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Personal Experience of the Divine Flashcards

1
Q

Individual experiences

A

individual dimension particularly clear when studying mystery cults

seen as a form of direct communication

insight into area of GR otherwise invisible (oracles, votive inscriptions, why mystery cults)

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2
Q

What is a mystery cult?

A

“mystery” could be related to the Greek word for initiate - “mystes”

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3
Q

Why are mystery cults difficult to study?

A

-variety across Greece
-local differences
-unclear evidence

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4
Q

How could mysteries be held?

A

as a public festival in a city

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5
Q

Famous mystery cult

A

the best known recorded cult in Ancient Greece = the Eleusinian Mysteries

regular part of sacred calendar from 6th century onwards

Demeter built a temple at Eleusis

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6
Q

What is the epopteia?

A

the revelation of a secret at the end of the Eleusinian Mysteries

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7
Q

What is a myst?

A

person wishing to be initiated

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8
Q

What is a mystagogue?

A

able to initiate others

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9
Q

Who was Archon basileus?

A

King Archon responsible for all things sacred in Athens

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10
Q

Who is the heirophant?

A

leading priest at EM, always drawn from Eumolpidae family

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11
Q

What is a kykeon?

A

psychotropic brew from barley and perinyroyal

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12
Q

When did you become a mystes?

A

after making the conscious decision to undergo a ceremonial initiation into a cult while promising to keep it a secret

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13
Q

What were mystery cults part of?

A

Greek tradition

Eleusis = oldest and most famous

variety

local differences

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14
Q

The public element of the EM

A

Most evidence (inscriptions, archaeology, literary evidence)

2 ceremonies every year from 6th century onwards
- lesser mysteries (spring) - prepare for greater
- greater mysteries (autumn):

  • celebrated over 9 days
    -15 mile journey to Eleusis
  • dances, sacrafices, singing, flutes
  • fasted, drank kykeon, recreated myth
  • controlled by Athenia government (important in law)
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15
Q

Why would people join the EM?

A

attractive - D+P = agriculture so farmers wanted to ensure goof harvest

promise that life in Underworld = better

popular because create community, make you different, exciting

chance to meet the gods during ceremony

unlike any other Greek religious festival

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16
Q

Archaeology of the EM

A

Complex of Demeter and Persephone

built in Geometric period (900-850 BC)

Telesterion enlarged several times

Pericles finished it in the 5th century

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17
Q

Who could join the EM?

A

DIFFERENT TO OTHER CULTS

anyone (spoke Greek and not been involved in a crime) -> unusual

pay contribution to take part => NARROW down availability and limited access

not allowed to tell anyone about what happened or the secret => distinction between those initiated and those not

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18
Q

Limitations of our knowledge about mystery cults - literary sources

A

most knowledge = second hand or allusions because people could not say anything

even after people like Pausanians shielded away

Archaic and Classical sources - Aristophans in ‘Frogs’ (humorous approach)

(interest kept due to Christian authors in early AD)

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19
Q

Who did the EM attract the attention of?

A

Ancient: Plato and Plutarch

Early Christian authors: saw them as demonic or trivial in order to differentiate them from pagan ‘mystery’ religions

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20
Q

What were the Elysian Fields?

A

mythical place where eternal life offered to EM members

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21
Q

EM secret

A

has been kept (perhaps part of fascination)

shared in ceremony

revealing of secret to non-initiated or writing/speaking about it = capital crime punishable by death (e.g Alcibiades)

-> shows importance of festival and its status as a religious institution in Athens (relationship bet. politics and religion)

22
Q

When was the EM incorporated?

A

Incorporated into Athenian civic religion and calander in 6th century - UNUSUAL

23
Q

Eleusis

A

15 miles west of Athens

initialy independent but became part of Athens in 7th century BC

famous for hosting mysteries of D and P
-> Homeric Hymn to Demeter

24
Q

Ninnon tablet

A

-400-300 BC
- red-figure plaque

-depiction of the cult of Eleusis (initiates being led by Iacchus to seated goddess D AND P)

