lesson 4- Religious authority

Question 1

before the 8th century, who was Greece ruled by?

Answer 1

a single monarch

Question 2

during the 8th century, how did Greek rule transition?

Answer 2

Before the 8th century BC, Greek was ruled panhellenically by a single monarch, however, during the 8th century, city states were formed and a single monarch ruled each city state- we see this through the king Theseus

Question 3

what did king theseus do?

Answer 3

He was believed to be the founder of the Greek city state of Attica (athens)- during the 8th century, he united the local towns in the Athenian peninsula (the areas around Athens) and united them into a singular city state (polis) named Attica which he had complete control over

Question 4

what were Athenian monarchs such as Theseus known as?

Answer 4

‘Eupatridai’ meaning ‘the sons of noble men’

Question 5

what happened during the 8th-7th centuries?

Answer 5

The Athenian monarchy transitioned into oligarchy rule- meaning that rather than the Athenian city state being ruled by a single monarch such as Theseus, it was ruled by three aristocrats known as the archons

Question 6

what were the names of the three archons?

Answer 6

1. Archon Basileus
2. Polemarch archon
3. Eponymous archon

Question 7

who was the archon basileus?

Answer 7

An Aristocrat of the Athenian city state which had responsibility for all religious matters in Athens such as religious rites and festivals

Question 8

what were the roles of the archon basileus?

Answer 8

1. be in charge of the sacrificial calendar
2. be in charge of all religious aspects e.g conflicts concerning priests and impiety
3. be in charge of sacrifices in the Athenian state and organising them

Question 9

who was the polemarch archon?

Answer 9

An Aristocrat in the Athenian city state in charge of all military affairs such as wars and campaigns

Question 10

what were the roles of the polemarch archon?

Answer 10

1. in charge of cults related to military affairs such as Artemis Agrotera who would be worshipped on the battlefield

Question 11

who was the eponymous archon?

Answer 11

An Aristocrat in the Athenian city state in charge of general administration and who functioned as the chief magistrate for Athens ( hearing cases that affect the community). He could also have control over civic festivals such as the festival of Dionysia in honour of the god Dionysus

Question 12

who was the male head of the household (oikos)?

Answer 12

The oldest male member in the oikos

Question 13

what were the roles of a male head in the oikos?

Answer 13

1. tend to the family tombs once a year by pouring libations consisting of milk, wine, water or honey in honour of them
2. tend to the family tombs in appearance
3. perform sacrifices to Zeus Ktesios (Zeus, protector of prosperity and wealth) in the storeroom
4. introduce their sons to their phratry (brotherhood) within a year of their birth during a 3 day long festival in honour of Zeus Phratrios

Question 14

who was a priest?

Answer 14

a male who served in worship of the gods and usually came from a family of priests- they usually acted as a mouth piece between gods and mortals as they could speak to the god themselves

Question 15

what were the roles of a priest?

Answer 15

• carried out rites sacred to their respective cults. Such as libations and prayers and maintaining temples

Question 16

who was a priestess?

Answer 16

a female who served in worship of the gods and usually came from a family of priestesses- just as priests, priestesses acted as a mouthpiece between the god and the mortal being such as the pythia in the temple of Apollo who went through the process of oracular consultation

Question 17

what were the roles of a priestess?

Answer 17

Serving in the worship of gods and goddesses including rituals, sacrifices, libations and prayers as well as taking care with the god of whom they were assigned

Question 18

who was the Epimeletai (overseer)

Answer 18

an individual which was appointed in Athens for particular festivals such as the panathenai

Question 19

what were the roles of the epimeletai?

Answer 19

-would originally fund festivals then started determining where state funds would be spent

Question 20

what was impiety/ pollution in the Ancient Greece world?

Answer 20

a serious offence in Greek society and religion where you could offend the gods (impiety) whilst pollution meant you could not sacrifice to a god

Question 21

what were the different reasons you could be ‘polluted’?

Answer 21

-giving birth, or having a misscarriage or giving birth to a still born
-menstruating
-praying to the gods in the incorrect manner on the right days
-murder
-entering the home of a woman who had just given birth
-through sexual intercourse
-being physically dirty
-not following proper burial practises
-dishonouring the gods
-attending a funeral or being in the presence of a dead body
-disrespecting someone’s right to asylum

Question 22

what were you banned from when you were polluted?

Answer 22

-banned from entering a sanctuary (although you could also be cleansed by entering a sanctuary)
-abstinance from cults
-exclusion from civic worship
-banned from sacrifices

Question 23

how could you be cleansed when polluted?

Answer 23

-through purification rituals/rites
-sprinkling water/washing when physically dirty
-enter a sanctuary
-murderers would undergo a purification ritual

Question 24

what is a clear example of the link between religion and politics?

Answer 24

Most political decisions were made with religious consultations; peace treaties were sworn to gods and the sacred truce was sworn by all city states in Greece during the olympic games to guarantee an end to any conflicts, even in war, so that every city state could participate

Question 25

what were the Aeropagus?

Answer 25

The Aeropagus were the law courts situated opposite the Acropolis and was where Socrates and Alcibiades were tried for impiety. This was allegedly found by Athena as a way for helping the Athenians end revenge killings that plagued the house of Atreus

Question 26

where were civic funds housed?

Answer 26

In treasuries and sacred buildings, for example, the Parthenon stored the money Athens gathered from her allies- The Delian league every year

Question 27

how many Epimeletai (Overseers) were appointed for the eleusinian mysteries?

Answer 27

Four- two of whom were from priestly families who had hereditary responsibilities in the cult of Demeter and Persephone

Question 28

what would happen if an individual had entered the home of a woman that had just given birth?

Answer 28

if they had come in contact with a woman that had just given birth, they could not enter the sanctuary for a certain amount of days and their pollution lasted for 40 days after birth. Priests were not allowed contact with women giving birth and homes were smeared with pitch (pine resin) to prevent pollution from seeping into the community.

Question 29

What would an individual do to cleanse themselves after sexual intercourse to prevent becoming polluted?

Answer 29

The Greeks ritually fumigated (purification using fumes or chemicals) by squatting over an incense burner after intercourse. However, there was no set purification ritual after sex, indicating that it only caused weak pollution. Participation in some religious festivals however required abstinence and some cults required priests/priestesses to remain abstinent for a period of time.

Question 30

How did attending a funeral or coming into contact with a dead body cause miasma (pollution) and how would an individual cleanse themselves?

Answer 30

dead bodies were believed to cause miasma (pollution) due to the fact they can spread disease if incorrectly disposed of. Purification rituals such as Prothesis which was carried out by women included cleaning the corpse and placing a bowl of water outside the home so individuals could purify themselves. Priests were forbidden all contact with the dead, including close relatives of the dead.

Question 31

what was the most intense pollution caused by and how could the individual cleanse themselves?

Answer 31

Murder released the most intense form of pollution- they were not allowed to attend sacrifices and were excluded from civic worship. They had to be purified using the blood of a pig and those condemned to death had to take their own life by drinking poisonous hemlock

Question 32

what happened in 433 BC?

Answer 32

A decree was passed in Athens announcing public prosecution of ‘Those that did not believe in the gods’