possible without the help and advice of gods that favor the hero in the story. In the myth of Perseus and Medusa, it all would have ended in tragedy without the divine interventions. “Perseus, favored by Minerva and Mercury, the former of whom lent him her shield and the latter his winged shoes.” With the shield he was able to look at Minerva in the reflection, avoiding her powers of transforming him into a rock. Alone, people can be weak and ignorant, but with a god behind their back they are able to accomplish all that Greek heroes did. In Greek myths, any character that lacked immortal characteristics, was simply a mortal representation of a god with similar qualities. People used to offer their riches and possessions to the gods to have them at their side; it was a constant struggle to keep the gods happy. The Greek civilization evolved around the gods, religion serving as its main pillar. Religion has always had a great influence in the world and the people in many different aspects. Even today people trust many problems to the gods they believe in, and as the Greeks did, they attribute events to them. We must accept the reality and take the consequences for both good and bad on our own hands, there is no such thing as blaming gods for our mistakes.