Antike Religionsgeschichte with study questions

Question 1

Nennen Sie fünf Autoren der griechisch-römischen Literatur,
deren Werke bedeutende Quellen für die Religionsgeschichte der
Antike sind!

Answer 1

Homer: The Iliad and the Odyssey
The Homeric Hymns
Herotodus’ Histories
Aristophanes’ Comedies
Aeschylus’ Tragedies
Sophocles’ tragedies
Plato’s Dialogues, The Republic, Nomoi, Timaeus etc.
Cicero: De Natura Deorum

Question 2

Was ist im Zusammenhang der antiken Religionsgeschichte unter
Allegorese zu verstehen? Nennen Sie einen in der Antike
bekannten Vertreter dieser „Methode“!

Answer 2

Allegorese, or allegory, is the practice of using mythic stories to explain natural phenomena.

A representative of this method is Theagenes of Rhegion, a sixth century BC Greek poet.

Question 3

Nennen Sie die Namen von drei für die antike Religionsgeschichte
bedeutenden Autor*innen des 20. Jahrhunderts!

Answer 3

George A. Frazer: The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion
Sigmund Freud: Totem und Tabu
Anthropologie Structurale: Claude Levi-Strauss

Question 4

Welche Bezüge lassen sich zwischen der Anrufung Zeú páter, dem
lateinischen Namen Jupiter und dem Genetiv Diós herstellen?
In welchen Vorstellungsbereich weisen diese Namen für den „Vater
der Götter und Menschen“?

Answer 4

Zeu Pater: Zeus the father is used by Thetis in the begging scene.
Jupiter: the Latin name for Zeus, means heavenly father. These terms, as well as the genitive Dios from Zeus, could stem from the Indo-european root of dieus. This word is a noun for semblance and connects Zeus with perceivable reality and daylight.

Pater andron te theon, „Vater
der Götter und Menschen“ is used by Homer in the Iliad.

Question 5

Welche für eine Bitt-Szene typischen Elemente kann man der
Erzählung über Thetis’ Gang zu Zeus im ersten Gesang der Ilias
entnehmen? In welcher Funktion erscheint Zeus dort?

Answer 5

Zeus demonstrates his assent through a nod of his head and that Zeus can be petitioned, although he is wary of rivalries among the gods such as between Thetis and Hera.

Thetis is appealing to Zeus Hikesius, the custodian of oaths, the family and the state.

Question 6

Was verbindet sich im Kontext von Zeus’ Herrschaftsanspruch mit
der Rede von der „goldenen Kette“ bzw. dem „goldenen Seil“?

Answer 6

The golden chain is a metaphor for lightning or reminiscent of lightning. The threat that if Zeus wrenches the rope it will disturb the harmony of the sea and earth is a symbol of his divine dominion.

Question 7

Was sind zentrale Stationen der in Hesiods Theogonie
geschilderten Sukzession der Götterherrschaft?
Wie findet diese Abfolge ein gewisses Ende?

Answer 7

The titans Rhea and Kronos were married; Rhea gave birth to Hestia Demeter, Hades and Zeus. Because Kronos was frightened of Zeus and all of his children, having been prophesised of their power, he intended to eat them. Kronos did eat them all except for Zeus, who was fed a stone by Gaia. Zeus defeated Kronos afterwards and was awarded the godhead for liberating his siblings.

Question 8

Was ist unter der „Theodizee“ des Zeus in der Odyssee zu
verstehen?

Answer 8

A theodicy is an argument explaining the existence of evil despite god. In this Theodicy, describing the Aigisthos action to marry Atreus’ sons wife (the beginning event in the Oresteia), Zeus claims humanity brings evil on itself through bad actions and throughts because the gods, through Hermes in this case, did intervene.

Question 9

Mit welchen Figuren des Mythos und des Epos verbindet sich
besonders der Charakter der Athena als einer „wissenden“ Göttin?

Answer 9

Metis. Zeus married apparently because she was wiser than all other gods and goddesses, and is Athena’s mother.

