Greek: Festivals For The Dead And The Ancestors Flashcards
Beyond private funerals how else where the dead celebrated and why ?
Festivals to the dead as it was vital their memory was maintained
What was the first festival in Greece to the dead ?
Anthesteria which took place in late January and lasted three days
What did the Anthesteria celebrate ?
Maturing of wine and was held in honour of Dionysus
The first day was believed to be the day the dead rose from the underworld and roamed the earth
What happened on the first day of the anthisteria?
Wine from the previous year was opened and libations poured to Dionysus
What happened on the second day of the Anthesteria?
Groups would gather for drinking contests and families would pour libations on the graves of their ancestors
What happened on the final day of the Anthesteria?
Families of the dead would make offerings to the food Hermes as he was the only god along with Dionysus who was capable of travelling to the underworld and the above world
However families couldn’t eat any of the food
What was the second festival ?
The genesia
When did the Genesia take place ?
Late September
What happened in the Genesia?
Athenians would decorate graves of the deceased with ribbons and offer food and blood sacrifice in honour of all their dead ancestors
