Greek religion Flashcards
Asclepius
Iliad - he’s defined as a Hero
Other versions - Son of Apollo and a mortal mother.
Cult spread widely so he was perceived as a God rather than a Hero
2 Most famous sanctuaries date back to 5th century BC - Epidaurus
a centre for pilgrims seeking cures from across Greece
Island of Cos
Incubation and sacrificing could heal the individuals
surgery instructed by the God but carried out by staff, medicine/Diet and Exercise shown in dreams.
Snakes of the God were kept for the supposed healing property of their venom.
Most evidence comes from votive offerings as thanks to the God - Leg
Eleusinian Mysteries
For Demeter and Persephone
Anyone can join except murders and those who cant speak Greek
Entry fee was one pig to sacrifice
Psychedelic brew was drunk, in order to make secret more profound.
For harvest and the afterlife
Ceremony dramatization of afterlife and Demeter and Persephone actually there
Oracle at Dodona
Of Zeus
Oldest Oracular sanctuary in Greece
Most common question was ‘which God should i pray to’ along with ‘should i do x or y’
Rarely do we find actual advice given by the Gods usually its just a yes or no or the name of the God .
Large category of question regard travel and moving, seems these were great concerns e.g. Parmenides asking if he ‘will fare better if he stays home’ - This is a problem with some of the evidence as it doesn’t show context
Most questions are anonymous but address crucial questions e.g. should I marry this woman
Concerns over marriage and offspring are also brought up as well as careers and professions
There are also tablets from Slaves asking if there is a chance of freedom or if they should run away
Overall impression is that people sought out questions from a range of circumstances which shows that the oracle was widely respected and the popularity of it shows there was at least some helpful advice given
Household Religion
Oikos is where household religion took place (Family and Household) The head of the Oikos was the eldest male figure in which religious authority lay with them and he acted as a priest
3 Main household gods and two less important
- Zeus Ktesios - Protector of property and wealth, represented with a vase filled with seeds, water and olive oil
- Zeus Herkeios - Zeus of the fence, he protected the enclosure of the house, pictured as a snake to ward off evil within the courtyard of a house
-Apollo Agyeios - another protector Zeus but represented as a small pillar or by a statue of Heracles
- The Hearth - All households had a central hearth dedicated to Hestia, she protected the family itself
- The Herm - Small rectangular pillar with the a bearded head of the God Hermes and an erect phallus, they stood as markers of roads as well as protective symbols
Roles within the household were different with the fathers doing the most - tending to family tombs both with rituals and physical appearance.
The son would be welcomed into the Phratry during a three-day festival
Women’s Role in Religion
Despite the limited rights of women they still had important roles in religion -
- Were be priestess (usually of female gods but were exceptions)
- Arrephoros - Secret ritual associated with Athena Polias, two maidens were chosen to carry a basket on their heads given to them by Athena but what was in them was unknown, they took the basket from the acropolis through an underground temple to the sanctuary of Athena
- Grinder - Ground the meal for the cakes which would be offered to Athena on her altar at various occasions
- Brauronia - dressed up as bears at the festival of Artemis Brauronia, this was required for Athenian girls before they could marry - Basket bearer - happened in many festivals most notably the Kanephoroi at the Panathenaea
Once married women could take party in women only festivals like Thesmophoria or the Eleusinian mysteries
However this is mostly limited to Aristocratic women
Deme Level
Athens separated into Demes
Each Deme had its own religious calendar with specific religious festivals and Gods
Erchia -
Population of about 500 male adults and 2/3,000 residents in total
An inscription held their sacred calendar - 25 days of sacrifices per year, during which they sacrificed 95 animals which were paid for by wealthier demesmen. Calendar mentions six Apollo’s
3 local heroes unattested for were also there
Priests of the Deme might have represented the Deme at Athenian festivals,
Participation in Deme religion didn’t exclude them from Polis level
Rural Deme’s would worship Gods relevant to them therefore many festivals to Demeter serving a practical purpose but also having an entertainment aspect as well
Polis Level
Directed prayer and worship to the welfare of the Polis as a whole, paid for by state funds and organised by state officials and for the most part open to all citizens
City funded temples and festivals and dedications
Draw community together for a patriotic and civil pride
