Chtonic Worship

Question 1

What is a quote from Aristophanes clouds showing the link between chthonic and conventional worship ?

How does this contrast to Garland (1994) argument ?

Answer 1

‘Mother Earth! What about Zeus, the chap on Mount Olympus’

It’s clear for the language used the Greek didn’t draw a signifiant divination between cthonic and conventional worship

The pair are mentioned in the same breath by Strepsiades

However Garland argued Cthnotic religion was the antithesis to Olympian and the pair cannot work together

Question 2

What are some similarities of Cthonic and Olympianism ?

Answer 2

Both use sanctuaries and sacrifices

Cosmetically they are the same but underneath they are fundamentally opposite
(Argument shared by Garland)

Question 3

What is cult of the dead ?
What are some similarities to cthonic worship and cult of the god ?

Answer 3

Worship of dead heroes

Sacral meals through which fellowship is established including libation and prayer

However Burkett argued that way in which these actions are undertaken in each sector of Greek worship emphasises their fundamental opposite

Question 4

How does Burket lay out the differences between cult of the dead and cult of the gods ?

Answer 4

Cult of the gods
- approach in pure festival at the and garland in the hair
- euphemia a happy silence
Altar built upwards toward the gods

Cult of the dead
- approached by the defiled (polluted) without a garland and hair untied
- weeping and lamentation
A ground level bothros points in the ground

Question 5

How does Burket describe the differences between cult in sacrifice ?

Answer 5

For cult of the gods consecrate and Thuein (turn into smoke)
To sacrifice is to devote

Difference in verbs for different sacrifice agrees with the idea that cosmetically they are the same but in method they are not

Question 6

Did the Greeks see a difference ?

Answer 6

It’s arguable for both sides

But Olympia had both cthonic and Olympian worship

Zeus Chthonios and Zeus Hypsistos stood side by side in the Corinth

Question 7

What does Deacy (2016) argue ?

Answer 7

Our view is oversimplified
- the view that cthonic worship is out of fear Do et Abeas i give so you go away

Deacy notion that the ‘relation between the two poles was a fluid one’

Question 8

Why is Choephori by Aeschylus important to cthonic worship ?

Answer 8

Orestes calls upon both Hermes of the underworld and Zeus
- it’s an earthly matter yet he involves both cthonic and Olympianism

Question 9

Why is Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus important ?

Answer 9

Theseus is described as praying to both the earth and Olympus for help from the gods