Hellenistic religion is any of the various systems of beliefs and practices of the people who lived under the influence of ancient
Greek culture during the
Hellenistic period and the
Roman Empire (c. 300 BCE to 300 CE). There was much continuity in Hellenistic religion: the
Greek gods continued to be worshiped, and the same rites were practiced as before. Change came from the addition of new religions from other countries, such as including the
Egypt god(esse)s of
Isis and
Serapis, and the
Syria gods of
Atargatis and of
Hadad, which provided a new outlet for people seeking fulfillment in both the present life and the
afterlife. The worship of Hellenistic rulers was also a feature of this period, most notably in Egypt, where the
Ptolemies adopted earlier pharaonic practice, and established themselves as god-kings. Elsewhere rulers might receive divine status without the full status of a god.
Magic was practiced widely, and these too, were a continuation from earlier times. Throughout the Hellenistic world, people would consult
oracles, and use
charms and figurines to deter misfortune or to cast spells. Also developed in this era was the complex system of
astrology, which sought to determine a person's character and future in the movements of the
sun,
moon, and
planets. The systems of
Hellenistic philosophy, such as
Stoicism and
Epicureanism, offered an alternative to traditional religion, even if their impact was largely limited to the educated elite.
Classical Greek...
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