Religion and Temples Flashcards
What is a sanctuary
An area of holy land dedicated to a god or gods that contained the temple and altar
What is pollution
When a person has done something to make them impure in the eyes of the gods - being in contact with a dead person or a new born baby or committed homicide.
Function of a Greek/Roman Temple
A god ‘s “Residence” on earth - edicated to a god and house the cult statue of the god.
Features of a Greek Temple
Orientated on an east to west axis
Solid foundation plinth
The colonnade - Row of columns holding up the roof lining the foundation plinth
Naos - Room that housed the cult statue
Opisthodomos - Room at the rear of the temple which held all treasure
Decoration of a Greek Temple
Pediment - Triangular space at either end of temple which could contain a sculpture or be left blank
Ionic frieze - Continuous strip of stone/marble running around a temple (usually used to tell a continuous story)
Doric frieze - Continuous strip of stone/marble divided into square spaces (Metopes) (usually used to tell several stories or several scenes)
Metopes - Square spaces on a Doric frieze
What is a hiereus/hieria
“One who sacrafices to a god - Greek priest/priestess
Role of a Greek Priest
Temporary role which required no special training
Only had to undertake and oversee the correct tirual at the correct time and assist in the upkeep of the temple
Importance of priest varied depending on the god and where the temple was
Only people allowed within the temple walls
What is a manteis
Greek soothsayer who read entrails of sacraficed animals or bird signs to predict the outcome of future events
What is an augur
A person who reads the flight of birds to predict the outcome of future events
Order of the preparation of a Greek sacrifice
All participants had to be clean and well dressed
Animal prepared by horns being gilded
Animal would then be lead to the altar by attendants
WOuld include a maiden, carrying a basket fll of barely grains/cakes hiding the sacraficial knife
Musicians present to not frighten the animal by the noise of the crowd
At the altar participants would clean themselves for a second time
Fire was lit
Participants take handful of grain
Sacrificer pours water on the head of the animal causing it to nod “agreeing” to the sacrafice
Chief sacrificer utter prayer to god
Participants throw their grain into the fire to confirm participation
Order of the kill in a Greek sacrafice
Chief sacrificer take knife from the basket and remove some of the animals hairs
Animals throat was then cut
If the sacrificial animal was large a bowl would be used to collect the blood
If the sacrficial animal was small it would be held over the altar
At funerals women would then let out high pitched scream
Order of sharing the Greek sacrafice
God recieves portion first which was thigh bowns wrapped in fat which was burned on the altar while wine was poured on the fire
Entrails were then read for omens
REst of the meat was cooked and shared between participants
And then shared with wider community
Animal skin was given to the sanctuary
Features of a Roman Temple
Mix of Etruscan and Greek syle
Orientated on an east to west axis
Temple on a podium - Could only enter from the front
Colonnade - Row of columns on the podium running around the temple - the side and back columns were semi-engaged
Cella - Main room in the temple containing the cult statue
Role of Roman Priest
Uphold state religion by maintenance of the pax deorem ( Peace of the gods)
Uttering correct prayers, completeling appropriate sacrifice and fulfilling priest role at festivals
Not assigned a specific temple/god
Political position that engaged in politics and business
3 Priest collages
The pontifices
The Augurs
The Vestals
What were the Pontifices
Most important college of priests
Around 15 people
Lead by the pontifix maximus
Main roles were the protection of temples, regulation of burial and inheritance laws and supervision of religious calendar (gave them power of when things could happen in Rome)
What were the Augurs
Taking the auspices - Reading the flight of birds, behaviour of animals or direction of thunder to work out the will of the gods
Commonplace in state and personal life
Usually before battle, marriage or business transaction
Use a lituus
What were the Vestal Virgins
Female priests in charge of the cult of the goddess Vesta
Lived in the House of the Vestals (in the Roman Forum)
Prestigious honour to be selected
Selected by the Pontifex Maximus
Had to be selected from 6 - 10, fit and healthy wiht two living parents
Had to remain in the post for at least 30 years
Taken from the most prestigious families and elite.
