Religion (classics)

Religion

What are Zeus’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Jupiter

Responsibilities - King of gods, justice, law, skies

Iconography - Eagle, sceptre, lightening bolt

Representation - Often depicted as a regal figure, embodying authority and power, frequently shown with a beard and throne.

What are Poseidon’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Neptune

Responsibilities - God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses.

Iconography - Trident, horses, and dolphins.

Representation - Often depicted as a powerful figure with a trident, associated with marine life and water.

What are Hades’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Pluto

Responsibilities - God of the underworld and the dead.

Iconography - Cerberus, scepter, cornucopia and the Helm of Darkness.

Representation - with his wife persephone, often depicted with a dark appearance.

What are Athena’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Minerva

Responsibilities - Goddess of wisdom, warfare, and handicrafts.

Iconography - Owl, helmet, olive tree.

Representation - Often depicted as a majestic figure in armor, symbolizing intelligence and strength, frequently shown with a shield and spear.

What are Hera’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Juno

Responsibilities - Goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth.

Iconography - Peacock, diadem,

Representation - Often depicted as a regal figure, associated with unity and protection of women, typically portrayed with a peacock.

What are Hephaestus’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Vulcan

Responsibilities - God of fire, metalworking, blacksmiths, and craftsmanship.

Iconography - Hammer, anvil, and tongs.

Representation - Often depicted as a muscular craftsman working at an anvil or forge, holding smithing tools, sometimes shown with a physical impairment or limp.

What are Demeter’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - ceres

Responsibilities - Agriculture, farming

Iconography - wheat, grain, flowers

Representation - wearing a diadem, a farmer

What are Hestia’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Vesta

Responsibilities - Home, hearth

Iconography - Hearth

representation - veiled head

What are Aphrodite’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Venus

Responsibilities - Goddess of love, beauty, passion, and fertility.

Iconography - Dove, scallop shell, mirror, rose, and swan.

Representation - Often depicted as an exceptionally graceful and beautiful woman, frequently shown rising from sea foam or accompanied by Eros (Cupid), embodying charm, allure, and elegance.

What are Artemis’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Diana

Responsibilities - Goddess of the hunt, wilderness, wild animals, childbirth, and the Moon; protector of young girls and maidenhood.

Iconography - Bow and arrows, quiver, hunting dog, stag (deer), and crescent moon.

Representation - Often depicted as a vigorous, youthful huntress, carrying hunting equipment, and accompanied by hunting hounds or a stag

What are Apollo’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Apollo

Responsibilities - God of music, poetry, prophecy, truth, archery, healing, plague, and the Sun/light.

Iconography - Lyre (a stringed musical instrument), laurel wreath, bow and arrows, raven, and the Delphic tripod (the three-legged seat of his oracle).

Representation - Often depicted as an idealized, beardless, and athletic youth (ephebe) embodying physical grace, harmony, and reason, frequently shown crowned with laurel and holding either his lyre or bow.

What are Hermes’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Mercury

Responsibilities - Travel, Trade, messenger of the gods

Iconography - caduceus (pine cone topped staff), travellers cap, winged sandals

Representation - wearing winged sandals, caduceus

What are Ares’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Mars

Responsibilities - War

Iconography - sword, spear

Representation - wearing armour, with spear and sword/shield

What are Dionysus’ Roman name, responsibilities, iconography and how are they represented?

Roman name - Bacchus

Responsibilities - Wine, theatre, debauchery

Iconography - Thyrsus, vines, grapes, animal skins

Representation - young man, with maenads and satyrs, on an animal

what does ‘hiera’ mean? Greek or Roman?

holy affairs

greek

What does ‘religio’ mean? Greek or Roman?

correct worship of the state gods

roman

Why did Ancient Greek and romans worship the gods?

to ask for favours

what does ‘Anthropomorphism’ mean?

Gods in human form

what was a ‘sanctuary’?

a holy area located in a town or city that contained one or more temples and alters to the gods

why would sanctuary’s have freshwater sources?

so people entering could wash their feet and hands to avoid pollution of the holy sites which would encourage disfavour from the gods.

what were examples of religious pollution?

a newborn baby, being in contact with a dead person, committing homocide

Why were temples made? (GREECE)

they were seen as gods residence on earth which was important to the greeks as they believed it would gain them favour from the gods

who was allowed in temples?

priests

what was the format of a GREEK temple?

steps up to the temple

colonnade

naos (housed the cult statue)

opisthodomos - treasure room

What were the priests + priestesses called to the GREEKS?

priest - hiereus

priestess - hiereia

Was priesthood a full-time position? What did they do/not do?

hiereus’ and hiereias’ was a temporary job and greeks would aim to do it at least once in their lifetime to show their commitment to the city

They would sacrifice animals to the gods and assist in the upkeep of their respective temples.

