CLST 102 Pt. 2

CLST 102 flashcards for part two of the course taught at Queen's University

who were some of the protected populations of the gods?

suppliants, heralds, strangers, beggars

why were some populations considered protected by the gods?

they could not rely on the law to protect them

what was the main concern of the gods?

homicide

miasma

pollution that results from a wrongful death that causes spiritual and physical contamination for the community

what myth is an example of miasma(pollution)?

Oedipus, who killed his father and unknowingly slept with his mother 

sacrifice

a physical representation of the hierarchy between gods, humans, and animals often involving offerings to deities for favors or atonement.

altars

the most necessary part of a sacrifice, if you didn’t have one, you couldn’t make a proper sacrifice

Rituals included

Washed hands, prayers, throw grain over victims, slit their throats, thigh bones wrapped in fat for gods, libation of red wine, gods consumed sacrifice by fire, eat the entrails, divide portions and give to all a fair share

Holochaust 

the whole animal being sacrificed was burnt 

Katharma

the purified place

purification needed

after contact with the dead, before rituals and sacrifice, homicide, childbirth, and sexual intercourse

human sacrifice

not real, only in myths, as a very serious example of punishment

Libatons 

food and drink offerings poured on an altar

examples of libations

milk, honey, wine, animal blood

Prayers

asking a god for a specific request, followed a template

order of prayer

calling the god by a series of flattering names and titles, reminding them of all the times you have previously honoured them, making a request, promising something in return to the gods if they were to honour the request.

supplication

done by those who were helpless/didn’t have a community to rely on, with the gods as witnesses - was dishonourable to harm them

to become a supplicant

required physical contact, touching the knees or chin of a person in a superior position

Greek Sanctuaries 

places of worship and offering dedicated to various gods, often featuring altars and sculptures

Temenos

sanctuary, cut off from normal sanctuary use, and reserved for cult activity

Naos

temples, not necessary, but they housed cult statues (parthenon)

Boule

council overseen by Zeus Boulaios and Artemis Boulaia

Agora 

public space overseen by Zeus Agoraios ad Hermes Agoraios 

religion is a form of diplomacy

so religious activities are political in nature

no distinction between 

religious and civic life

Phratria

group of citizens symbolically related to one another, and participated in cult activities together typically seen as a way to determine if someone was a citizen in Athens or not

Panathenia

celebrates Athena’s birth and relationship with the city of Athens, celebrated in the first month of the athenian year

Great Panathenaia

bigger version of the festival, held every 4 years

Lesser Panathenia 

smaller version of the festival, held every year 

Goddess Athena’s birthday

28

Zeus swallowed Metis as she was carrying his child because…

there was a prophecy that his child would overthrow him just as he had to Kronos, his father.

Athena came out of

Zeus’s head, as a fully grown woman, in a full suit of armour

festival proceedings of the Panathenia 

procession to the acropolis and altar of Athena, animal sacrifice at the altar, offering of a peplos(robe), woven by a select group of girls, and contests 

peo

who could go to the Panathenia?

male and female citizens, resident aliens(metics), freed slaves, foreigners(including non-Greeks)

typical prize for winning a contest at a festival, typically depicting the competition won. 

an amphorae filled with olive oil, usually not used for consumption, but rather put on display within a home.  

Anthesteria

Flower festival held in January/febuary in honour of Dionysos, marked the beginning of the agricultural year

Anthesteria proceedings

opening new wine for the first time, and pouring Dionysus libations, symbolic procession of the “holy marriage”- Dionysus and the wife of the king archon, first taste of wine for children, grains and vegetables cooked for spirits of the dead.

Kore

meaning ‘the maiden’, the original name for persephone, as she wasn’t given a proper name

Kore was given to ______ as a wife by Zeus

Hades

When Demeter found out Kore was taken, 

she refused to return to Olympus until she was brought back, and made the plants on earth not grow, and die. 

according to the myth of Kore, why don’t crops grow in the winter?

because that is when Persephone is in the underworld with Hades, leading to Demeter being sad, and not letting the plants grow.

what is the significance of the pomegranate in the myth of Kore/Persephone

represents her becoming an adult, married woman

Eleusinian Mysteries

Festival of Demeter, based around the myth of persephone

what city did Demeter seek shelter in while she was pregnant with Kore?

