Greek religion visual resources

what is this

a black figure vase called panathenaic amphora, c. 333-332 BC

who is this woman

Athena, in between two Doric columns

what is this and what is it’s features

a red figure plaque, called the Ninnion tablet, c.400-300 BC

what is being shown

initiates of the cult of Eleusis - led by the god Iacchus - approaching the goddesses Demeter and Persephone

what’s the significance of the Ninnion tablet

it shows a ritual taking place at the Eleusinian Mysteries

what is this

Anatomical votive relief from the shrine of Asclepius, made of marble relief, c. 1st century AD

what’s significant about the Anatomical votive relief from the shrine of Asclepius

it’s an example of the votive offering left to Asclepius after a cure was recieved

what is this building

The Parthenon in the Athenian Acropolis, a religious site in the Attica that was rebuilt in the mid to late 5th century BC

what festivals take place at the Parthenon

the Panathenaia

who commissioned the rebuilding of the Parthenon

Pericles, after the Persians sacked Athens in 480 BC

what is this

the statue of Athena Parthenos in the Acropolis,sculpted by Pheidias

what dates was Pheidos alive

480-430 BC

what is this building

The Erechtheion in the Acropolis

what was significant about the Erechtheion

it was where Athena and Poseidon allegedly competed for patronage, and it also held the grave of king Kekrops, and it also held six caryatids on its south porch, facing the Parthenon

what is this

the temple of Apollo in Delphi, a Panhellenic sanctuary and site of the Pythian oracle of Apollo

when was the earliest known building at the site of Delphi built

6th century BC

what game was held at the sanctuary of Apollo

the Pythian games

what key buildings made up the sanctuary of Apollo

The temple of Apollo, the Sacred way, the Theatre and the stadium

how did the temple of Apollo look

6 columns in front, 15 on the side, an adyton,perhaps a wooden and golden statue of Apollo and a laurel tree

what is an adyton

a room believed to be where the Pynthia would speak the oracle

what is the naos

the main room of the temple of Apollo

what is significant about the the laurel tree in the sanctuary of Apollo

it was thought that the Pynthia would chew its leaves to reach the prophetic state

what did the East pediment in the temple of Apollo depict

Apollo arriving in a chariot with the gods around him, there were also lions eating animals, which may have showed the gods’ rule over mortals

what did the West pediment in the temple of Apollo depict

the Gigantomachy with Zeus in the centre

where and what was the Sacred Way

south-east of the sanctuary of Apollo, it’s a path leading to the temple of Apollo, the stoas, and some treasuries

what was the sanctuary of Apollo’s terrain like

it was very steep, built on slopes of Mount Parnassus, meaning the ground was uneven

what did the terrain add to the journey to the sanctuary of Apollo

it created wonder and excitement, as visitors could not see it from below

where was the theatre in the sanctuary of Apollo and what’s significant about it

north-west of the temple, it’s the only competition space in the religious land, as the stadium is just outside it

when was the theatre in Delphi built and what was its capacity

originally it had a capacity of 5000 and it was built in the early 4th century

what was before the Pythian games and how often was it held

before it was the Pythian festival, held every 8 years

what was the theatre used for in Delphi

singing, kithara playing and flute playing

where is the stadium in the sanctuary of Apollo located and when was it built/ restored

north-west, just outside the Temenos wall , built in the 5th century and rebuilt again in the 2nd century AD

what sort of sports would be held in the stadium of Delphi

running races and field events like javelin

what is this and what is it showing

a red-figure attic kylix showing a consultation of the Pythia, c. 440-430 BC by the Kodros painter

what is the Pythia doing

sitting on her tripod, holding a laurel branch and liberation bowl. Before her is a wreathed consultant

where is Olympia

in the central west of the Peloponnese

what’s one difference between Olympia and Delphi

Delphi was controlled by a group of city-states while Olympia was under the authority of one city, Elis

what is this building

the temple of Zeus

when was Olympia built

the first buildings date back to the 6th century BC

key buildings at Olympia

the temple of Zeus, the ash altar of Olympian Zeus, the treasuries, the Echo Stoa and the stadium

what does the east pediment at the temple of zeus depict

Pelops and Oinomaos with Zeus between them

what does the west pediment at the temple of zeus depict

the Centauromachy

what do the metopes of the temple of zeus show

the 12 labours of Heracles

what was inside the temple of zeus

Pheidias’ statue of Zeus

what is this and when does it date

the Echo Stoa, dating to the mid 4th century

what was held in the Echo Stoa

competitions for trumpeters

what is this

an attic red-figure stamnos, c.450-430 BC

what does this show

part of a blood sacrifice, with a horn of an ox on the altar, Nike, and a flute player