Final answer:
The ancient Greeks used oracles, soothsayers, and prophets to uncover the will of the gods. Oracles like the Oracle of Delphi were crucial for divine communication. The later philosophical movements, led by sophists and others, began to question traditional beliefs, shifting focus to human reasoning and critical thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
In their efforts to uncover the will of the gods, the ancient Greeks primarily made use of oracles. Oracles were considered sacred conduits through which the gods communicated with people. One of the most famous ancient Greek oracles was the Oracle of Delphi, where the priestess Pythia delivered cryptic predictions and advice. The Greeks also engaged with soothsayers and prophets, who claimed the ability to predict the future and interpret the gods' will, often through various forms of divination. Additionally, prophets may have had a role in interpretation of divine messages, though they are more prominently featured in other ancient cultures. This reliance on spiritual intermediaries was indicative of a deeply religious society where understanding the favour or displeasure of the gods was crucial to navigating one's life and civic duty.
Greek philosophers and sophists later began to challenge the traditional views of the gods and proposed that human existence could be explained without reliance on divine intervention. Philosophers brought critical thinking and debate to the forefront, and sophists like Protagoras posited that man is the measure of all things, suggesting a more human-centric worldview. By the classical period, there was a diverse range of beliefs regarding the gods, their influence, and the nature of virtue and success. This era saw a shift from the unquestioning acceptance of divine will to a more complex understanding of morality, knowledge, and the fabric of society.