X RELIGION \\lJfcLfll\IlO\ Z^
Naturally the close connection between gods and men could
find expression also In human fears. Nowhere perhaps are
both aspects more strikingly revealed than in Euripides"
Htppolytos. Artemis is the loving, sister-like companion Aphro-
dite the fiendish hater and destroyer. The gods of the myths
held intercourse, either friendly or hostile, with men Euripides
used myth to paint the fate to which men have to succumb^ and
the forces which rule in their hearts. To ordinary men the gods
remained gods — near, personal and alive.
This peculiar quality of Greek religious feeling was the
ground on which every cult was based, Athens, "the holy city*,
was notorious for her many festivals.1 The 'piety' of the
Athenians, no doubt,, meant not so much inward vocation and
faith as those common bonds of cult which everyone took for
granted, the performance of acts which expressed obedience
to the foremost of the *Greek Commandments', to worship
the gods 3 This piety was Inseparably bound up with the
patriotic pride which the citizens took in their city, and which
was largely based on their belief that Athens was "most loved
by the gods*.18 It also included the natural elation of those
who took part in the Panathenaic procession5 and the harmless
vanity of women showing off on that occasion their best gar-
ments and jewels.4 Greek religion provided ample oppor-
tunities for all kinds of 'worldly7 pleasures because there was
no barrier between religion and ordinary life. What religious
worship demanded was in the main ritual service of one kind
or another. Ritual acts were often based on routine and
formula, but in general that, and that alone, was what the
people expected and wanted. Greek religion had little concern
for morals or for purely personal emotion. It was left to a few
1 K.582,1037, P 1036. - Ps -Xen. Ill, 2, 8
1 'The Three Greek Commandments* (a phrase of Headkin's) are (or
Tipov) 0eou$» yovsos? §£vous. Cf, eg, Pmd. P 6, 33!*, Aisch Hik 701 flF,
Eum. 2yoff, sgoff, Eur, Herakl 2368, 901!", frg 311, 853 These laws* are
now usually called vcSpoi dypocfoi (after Sokrates in Xen mem IV, 4, gf), but 1
believe tins is a misleading name, although it was through dvofjot that men would
cease honouring the gods (Eur, Her 7$7ff, 7?9» Iph T 275!) I read a paper on
the question of the vdpioi dyptopoi in Cambridge in 194:;, but 1 must lea\e a
more thorough investigation to a later opportunity
s K 5656 B 8z6f — Enpolis 307 Cf. also the polite inquiry of the messenger
in Eur El 79 J, whether foreigners were allowed to sacrifice together with the
citizens
; 1189!"