“The Ancient Greeks, as with many societies always put great emphasis on the past and the future. Their religious ceremonies were to gain the favor of the gods, honor the past, and ask for a good future. The more extravagant the festival, the more honor to the god. The Greek people would want to carry the god’s favor for many reasons. The gods knew the future, the past, and the present and they embodied many important human characteristics such as jealousy, rage, and vengeance. The gods could protect them from famine, and just as easily expose them and their descendants to the worst things imaginable. No one quality exemplifies the power of the gods more than their control of one’s fate. They place a human on a linear line of life, and set them in the straightaway motion of living. This goes against a basic backbone of many other societies, the existence and practice of freewill. The Greek gods deprived its people of this and effectively made people the playthings of the gods. These powers vaulted the gods to a stature that could inspire fear, and also instill reverence for the ceremonies and festivals that were such a large part of Greek life and history.”