PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF THE DIVINE Flashcards
1
Q
CULTS AND ORACLES
A
- Citizens of a city would automatically expect to join in the public worship of that city.
- Whether he had a strong devotion to the city’s patron god/goddess or not and he would join in –> Privilege and DUTY. Belonging to the city.
- Women could not express citizenship by VOTING but could have the prestigious role of priestess and other OFFICIAL TASKS -> DANCING and SINGING choruses.
- Thesmorphia
2
Q
Public Worship
A
- expressed one’s identity as a CITIZEN and PROOF of citizenship (age of no documentary)
- Participation in FESTIVALS = used in law court speeches as PROOF of legitimacy
- CIVIC BOND between gods, city and its worshipping citizen body
- Ways citizens could interact with Olympian gods on a more personal one-to-one basis.
3
Q
MYSTERY CULTS
A
- Mysteries = public festivals
- Adherents known as initiates = they had chosen to undergo initiation into the cult.
- Ancient Greek word for initiates = mystés
- Gods were the same and the stories were the same but the experience and privileges = were DIFFERENT.
- Cult –> simply religious worship towards a particular figure or object on the part of the followers.
4
Q
ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES
A
- Earliest and most famous example of a mystery cult, entering Athenian civic religion from the late sixth century BCE
- Initiation = FOR LIFE, Open to ANYONE irrespective of GENDER, AGE, SLAVE/FREE, NATIONALITY provided they could: Speak Greek, Hadn’t committed a serious crime, could pay contribution, kept mysteries a SECRET on pain of DEATH.
- OPENNESS = Mysteries were widely appealing
- Annual all night celebration at ELEUSIS = wonderful experience though nature well kept secret –> nearest modern equivalent = Freemasonry ?
- SECRET REVEALED at the end of the ELEUSINIAN mysteries –> EPOPTEIA final initiation rite.
- After death, initiate could look forward to an eternal life in the Elysian Fields
- Person undergoing initiation = MYST, previous = MYSTAGOGUE
Priest = HIEROPHANT –> Same noble family EUMOLPIDAE
5
Q
ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES
A
- Earliest and most famous example of a mystery cult, entering Athenian civic religion from the late sixth century BCE
- Initiation = FOR LIFE, Open to ANYONE irrespective of GENDER, AGE, SLAVE/FREE, NATIONALITY provided they could: Speak Greek, Hadn’t committed a serious crime, could pay contribution, kept mysteries a SECRET on pain of DEATH.
- OPENNESS = Mysteries were widely appealing
- Annual all night celebration at ELEUSIS = wonderful experience though nature well kept secret –> nearest modern equivalent = Freemasonry ?
- SECRET REVEALED at the end of the ELEUSINIAN mysteries –> EPOPTEIA final initiation rite.
- After death, initiate could look forward to an eternal life in the Elysian Fields
- Person undergoing initiation = MYST, previous = MYSTAGOGUE
Priest = HIEROPHANT –> Same noble family EUMOLPIDAE
6
Q
IMPRESSIONS OF ELEUSIAN MYSTERIES
A
- We meet some initiates in the chorus ARISTOPHANES’ FROGS: Joyful songs = vivid impression of real-life experience.
- Chorus = initiates who have died and are now sharing a delightful and illuminated afterlife.
- Worshipped in a similar way in their lifetime with joyful hymns.
- In the afterlife, their experience = BLISSFUL, whereas other souls do not enjoy their afterlife since it is DARK AND EMPTY.
- Chorus of FROGS also suggests to us –> MORAL OBLIGATION OF INITIATES TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE. Should not be a completely free ride to eternal bliss.
7
Q
SANCTUARY AT ELEUSIS
A
- Differs from most others
- Custom designed worship area = INDOORS
- Most worship took place outdoors, in large spaces to accommodate enormous numbers
- Eleusis –> Roofed worship hall or TELESTERION, dated to the Geometric period (900-800 BCE) but rebuilt larger several times over the centuries = accommodate more people.
- Indoor setting gave mystagogues more control over the ceremonies –> manipulation of LIGHT and DARKNESS. Helped also to PRESERVE MYSTERY (no outsider would be able to see)
- re-enactment of DEMETER LOSING HER DAUGHTER PERSEPHONE probably took part = HUGE EMOTIONAL IMPACT
8
Q
HEALING CULT OF ASCLEPIUS
A
- ASCLEPIUS = son of Apollo
- Educated in skills of heals by his father
- EVENTUALLY KILLED BY ZEUS AS HIS SKILL IN HEALING LIFE = CHALLENGED DISTINCTING between Gods and Mortals
- After death = GOD OF HEALING
- ‘rod’ of Asclepius with the snake round it remains a SYMBOL of medicine and HEALTHCARE today
- 2 main sanctuaries dedicated to worship of ASCLEPIUS both dating from 5th CENTURY
- EPIDAURUS & ISLAND OF COS
- WORSHIPPERS CAME FROM ALL OVER GREECE TO PRAY FOR OR GIVE THANKS FOR A CURE
- MOST FAMOUS STRUCTURE TODAY = EXCELLENT STATE OF PRESERVATION = THEATRE SITS 6000
- Stadium for sports
- Major TEMPLE with 4th CENTURY BCE sculpture and very beautiful THOLOS
- ENKOIMETERION = dormitory or sleeping area
9
Q
WHAT WAS THE UNIQUE SELLING POINT OF EPIDAURUS?