They would not hold regular sermons nor spread the message of their god.

What was a mantis/haruspex? What would they do?

a soothsayer that would read the entrails of animals to see omens. If imperfections were seen this was a bad omen. They would also read the flight of birds.

What was a hetacomb?

a sacrifice of 100 oxen

What were the steps to a GREEK sacrifice?

1 - participants would make sure they were clean and dressed in their best clothes.

2 - animal was prepared by gilding the horns

3 - attendants would lead the animals to the alter, with a basket of grains hiding the knife.

4 - musicians played music to calm the animal.

5 - water sprinkled on animals head, causing it to ‘nod’ and consent

6 - animals throat cut and blood was collected and poured over the alter

7 - women would let out a high pitched scream

8 - gods would receive thighs wrapped in fat, the meat was divided among the city, entrails were read

what way did the alter face and why?

east, towards the rising sun

Where is the parthenon?

on the acropolis of Athens

Who were the lead architects of the parthenon?

Phidias, Iktinos and kallikatates

What was the cult statue like in the parthenon?

12m , chryselephantine (gold and ivory) , of Athena with a helmet, spear and shield.

What was on the east pediment at the parthenon?

Athenas birth from Zeus head.

what was on the west pediment at the parthenon?

the contest for Athens between Athena and Poseidon

what were on the doric frieze at the parthenon?

civilisation vs barbarism (centuromachy, amazonomachy)

what was on the ionic frieze at the parthenon?

Panathenaic procession

Where was the temple of Zeus?

Atlis, Olympia

What was the cult statue like at the temple of zeus?

chryselephantine, older than Athenas cult statue, 12m

what was on the east pediment at the temple of Zeus?

chariot race between pelops and Oinomaos which zeus judged

what was on the west pediment at the temple of zeus?

centauromachy

what was on the doric frieze at the temple of zeus?

12 labours of Heracles

what was different about greek and roman priests?

Unlike greeks, roman priests wouldn’t be assigned to a specific temple

Roman priests veiled their heads.

What was a priests role in Rome

uphold state religion by maintaining ‘Pax Deorum'‘ meaning peace of the gods. They uttered prayers, carried out sacrifices and fulfilled priestly roles at festivals.

Why would a Roman become a priest?

to increase their political power

what was different about roman temples to greek temples?

Roman temples had a cella, instead of a naos.

Roman temples had semi-engaged columns.

Who were the Pontifices?

an important roman college of priests who protected temples, burial, inheritance and supervision over the roman calendar.

Who was the Pontifex Maximus?

head of the Poncifies. elected the Vestal Virgins. controlled the Roman calendar. Led major state sacrifices and festivals.

What was the role of the Augur?

read the flight of birds, behaviour of animals and direction go thunder to work out the will of the gods.

Who were the Vestal virgins?

College of six priestesses who lived in the house of vestals in the roman forum who protected the sacred flame of Rome.

What were the conditions to become a Vestal Virgin?

-2 alive parents

-wealthy families

-aged between 6-10

-vow of chastity

-had to remain their post for at least 20 years

-good health

What did the Vestal Virgins have to do?

Protect the sacred flame of Rome. They held state documents, and also made mola salsa for sacrifices.

What were the advantages of being a Vestal Virgin?

• held front row seats at games

• freed from fathers authority

• able to make will

steps to a ROMAN sacrifice

1 - participants would make sure they were clean and dressed in their best clothes.

2 - animal was prepared by gilding its horns/decorating it with ribbons and garlands

3 - attendants would lead the animals to the alter, with a basket of grains hiding the knife.

4 - musicians played music to calm the animal.

5 - mola salsa sprinkled on animals head, causing it to ‘nod’ and consent

6 - animal struck by a popa to stun it. Animals throat cut by a cultarius and blood was collected and poured over the alter

7 - women would let out a high pitched scream

8 - gods would receive thighs wrapped in fat, the meat was divided among the city, entrails were read by haruspex

Who is the temple of portunus (ROMAN) dedicated too? Who was it mistakenly attributed it to?

It was wrongly attributed to Fortuna Virils (manly fortune) but is now correctly attributed to Portunus (god of harbours)

Where is the Temple Of Portunus?

Forum Boarium, a cattle market

Temple Of Portunus layout/building

• no longer has cult statue

• semi-engaged columns attached to the cella

• made out of tufa and limestone covered with plaster to give the effect of marble

Who was the pantheon commissioned and build by originally? Who rebuilt it after it burnt down.

Commissioned by emperor Augustus and built by his general Marcus Agrippa, rebuilt by Hadrian.

What does pantheon mean?

All gods

Where is the Pantheon?