Question 10

Was kann man sich im Zusammenhang mit Athene unter der
Aigis vorstellen und welche für die Göttin typischen Elemente
verbinden sich mit ihr?

Answer 10

The Aegis is Athena’s shield. It is linked to thunder and symbolises that she is Zeus’ daughter.

In some versions, the aegis is etched with the image of a gorgon but the symbolism is similar, albeit slightly inverted. Rather than her power emanating from the sky with the icon of the lightning bolt on her shield, the gorgon, originating from the earth, shows Athena’s power and link to Zeus as well. The critical difference is a gorgon is creepier as an image.

Question 11

Durch welche Gabe besiegt Athena welchen Gott im Wettkampf
um Athen? Was stellt die Göttin den Erinyen in Aussicht für den
Fall, dass sie in Athen bleiben?

Answer 11

Athena defeats Apollo and his Erinyen, goddesses of revenge, who are hunting Orestes for the murder of his mother Clytemnestra, by organising a court of law. She promises the court will revere the furies.

Question 12

Welche Geburtsgeschichte der Aphrodite verbindet sich mit dem
Beiwort „schaumgeborene“?

Answer 12

Aphros means foam in ancient Greek.

After Kronos had castrated Uranos, he threw Urano’s genitals into the ocean. Foam rose from the spot carrying Aphrodite. This was in the vicinity of Kythira and Cypros, where Aphrodite’s cults can be evidenced.

Question 13

Welche troianischen Helden unterstützt Aphrodite in besonderer
Weise und was ergibt sich daraus für die Göttin?

Answer 13

In the battle between Paris and Menelaus Aphrodite intervenes to ensure that Menelaus’ sword shatters on his helmet, thus preserving his life and signalling her support for the Trojans.

More importantly, Aeneas is the Aphrodite’s son. During the Iliad, when Aeneas fights Diomedes in order to protect Pandaros’ corpse, Aphrodite shields Aeneas after which Diomedes wounds her hand. She bleeds ichor and drops Aeneas, who is rescued by Apollo.

Venus, after an exchange in Libya with Aeneas (during which she is disguised as a huntress), decides to intervene and assist with his altercation with Dido. The result of her intervention, in which she sends Cupid to “enflame” Dido’s desire, results in Dido’s death.

Question 14

Worauf deutet die Unterscheidung der pandemischen und
himmlischen Aphrodite hin? In welchem literarischen Werk wird
diese Unterscheidung ausführlich besprochen?

Answer 14

In Plato’s Symposium, Phaidros makes the distinction between two Aphrodites. The heavenly Aphrodite is older and the daughter of Uranos, while the younger, pandemonic Aphrodite is daughter of Zeus. Likewise, these means there are two forms of Eros.

Question 15

In welche Kultbereiche weisen die im Zusammenhang mit der
Aphrodite-Verehrung begegnenden Figuren Attis und Adonis?

Answer 15

In Cyprus at Amathus, there are many hermaphroditic statues of Aphrodite. The hermaphroditic nature of this statues hints a connection with two other stories.

Hermaphroditus leads Attis to a Kybele, where in a fit of madness castrates himself. Attis could be connected to the earlier Agdistes, who a hermaphroditic animal counter to the designs of god.

Adonis is Aphrodite’s lover. Depending on which source, he is the product of the incestuous relationships between a Phoenician king and daughter, or, as in Ovid’s version, a Phoenician king is seduced by his daughter (Cinyas and Myrhha). Myrhha is consquently turned into a myrrh tree from which Adonis rises.

Adonis is names is etymologically linked to the Hebraic word for lord.

The famous death of Adonis is a Roman myth, linking Adonis’ death to the birth and rebirth of vegetation.

Question 16

Welche hauptsächlichen Funktionen werden Apollon in
Platons Kratylos zugeschrieben?

Answer 16

Apollo is denoted as the patron of music, medicine as well as archery.

