Hellenism's Influence on the Religions.

## **EXISTENTIALIST *MEETUP*** \- Melbourne\, Australia\. Our monthly online Meetup presentation on the **History of Religion**. The presentations are followed by questions, comments and discussion. All viewpoints welcome. **Early Religion: An Alternative History.** What do the historians and archaeologists think of the veracity of religious legends? Legends are an amalgamation of history and mythology. But how much of each? ***"HELLENISM'S INFLUENCE ON THE RELIGIONS"*** Following Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire in 330 BC, the subsequent Hellenic Empires encouraged their various subject ethnicities to keep their own traditional religions. Nevertheless the religions were influenced and impacted by Hellenism: In the Seleucid Empire the Zoroastrian religion's human Messiah became intensely anticipated and came to be regarded as divine. Consequently, the Parthian Empire's religion was a form of Hellenized Zoroastrianism. The Ptolemaic Empire's Isis religion incorporated the Eleusinian Mysteries. The one exception to Hellenic tolerance was Judea, where a Seleucid Emperor, Antiochus IV, attempted in vain to suppress its religion. **David Miller** will present the topic and lead the discussion. Background information for those interested: Wikipedia's entry on the **[Hellenistic Period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_period#)** The Zoom Link will appear for those who RSVP. Meeting ID: 843 9423 4766 - - Passcode: 248037 Existentialist Society's **[Website](http://www.existentialistmelbourne.org/) \- \- \- [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@existentialistsociety8453) \- \- \- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072043717978)**