Festivals : The Great Panathenia

Question 1

How often did the Panathenaia take place

Answer 1

It was a yearly festival however every four years it was expanded to an 8 day festival called the great Panathenaia

Question 2

Who could take part in the Panathenaia

Answer 2

Only Athenians and resident foreigners - this was also a festival women had a part to play however slaves were not allowed

Question 3

What did the Panathenaia celebrate

Answer 3

Athena‘s birthday

Question 4

What happened on the first day of the Panathenaia

Answer 4

Rhapsodic contests -

Rhapsodes would have to demonstrate excellent memory to recite the Iliad and Odyssey by heart

Question 5

What else happened on the first day of the Panathenaia

Answer 5

Musical contests -

Four competitions including the instruments Aulos and Kithara and singers

Question 6

What happened on day two and three of the Panathenaia

Answer 6

Men and boys athletics -

These included the Stadion, Wrestling, Boxing, Pankration and the Pentathlon

Question 7

Were women allowed to participate in the athletics

Answer 7

No

Question 8

What happened on day four of the Panathenaia 

Answer 8

Equestrian events -

• Four horse chariot race
• Mounted javelin contest

Question 9

What happened on day five of the Panathenaia

Answer 9

Tribal contests -

The 10 tribes of Athens would compete strength trials, a boat race and a war dance

Question 10

What happened on day six of the Panathenaia

Answer 10

The Panathenaic Procession -
The Peplos travelled in the procession from the Dipylon gate to the foot of the Acropolis and then transferred to a sail of a boat and pushed up the rocky hill to be presented to Athena Parthenos

Question 11

What happened the night before the Panathenaic Procession

Answer 11

A 2 mile torch race - the winners torch would be used to light the sacrificial flame to Athena

Question 12

What was the peplos

Answer 12

The peplos was a piece of clothing woven by the women of Athens for nine months before the festival begun

Question 13

What was sacrificed for Athena

Answer 13

100 oxen

Question 14

What happened on the sevenof the Panathenaia

Answer 14

Apobates -

Another equestrian event which involved armoured charioteers mounting and dismounting their chariots while in motion

Question 15

What happened on the eight of the Panathenaia

Answer 15

Prize giving -
Prizes were a Panathenaic amphorae which contained olive oil
On one side there would be an image of the event they won and on the other an image of Athena