Ancient Greece The World example essay topic

Religious and Philosophical Factors In ancient Greece, worship to the gods took place in splendid and huge temples. Temples to Apollo, Zeus and Athena remain to remind us of the importance of religion in Greek history. The people understood their world through the concept of a multi-god society. Their relationship with the gods did not include a personal relationship with a god. With the arrival of the Apostle Paul in the fall of 48 AD (Menard us, 1994), the people of Greece were introduced to the concept of one God Whom they could! ^0 know!

+/- (St. Paul, The Book of Acts, NIV). In the marketplaces of Athens and Corinth, St. Paul preached the! ^0 Good News! +/- of the Scriptures to the people. One can imagine what a change this news was for the people of Greece. All of their life they had understood how their multi-god world worked, and now they were hearing news of one God. Many churches were started during the time of Paul!'s ministry in Greece.

St. Timothy started a church in Crete and St. Andrew!'s Church in Patras are but two examples of the movement of Christianity across Greece. Many more churches and monasteries were erected during the Byzantine period and many of these beautiful buildings today provide a quiet and restful place for meditation and prayer. Visitors are welcome to enter and light a candle as prayer is offered for an individual. Beautiful mosaics that depict the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ adorn the walls and ceilings of the churches. Ninety eight percent of the population in Greece today is Greek Orthodox. The Orthodox priest is central to the community of believers and is present at important family and community events.

The sacraments of Holy Communion, Holy Confession and Holy Unction are very important and provide strength for the Orthodox Christian (Coni aris, 1982). Cultural Values and Life ways Through observation the author noted that Greek people are hospitable and social. They enjoy food and the atmosphere for dining is festive. Colorful native dancing often adds to the festivity of the atmosphere in the local tavernas.

Dining out occurs late into the evening and diners take their time to enjoy the food and fellowship. No one seems to hurry with their meal. The diet in Greece is rich in cheese, fruits, vegetables, fish and other meats. Food is often linked with the celebration of certain holidays. The Greek diet has been studied to examine the use of use of olive oil and other items specific to the Mediterranean region (Castro-Pan agis, J., 1996; Da cou-Voutekakis, C. et. al, 1992; Hassapidou, M.N. et. Al, 1997 and His er, E., 1995).

There is concern about the increase in the number of diseased that could be related to changes in their diet. It is important for the culturally sensitive nurse to be knowledgeable of dietary pattern and priorities, and to understand current health problems that may be directly related to those patterns. Culture in Greece is intimately connected to the history of the country. Much can be learned from studying the archeological sites and the remnants of ancient civilizations.

From ancient Greece the world has benefited from the great playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. Sculpture dating back to Archaic times was seen at several museums. The great literature of Homer and Plato continues to enrich modern life.