Religion And Society Flashcards
Who was considered part of an ancient Greek Oikos?
Father, mother, sons, wives of the sons, unmarried daughters and slaves
Who had religious authority in the household?
The father
Who were the three main deities of the home?
Zeus ktesios, Zeus Herkios and Apollo Agyeios
What was the role of Zeus Ktesios?
The protector of the property and wealth
What was the role of Zeus Herkios?
Protecting the enclosure/property boundaries (Zeus of the fence)
What was the role of Apollo Agyeion?
To protect the house from within
What are Herms?
A rectangular pillar with the head of Hermes and a phallus on them, which were places as markers on the road
Who is the hearth dedicated to?
Hestia
What was the father’s role?
Daily acknowledgement of the household ditties, maintaining the household, tending to anxestors tombs through offerings and libations, the performance of funerals
What was the main religious participation for women?
As priestesses for state or communal civic cults
Women in Athens were considered full citizens, true or false?
False, they were not considered full citizens
What was the Arrephoros?
A secret ritual performed in May, associated with the temple of Athena Polias
What were the Arrephora?
Two maidens annually selected to carry a basket on their heads, without knowledge of what was inside. To the gardens in the sanctuary of Aphrodite/Four maidens who made the Peplos
What was the Arkteia?
Annual festival to Artemis Braunonia and took place at the Braunonia sanctuary
Who took part in the Arkteia?
Every Athenian girl had to take part and ‘play the bear’ before they could marry
What events took place at the Arkteia?
Sacrifices, ‘play the bear’, dancing, and foot races
Why was the Arkteia done?
To appease Artemis for the killing of a bear at the sanctuary that then brought famine to Greece
What we’re the Kariephoros?
Basket carriers in the panatheniac procession
What was a deme?
A village or district that was the smallest political constituency
What was a polis?
The state/city
What was the thesmophoria?
A women-only festival in honour of Demeter and Kore
What was the religious role of the archon basileus?
The main religious officual of the Arhenian state, who held authority over the religious calender and judicial authority over religious matters
What was the religious role of the eponymous archon?
They had authority over civic festivals e.g City dionysia in honour of Dionysus
What was the religious role of the polemarch?
They were in charge of cults that were related to military affairs e.g artemis agrotera
Who were the epimeletai?
Overseers, funded processions and handled financial jurisdiction for cults in Athens
What did Zaidman say about religion and civic life?
‘Religion did more than just put a divine gloss on civic life. It impregnated each and every civic activity’
What ways could an individual be considered polluted? [9]
After giving birth, still birth, loss of foetus or abortion
Physically dirty
Not honouring the gods in the right manner
Disrespecting ancestral laws of burial
Disrespecting someone’s right to asylum
Sexual intercourse
Attending a funeral
Murder
Entering home of a woman who just gave birth
If an individual was considered polluted, what couldn’t they do?
Attend sacrifices, libations or contests in honour of the gods - they were excluded from civic worship
