POLITICS Flashcards
‘Political statements were more important than religious worship in Greek sanctuaries.’ Discuss to what extent you think this is true. You may use your knowledge of the Athenian Acropolis as a starting point in your answer.
Introduction: Sanctuaries - religious spaces - Greek worship
Political statements could be made
Essay - Acropolis, Delphi, Olympia - Worship important - other motives
Temples and altars - show the importance of worship
Evidence: Acropolis - Parthenon, Erechtheion, Athena Nike - honour the god
Evidence: Altars - sanctuaries (focal point) - ash altar at Olympia - sacrifices - worship
Analysis: Structures - built for worship and respecting the gods - important However, decoration might be political
Evidence: Decoration - Athena Nike (Greeks/Persians) - Parthenon (Civilisation/barbarism) - frieze war monument - treasury/bank - statue (gold)
Primary function - religious - could include political messages - multi-functional
Oracle - religious
Evidence: Pythia - passing on messages from Apollo - serving the god - reciprocal relationship - mortals and gods
Analysis: Greeks would visit - religious - worship
However, physical space - political messages
Treasuries (Siphnian) - promote your own polis - monuments at Delphi (serpent column) - showing off a victory and perhaps shaming Greeks who didn’t fight the Persians
Analysis: The reason for visiting - religious - but people are using the space to spread messages
Treasuries/structures - political and religious
Evidence: Offering to the gods - house offerings - religious
Evidence: Assert Greek identity
Olympia - Sicily, South Italy - now part of the Greek world Structures - Macedonians
Panhellenic - Greek world
Analysis: Both - religious in function - purpose (political statement)
CONCLUSION
Conclusion: No we don’t agree Political statements - religion comes first Temples/altars - honouring the gods - messages could be political Oracle - gods first Treasuries - both aspects
