temples - myth and religion

sanctuary

holy area in city or town that contained a temple and an altar to a god. separated from the city by a wall

pollution

when has a person has done something to make them impure in the eyes of a god (ie homicide) but could be immediately removed by washing

pteron

colonnade around the temple

pronaos

vestibule at the front of a classical temple

naos/cella

main room in the temple where the cult statue stood

ospithodomos

rear porch of the temple often served as a treasury

hexastyle

six columned portico

octastyle

having eight columns in the end or front

pediment

triangular space at either end of the temple

frieze

continuous strip of stone or marble that runs around a temple

metope

square spaces within a frieze

ionic frieze

strip used by sculptors to tell a story

doric frieze

strip with metopes used by sculptors to tell a story

where was the parthenon located

acropolis, athens

what was the purpose of the parthenon

to honour athena, the patron goddess, and to symbolise the power of athens after the victory over the persians

what was the parthenon’s functions

temple and treasury

when was the parthenon made

447-432 BC

who was the parthenon commissioned by

pericles

who was the architect of the parthenon

phidias

what material was the parthenon made from

marble

what was the style of the parthenon

doric and ionic

what was the orientation of the parthenon

east to west

what did the parthenon stand on

three-stepped base

what was the parthenon surrounded by

colonnade

what was the parthenon’s dimensions

69.5m x 30.9m, constructed on a greater scale than other temples

features of the parthenon

• columns

• pool of water statue

• big opisthodomos

• frieze

• naos

how was the parthenon decorated

it’s exterior told the stories from myth and history that was relevant to athenians

where was the temple of zeus located

within the altis, the sanctuary of the gods in olympia

when was the temple of zeus built

between 472-456 BC

what was the style of the temple of zeus

doric

what material was the temple of zeus made of

limestone

what was the purpose of the temple of zeus

sanctuary to the gods in olympia

what was the altar believed to be constructed of

organic material, such as bones and ash that accumulated from hundreds of years of sacrifices to the god zeus

what were the differences of the temple of zeus to the pantheon

• internal colonnade flanking zeus’ statue

• ramp from the east entrance (for disabled?)

• bigger than the average temple

what did the pediments depict

scenes from mythology, one relevant to the local area and a general famous greek myth, the battle between the centaurs and lapiths

what did the metopes depict

the 12 labours of heracles

what are the similarities between a roman and greek temple

• rectangular

• colonnade

• cella

• east to west orientation

what are the differences of a roman temple from a greek temple

• semi-engaged columns

• absence of opisthodomos

where was the temple of fortuna virilis located

rome, forum boarium (cattlemarked)

when was the temple of fortuna virilis made

120-80 BC

what is the temple of fortuna virilis also called

temple of portunus, god of keys, doors and harbours

what material is the temple of fortuna virilis made from

tula (local stone) and limestone, then covered with pastel to give marble effect

what is the style of the temple of fortuna virilis

ionic

why is the function of the temple of fortuna virilis uncertain

the temple’s dedication did not survive to this day and as there were many different temples in rome and written sources were not specific enough in their descriptions

where was the pantheon located

rome, campus martius

when was the pantheon built

AD 125

who was the pantheon commissioned by

hadrian

what material was the pantheon made of

marble, brick and concrete

what style was the pantheon

corinthian

who was the pantheon originally commissioned by and who built it

augustus and built by his general agrippa 27-25 BC

why was the pantheon rebuilt by hadrian

burnt down in 80 AD

what was the inscription on the pantheon that was kept after it burnt down

‘marucs agrippa, son of lucius’

what was the orientation of the pantheon

east to west

where was the cella in the pantheon

in the middle

how was the pantheon built

on a platform so there were steps leading up to the entrance

where were the semi-engaged columns of the pantheon

at the rear end of the porch

what was the shape of the pantheon

circular and capped with a dome (rotunda) which was a testament to roman engineering

what did the hiereus do (greek)

a ‘priest’ attached to a particular sanctuary or temple and perform the rituals and sacrifices as well as oversee the maintenance

what did the mantis do (greek)

perform functions such as divinity and prophecy when it was required, he would also oversee animal sacrifices and interpret the entrails of the animal to determine the will of the gods

what did the augur do (greek and roman)

examines the flight and behaviour of birds to predict the future and accompanied the army to make a reading before the battle

what did the haruspex do (roman)

be present at important sacrifices and would assess the way a victim fell, the smokes and the flames, and examine its entrails (equivalent to a mantis in greek religion)

what were the similarities between a roman and greek priest

• conducts rituals, offerings and sacrifices to the gods

• custodians of temples, maintaining the sacred spaces

• not spiritual leaders but ritual specialists

• women were allowed to serve as priestesses, especially for female deities

• places emphasis on divination and omens

difference between roman and greek priests

greek priests- served as caretakers of temples / roman priests- played political roles and were seen as state officials

difference between greek and roman priesthoods

greek priests- priesthoods were often local and tied to specific temples or cities / roman priests- priesthood was highly organised with specific colleges (Pontiffs, Augurs, Vestal Virgins) that oversaw different aspects of religious life

difference between greek and roman worship

greek- worship was often personal, with priests ensuring proper rituals / roman- priests acted as mediators between the state and the gods, so rome could maintain the pax decorum

difference between the appointment of the priests

greek- often chosen by lot or appointed by their city and usually served for a limited time / roman- priesthood was a lifetime appointment and some were chosen by election

what did the pontifices do

advised magistrates, oversaw religious ceremonies, and organised the roman calendar, maintains pax decorum through interpreting omens and bestowing punishments to those who broke religious codes

what is a pontifex

a roman priest in charge of protecting temples, regulating religious laws and keeping pax decorum, most important college of priests in rome

how were roman augurs chosen

social status- chosen by members of the upper class

what was required to be a roman haruspex

etruscan origins

how many roman vesta virgins were there at a time

6, so if one died or was removed, they would be immediately replaced

how old did a roman girl have to be to become a vestal virgin

6-10 years old

what kind of family did a roman girl have to come from to be a vestal virgin

patrician (aristocratic) family where both parents were alive and had to be physically and mentally healthy

how long did vestal virgins serve for

30 years

what were the duties of a vestal virgin

• maintaining the sacred flame of vesta

• preparing sacred substances for rituals

• cleansing the temple and keeping it pure

• participating in religious ceremonies

• safeguarding wills and state documents

• observing strict chastity

what were the advantages of being a vestal virgin

• highly respected

• had an escort

• lived in a palatial residence

• could own property

• make legal decisions

• rode in special carriages

• had front-row seats in public games

what were the three parts of roman and greek sacrifice

preparation, kill, sacrifice

what happened in the preparation of roman and greek sacrifices

all participants had to be clean so the sacrifice would not be polluted, the animal was set on the altar, the priest would veil his head and flutes would drown out any noise

what happened during the kill of roman and greek sacrifices

mola salsa would be sprinkled on the animal’s head, followed by wine, making it nod, the priest would then say a prayer and offer the animal to the gods. a popa (roman official) would strike the animal on the head and then a cultarius would slit its throat

what happens during the sharing of the sacrifice in greek and roman sacrifices

the entrails were examined, then offered to the gods and then the remaining meant was cooked and cut up and shared with the community as meat was not a common part of roman diet