Ancient pantheons
- Origin
- from about 3500 BC into the early Middle Ages
- Sacred text
- myths and temple traditions
- Followers today
- no large communities left
Many gods, for example in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and among Celts and Germanic peoples.
Origin
Ancient pantheons are the religions of the early advanced civilizations: Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and many others. They arose from about 3500 BC and partly lasted into the early Middle Ages.
Beliefs and practice
People worshipped many gods responsible for nature, war, love or harvest. Temples, priests, sacrifices and festivals shaped daily life. Myths explained the world, for example the stories of Zeus, Isis or Jupiter.
Spread
The Romans adopted many Greek gods. The Celts, Germanic and Slavic peoples had their own cults. With the rise of Christianity and Islam, the old gods were gradually replaced.
Today
There are no large communities any more. Small neopagan groups take up old traditions. The myths live on in art, language and constellations.
Good to know
- Many planets bear the names of Roman gods.
- The Greeks saw their gods living on Mount Olympus.
- The Egyptians built their pyramids as tombs for pharaohs.
Figures are rough estimates, rounded, based on self-reported survey data.
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