Studied by 0 peopleHomer’s gods
Anthropomorphic, powerful, governed by personal desire and used for comic relief
Hesiod
Gives advice on how to perform worship- Works and Days- never pour wine with unwashed hands AND offer the gods libations and burnt offerings
ZEUS EPITHETS
Zeus Agoraios= Zeus of the agora
Zeus Phratrios= Patron deity of Phratrys
Zeus Philios= Individual and household well-being
Zeus Herkios = protector of families
Issue with Greeks knowing who to worship
Artemis or Zeus Philios for childbirth? Many oracular tablets found at Sanctuary of Zeus at Dodona asking what god to pray to
A hero had to achieve something unusual to become a hero eg.
Cleomedes who ripped a school roof on top of him and killed 60 children
Who can be initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries?
Anyone as long as they spoke Greek and hadn’t committed any serious crime and could be initiated if they could pay
Myst
Wants to be initiated
Mystagogue
Already initiated and can initiate others
Archon Basileus
Archon in charge of all things sacred in Athens and the mysteries
ORDER OF THE PROCESSION
1- 3,000 gather in the agora
2- purification bathing in seaside with sac animals
3,4,5- rest!
6- 15m procession from agora to Eleusis where young mocked old and Aphrodite and Iacchus were worshipped
7,8,9- fasting and drinking kykeon, re-living myth of Demeter and Kore in the dark, simulating own death, blinding light in the Telestrion simulating rebirth (epopteia)
Panhellenic sanctuaries to Asclepius
Asclepieion at Epidaurus and sanctuary of Asclepius at the island of Cos
Incubation
Sleeping in the stoa, often being cured overnight
where is the Oracle of Zeus
Dodona, Epirus
Oracular responses at the Oracle of Zeus at Dodona
emanating from rustling leaves from sacred oak (from Odyssey) or sitting doves on a tree
5th C onwards most common questions on oracular tablets @ Oracle of Zeus, Dodona
What god to pray to? Should I do x or y?
3 main household gods
Zeus Ktesios- protector of property/ wealth
Zeus Herkios- Protector of outside the house
Apollo Agyeios- Protected the house from within
The hearth
dedicated to Hestia, reps the home to the family, ritual of walking round the fire showered by fruits and nuts to the welcome newcomer eg. baby
Herm
A pillar with the head of Hermes and an erect phallus placed outside the house as a protective symbol
The role of the father in the oikos
tend to oikos gods, tend to family tombs and welcome the son into his phratry
Girls religious participation
Arrephoros- taking a basket from sanctuary of Athena to sanctuary of Aphrodite
Grinder- ground the meal for sacrificial cakes
Brauronia- dress up as bears at the festival of Artemis Brauronia
Basket bearer- carrying baskets for sacrificial occasions eg. Panathenaea
Demes had their own religious calenders eg.
Erchia sacrificed to six Apollos and celebrated 3 local heroes
Polis religion was payed for by
state funds and organised by state officials
Panhellenic sanctuaries
Delphi worshipping Pythian Apollo at Pythian games
Olympia worshipping Olympian Zeus at Olympic games
Nemea worshipping Nemean Zeus at Nemean games
Isthmus worshipping Isthmian Poseidon at Isthmian games
Archons
Archon Basileus= main relig official- responsible for sacrifices in cults
Eponymous archon= authority over festivals eg. City Dionysia
Polemarch = war archon
Examples of miasma
Pregnancy, murder, physically dirty, not honouring gods, sex, presence of dead body
Links between politics and religion
political decisions made with religious consultations- eg. King of Lydia asked oracle whether to invade Persia
Military victories celebrated with gods in mind- Persian triremes to Poseidon at Isthmia and Nemea
Law courts had jurisdiction over sacred matters eg. Alcibiades and Socrates charged at Areopagus (Athenian law courts)
Civic funds housed at treasuries eg. Parthenon stored money from Athenian allies
Panathenaic procession
procession (pompe) started at Dipylon gates went through agora and propylaia to Acropolis along Panathenaic way
Ionic frieze shows aristocrats, elders, women in the procession showing wide range of people could participate
Presentation of the peplos
Maidens from aristocratic families made the smaller one and for the great Panathenaea professional male weavers made it
Bigger one also used as sail on big ship (militairy purpose 2)
meat from sacrifices in the Panathenaea
Civic officials and maidens who carried the vessels had meat on Acropolis and meat from sacrifice distributed among men who took part in the festival -all citizens entitled to a portion and at public expense
Contests at the Panathenaea
musical and rhapsodic
athletic
Euandrion- national prize if you had the ‘prettiest man’
Pyhrric dance- Athena’s battle dance (relig) and shows off athleticism of tribe (civic)
How to become a priest
Inheritance- eg. Eumolpidae fam providing hierophants
Lot
Purchase- women priesthoods normally cost less
Women in relig rituals
Athena Polis- Etaboutadae family- On ionic frieze w/ Archon Basileus - women not typically involved in politics- priesthood exception
Involved in important sacrifices eg. Panathenaia
Women also important consultants eg. Pythia
Priest tasks
Mediator between mortal and divine
Looking after sanctuary- votives and finances
Blood sacrifice
prep- sprinkle animal head if it nods u can sacrifice light fire and say prayer
act of killing- cut throat, ololygye and bloody altar
handling of meat- burn deity portion, entrails roasted and read
When was Socrates born?
