Greek Religion Booklet 5

Question 1

What were priests responsible for?

Answer 1

The physical care of the sanctuary they oversaw, managing loans to states and individuals, performing rituals, preparing sacrificial animals brought to shrines, organising funding for religious activities, invoking the good will of the gods on behalf of the community

Question 2

What privileges came with priesthoods?

Answer 2

Often unpaid. Best cuts of sacrificial meat, prestige in society, front row seats at theatres and stadiums (Theatre of Dionysus)

Question 3

How were priesthoods obtained?

Answer 3

Inheritance- often lifelong and prominent roles in important cults; by lot- on an annual basis; through purchase- men and women could pay to obtain certain priesthoods

Question 4

What was the link between priests and politics?

Answer 4

A civic priest was always under the responsibility of the local authorities- politicians didn’t need priests to perform religious activities

Question 5

Example of a priesthood that was inherited?

Answer 5

Eumolpidae provided hierophants, Kerykes provided dadouchos at Eleusis

Question 6

What priesthoods were usually cheaper to purchase?

Answer 6

Female ones

Question 7

What did priests usually look like?

Answer 7

Long hair, headband, garland, costly white or purple robes, staff

Question 8

What are priestesses usually presented holding?

Answer 8

A large key to the temple, often dressed like the goddess they represented

Question 9

Was chastity expected of male priests?

Answer 9

Only at festival times for most priesthoods

Question 10

What are exegetai?

Answer 10

Experts in religious law

Question 11

What are chresmologoi?

Answer 11

Oracle mongers

Question 12

What are manteis?

Answer 12

Travelling entrail inspectors and omen interpreters

Question 13

What was the sacrificial process (simplified)?

Answer 13

Prepare the sacrificial animals with woolen fillets, lead to altar. Wash and take a handful of barley. Sprinkle animal’s head with water (to nod in consent), cut a strand of its hair, put on altar, light fire, pray. Throw barley. Cut throat of victim, women shout, catch blood, cut up animal, inspect entrails, cook meat- put thigh meat and entrails on fire, feast of remaining meat

Question 14

What were the most common sacrificial animals?

Answer 14

Sheep, goats, pigs,cattle

Question 15

What were rare sacrificial animals?

Answer 15

Fish, wild animals, dogs, horses, fowl

Question 16

What was a hecatomb?

Answer 16

Originally a sacrifice of 100 oxen- over time became as low as 12 sometimes

Question 17

What was the purpose of a blood sacrifice?

Answer 17

United community, fed people, display of strength and wealth, displayed hierarchy between animals and humans, appeased the gods and earned their good will, celebration of achievements

Question 18

What is a libation?

Answer 18

The pouring of a liquid in a ritual context to honour gods, heroes, the dead

Question 19

What liquids were used in libation?

Answer 19

it varied- milk, honey, water, wine

Question 20

What would libations often mark?

Answer 20

The beginning or end of something- a day, banquet, sacrifice

Question 21

What was the process of a libation?

Answer 21

Pored out of a wine jug into a libation bowl, from there onto an altar or the ground. Special larger scale libations poured into grave vessels or the earth

Question 22

What was ritual burial?

Answer 22

A form of sacrifice which does not involve butchering, but the burial of sacrificial victims or objects

Question 23

What is an example of a ritual burial?

Answer 23

Thesmophoria women buried sacrificial piglets to excavate the following year and spread on soil

Question 24

What are votive offerings evidence of?

Answer 24

The reciprocal nature of the relationship with the gods