A
- SERVICE TO SICK PEOPLE:
- Priests interviewed the sick and either prescribe treatments which could be carried out at home or they = recommended a night in the ENKOIMETERION
- After SPIRITUAL PREP, a sick person slept in a designated area hoping the god would visit them in sleep if they were lucky = ADVICE OR HEALING in dream
- PRACTICE OF SLEEPING AT SHRINE = INCUBATION = close personal interaction w a GOD, sick person experience FACE 2 FACE encounter and receive saving message –> interpret and act
- INTIMATE AND INVOLVING EXPERIENCE
- Process of healing at EPIDAURUS = successful, many offerings were left at the shrine OFTEN representing the sick part
- Most votive offerings = MOLDED CHEAP TERECOTTA -> SOME MARBE = EXPENSIVE, SIMILAR OFFERINGS MADE AT CHRISTIAN SHRINES
10
Q
THE SHRINES TO ASCLEPIUS SHOW WHAT EXACTLY?
A
- Worship and ‘Early Hospital’
- Reflects his status as both PHYSICIAN and GOD
- 5 million pilgrims still visit shrine in FRANCE Virgin Mary - CURES REGARDED AS MIRACLES JUST LIKE HERE –> Idea of SHRINE WOULD NOT BE SHOCKING OR SURPRISING TO OUR MODERN VIEWER
11
Q
ORACLE AT DONDA
A
- ORACLE = PRIEST/ PRIESTESS acting as the oracle was NOT all-knowing but acted as a MEDIUM –> god spoke, advised or prophesied.
- Most famous = ORACLE at DELPHI who spoke FOR APOLLO
- Through ORACLE, APOLLO sold LAIUS that he would be killed by his own son. Later ORACLES told Oedipus he would murder his FATHER and MARRY his mother. At beginning –> CREON TOLD MUST FIND MURDERER TO SAVE THEBES FROM PLAGUE
- Donda = EPIRIUS, very ancient, shrine of ZEUS, dating from MYCEANEAN times
- LESS KNOWN THAN DELPHI NUT STILL POPULAR
- INDIVIDUAL INQUIRER –> historically lower profile
- Heart of Donda = SACRED OAK TREE, ZEUS = OAK, Inquirer wrote on lead tablet and priest then listened to rustle of sacred leaves and gave their interpretation
- Homer calls these PRIESTS = SELOI - ILLIAD = Sleep on the ground, never wash their feet. = SYMBOLISED earth and powers of prophecy
12
Q
WHAT DID THE LEAD TABLES SAY AT ORACLE OF DONDA?
A
- PERSONAL QUESTIONS: Should I marry?
- Rarely received God’s answer
- YES OR NO ANSWERS rather than detailed
- Oracle at DELPHI too = was personal questions, also dealt with matters of the state and colonisation.
- Nature of the queries at Dondona suggests = why it is not better known.
- Delphi = more central, DODONA = EDGEE OF MAINLAND GREECE NORTHERN
13
Q
ELEUSINIA
A
Eleusinia, ancient Greek festival in honour of Demeter (the goddess of agriculture),
unconnected with the Eleusinian Mysteries despite the similarity of names.
The Eleusinia, which included games and contests, was held every two years, probably in the month of the Metageitnion (August–September).
Every second festival had a particularly elaborate observance and was known as the Great Eleusinia. Its purpose was thanksgiving and sacrifice to Demeter for the gift of grain.
14
Q
FESTIVAL AND PROCESSION
A
- 2 ceremonies took place each year from 6th century onwards
- LESSER MYSTERIES = Spring, seen some as a predatory event for participants in GREAT MYSTERIES = held in autumn over a period of 9 days
- MIRACLES - allegedly performed by gods = common throughout antiquity - rooted in PERSONAL DEVOTION
- MIRACLES recorded in VOTIVE inscriptions to healing deities like ASCLEPIUS thanks for a miraculous recovery
- DISPLAY of miracles became more important over the course of time as miracles proved deity and therefore helped promote and legitimise a NEW or recently introduced cult.
