Greek Festivals - Great Panathenaia Flashcards
What was the panathenaia?
an annual Athenian festival celebrating Athena’s birthday
Who was allowed to take part in the panathenaia?`
all Athenians, only Athenians and resident foreigners
What was the Great Panathenaia?
an 8 day Athenian festival to Athena that took place every four years from 566bc, which contained more athletic and literary competitions
List the events that took place on each day
- rhapsodic and musical contests 2. boy’s and youths athletics 3. men’s athletics 4. equestrian events 5. tribal contests 6. all night celebration, procession and sacrifice 7. apobates and boat race 8. prize giving
Describe the rhapsodic and musical contests
Verses recited form Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and would require excellent memory (as not part of the oral tradition). 4 main musical contests, singers/aulos, soloists on aulos, singers/kithara, soloists on kithara
How many days were there sporting events, who could take part and what were the prizes?
3/8, only Athenians but not women (there were a small number of events for non-Athenians), pathaenaic amphora (storage jars with Athena and event they won on sides, filled w olive oil)
What was the stadion?
a running event where the competitors would run the length of the stadium
Describe the wrestling
attempt to get opponent down on back or shoulders (‘fall’) whilst covered in oil, after 3 ‘falls’ the contest was over, they were allowed to trip each other but no kicking, punching
Describe boxing
no head gear, wrap knuckles in leather, goal was to knock out your opponent so the blows were to the head. most dangerous sport.
Describe the pankration
‘all strength’, mixture of boxing and wrestling w kicking . only 2 rules, no eye gouging and biting.
Describe the pentathlon
discus, javelin, long jump, stadion and wrestling but 3 of them did not take place in own right so they came first. if an athlete win all 3, the last 2 did not take place
Describe the equestrian events
4 horse chariot race, mounted javelin (hit targets whilst riding), day 6 was apobates, which was a fully armoured rider dismounting chariot while racing, running alongside and then mounting again. prize went to owner of horse not rider
Describe the tribal contests
4 events for 10 tribes of Athens. 1. strength trials 2. boat race in Piraeus 3. war dance accompanied by aulos
What was the all night celebration?
night before the procession was all night celebration on acropolis of a 2 mile torch race from dipylon gate to altar on acropolis, and the winners torch would light the sacrificial flame for sacrifice next day. followed by singing and dancing with maidens and young men.
What was the procession?
presented Athena w peplos (greek dress woven w yellow /purple cloth with saffron thread of scenes from the battle between gods and giants). 2 peploi made, small one for wooden statue in erectheion and big one for Athena at Parthenos. procession started at dipylon gate, through city to foot of Acropolis. larger peploi was used as sail for ceremonial boat that was pushed to the acropolis and then taken up to the altar to Athena polias