Role of the Vestal Virgins
Protecting the sacred flame for the saftey of the state (Housed in the temple of Vesta)
If the flame went out they were whipped
Temple also held important state documents
Made mola salsa
Had to take a vow of chastity - If broken they would be buried alive
Allowed front row seat at certain games
Freed from father’s authority
Able to make a will
What is a Haruspex
Roman priest who read omens from entrails of sacrafice animals
Would watch how the animal fell to the ground once it was killed, exaime the smoke and flames when the sacrificial animal was burned on the altar and read entrails of the animal (Specifically the liver)
Order of preperation for a Roman Sacrifice
Pontifex lead ceremony if a state sacrifice (Smaller sacrifice private citizens would lead it)
All participznts would be clean and well dressed
Animal’s horn would be gilded and ribbons would be tied to its tail/horns
Attendants lead animal to the altar
Presiding priest would veil his head with his toga
Flute players play to obscue any noises that would scare the animal
Order of the kill for a Roman Sacrifice
Priest would sprinkle mola salsa on animals head, followed by wine causing it to nod (to agree to ritual)
Priest would utter a prayer to the god offering the animal into their care
Popa would strike the animal on the head to stun it
Cultraius would slit the throat
Important that animal die with a single blow
Order of the sharing the Roman Sacrifice
Priest utter prayer and state reason for sacrafice
Entrails would be read by the haruspex and cooke dnad offered to the gods
Remaining meat cut up cooked and shared with community b
First to eat were the priests followed by the senate, other elite citizens and then descend in a hierachy
What happened to Athens during Pericles’s reign
Persians sacked Athens in 480 BC - burning the city to the ground including the Acropolis
AThens became head of the Delian League to fend off Persians
450s BC Delian League effectivly became the AThenian Empire
Pericles moved the treasury of the Delain League from Delos to Athens
Used vast quantities of this money to pay for rebuiling of the city specifically the Acropolis and the Parthenon
Parthenon (Prescribed Source)
Date:
Commissioned by:
Architect
Dedicated to:
Material:
Style:
Location:
Function:
Significance:
Date: 447-432 BC
Commissioned by: Pericles
Architect: Phidias, Iktinos and Kallikrates
Dedicated to: Athena
Material: Marble
Style: Doric and Ionic
Location: Acropolis of Athens
Function: Temple and treasury
Significance: builidng and decoration symbolised the power of Athens
Measurements of Parthenon
69.5 meters in lenght
30.9 meters wide
540 feet frieze going around the whole parthenon
Features of Parthenon
Orientated east to west
It stood on a three stepped base
It was surronded by a colonnade
It had a naos and opisthodomos
What is shown on the Eastern Pediment of the Parthenon
Birth of Athena
What is shown on the Western Pediment of the Parthenon
Battle between Athena and Posiedon for patronage of Athens
What is shown on the Metopes of the Parthenon
North - Greeks vs Trojans
East - Gods vs Titans
South - Centaurs vs Lapiths
West - Amazons vs Greeks
Feature of Cult Statue to Athena
13 meteres tall
Designed by Phidias
Made of Ivory and Gold - Chryselephantine
Either side of helmet are griffins in relief
Holds statue of victory in one hand
Other hand holds a spear
Serpent near the shield
At feet lies a shield
Made in parts so could be melted down if needed to pay for things
Where is the Temple of Zeus located in Olympia
The Altis - Sanctuary at Olympia
The Temple of Zeus (Prescribed Source)
Date:
Architect:
Dedicated to:
Material:
Style:
Location:
Function:
Significance:
Date: 472-456 BC
Architect: notably Libon
Dedicated to: Zeus
Material: local limestone
Style: Doric
Location: Olympia
Function: Temple and Treasury
Significance: the building and its decoration symbolised the importance of Zeus, Hercules, Pelops and the Greeks
Features of The Temple of Zeus
64.1 meters in lenth
27.7 meters wide
Orientated east to west
Stood on a three-stepped base
It was surronded by a colonnade
Had a naos and opisthodomos
Had Doric style metopes
Had Pediments
What was on the Eastern Pediment of the Temple of Zeus
Myth of Oinomaos and Pelops
What was on the
Western Pediment of the Temple of Zeus
Mythical Battle between the Centaurs and Lapiths
What was on the metopes of the Temple of Zeus
Twelve labours of Heracles
Features of the Cult Statue of Zeus
13 meters tall
Zeus sitting on a throne
MAde of gold and ivory - Chryelephantine
Carries Victory in right hand
Holding Sceptre with eagle on top in right hand
Designed by Phidias
Pool of olive oil mainting ivory and creating reflection
Temple of Portunus (Prescribed source)
Date:
Comissioned by:
Architect:
Dedicated to:
Material:
Style:
Location:
Function:
Significance:
Date: 120 - 80 BC
Commissioned by: Unknown
Architect: Unknown
Dedicated to: Portunus (God of Harbours)
Material: Tufa (Local stone) and limestone covered with plaster to make it look like marble
Style: Ionic
Location: Rome, Forum Boarium
Function: Temple
Significance: best preserved temple in Rome (apart from the Pantheon)
Features of the Temple of Portunus
Inspired by Greek and Etruscan Style
Greek Influence:
Porch
Free Standing Columns
Semi - Engaged columns attached to the Cella
Etruscan Influence:
Podium and Steps that Temple stands on
The Pantheon (Prescribed Source)
Date:
Commission by:
Architect:
Dedicated to:
Material:
Style:
Location:
Function:
Significance:
Date: AD 125
Commission by: Hadrian - Originally comissioned by Augusts and built by Agrippa in 27-25 BC but burnt in AD 80
Architect: Unknown
Dedicated to: Debated - Possibly all gods
Material: Marble, brick and concrete
Style: Corinthian
Location: Rome
Function: Debated
Significance: one of the best preserved ancient Roman buildings and as a Rotunda and Oculus
Wheres is the Pantheon located in Rome
Roman Campus Martius - Field of Mars
Features of the Pantheon
Front of temple follows usual Roman plan:
Standing on small plinth
Columns at the front are free standing
Columns near the back of the porch are semi-engaged
Unique features:
Rotunda at back of the temple
Capped with a dome with an oculus as the top
What was on the Pediment on The Pantheon
Inscription: Marcus Agrippa, Son of Lucius, built this when consul for the third time
Shows signs of once containing a scuplture that is now lost
Did The Pantheon have a cult statue
Most of the internal structure of the Panthen ahs been updated and changed but the circular plan would’ve allowed for several statues of gods