469BC
Xenophanes beleifs
1st to suggest one cosmic god
suggests origin of everything is earth and water
Uses natural phenomena to explain supernatural interpretations- iris is a cloud
criticises Homer’s anthropomorphic gods- a horse would see his gods as horses
Stoics
4thC - advocated for belief of one god
Socrates charges
Didn’t believe in the ‘right’ deities (Athens civic deities)
Corruption of the youngas he infected them w/ his thoughts
Aristophanes’ Socrates
in Clouds he likens them to Sophists (charge for their teachings)
Xenophon and Plato’s Socrates
Soc refused money for his teachings and never saw himself as a teacher
Socrates’ beliefs of the gods
Aware/ believes in their existence and aware they’re superior to mortals but never thought he had to prove their existence
Obeys Apollo at the Oracle
follows his daimonion
Believes in justice- never tried to escape his punishment
Were Socrates’ views controversial?
Soc never criticises the gods
He discusses the gods and questions them using Socratic method- threat to authorities
Surrounded himself with individuals who were against democracy eg. Alcibiades
Doric frieze of Parthenon
Battles- Gigantomachy, Centauromachy, Amazonmachy and Trojan War
Ionic frieze of Parthenon
Depiction of procession and varied people worshipping Athena
Pediments of the Parthenon
East- her birth
West- contest for patronage
Inside the Parthenon
Chryselephantine statue of Athena by Pheidias (gold borrowed in times of need)
Used somewhat as a treasury- inscriptions show large amounts of gold held in Parthenon
Erechtheion
Where Athena won patronage
grave of King Kekrops
Dedicated to Erechtheus who all citizens could claim descent from
Used for Plyntera (cleaning festival when businesses were ceased) and Panathenaea (destination of procession)
Statue of Athena Polias inside
Oracle reliability
Oracle as neutral as possible- hardly any accusations - once a noble Athenian family had bribed the Pythia to advise the Spartans to free Athens
Sanctuary at Delphi
6thC
Omphalos of the world (two eagles met)
Temple of Apollo at Delphi
Large altar from people of Chios to give them promanteia
Adyton where Pythia would give consultations
in the Naos there was a laurel tree which P would chew on to get to her prophetic state
East pediment- Apollo on chariot
West pediment- Gigantomachy
Sacred way at Delphi
Steep- visually exciting
monuments eg. Athens after victory against Persians and Spartans 3x size opposite to commemorate their victory over Athens
eg. Serpent column commemorating poleis joining forces against Persians (relig 2 as serpernts rep Pytho who Apollo slew and tripod reps the Pythia)
Treasuries eg. Treasury of Athenians
The theatre at Delphi
N-W of temple of Apollo
musical contests held here apart of Pythian games
Stadium at Delphi
N-W of sanctuary of Apollo
inscription forbids removal of sacrificial wine links athletic contests and religion
Oracular consultation at Delphi
Consultation of Pythia on 7th day for 9 months only
1st day of every month Pythia would purify herself
Promanteia given by Amphitryonic league as per relationship w/ Delphi
worshippers assembled in buildings such as stoa of Athenians where people could meet new people and discuss ideas (civic)
Only men can consult Pythia
Temple of Zeus at Olympia
Chryselephantine statue of Zeus by Pheidias affirms supremacy through throne and sceptre
East pediment- chariot race with Pelops (Zeus’ grandson) origin of Olympic games
West pediment- centauromachy civilisation over barbarity
Metopes show Herc’s 12 labours - son of Zeus
Ash Altar of Zeus at Olympia
Where Zeus struck his lightning
10thC -old
Ashes from sacrifice mixed with water from local river
Athletes and visitors sacrificed- relig purpose to games
Treasuries at Olympia
Before entering the stadium 12 panhellenic treasuries- prime visibility and self-promotion
Zanes outside mini statues of Zeus paid for by cheating athletes to warn about cheating
The stadium at Olympia
N-E side
running races always finished facing the altis- relig element of games
Priestess of Demeter Chamyne was the ONLY WOMAN allowed to view the contests
Olympic games
held every 4 years
Origins= Hercules and Pelops= descendants of Zeus
games also gave visitors an excuse to visit the sanctuary and sacrifice and assert Greek identity through panhellenic poleis taking part in games
Note
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