Greek History Community

Weird Ancient Greek superstitions

1 - 5 of 5 Posts
A

axariotisxy

Active member
Did you know that some Ancient Greeks wouldn't eat beans because they said they contained the souls of dead people....eeek! Do you know of any other superstitions?
 
  • Like
Reactions: dubai_suzie
I did a google search and it seems that few traditions have remained from the ancient times. I don't know if they were recorded in history
 
axariotisxy said:
Did you know that some Ancient Greeks wouldn't eat beans because they said they contained the souls of dead people....eeek! Do you know of any other superstitions?
Click to expand...

This is something I have never heard before, but I find it fascinating! Is this possibly a "Christmas" tradition that began in Ancient Greece?

www.greekboston.com

What Are the Kalikantzaroi?

Here's an overview of the Kalikantzaroi, which is part of Greek Christmas folk lore.
www.greekboston.com www.greekboston.com
 
I've always been fascinated by how ancient beliefs affect what people still do today. After reading about some of these old Greek superstitions, I ended up talking to someone at trusted-psychics.co.uk just to see how modern interpretations compare. Was surprised how much of the old stuff still comes up, like wearing certain colors or carrying charms for protection. It's interesting how these things stick around.
 
Last edited:
1 - 5 of 5 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Where did the Greek alphabet come from?

I was in Greece a few months ago and came across some very early Greek tablets in a small local museum, and the script completely surprised me. Instead of anything resembling the familiar Greek alphabet we use today, it looked almost like a mix of symbols and hieroglyphic-style markings. It made me realize how little I actually know about the evolution of Greek writing!

So now I’m curious: Where did our modern Greek alphabet come from?
How did we get from those early pictographic or syllabic scripts to the alphabet we recognize now, with letters like Α, Β, Γ, Δ?

I know about Linear A and Linear B in the Bronze Age, but I’m not sure how (or if!) they connect to the later alphabet. Was it an adaptation of the Phoenician script? A direct evolution? Something else entirely?

Would love a clear explanation or timeline from anyone who knows the history.

Greek life under Roman rule?

I’ve been reading more about Greek history lately, especially periods that don’t get as much everyday attention, and I keep coming back to Greek life under Roman Empire rule.

I know the broad timeline, Greece absorbed into the Roman world, cities continuing to function, Greek culture influencing Rome as much as the other way around — but I’m really curious about the lived experience. What did daily life actually feel like for ordinary Greeks during this period? How much continuity was there with earlier Hellenistic life, and where did Roman administration, law, or customs really change things?

I love history most when I can picture it: streets, homes, education, food, language, religion. Were people aware they were living in a “Roman” era, or did it feel like Greek life with a new layer on top?

If anyone has thoughts, favorite books, articles, documentaries, or even museum resources, I’d love recommendations.

How did Greek culture survive 400 years of Ottoman rule?

I’ve always wondered how Greece managed to preserve its language, traditions, and Orthodox faith through centuries of Ottoman rule. It’s incredible when you think about how many other cultures were absorbed or erased under similar empires — yet the Greek identity endured and even strengthened.

Was it the role of the Church, keeping education and faith alive? Or the family unit, passing down stories, songs, and recipes in secret? I’ve also heard about “kryfo scholio,” the hidden schools that taught children Greek language and history. Do historians believe those really existed?

I’m curious what you think made Greek culture so resilient during that time. Was it resistance, pride, faith, or just the everyday stubbornness to remain who they were? How did such a deep cultural continuity survive against all odds?

What was life like under Roman Greece?

I’ve been going down a bit of a Greek history rabbit hole lately, and I realized I don’t know much about what everyday life was like when Greece was under Roman rule.

We always hear so much about classical Greece and then later Byzantine history, but that Roman period feels a little less talked about, at least in detail.

I’m curious how much actually changed for people living there at the time. Did daily life feel very different from earlier Greek periods, or did a lot of traditions and culture continue as usual? And how did Greeks view Roman authority, was it accepted, resisted, or somewhere in between?

If anyone has insights, favorite sources, or even small details about daily life, I’d love to hear them.

How Democratic Was Athenian Democracy?

I’ve been studying the democracy of Athens lately, and I find it fascinating that such an influential system didn’t actually last very long in its original form. It’s often described as the birthplace of democracy, and yet when you look closely, it seems both groundbreaking and limited at the same time.

On the one hand, the idea of citizens participating directly in decision-making was radical. On the other hand, citizenship excluded women, enslaved people, and foreigners, which dramatically narrowed who had a voice. It makes me wonder how “democratic” it really was by its own standards, let alone ours.

I’m also curious how stable it truly felt at the time, given the political upheavals and eventual decline.

For those who’ve studied this period more deeply, how do you interpret Athenian democracy? Do you see it as a bold experiment that laid the groundwork for modern systems, or as something far more fragile and constrained?
Share and discuss Greek history!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top