Difference between revisions of "Gods & Demigods"

From 4 Enoch: : The Online Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism, and Christian and Islamic Origins
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 3: Line 3:
==Gods and Lords in the Greco-Roman World==
==Gods and Lords in the Greco-Roman World==


In Greek Mythology there were many gods (twelve of them were the highest who were believed to live on Mount Olympus).
In ancient polytheism "divinity" was not restricted to one God or a group of gods. People believed that there were different degrees of divinity.
 
In Greek-Roman Mythology there was a complex hierarchy of "divine beings."
 
At the top there were the "gods" (THEOI), the highest twelve gods who were believed to live on Mount Olympus, lead by their king ''Zeus''.


[[File:Council Gods Raphael.jpg|600px]]
[[File:Council Gods Raphael.jpg|600px]]
Line 11: Line 15:




Then there were many demigods, the superheroes of antiquity.
Then there were many demigods (or "Lords" [KYRIOI]), the superheroes of antiquity.


Usually, they were children of gods and humans:  
Usually, they were children of gods and humans, like [[Orpheus]], [[Perseus]] or [[Aesculapius]]:  


[[File:Orpheus.jpg|200px]] -- [[File:Perseus.jpg|200px]] -- [[File:Aesculapius.jpg|200px]]
[[File:Orpheus.jpg|200px]] -- [[File:Perseus.jpg|200px]] -- [[File:Aesculapius.jpg|200px]]
Line 19: Line 23:




Or were "adopted" by a god as "sons of God" (Alexander the Great, Augustus, Nero)
Or were "adopted" by a god as "sons of God" ([[Alexander the Great]], [[Augustus]], [[Nero]])





Revision as of 06:51, 1 February 2016

The existence of many Gods was assumed by most people in antiquity

Gods and Lords in the Greco-Roman World

In ancient polytheism "divinity" was not restricted to one God or a group of gods. People believed that there were different degrees of divinity.

In Greek-Roman Mythology there was a complex hierarchy of "divine beings."

At the top there were the "gods" (THEOI), the highest twelve gods who were believed to live on Mount Olympus, lead by their king Zeus.

Council Gods Raphael.jpg

See also Twelve Olympians


Then there were many demigods (or "Lords" [KYRIOI]), the superheroes of antiquity.

Usually, they were children of gods and humans, like Orpheus, Perseus or Aesculapius:

Orpheus.jpg -- Perseus.jpg -- Aesculapius.jpg


Or were "adopted" by a god as "sons of God" (Alexander the Great, Augustus, Nero)


Alexander Great.jpg - Emperor Augustus.jpg - Emperor Nero.jpg



In recent times the demigods have become popular iv TV series and videogames:


Xena.jpg Hercules Disney.jpg Achilles Troy.jpg


Demigods Modern.jpg

God and Lords in Judaism

For Jews (and early Christians) there is only one God (THEOS) in heaven: the Father and Maker of Everything:

" We know that no idol in the world really exists, and that "there is no God but one. 5 Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as in fact there are many gods and many lords-- 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

God Father Cima.jpg


Below God are Angels (LORDS) :

Angel Peace.jpg Angel Michael Reni.jpg


or a few humans who have become angels (Enoch and Elijah):

1728 Hoet (art).jpg Elijah Ascent.jpg



Where is the risen Jesus?

Resurrection PieroFrancesca.jpg

See Letter to the Hebrews