The Differences in Religious Practices between Spartans and Athenians

Spartans and Athenians were very similar in their religion, both being polytheistic and believing in the Olympian gods, but I need at least one difference in religion between the two.

Final answer:

The main difference in religious practices between Spartans and Athenians lies in the Spartan's greater emphasis on Ares, the god of war, which reflects their militant society. While all Greeks worshipped a pantheon of gods, each city-state had deities that resonated more with their values and culture.

Explanation:

The religions of Sparta and Athens had many similarities, as both worshipped the Olympian gods, but there were indeed differences in how they revered certain deities. Spartans had a martial culture, and thus, Ares—the god of war—was held in high regard, aligning with their societal values. Athenians, known for their naval prowess and democratic governance, had a patron deity different from Ares. Athena was their chosen goddess, embodying wisdom and warfare, who was especially honored in Athens, as evident by the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to her. Therefore, the main answer to the question would be (B) 'Spartans had a greater emphasis on the worship of Ares.'

While the Spartans and Athenians shared the same pantheon, differences in their cultures and values are reflected in those gods they revered most. Option (D), suggesting Spartans didn't believe in Zeus, is incorrect, as Zeus was a central figure in Greek religion and worshipped by all Greek city-states, including Sparta. Options (A) and (C) are also incorrect as Athenians primarily worshipped Athena, not Poseidon or Artemis, though these gods had their own significance in Athenian culture as with other Greek deities.

In conclusion, though both were polytheistic, Spartans and Athenians had distinctions in their religious practices that mirrored their respective societal values, with Sparta's veneration of Ares as a prime example.