PERICLES- CULTURE AND RELIGION IN ATHENS (3) Flashcards
Who planned and supervised Pericles’ building programme?
Pheidias, a brilliant Athenian sculptor
What was the Propylaea?
A gateway onto the Acropolis, designed by the architect Mnesikles. It contained a central hall and four large wings, two on each side.
What was the Parthenon?
The largest temple on the Acropolis, dedicated to Athena Parthenos “Athena who fights in the front line”. It was designed to show off the statue of Athena Parthenos, and also served as Athens’ treasury.
What was the frieze?
A continuous horizontal band of sculpted decoration on the Parthenon, depicting the Panathenaic procession.
What was the Temple of Athena Nike?
A smaller temple on the Acropolis dedicated to the Athena Nike “Athena of Victory”.
What was the Odeon?
A large concert hall built next to the theatre of Dionysius.
What was the Temple of Hephaestus?
A temple to the blacksmith god, Hephaestus located near the Agora.
How was Pericles criticized for his building programme?
Athens’ allies felt outraged by that fact that the money that they were paying into the Delian League was being used to adorn the city of Athens.
How did Pericles respond to the criticisms of his building programme?
By saying that all the Delian League needed to do was protect Athens’ allies from Persian invasion, and that the building boosted Athens’ economy massively, as it generated a lot of employment.
What was Pheidias prosecuted for in 437BC?
For stealing gold used in the statue of Athena Parthenos, and depicting both himself and Pericles on the shield of the statue.
Why did Pericles make the funeral oration?
He made the speech for all of the men that had died during the first year of the Peloponnesian War.
What did Pericles say in the funeral oration?
He praised the city and its people, in order to show the families of those who had died why their deaths were not in vain. He focused on why Athenian society and democracy was so superior to anywhere else, particularly Sparta.
Who wrote down the contents of Pericles’ funeral oration, and how did they know what he said?
Thucydides was able to write down what he assumes Pericles said, due to the fact that the funeral oration speech was repeated many times, and other copies of it have survived.
What was the Panathenaia?
A grand civic Athenian festival held every year in honour of Athena.
What was the Great Panathenaia?
A larger version of the Panathenaia held every four years, and spread over multiple days.
What were the competitions that took place in the Panathenaic Games?
There were musical competitions, sporting competitions, and tribal competitions, with winners of the sporting events being rewarded in jars of olive oil or sometimes payment
What was the most important part of the Panathenaia?
The procession from the Dipylon Gate (along the Panathenaic Way) to the foot of the Acropolis
What happened in the procession to the Acropolis?
The Arrephoroi carried the woven peplos robe to be dedicated to Athena Polias. They were followed by many people: priestesses, sacrificial animals, metics, victors in the games, and ordinary citizens.
What was the City Dionysia?
A major Athenian festival centred on the worship of Dionysius.
What was the focus of the City Dionysia?
Two drama competitions, in which playwrights would have their plays performed, and then a panel of judges would decide which was the best.
What was a choregos?
A financial backer attached to a playwright to finance the production of his plays.
What was the liturgy?
A tax on the super-rich requiring them to contribute towards the functioning of Athens
What was the Theoric Fund?
A fund provided by the Athenian state which ensured that poorer citizens could afford to attend the City Dionysia.
What was the proagon?
An event which acted as a preview to the City Dionysia.
