Greek priests/sacrifices Flashcards
Blood sacrifice?
The killing of an animal as an offering to the Gods.
Hecatomb?
The sacrifice of at least 100 bulls during large festivals.
Gilding?
The covering of a surface in a thin layer of gold.
Mantis?
-Anyone could be one
-Read omens from entrails of sacrificed animals
-Predict the outcome of future events
-Read flights of birds(augury)
Female priest?
Hiereia
Male priest?
Hiereus
Hiereus/Hiereia?
-Particular priests had particular benefits
-Oversee rituals and assist in the upkeep of the temple
-Male gods attended by male priests and female gods attended by female priests
-A citizen would hope to become a priest to show commitment to their city
-Temporary role that required no special training
Why did Greeks make sacrifices?
-Needed help i.e. battles
-Gain the gods honour and receive luck i.e. for a god harvest
-Bring them something they didn’t have in their lives
-Thought the gods liked the sacrifices
What did the Greeks offer to the gods in sacrifices?
Animals, terracotta, fruit, blood sacrifices, food, crops, wine, statues, pots.
What animals were used in a sacrifice?
Cows, goats, pigs, sheep, bulls.
Sacrifice?
-Participants would clean themselves
-participants would put on their best clothes/garments
-animals horns would be gilded
-animal would be lead to the altar
-maiden would carry basket with knife and grains
-musicians would play to reduce the chances of the animal being frightened
-if the animal was frightened he sacrifice had to start again
-Fire was lit and participants would get a handful of grain
-water was poured on the animals head causing it to nod
-participants would chuck the grain in the fire and the chief sacrificer would utter a prayer
-then the chief would throw some of the animals hairs in the fire
-the meat was shared out and the gods would get the first choosing(usually the bones wrapped in fat)
