Before Christianity, There Was the Pagan Cult

Romans were not the only ones with a variety of gods. Pagan worshipping was prevalent throughout the world, there were many cults. Shortly before Christianity, keeping with tradition of Roman rulers revered as gods, Julius Caesar was selected to the ranks of divinity. Eventually, Christianity took hold, and replaced a myriad of Pagan cults, including Mithras, Apollo the sun god, the Asian Goddess of Fertility Cybele and especially popular with women was the Pagan deity Isis.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the historic novel The Celtic Prince Available here:

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ANCIENT HISTORY: How the Romans Changed the Olympics

Dedicated to Zeus, god of moral law and order and god of the elements with his iconic thunderbolt, the ancient Olympic games were religious in nature. The original Greek athletes were amateurs and the part they played in Hellenist culture was to spread the idea that practicing sports and physical games was good for the body and led to a harmonious lifestyle just as eating fresh healthy foods and sleeping well bring us a higher standard of living. Though the ancient Olympian athletes excelled at their sport, they were only amateurs. But excelling at an Olympic game was highly celebrated, boosting one’s notoriety in their Greek community. But history shows that when the Roman Empire conquered the European world (including the Olympic games), the religious aspect was dropped and the athletes were no longer the village youth who excelled but the most professional athletes the Romans could recruit from their vast Roman Empire beginning a new era exhibiting the Roman style of savage sport that was the norm at the Roman Colosseum where massive crowds cheered and gamblers placed their bets.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the historical series, The Lion’s Trace Available here:

The Lies of the Lion (Book 1)

The Guild (Book 2)

The Last Quadroon (Book 3)

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What is the Pantheon? What is the Parthenon?

Pantheon is a word used by several cultures; it is the name of the building housing the tomb of famous people. Taken from the ancient Roman and Greek use of the word, a pantheon is a temple dedicated to all the gods. Pas/pan means “all” and theos means “god”. The iconic Pantheon in Rome is such a temple.

Parthenos is Greek and means virgin or maid and was the word used especially for the Greek Goddess Athena. (Par means first). The goddess Athena of Greek religion was a civic goddess, wise in the arts of war but also in the industries of peace. So… the Parthenon is the Greek temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena. The temple (Pantheon) is in Athens and was built in the 5th century B.C.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the historical series, The Lion’s Trace Available here:

The Lies of the Lion (Book 1)

The Guild (Book 2)

The Last Quadroon (Book 3)

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What Is the Acropolis?

Taken from the words “akros” meaning highest and “polis” meaning city, the Acropolis in Athens Greece refers to the upper part of the city. The temple of the Greek Goddess Athena is located on this higher portion “Acropolis” that was built in the 5th century B.C. Ancient temples began as open air but throughout the years were built upon higher and higher.  Suellen Ocean is the author of the historical fiction The Celtic Prince Available here: http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Prince-Before-After/dp/1484086392

 

What is a Sphinx?

The Greeks came up with the name, sphingein meaning, “to strangle” because their own similar images were purported to hold riddles that strangled those unable to decipher them. Carved out of rock, the Great Egyptian Sphinx of Gizeh is a lion with a man’s head, beard and all, whom was said to have “haunted the Egyptian desert.” To imagine how large the Egyptian sphinx is (187 ft long, 66 ft tall) picture the outdoor temple that existed between the paws of the lion’s body. Other examples of composite monsters that could be called a sphinx have a jackal or a hawk’s head and occasionally have wings. Usually but not exclusively, the sphinx depicts a male creature.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the historical series, The Lion’s Trace Available here:

The Lies of the Lion (Book 1)

The Guild (Book 2)

The Last Quadroon (Book 3)

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

Greek Hero Slays Lion and Wears the Skin

It seems every culture where the lion roamed, has its own legends of heroic feats performed against one of mankind’s favorite beasts. One such story is the legend of the lion that continued to torment Greece’s Nemean Valley. Hercules (whom Scribner-Bantam dictionary describes as “the most famous hero of classical antiquity, son of Jupiter, known for his great strength”) killed this notorious lion and then (of all the nerve) went on to wear the skin of the poor dead lion. Every two years a sort of Olympics was held in Nemea and Greek athletes came from all corners of Greece to compete.

Suellen Ocean is the author of many books on diverse topics. Her books are available here:  http://www.amazon.com/Suellen-Ocean/e/B001KC7Z78