The people of Athens in the time of Pericles had many religious beliefs and practices. People's beliefs and practices were often very important to the way they went about their everyday lives. Some of these practices would be visiting the temple, praying to the gods, and the many different festivals that were conducted throughout the year as a result of beliefs in different gods.

The first thing that is noticeable about the Athenian culture in Pericles' time is that the whole culture revolves around polytheistic beliefs, the worship of many gods. This is especially evident when looking at the Acropolis with its many temples dedicated to the different deities that were most commonly worshiped. Although the Athenian's were polytheistic and therefore divided in their allegiances to the gods they all worshiped showed immense respect to the god of their beloved city, Athena. The Parthenon was the chief temple in the Acropolis; it was dedicated to the cities patron goddess Athena. On the outside of the temple there was a frieze that depicts the birth of the goddess Athena as well as her battle with the god Poseidon for the city of Athens. Another frieze on the temp

le shows one of the most important religious events that occurred in Athens called the Panathenaic procession. This festival occurred once a year and during this festival a new peplos or dress was carried up to the acropolis and placed on the wooden statue of Athena.

9. The entrails of the animal were cooked separately and were the first to be eaten

The Panathanaea was a festival that was held in honor of the patron goddess of the city, Athena. Though this festival was held every year, every four years it was celebrated on a much greater scale and was called the Great Panathanaea. All of the people in Athens attended this festival whether they were man or woman, young or old, and free and slave. When celebrating this festival there was always a lot a person could do there were horse races to watch, musical contests, poetry recitations, and athletic competitions to attend. The highlight and main ritual practiced at this festival was the precession to the Acropolis via the Panathenaic way to present the wooden statue of Athena a peplos.

In conclusion the beliefs and practices of the Athenians in the time of Pericles were extremely important to the everyday life that each of them lived because they defined the bases of their culture and way that they went about doing things.

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