-key visual source for reconstruction of the myth

-according to inscription: found in sands and dedicated by Ninnon

  • climax of ritual? revealing of secret - epiphany of deities in nocturnal or Underworld - torches
25
Famous healing cult
The healing cult of Asclepius spread widely and he was perceived as a god rather than a hero
26
What did the healing cult of Ascelpius do?
- function like a modern day hospital - pray to Asclepius for cures - believed that A acted through physicians - length of stay depended on illness - votive inscriptions were evidence that people went on pilgrimages to the temple
27
Who was Asclepius?
hero turned god worship soared during pandemics "blameless physician" son of Apollo and a mortal
28
How were people healed?
- exercise and diet -instantly in sleep - miracle - snake venom - physician act through A (e.g. medicine, surgery)
29
What was the process at the healing cult?
- bathe -sacrifice -sleep in incubation in the stoa or under sky
30
Quote about miracles
"miracles proved the deity"
31
Anatomical votive relief
-1st century AD -marble relief on shrine of Asclepius on island of Melos -imp. example of a votive offering to Asclepius after cure was received in one of his sanctuaries -made by Tyche to A after his daughter Hygeia hurt leg/ wounded leg -evidence for cult of Asclepius
32
When is Asclepius first mentioned?
first mentioned in Iliad and defined as a hero (in other versions he is son of Apollo w/ mortal mother)
33
Two most famous sanctuaries of Asclepius
two most famous sanctuaries dedicated to Asclepius date back to 5th century. ->indicative of his life and function as a hero or physician as they combine worship with actual practical help for the sick (worshipped as a god) Asclepius at Epidaurus and Sanctury of Asclepius on island of Cos
34
The two sancturies
Asclepius at Epidaurus: centre for pilgrims seeking cure from wide range (widespread patients from all over Greece - left inscriptions) Sanctuary of Asclepius on island of Cos: famous school for physicians -> both sanctuaries frequented by people from all over Greece (to thank for cure or to seek cure)
35
What were miracles?
miraculous deeds allegedly performed by the gods were common in antiquity, many of them rooted in personal devotion
36
Where were mircales often recorded?
in votive inscriptions to healing deities such as A to express gratitude for miraculous recovery -> proudly displayed at sanctuaries
37
What did miracles help do?
promote and legitimise a new or recently introduced cult (like A)legitimise display of miracles became more important over time ("miracles proved the deity")
38
Another example of a healing cult
healing cult at Dropos in Attica - dedicated to local god or hero Amphiareios ->sanctuary located at Oropos incubation common and incumbents slept on ram skin (according to Pausanias) temple, altar inscribed with names of gods and heroes, a theatre, seperate bath and fountain house
39
What is an oracle?
- site (where oracle founded) - person (priestess etc.) - oracular statement
40
Who was prayed to at an oracle?
god hero MAYBE the dead
41
What sort of questions were asked at oracles?
fertility which god to pray to marriage widowhood safety/travel should I do x or y?
42
Why were the oracles personal?
- privacy about what was asked - request = individual - talking w/ gods - personal response
43
The Oracle at Dodona
- N. Greece in a v. deserted area made up of diff. areas - sanctury to Zeus - v. old - tablets on which people write q's - travel = big concern (unsafe, unknowing) - never any context for evidence we have -visited by people from all over Greece - important because it was the oldest oracular sanctuary in Greece - H: priestess from Egypt set up oracle and spoke for Zeus -based around oak tree
44
Site of an oracle
temple, sanctuary, statue in market place with dice
45
Dodona vs. Delphi
Dodona = v. personal and individual matters Delphi = matters of state
46
Dodona Herodotus and Hesiod
Herodotus and Hesiod say oracular responses were from rustling leaves of sacred oak or doves In Odyssey, Odysseus visited Dodona to "hear Zeus"
47
Oracular tablets at Dodona
v. informative questions asked by individual consultants questions about health, gods to pray to, travel, moving places provide understanding for personal religion show what was a cause of concern and anxiety in Ancient Greece
48
responses from gods
rarely get evidence of a response by gods usually yes or no answer
49
Ariston at Dodona
3rd century Ariston asks god 'whether it is better and preferable for me and if I will be able to sail to Syracise to the coloney at a later point in time' -> glimpse of individuals fate and concerns but never the context
50
names in statements
sometimes individuals are named (e.g to marry a particular woman) but the questions were more often anonymous
51
Concerns at oracles
concerns about a womans status and value in terms of property offspring and number concern (e.g Kleanor) trade is a concern questions can be broad and specific
52
What do the oracles show about the gods?
people sought answers to a range of things ->advice of the gods very important (popular)

Greek Religion (6 decks)

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