Roman Campus Martius, field of mars

What was unique about the pantheons building?

had several cult statues.

rotunda at the rear. A round roman building

Capped with a dome with a oculus - a circular opening at the top

What was the pantheon built out of?

Marble, brick and concrete

What was the Panathenaia? What months was it?

a festival every year to celebrate Athena’s birthday, July/August

How often was the Great Panathenaia?

every 4 years

Why were festivals so important to Greeks and Romans?

provided rest days/days of work. They were also a chance to come together to participate in worship, entertainment , sacrifices and feasts.

Who could take part in the Great Panathenaia?

All Athenians

What was the programme of the Great Panathenaia? Give examples.

Rhapsodic and musical contests, sporting events (wrestling, boxing, pankration) tribal events (boat race, torch race) panathenaic prcoession

What was the Panathenaic procession?

The procession started from the dipylon gate to the acropolis. Only athenians allowed on the acropolis. Athena presented with a peplos for the statue of Athena. Larger peplos used for the sail of a boat pushed to the acropolis. Ended in a hecatomb and a feast.

What were the prizes at the Great Panathenaia?

amphorae of olive oil. One side with the event they won, the other side Athena

What was the origins of the City Dionysia?

The Athenians rejected a statue for Dionysus from the Eleuthera. Soon after the city was affected with a plague that affected male genitalia. The athenians took the statue and the plague.

What was an Eponymous archon?

someone elected for the year and selected the playwrights.

What was a Choregos?

financial backer of the plays

what was the theoric fund?

enabled poor people to attend the plays

when was the City Dionysia?

march

What was the programme for City Dionysia?

Day 1: Pompe, dithyrambic contest, komos

Day 2: opening ceremony, 5 comedies

day 3-5: 3 tragedies, 1 satyr play

day 5: judging and prize giving

What was the pompe, dithyramb and komos?

Pompe - a grand procession with a wooden statue of Dionysus.

Dithyramb - choral dance with 100 participants from each tribe (1000 in total)

Komos - Male only party with drinking, dancing and wooden phalluses to honour Dionysus.

what happened at the opening ceremony at the city dionysia?

liberation poured to 12 olympian gods, piglet sacrificed.

Parade of tributes (money from athenians allies), Parade of orphans (the sons of soldiers who died in battle), parade of honours (shoutouts to those who did good)

what were the prizes at city dionysia?

garland

In what ways were the City Dionysia and the Great Panathenaia political?

Athenian festivals displayed wealth, military powers, success of democracy, and Athenian culture.

What did the Lupercalia celebrate?

The god Lupercus. Purification and fertility.

When was the Lupercalia?

15th of February every year

Who could take part in the Lupercalia?

Only priests called the Luperci (selected from noble families)

What was the programme of the Lupercalia?

Luperci gathered in cave Lupercal cave on the palatine hill which contained an alter to Lupercus.

Sacrificed dogs and goats, blood dripped on the foreheads of the Luperci and wiped off while they laughed.

Luperci split into 2 teams and raced around naked the palatine hill, whipping people with strips of meat to grant fertility.

Who did the saturnalia honour? What did it also celebrate?

Honoured the god Saturn. Celebrated the end of winter sowing, rebirth and hope of return to the golden age where everybody, including gods, lived equally.

Who could take part in the saturnalia?

All levels of society

How long did the saturnalia last? When was it?

Winter solstice, 3-5 days

What was the programme of the saturnalia?

Sacrifice on the first day, followed by a public feast led by the senate, priests had their head unveiled, followed by a private feast

What happened at the public feast at the saturnalia?

State payed for a big feast for everyone in society, could have lasted several days, statues of Saturn.

What happened at the private feast at the saturnalia?

Slaves and masters were equal, Masters removed togas and everyone wore part dress, men would wear a pilius (hat symbolising freedom), gift giving

How big was the temple of zues?

70m x 29m

How big was the Parthenon?

69.5m x 31m

How did the greeks prepare the body?

eyes and mouth closed, body washed, perfumed and wrapped in a white shroud, coin placed in mouth to pay charon

What is the term for laying out the body?

Prothesis

how long did the GREEK prothesis last?

2 days

how did women lament?

cut hair, wore shabby black clothes, wailed loudly

What is the term for a funeral procession?

Ekphora

What was the Ekphora like?

body carried to the kerameikos by wagon or pallbearers, accompained by family and aulos players

What was the burial like? (GREEK)

Body would be buried or cremated. Wealthy people got a stele. Grave gifts such as food, pottery and jewellery.

What was the mourning like? (GREEK)

lasted 30 days and family visited on the 3rd, 9th and 13th days. Family visited annually thereafter and maintained the grave.

What was the Anthesteria?

a greek festival that celebrated Dionysus and the wine harvest