2.4 Flashcards
How often was the Panathenaia
annual
What were the two types of Panathenaia
Greater (every four years) and Lesser
Who were the two myths behind the origins of the panathenaia
Erechthonius, ancestor of the Athenians
Theseus, legendary unifier of Attica
Order of events of Panathenaia
- Competitions
- The pannychis
- The procession
- The presentation of the peplos
- Sacrifices
Whose order of events to we follow?
Parker 2005
Competitions
Three main types?
Musical and poetic contests
Athletic contests
Boat race
examples of musical and poetic contests
recitations of Homeric epics and various musical contests
Athletic contest examples (5):
evidenced by what being awarded as victory prizes:
running
the pentathlon
gymnastics
horse-racing
pankration (wrestling)
Panathenaic amphoras
The procession
Participants:
Male metics
Young metic girls
Old men
Hoplites
Cavalry
Boat
Civic officials
The Pannychis
mentioned by:
in:
how long?
what based?
Euripides
Heraclidae
all-night
dance
Athenian-only events and sources (4)
euandrion (male beauty contest) - Aristotle
Pyrrhic Dance - Aristophanes in Frogs
apobates race
Boat race (Greater panathenaia only) - in honour of Poseidon and Athena
Who were male metics?
How were they marked out?
According to who?
What did they act as?
resident foreigners who couldn’t become citizens
purple tunics
Photius
tray bearers
What did the young metic girls do?
mentioned by who?
in what?
carried parasols and stools
Aristophanes
Birds and Assembly-women
What did the old men hold?
According to:
olive branches
Aristophanes’ Wasps
What indicated the cavalry? (2)
the Panathenaic frieze of Parthenon
Basle band cup
Evidence of Hoplites (2)?
mentioned by Aristophanes and Thucydides (6.58)
Shown in C6th Basle band cup
Who would have been at the front?
Who would march near the rear?
Who was at the very back in a place of honour?
Civic officials
any citizens who chose to join (grouped by deme)
aristocratic girls
The presentation of the peplos
What was the peplos?
How is the centrality of the moment shown?
What did the ceremony do?
an ornately decorated garment, the city’s birthday gift to Athena.
at the centre of the eastern size on the Parthenon’s Panathenaic frieze, framed by columns.
seal the contract between the goddess and the city
Problems of Panathenaic Frieze:
- Only representative, only shows some types of participants, not everyone actually present (in roles and numbers)
- artistic, some figures excluded and included for artistic interest regardless of importance.
Key source: Panathenaic frieze on Parthenon
dates?
449-437BC
Sacrifice
A civic decree from which year records how many sacrifices to Athena?
Who did meat from the first two go to?
And the second two?
When were financially tough times?
How many animals sacrificed that year at what cost?
Who thinks 300 were sacrificed in more stable times?
335/4, 4 sacrifices
specified groups: archons, officials, generals, the girls carrying the vessels
the Athenian people, apportioned by deme
410/09
100, 5,000 drachmas
Mikalson
Who thought Greek festivals were for fun?
Evidence (3):
Scullion (2010)
Aristophanes, clowds - bawdy humour shown at festival
Democritus - compared life without festivals to road without inns
contests given superficial link to religion but actually partying excuse
What 6 elements of the procession were indicated on the panathenaic frieze of the parthenon?
horsemen, aristocracy, elder citizens, women, animals for sacrifice, ritual objects
Who disagreed with mitropoulos et al?
evidence? (2)
Parker (2005)
metics - marked as different and given service role, also not among special recipients of meat,
no evidence that low class citizens (thetes and sailors) were recognised, limelight on the rich
Who said the festival unified the Polis community?
Evidence? (4)
Mitropoulos et al (2017)
mythological origins - sharpened link betw festivals and athenian identities
All kinds of groups in procession - respresenting all athenians
Presentation of peoplos - reinforced polis wide bond with Athena
Meat at sacrifices - given to all athenians
Who said Gods are anthropomorphic so like the things we like?
What was his point?
Richardson (2008)
having fun was part of the festival’s religious meaning