Question 17

In welcher Weise erfüllt Apollon im ersten Gesang der Ilias die
Bitten seines Priesters Chryses?

Answer 17

During the Iliad, Chryses prays to Apollo to shoot the invaders. He reminds Apollo of his duty to protect the temple.

Question 18

Welche Typen von „Göttervermittlern“ spricht Achilleus in seiner
Rede vor der Versammlung an, die über die Pest im Lager beraten
soll? Welche Funktionen kommen diesen Gruppen zu?

Answer 18

He asks a Seher (mántin), Priester (hieréa), Traumdeuter (oneiropólon) to observe the birds in order to discover why Apollo is angered and has unleashed a plague on the camp.

Question 19

Welche Kultvorschriften verbinden sich mit den „Selloi“ in Dodona
und welches römische Priesteramt kann mit ihnen in Verbindung
gebracht werden?

Answer 19

The Selloi in Dodona are a group of priests who worship Zeus. They observe a number of provisions that must be fulfilled in their worship, such as leaving the feet unwashed. This links their worship to the “sacred earth.”

The equivalent cult to Jupiter in Roman religion was expected to sleep in a bed with a clay sheet for at least three days. Again, this suggests that this cult had a strong connection with the worship of the earth.

Question 20

Was ist unter einem Los-Orakel zu verstehen und wo fand sich in
klassischer Zeit in Griechenland ein berühmtes Los-Orakel?

Answer 20

Papyrus paper from Egypt indicate that the Los Oracles were present at Dodona; this is supported by metal plates with their writings also being found at Dodona.

The evidence indicates that the oracles at Dodona were sometimes presented by questioners lots, which when drawn provided them with insight. Curiously, the lots were written in the imperative and it is unknown how many lots were answered.

Question 21

Wie erklärt sich der Legende nach der Dreifuß, auf dem in Delphi
die Pythia Platz nimmt?

Answer 21

According to Diodor in the 26th chpater of hi 16th book, a goat shepherd had approached the chasm where the oracles would take place. The goats and later the shepherd noticed that the sounds which echoed through this chasm where particular, therefore decided to communicate this fact. This led to a group of worshipers approaching the chasm, placing a Dreifuß inside and the legend of the Pythian priestess was born.

Question 22

Nennen Sie eine berühmte Traumorakel-Stätte der Antike! Wie
verlief die Befragung eines derartigen Orakels?

Answer 22

Apollo’s priestess, known as the Pythia, would enter the oracular space after a goat had been sacrificed. She would then inhale the fumes. It was believed that the resulting state of euphoria was when Apollo spoke through the priestess. This was when she answered questions.

Question 23

Welche Vorstellungen verbinden sich mit Dionysos/Bacchus,
wenn er als Lyaios/Liber angesprochen wird?

Answer 23

Liber was associated with the concept of freedom and connects Bacchus’ title to the Liberalia festival, which was celebrated on the 17th of March. Older priestesses during this period would were crowns of ivy and sell cakes.

Freedom in this context refers to the dissolution of worries and inhibitions through drinking wine. As such, liber should be interpreted spiritually or psychologically rather than politically.

According to Cicero is careful to distinguish between Liber who is Bacchus and the Liber who is a member of the ancestors.

Question 24

Skizzieren Sie die Geschichte des „ersten Dionysos“, des Zagreus!

Answer 24

Zagreus was the daughter of Persephone. Zeus appeared to her in the incarnation of a snake entering her chamber. This is clearly a double entendre.

The resulting child is Zagreus (Dionysus). Like Zeus, Zagreus can manipulate thunder but destroys Zeus throne.

With Hera’s aid, the titans take Zagreus and dismember him atop of a tripod. Athena intervenes in order to rescue the heart which is reborn into Dionysius.

Even in this earlier version of the Dionysius myth, the deity is associated with destructive forces.

Question 25

Wie kommt es zur „Schenkelgeburt“ des Dionysos und wie lässt
sich diese deuten?

