Religion and the city : Greek temples Flashcards
What was a sanctuary
Sanctuary was a holy area in the city or town that contained the temple and altar to God
How was the sanctuary separated
By a wall
What was at the entrance of a sanctuary 
There was a freshwater source at the entrance for people to wash their hands and feet as the Greeks did not want to pollute their holy sites as it could insult the gods
What was a temple
The temple was a building dedicated to a God and housed the cult statue of that God. The temples gave the gods residence on Earth
How long would a Greek priest last
Greek priest was a temporary role. Some could last for one festival, some for a year and some for life.
What was the role of the priest
To undertake and oversee the correct ritual at the correct time and assist in the upkeep of the temple
Who were allowed into the temples
Only priests
What happened at the altar
Sacrifices and offerings took place at the altar
What shape normally were temples and where did they face
Rectangular and faced east to west
What was the temple built on
The temple was built on a solid foundation with steps upwards. This raised the temple above the ground and increased the sense of grandeur
Give three features of the temple
Colonnade: an open-air walkway supported by columns
Cella/naos: the room of the temple that house the god’s cult statue
Opisthodomos: the rear room of the temple that housed the city’s treasures
Who would read the entrails of sacrificial animals
Soothsayers would predict future events - omens would be read by the entrails
What did an Augur do
An Augur read the flight of birds to predict future events
What is a pediment
A triangular space at either end of the temple
What was an ionic frieze
A continuous strip of stone that ran around the temple that used to show a continuous story
