Studied by 19 people
hiereia
a greek priestess
common offerings
libations
food offerings
valuable objects
animal sacrifices (4)
an animal is killed at the altar and its blood was allowed to cover the altar
the priestess would pray and some of the animal meat would be burnt for the gods
all female celebrants would shout ‘ololyge’
all celebrants would then have a communal feat with the remaining meat
mantis
a prophet, seer or soothsayer
how did the manteis divine messages from the gods (4)
examine the entrails after an animal sacrifice
for a specific question, the mantis would inspect the internal organs
interpreting flights patterns of birds
interpreting weather changes
were manteis legit?
many of their prophecies were often vague so that they could leave a lot of room to interpretation (so they could not be proven wrong and their reputation damaged)
how to identify a mantis (2)
holding a liver in her hand
standing near a palm tree
who was the pythia
the most important greek mantis
where would the pythia reside?
sanctuary of apollo at delphi
how to identify a pythia?
she’s sitting on a tripod
she may be holding a laurel branch
her head is covered
holding a libation
visited by a man
how would the pythia prepare to give a prophecy?
on the seventh day of each month (consultation day)
she’d bathe herself in a nearby spring
she’d garland herself with bay leaves
she’d sit on a tripod
she’d burn barley and laurel leaves as an offering to apollo, and breathe in the fumes and go into a trance-like state
how would the Pythia give the prophecy?
she ‘temporarily allowed apollo to take control of her body’ when she inhaled the fumes
inquirers (always men) brought offerings and sacrificed an animal before asking a question
the pythia would make noises which would be interpreted by a temple priest
normally these were also quite ambiguous
why was the great panathenaia held
to honour the birthday of Athena
to celebrate the victory of the gods over the titans (the gigantomachy)
when was the great panathenaia celebrated?
the panathenaia was held every year for athena’s birthday
every four years, the great panathenaia would be held to celebrate the gigantomachy
who took part in the great panathenaia?
everyone except slaves
what were some of the events at the great panathenaia?
wrestling
running
chariot racing
poetry reading
javelin
what was the role of women in the great panathenaia?
they could watch the events
they were part of the procession on day six
making the peplos (panathenaia)
the peplos was woven by Ergastinai (professional weavers)
on a loom set up by four Arrephoroi (minor priestesses)
the peplos was paraded through the streets during the procession and given to the statue of the goddess Athena on a temple in the acropolis
what is a peplos?
a long dress that reaches the floor
Athena’s woven peplos would be dyed purple and saffron (two of the most expensive colours)
why was the Thesmophoria held?
to honour Demeter and ensure the success of the next years harvest
when was the thesmophoria held?
every autumn
who took part in the thesmophoria?
the festival was exclusively for married athenian women
how long was the thesmophoria?
three days
what events took place each day of the thesmophoria?
day 1 - worshippers took up temporary assembly near the Pnyx
day 2 - worshippers would fast and sit on the ground, covering themselves in ashes
day 3 - worshippers would pray for blessings related to fertility
What other rituals were done for the thesmophoria?
(some time before) piglets would be cast into a chasm and their decomposed remains would be retrieved during the festival. these remains were mixed with corn seed and laced on the altar, then scattered on the fields
the women would make crude jokes to one other
what type of cult were the thesmophoria and the worship of dionysus?
they were both mystery cults - only the ones who were part of the festivals were allowed to know the details
what happened during the worship of dionysus?
women would go out into the countryside and become intoxicated and dance and sing
what were the worshipers of dionysus called?
maenads
how to identify a maenad
loose hair
ivory crown
holding a thrysus
loose clothing or exposing clothing
wearing leopard skin / near leopards
barefoot
how would women help during burial rites (6)
wash the body
dress any wounds
anoint the body with perfumed oils
clothe the body in white burial shroud
place garlands of flowers on the body
place a coin in the mouth of the dead person
how would women mourn?
they’d cut their hair short
dress in tattered clothing
dirty themselves with ashes
wail
tear their hair
scratch their cheeks till they drew blood
which type of women would prepare the body for burial?
direct relatives
women over the age of sixty
what happens on the third day after death?
the body is carried in a procession called the ekphora from the deceased’s house to the burial site
what were unmarried girls buried with?
in their wedding clothes, signifying they are wedded to death
Note 
Flashcard (93)