Eleusis

why did the family that Demeter was working for as a nurse get freaked out and fire her?

she was performing immortality rituals on the child, however she was stopped by the mother, so the immortality didnt hold.

why are the eleusian mysteries rituals performed?

it is thought that Demeter gives immortality to all who partake in the rituals 

mystery cults

only initiates could join, and they couldn’t talk about what they rituals were to non members

who couldn’t attend the Eleusian mysteries?

people who couldn’t speak greek, people under trial for homicide, the ritually impure

examples of pre-procession rituals for the mysteries

bathing in the sea, sacrificing a piglet 

what was carried during the processions of the Mysteries?

myrtle branches, walking sticks, and a sack

who was allowed to enter the sanctuaries at night?

only the initiates. during the cult proceedings of the mysteries

Epoptes

the one who sees- the name for the initiates after the first stage of initiation

Telesterion

indoor hall where the final ceremony would take place for initiates of the Eleusian mysteries

mystery cults promised

something after your death, a form of individual salvation

Apatouria

Major festival of the phratries, lasting 3 days as a rite of passage, focusing on the continuity of the phratries and the generations to come 

Koureotis

the 3rd day of Apatouria, with presentations of the newest members(children and new brides), libations for the dead members of the group, and the boys entering adulthood would have their hair cut 

Deme Festivals

festivals held by the demes in ancient Greece celebrating local traditions and honoring deities.

Agon

competition for the public eye to witness

philoi

friends, there for support/help that are close to you

ekhthroi

enemies, those who would harm you, have harmed you in the past, and might seek revenge

public eye measures

individual and community success, with the perception of others being emphasized

Time (tea-may)

honour, public acclaim, respect

Philotimia

love of honour, ambition

Atimia

dishonour

Aias (Ajax)

killed himself out of shame due to his conduct

Competition

had set rules, was regulated by judges and umpires 

Strigil

important tool to scrape off oil, sweat, and dirt off of the body after physical activity

Pan-Hellenic Games

competitions for those from all over the greek world. there would be a temporary ban on waging war while the games were taking place

4 Locations associated with the games, and a specific god  that ran on a 4 year cycle 

Olympia-Zeus, Nemea-Zeus, Delphi-Apollo, Isthmus at Cornith-Poseidon 

those who excelled at competitions became celebrities, with some examples being

Kroton and Milon

Alcibiades

thought that competition brought honour to your community, and that if others envied you, that proved you were successful

Hesiod

thought that competition could be categorized into a bad competition that brings war and strife, and a good one that inspires and motivates men

Ostracism 

a form of banishment in ancient Athens where citizens could vote to exile an individual for ten years, often used to prevent the rise of a potential tyrant, and to limit envy. 

Ostrakon

pot shard used to vote on ostracisms, 6000 people had to vote for it to be legitimate, and the person voted to be ostracized would not lose status or property during that time

Polemic

war enemies- people in the opposing city you are fighting with

Xenia

guest friendship- friend from another city, which would go on for generations and was thought of to be looked over by the gods

Hubris 

Intentionally dishonouring behaviour, associated with the use of violence

Sophrosune

self-control, moderation, modesty, and an acknowledgement of one’s limits

what were the two maxims/mottos inscribed at the oracle of Delphi?

know yourself, nothing in excess 

Symposion

Drinking together, as a male aristocratic activity, with women only present as entertainers. you didnt want to get drunk, it was a test of self-control and sociability amongst peers

Krater

vessel used to mix water and wine at symposiums

Symposiarch 

master of drinking, chosen by rolling dice 

Symposiasts

participants of the symposium

Kottabos

popular symposium game where the last drops of wine were flung at a disc trying to knock it down

metics

resident aliens, who were living in Athens but didnt have citizenship

autochthonous

athenians thought themselves to be this, meaning that they were “sprung from the soil” as original inhabitants of the land

Perikles Citizenship law

only men who’s parents were both athenian citizens could qualify as a citizen themselves

Ekklesia

assembly that had to be voted on every 10 days to determine who could participate in Athenian democracy.

Oikos

the household

Kurios 

the master, the most senior male, holding legal authority over the members of the household, who’s job it was to pass the property to the next generation

kureia

protection, tutelage, mentor of everyone else in the oikos

Kins

minor sons and women

Epikleros

if there were no males in the household, this would be the only female heir, that a magistrate would then make marry the nearest relative, to keep the property within the family

marriage’s main purpose was to

produce the next generation of athenian citizens and create legitimate heirs

divorce

could be initiated by either spouse, but was far easier for the husband, he just sent his wife back to her family

infedelity

in cases where a wife cheated on her husband, divorce was mandatory as it created issues around the legitimacy of the children. if the wife and the man she was sleeping with were caught in the act, he could legally be killed. husbands could sleep with prostitutes and concubines

pallakai

concubines, that had long term relations with men they were not legally married to

pornai

prostitutes being slaves or free women, typically not athenian by birth. they worked for money in brothels, homes, and other venues

hetarai

courtesans who were educated and sophisticated, catered to the athenian elite