Do we know if historical people’s viewed their religions literally, or figuratively?

by Phranquelyhnne

For example, did anyone ever climb Olympus looking for Zeus? Also, how common was it for non-believers to be upfront about their opinions? Were atheists or agnostics "out"?

DanKensington

Ah yes, the matter of ancient belief in their religion. This is one of the more common threads that pop up, but if anyone would like to put in their contribution, they're more than welcome to do so! For the meantime, here are some previous answers that address this matter: