Greek Religion Sanctuaries Flashcards
Asclepius
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
The process of incubation
- 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)
The layout of Epidaurus
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
The Eleusinian mysteries
- 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
The journey of the Eleusinian mysteries
- 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
Rituals of the Eleusinian mysteries
- 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
Oracle at Dodona (process / function)
- 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)
Dodona in comparison to Delphi
Panhellenic site used for ‘smaller’ questions than Delphi e.g. questions about relationships not about the future of a Poleis
Temple of Delphi
Made of limestone by the Chios in around 650BCE, panhellenic, where the Pythia stayed (in the adyton)
Theater in Delphi
Built to house the plays 5000 people could fit in the raised seating (constructed 4th century BCE)
Stadium in Delphi
117.5 meter track, seated 6500 people. track built in the 4th century, promoted inter polies relations
The Oracle at Delphi
Stayed in the adyton and the pythia (priestess) would inhale anesthetic gases from cracks in the floor before speaking the words of the oracle
Treasuries at Delphi
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)
The Acropolis (Key info)
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
The Parthenon
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)
The Erectheion
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
The Propylaea
A large wall surrounding the Acropolis
Symbolises the partition between the religious parts of Athens and the rest of the city
The Sanctuary at Olympia
Olympia was the panhellenic sanctuary of Zeus where the Olympic games were held.
Temple at Olympia
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.
Ash alter at Olympia
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)
Stadium at Olympia
Construction took advantage of the land, seated 45,000 (212.5m x 28.5m wide) the starting line was marked by a stone sill.
Treasuries at Olympia
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.
Echo stoa at Olympia
100m north to south separating the Altis from the stadium. had a double corridor divided by a colonnade
Altis at Olympia
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
