Why ancient greeks worshiped gods and goddesses?

Question

Why ancient greeks worshiped gods and goddesses?

Answer 1

They made up people to explain their surroundings.  And tried to do good deeds for them to get favors, like rain or whatever.

Answer 2

Fedora Freak was very rude. You are talking about a period in history prior to Christianity. Nations such as Egypt, Norway, China, India, etc. all had versions of Gods. In my opinion they were just as valid as the ones we worship today, it is all myth.

Answer 3

Why did the Japanese? Why did the Incans? Why did the Indians? Why did the Sumerians? Why did the Egyptians? Why did the Romans? Why did the Israelites? Why did the Libyans? Why did the Chinese?

Horribly idiotic question. Every society has had religion at at least one point in their history. In fact, I'm not particularly sure how any human mind could conceive of asking this question.

I would like to rant longer, but I fear that it shan't be read.

Answer 4

there were different gods for different aspects of life

they believed that they would bring prosperity

for example worshiping hades god of the underworld would ensure that they were happy in the afterlife

poseidon was the god of the sea and worshipping him would ensre saftey in the ocean while exploring or fishing

Answer 5

For the same reason why all the other cultures did. They didn't know how to explain the nature and its effects, so they invented Gods. By the way, I think that's pretty much why all religions were created, including these ones that exist today. Human beings feel too weak compared to nature, there are too many questions they can't answer, too many mysteries they can't explain, so it's the easiest to say "God made it all". I personally am not religious and no offence to those who are, but I think everything has a logical scientific explanation.

Answer 6

Pretty simple really and its embedded in the human psyche . All ancient civilizations tried to explain and by that in turn understand natural phenomenon by something they could relate to.  Their explanations usually were that beings who looked like them but were more powerful could control everything around them and these beings demanded worship by the mere mortals. So ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Japanese, Inca etc. etc. all worshipped these powerful beings who they thought could control their mortal existence.  :-)