Answer 25

The “Schnenkelgeburt” refers to when a strike lightning struck Semele, Dionysus’ mother, killing. Consequently, Zeus allowed Dionysus to gestate in his thigh, which is in actual fact the second birth of Dionysus

This could be interpreted as mirroring the act of opening the tube in which wine is fermented.

Question 26

Welche Feste bilden die drei Tage der Anthesterien? Was sind
zentrale Elemente dieser Feierlichkeiten?

Answer 26

The Anthesterien, the Blooming Festival, was dedicated to Dionysus and took place between February and March. The three days of the festival include: die Pithoigia, Choes und Chytroi, „Fassöffnung“, „Kannen“ und „Topffest“

The Pithoiga is dedicated to Dionysus and and wine.

The Choes is dedicated to celebrated Dionysus’ connection to the dead.

The Chytroi celebrates the deceased.

Question 27

Was ist unter einem Hieros Gamos zu verstehen? An welchem
Fest fand beispielsweise ein solcher statt?

Answer 27

Hieros Gamos, the Holy Wedding, took place during the Anastheria festival. It represented with human actors Dionysus’ marriage to Basilinnia, the wife of Archon Basileus. During this festival, many women would have been honoured.

Question 28

Was ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der Städtischen Dionysien?

Answer 28

The pompe as the theatre festival would have taken place. This was famous for drama and is when the famous comedies and tragedies would have been performed.

The pompe celebrates theatre and Dionysus would have been begun when a woodcut image of Dionysus would have been brought to the academy by priests.

This festival would have taken place between the 9-13 month of the year where different theatre performances would have been held. Below is an overview of the events in the pompe:

mit der pompé begannen die Städtischen Dionysien wohl am 9. des Monats,
begleitet von Chordarbietungen der Kinder und Männer; am 10. fanden die
Komödienvorführungen statt, vom 11. bis 13. die drei Tetralogien im
Tragödien-Agon (drei Tragödien gefolgt von einem Satyrspiel

Question 29

Welche Funktion kam den Arrhephoroi zu?

Answer 29

Recall the following: near the temple of Polias, two virgins committed to the worship of Athena would have been stationed. During the festival to Athena, the Panathenae, these two would have entered the temple and been given to something to carry on their heads and present at “Aphrodite’s garden”. In return, they would have been given objects which would have been needed to be brought back to the Polias concealed.

Question 30

Bei wem findet Demeter bei ihrer Suche nach ihrer Tochter
Aufnahme? Welche Elemente der auf diese Geschichte bezogenen
Mysterien sind in der Erzählung dieser Aufnahme vorgezeichnet?

Answer 30

It is reported in one Homeric Hymn that Hades abducted Persephone with Zeus’ blessing. She searched the globe and was unable to find Persephene, even with Hecate’s assistance, until Zeus intervened. He intervened on part due to many of the crops on Earth dying or failing to be harvested, as Perspephone’s absence ensured the harvests would fail. This myth, therefore, serves a mythological explanation for the reasons, as Perspephone was only allowed to return to her mother for a limited period.

There are several overlaps between the Eleusian Myster cult and this mythic sequence. Firstly, the mystery cult was believed to have a connection to nature. More pertinent, however, is that much of the procession is inspired by Demeter’s encounter with Meteaneira. Like Demeter, participants are led into the dark, sit on ram’s skin and must be veiled. This is done by a hierophant in the Mystery cult to initiate in the cult. In the Demeter myth, she declines a glass of wine until it has mixed with other ingredients. Like the myth, initiates are expected to imbibe a drink which may contain psychoactive properties.

Question 31

Wie heißen die beiden bedeutenden Priesterfamilien, die für die
Ausrichtung der Eleusinischen Mysterien verantwortlich waren?
Welche Funktionen übten die Mitglieder dieser Familien bei den
Mysterien aus?

Answer 31

The Archon Basilieus would have been selected from the Eumolpiden or Keryken. They appointment would have been lifelong. The Eumolpiden provided the hierophants, whereas the Keryken acted as torchbearers.

