Greek Religion Sanctuaries

Question 1

Asclepius

Answer 1

Greek god of healing and hero mentioned in the iliad (4.194, 11.518)
- worshiped increased during epidemics
- main temples were in Epidaurus and Cos

Question 2

The process of incubation

Answer 2

• Partons had to purify themselves before going into the Abaton (part of the temple dedicated to incubation)
• patrons would sleep in the Abaton where they hoped to receive either a dream in which they were cured or a dream that entailed how they could be cured
• at sunrise those who were healed would fulfil any promise made to Asclepius in their dreams and those given directions would be helped by the temple staff
• patrons paid to enter the sanctuaries and then paid Asclepius in tokens of appreciation (normally models fi what was healed)

Question 3

The layout of Epidaurus

Answer 3

The sanctuary was used for the process of incubation in the abaton / ankoimeterion for healing and finding ways in which to heal.
There was a gymnasium, the abaton, a theater

Question 4

The Eleusinian mysteries

Answer 4

• a cult that worshiped Demeter and Persephone, it was a mystery cult meaning that their exact rituals were a secret to those who had not been initiated
• every year they embarked on a 21K journey from Athens to the temple at Eleusis

Question 5

The journey of the Eleusinian mysteries

Answer 5

• initiates gathered in Athens for 5 days then started towards Daphni where they stopped at a temple of Aphrodite.
• they then continued to the sacred gate of Karameikos before crossing a bridge to get to a temple of Apollo
• they would arrive at the temple in Eleusis in the dark with torches lit
• at the front of the procession priests and priestesses carried sacred statues including that of Iacchus who supposedly lead the procession

Question 6

Rituals of the Eleusinian mysteries

Answer 6

• they would go into the Telesterion, a square temple with seating along the walls inside
• in the Akeron ( a small room in the middle) the secrets were revealed to the new initiates
  3 rituals we know of:
• things that were said = legomena - stories of the goddesses
• things done = dromena - plays
• things shown = deiknymena - shown exclusively to the initiates with sacred objects in darkness
• cleansing acts (at the end) - water was poured from two plemochos (one east, one west) to symbolise fertility

Question 7

Oracle at Dodona (process / function)

Answer 7

• An oracle of Zeus Niaos (and Dione)
• oldest of the Hellenistic oracles it was in Epicurus
• centered around an oracular Oak tree (little is known about the rituals)
• around 4000 lead tablets found with written questions - often personal rather than polis issues
• don’t know how the questions were answered (possibly: incubation, bird behavior or related to the priests / priestesses)

Question 8

Dodona in comparison to Delphi

Answer 8

Panhellenic site used for ‘smaller’ questions than Delphi e.g. questions about relationships not about the future of a Poleis

Question 9

Temple of Delphi

Answer 9

Made of limestone by the Chios in around 650BCE, panhellenic, where the Pythia stayed (in the adyton)

Question 10

Theater in Delphi

Answer 10

Built to house the plays 5000 people could fit in the raised seating (constructed 4th century BCE)

Question 11

Stadium in Delphi

Answer 11

117.5 meter track, seated 6500 people. track built in the 4th century, promoted inter polies relations

Question 12

The Oracle at Delphi

Answer 12

Stayed in the adyton and the pythia (priestess) would inhale anesthetic gases from cracks in the floor before speaking the words of the oracle

Question 13

Treasuries at Delphi

Answer 13

Lined along the sacred way, each polis had a treasury where they could dedicate their wealth to Apollo - important in the transactional nature of worship and in the influence of a polis
Athenian treasuries - biggest (490)
Siphnian treasuries - most decorated (525)

Question 14

The Acropolis (Key info)

Answer 14

Acropolis = highst (acro) city (polis)
- the main sanctuary in Athens, occupied from the 16th century BCE, reconstructed in the 5th century BCE after being destroyed by the Persians in 480BCE

Question 15

The Parthenon

Answer 15

Dedicated to Athena Parthenos, built between 447 - 432 BCE. Had doric (depicts giantonomachy, centauromachy, amazonomachy and trojan war) and ionic (depicts Panathenaea) friezes made entirely from marble. Held the chryselephantine statue by Pindais (11.5m)

Question 16

The Erectheion

Answer 16

Greek temple on the north side of the acropolis dedicated to Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheus
421-405 BCE , High Classical Greece
held the most sacred statue of Athena, doesn’t have columns - has statues of women holding up the porch

Question 17

The Propylaea

Answer 17

A large wall surrounding the Acropolis
Symbolises the partition between the religious parts of Athens and the rest of the city

Question 18

The Sanctuary at Olympia

Answer 18

Olympia was the panhellenic sanctuary of Zeus where the Olympic games were held.

Question 19

Temple at Olympia

Answer 19

475 BC - constructed in 471BCE (110.35m x 43.68m)
Doric Temple dedicated to Zeus
The very model of the fully developed classical Greek temple of the Doric order. The temple housed the renowned statue of Zeus; the chryselephantine statue of Zeus (12.4m) designed by Phidias, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Ionic friezes in classical architecture.

Question 20

Ash alter at Olympia

Answer 20

Cone shaped with a stepped outer circumference marked by stones - all the ash was from the previous sacrifices. (125ft across, 22ft high acc. to Pausanias)

Question 21

Stadium at Olympia

Answer 21

Construction took advantage of the land, seated 45,000 (212.5m x 28.5m wide) the starting line was marked by a stone sill.

Question 22

Treasuries at Olympia

Answer 22

Collected in an uneven line of 11 on raised terises at the base
They were meant to hold gold, statues, and offerings from different poleis to Olympia and Zeus. It was a huge investment because they were made from marble. Most of the treasuries were from colonies and Polis’ in Italy because they still had to show that they were Greek by an offering to Zeus.

Question 23

Echo stoa at Olympia

Answer 23

100m north to south separating the Altis from the stadium. had a double corridor divided by a colonnade

Question 24

Altis at Olympia

Answer 24

Was the center of all religious activities during the Olympics
The central sacred areas of Olympia, a grove with wild oaks, olives, pines and poplars

Question 25

Events of Panathenaea

Answer 25

Competitions in: Horse racing, chariot racing, foot races, boxing, wrestling
The procession:
- the sacred way - the path that the procession took towards the acropolis that was 10m wide to accommodate the many people and animals that traversed it
- the Dipylon gate - the starting point for the procession, the festival got so big that the pompleon (70mx30m) was built to accommodate
- the Keramikos - ancient cemetery, passing through sumblosed transition
- Agora - the markey place - passing through as a member of the procession was an important role for a citizen
- The Parthenon - the final destination of the acropolis