Bizarre & Creepy Things The Greeks Did"
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Ancient Greece is renowned for its contributions to philosophy, art, science, and politics. However, alongside these remarkable achievements, the Greeks also engaged in practices and customs that might seem bizarre or creepy to modern sensibilities. Here are some of the strangest and most unsettling things the Greeks did:
### 1. **Oracles and Divination**
The ancient Greeks placed immense trust in oracles and divination, seeking guidance from the gods through various means. The Oracle of Delphi was one of the most famous, where a priestess known as the Pythia would enter a trance and deliver cryptic prophecies. People believed these predictions were divine messages, and they often influenced major political and military decisions.
### 2. **Exposure of Infants**
In ancient Greece, it was a common practice to expose unwanted infants, leaving them outside to die or be taken by strangers. This was often done to children who were deemed weak, deformed, or simply unwanted due to economic or social reasons. While some of these infants might be rescued and raised by others, many perished.
### 3. **Symposiums and Drinking Parties**
Symposiums were social gatherings where Greek men would recline on couches, drink heavily, and engage in philosophical debates, poetry recitations, and games. These gatherings often featured excessive drinking, which sometimes led to drunken antics, brawls, and debauchery. The intense focus on alcohol consumption and revelry might seem unsettling from a modern perspective.
### 4. **Public Nudity**
Public nudity was commonplace in ancient Greece, particularly in athletic and military contexts. Men would compete in athletic events completely nude, believing it demonstrated their physical prowess and dedication to the gods. This practice extended to training and social activities, where nudity was seen as natural and honorable.
### 5. **Funeral Practices**
Ancient Greek funerary customs included some practices that might appear creepy today. For example, it was customary to place a coin in the mouth of the deceased to pay Charon, the ferryman who would transport their soul across the River Styx to the underworld. Additionally, elaborate rituals and mourning periods, including public displays of grief, were common.
### 6. **Human Sacrifice**
While not as prevalent as in some other ancient cultures, there is evidence that human sacrifice occasionally took place in ancient Greece. Certain myths and historical accounts suggest that sacrifices were made to appease the gods during times of crisis or to ensure success in critical endeavors, such as wartime.
### 7. **Blood Rituals and Magic**
The Greeks practiced various forms of magic and ritualistic blood offerings. Blood from animals, and occasionally humans, was used in rituals to invoke the gods, seek vengeance, or cast spells. These practices were part of the broader belief in the power of supernatural forces to influence everyday life.
### 8. **Erotic Art and Literature**
Ancient Greek art and literature were often highly erotic, depicting scenes of sexual encounters, both heterosexual and homosexual, with explicit detail. This openness about sexuality extended to public life, where relationships between older men and younger boys, known as pederasty, were socially accepted and often idealized in literature and philosophy.
### 9. **Necromancy**
Necromancy, or communicating with the dead, was a practice in ancient Greece. Necromancers would perform rituals to summon spirits and seek their counsel. These rituals often took place in dark, secluded locations like caves or burial sites and involved elaborate rites to ensure the spirits' cooperation.
### 10. **Self-Inflicted Wounds**
In some religious and ritual contexts, Greeks would inflict wounds on themselves as a form of devotion or to gain the favor of the gods. This practice, known as self-flagellation, was believed to demonstrate piety and commitment to divine will.
### Conclusion
Ancient Greece, with its rich tapestry of cultural, religious, and social practices, was a civilization of contrasts. While it laid the foundation for much of Western civilization, it also harbored customs that seem bizarre or creepy to contemporary observers. Understanding these practices provides a fuller picture of the complexities and nuances of ancient Greek society.