3.3 Flashcards
What did libations consist of?
What was the general purpose of libations?
What was a secondary purpose?
pouring liquid onto an altar or the ground, while reciting prayer to gods or the dead
To acknowledge, propitiate, or make a request of the gods (or dead)
To symbolise the bonds between participants
What liquid was often used?
Which liquids were used in special contexts? (4)
Which paintings tell us about the most common form of libation?
In these, what was a liquid poured from?
into?
What happened to the liquid remainin?
diluted wine
neat wine, milk, water, honey
vase-paintings
an oinokhoe (kind of wine-jug)
a phiale (shallow ceremonial bowl)
It was drunk on the spot
What are the two main types of libation?
Which was the most common?
What was it used for?
Where could it be poured?
Example?
Who were the less common type for?
Where was the liquid poured?
What was NOT normally used?
What is an example?
Who pours a water libartion to who in this example?
sponde and choe
sponde
putting rituals and everyday acts under protection of gods
altar or ground
Oedipus at Colophon
dead or chthonic gods
ground or burial places
wine
Aeschylus’ libation bearers
Elektra, Agamemnon
Who wrote Oedipus at Colonos?
What year?
What gives Oedipus instructions?
what do those instructions include?
Sophocles
5th Century BC
The Chorus (II.461-92)
which way to face and how to pour the libation
What are the state contexts? (3)
What are the private contexts? (5)
Part of sacrifice, confirm state agreements, consecrate important civic acts
honour gods at start & end of day, before drinking wine at parties, when leaving home, part of sacrifice, make contact with dead
Private contexts:
What does Hesiod suggest a pious person will offer libations daily for?
According to whose interpretation?
Evidence from the Odyssey?
book number?
Evidence for libations before drinking at parties?
Evidence of libations when leaving home?
scene shown?
evidence for part of sacrifice? (2)
evidence for making contact with the dead? (2)
What is poured into the pit in an example from the previous question? (4)
securing blessings of the gods
Zaidman and Pantel (1989)
Phaeacians pour the last of their wine to Hermes before bed
7.136-8
Xenophanes (late 6th/early 5th cent): libations must precede drinking
The departure of the hoplite on numerous Attic cases of Classical period
old man & woman with armed hoplite, woman pours wine into phiale and implied that the three will share what is left after pouring to confirm their bonds
Odyssey 3 & red-figure vase showing a sacrifice to Nike
Odyssey 11 and Libation Bearers bt Aeschylus
honey, milk, wine and water
State contexts:
evidence for part of sacrifice?
Which century?
sets out what?
How many libations mentioned for one day of festival?
evidence for confirming state agreements? (2)
Which important civic acts were consecrated? (2)
According to whom?
Calendar from Kos
4th
instructions for festival of Zeus Polieus
5 possibly 6
Panhellenic Games Truce, Iliad b3 - pact to allow Menelaus to confront Paris
Athenian Assembly, Athenian ships making prayers and offerings before Sicily 415BC
Thucydides (6.32)