Question 32

Welchen Frevel warfen in Athen die Ankläger laut Plutarch
Alkibiades im Zusammenhang mit den Mysterien vor?

Answer 32

Alcibiades was accused of having led a group into his house where he robed himself as a hierophant in the Eleusian mysteries and performed the mysteries. This was believed to have constituted a moral outrage against the two Athenian, priestly families. He was condemned for this crime in absentia.

Question 33

Was kann man unter Orphismus verstehen?

Answer 33

To answer this well, recount Ovid’s description of the Orpheus story which you should know because have read parts of it in the original Latin and the entirety in English translation.

Central to Orphic thinking is a belief in the immortality of the soul. The belief system has also been linked to explaining why injustice befalls good people (Plato), and wandering Orphic priests.

According to Karl Kerenyi, Karl Kerenyi can be considered the male variation of the female-oriented cult to Dionysus.

Question 34

Welche Bedeutung kommt Zeus im Text des
Papyrus von Derveni zu?

Answer 34

Zeus is argued to be the father of Dionysus in this papyrus. Moreover, all allegorical tales, especially those involving Zeus, are believed to vindicate nous (Reason). The consequence of this belief is that all deities are extensions of Zeus’ godhead.

Question 35

Welche Mythen bilden den Hintergrund der auf den
sog. Goldplättchen überlieferten Texte, die vom Sterben und
Wiedergeborenwerden und vom „In-die-Milch-Fallen“ sprechen?

Answer 35

The myth of Dionysus Zagreus, who was torn to piece by the titans. The description of the “bull going into the milk” is reminiscent of Dionysus’ evisceration and rebirth.

Question 36

Was versteht man unter Euhemerismus?

Answer 36

Euhemerism contends that the Gods were originally humans who became deified for their honorable actions on Earth.

Question 37

Aufgrund welcher Ansicht fordert (in Ovids Version)
Pythagoras die Menschen dazu auf, sich von fleischlicher
Nahrung fernzuhalten?

Answer 37

Because of Pythagoras’ belief in metempsychosis, the notion that the soul can be reborn in other bodies, such as animals.

Question 38

Auf welche Bereiche bezogen sich laut Porphyrios die Akusmata,
die „Hörsprüche“, des Pythagoras?

Answer 38

1. “sacrifices, as one should perform them at each and every time”.
2. “the remaining ‘honors of the gods’”
3. “the transfer from here”
4. “the graves, how to be buried”.

Question 39

Welche Funktionen im Götterkreis werden traditionell Hermes
zugeschrieben?

Answer 39

Hermes is seen as something of a trickster. According to Homer, he is also a messenger as well as possibly a thief.

Question 40

Inwiefern erweist sich Hermes beim Rinderdiebstahl in
mehrfacher Hinsicht als trickster?

Answer 40

Both the fact that Hermes stole the beef as well as the excuse he gave his mother indicate he he was a very tricky character.

Question 41

Welche Künste präsentiert laut Platons Phaidros der mit Hermes
identifizierte Thoth bzw. Theuth dem Gott Ammon? Wie reagiert
Ammon auf diese Präsentation?

Answer 41

Thoth is reported to have invented number, calculus, board games, dice games and the alphabet. Ammon asked what would be the use of these things.

Question 42

Was kritisiert Xenophanes am überlieferten Götterbild, wie es
durch Homer und Hesiod geprägt wurde?

Answer 42

The original criticism of anthropocentric iconoclasm. For Xenophanes, the gods were disembodied and did not resemble humanity.

Question 43

Was kritisieren die Gesprächspartner in Platons Nomoi an den
Gottesleugnern? Wie müssten die Gesetzgeber dagegen vorgehen?

Answer 43

The belief that the universe and its contents emerged only out of coincidence.

Argue themselves.

Question 44

Gegen welche Ansichten richtet sich Plotin mit seiner
Schrift Gegen die Gnostiker?

Answer 44

The contention that the demiurge was evil and the cosmos by extension is.