Athens Flashcards

1
Q

Explain why a typical Athenian house was arranged in the way it was.

A

 inward facing centred around the courtyard, with no outward doors;
 courtyard as an important source of light, focal point for women
(and might possibly have a well);
 Andron, laid out as a luxury room, nearest the door where easily
able to greet visitors. Also reflects the dominance of men;
 few windows which are high up – comfort and security;
 women’s quarters – nearer to the slave’s quarters which reflects
their responsibility. Also have to pass the men’s area;
 slave quarters – size reflects need for domestic tasks to be done
leaving family freer;
 store room – issues of accessibility and security.

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2
Q

Imagine you are an ancient Athenian. Would you like to live in an Athenian house such as the one in the picture? Explain your answer.

A

Accept any reasonable opinion from an Athenian perspective based on any of the following:
 design of an oikos;
 appearance;
 security;
 facilities;
 open courtyard etc.

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3
Q

Name some sporting events from the Panathenaia.

A

Sporting events that took place at the Great Panathenaia: Pentathlon; wrestling; boxing; equestrian events; torch race and running/stadion
 boat races; chariot racing.

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4
Q

Why was the panethenaia important?

A

 celebration of the founder of the city;
 feasting and the distribution of the sacrificial meat;
 for competition and the chance to win glory;
 the visual spectacle of the competition would be impressive;
 showing a sense of patriotic pride;
 emphasising the unification of the people of Athens.

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5
Q

Why would an Athenian citizen enjoy the panethenaia?

A

 leisure;
 relaxation;
 sense of unity;
 competitions;
 celebration.

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6
Q

What would an Athenian slave do?

A

 shopping;
 fetching water;
 supervising the children’s education;
 farming;
 practising a craft – e.g. shoemaking;
 slaves rented out by master;
 domestic duties;
 working in silver mines;
 spinning / weaving / making clothes;
 slaves employed by state;
 entertaining / serving at the symposium.

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7
Q

How would a person become a slave?

A

 born into slavery;
 captured in war;
 captured and sold by pirates;
 abandoned as a baby and taken into slavery;
 sold into slavery by parents because of poverty;
 got into debt and became slave as result.

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8
Q

How important were slaves?

A

 might enhance the household’s image and status;
 might offer a degree of self-sufficiency and provide more free time
and why this was important;
 source of revenue for family.

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9
Q

What would be included in a symposium?

A

acrobats;
dancers;
drinking watered wine;
intellectual debate;
jugglers;
kottabos;
mimes;
music.

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10
Q

How would a Kyrios prepare for a symposium?

A

 sending out of smart invitations;
 procurement of fine wine and food;
 securing the services of different entertainers;
 decoration and setting up of the andron
 welcoming of guests;
 food;
 drinking;
 entertainment

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11
Q

How would a Symposium help the family?

A

 finance;
 arranging marriage;
 education of sons;
 politics;
 business;

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12
Q

What items in a picture could suggest that the God in the picture is Dionyssus?

A

cart;
satyrs;
vines/ivy leaves
Leopards

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13
Q

What were Dionysos’ responsibilities?

A

 wine;
 theatre
 wild partying;
 germination;
 growth;
 fertility;
 death;

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14
Q

Explain how the Athenians worshipped Dionysos at the City Dionysia

A

 statue taken to the temple;
 priest had pride of place;
 singing of hymns;
 animals were paraded and sacrificed.
 theatrical competitions;

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15
Q

What did a Greek comic actor wear?

A

 short tunics;
 lots of padding;
 strap-on phalloi;
 flat slippers;
 masks;
 leggings.

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16
Q

Explain how humour was created by what the comic actors and Chorus wore.

A

 masks were oversized with exaggerated expressions to create a ridiculous and comic effect;
 costumes were thickly padded to allow actors to roll around in a
slapstick fashion;
 large leather phalloi could be used to simulate an erection;
 tunic allowed freedom of movement allowing physical comic routines and slapstick.

17
Q

To what extent did stage machinery, scenery and sound effects make the performance of an ancient Greek play impressive to a Greek audience?

A

 ekkuklema – change of scenes;
 sound effects;
 scenery rather simple and unimpressive;
 cranes – flying characters.

18
Q

What are some identifying features of Athene?

A

 spear, shield, helmet
 aegis
 Gorgon’s head.

19
Q

What were the responsibilities of Athene?

A

 founder of Athens
 tactical warfare
 weaving
 handicrafts
 wisdom.

20
Q

How did the Athenians worship Athene in the Panethenaia?

A

 grand procession through Athens towards the Acropolis and temple Athene
 at the end of this, a new peplos was presented to the statue of Athene on the Acropolis
 inter-deme competitions
 sacrifice of the animals to Athene which had been part of the procession
 great feast of sacrificial meat.

21
Q

What did tragic actors wear?

A

 flowing robes
 patterned robes
 special boots
 heavy/stiff robes
 masks.

22
Q

Explain how tragic actors costumes and masks contributed to their performance on stage.

A

Masks
 identification of character at a distance as facial features and expressions exaggerated
 ability to disguise men as women
 explanation based on enhanced acoustics with protruding mouth used to amplify voice should be credited, (though this theory has been largely discredited).
 credit ways in which mask might inhibit performance, e.g. by impeding movement, by covering face and so preventing facial expression showing emotion.
Costume
 identification of character through set clothing and bold patterns and colours where appropriate
 movement enhanced by flowing robes, or inhibited by stiff ones
 ability to disguise men as women
 realism of plot
 credit explanation based on comic effect as candidates may have taken question (b) to include comic as well as tragic actors.

23
Q

What happened to an animal throughout a sacrifice?

A

Preparation
 The animal was taken from market and led through the streets.
 Ribbons were put on the head and the horns were painted
 Water was poured on the animal’s head, causing it to nod
Killing
 The animal was then hit to stun it
 The animal’s throat was cut to kill it
Treatment of animal after death
 The thigh bones were burnt
 The entrails were examined
 The rest of the meat was shared out among all the participants.

24
Q

Explain the role of the participants in a sacrifice

A

 priest – poured water on animal’s head, prayed and cut the animal’s throat
 maiden – carried basket full of barley grain
 flute player – played throughout the ceremony
 attendant – to stun the animal
 the mantis – to read the entrails
 spectators – shared in the meat
 all participants – scattering barley.

25
Q

Why were sacrifices important in Athens?

A

 Means of ensuring the goodwill of the gods
 Opportunity to ask for a favour or blessing from the gods
 Chance to divine the will of the gods
 Unified the state
 Provided an opportunity to eat meat in a society where it was not regularly available.

26
Q

What rooms were there in a typical Athenian house?

A

 Andron;
 Gynaikon;
 slave accommodation;
 storeroom;
 workshop;
 bedrooms.
Andron and Gynaikon or equivalent description of these rooms should be included for throrough.
Do not accept courtyard, as this is given on the plan.