Religious Festivals in the Athenian Calendar

Question 1

What was the grandest festival of the Athenian year?

Answer 1

The Panathenaia

Celebrated Athena’s birthday in late July or early August.

Question 2

What does ‘Panathenaia’ mean?

Answer 2

‘all-Athenian’

It was a festival for all Athenians to worship Athena.

Question 3

What was the main event of the Panathenaia?

Answer 3

A grand procession to the Acropolis

Included animal sacrifices and presenting a newly woven robe to the statue of Athena Polias.

Question 4

How often was the Great Panathenaia held?

Answer 4

Every four years

It was an even grander scale of the Panathenaia.

Question 5

What activities were included in the Great Panathenaia?

Answer 5

Athletic, choral, poetic, and naval competitions

Spread over several days.

Question 6

Who introduced musical competitions to the Panathenaia?

Answer 6

Pericles

These were held in the Odeon.

Question 7

What were the two most common Greek musical instruments?

Answer 7

• Lyre
• Aulos

The lyre is a small harp, and the aulos is a reed instrument with a double pipe.

Question 8

What were the four categories of musical competition?

Answer 8

• Singers accompanying the lyre
• Lyre-players
• Singers accompanying the aulos
• Aulos-players

Competitions included various forms of musical performances.

Question 9

What was the most famous running event at the Panathenaia?

Answer 9

The 200-metre sprint, known as the stadion

Running events were a highlight of the athletic competitions.

Question 10

What were the three combat events at the Great Panathenaia?

Answer 10

• Boxing
• Wrestling
• Pankration

Pankration was a combination of boxing and wrestling with few rules.

Question 11

What events were included in the Pentathlon?

Answer 11

• Discus
• Long jump
• Javelin
• Stadion
• Wrestling

It consisted of five different athletic contests.

Question 12

What was unique about the equestrian event called apobates?

Answer 12

Charioteers dismounted from their chariots during the race

This was a distinctive event at the Panathenaia.

Question 13

What types of competitors participated in the events?

Answer 13

• Boys
• Beardless youths
• Men

Some events were open to all Greeks, not just Athenians.

Question 14

What prize did a victorious athlete at the Panathenaia receive?

Answer 14

Amphorae filled with olive oil

Each amphora had an image of Athena and the events in which the victor competed.

Question 15

What was the significance of the Thargelia festival?

Answer 15

It was dedicated to the gods Artemis and Apollo

An agricultural festival with unique sacrificial practices.

Question 16

What occurred on the first day of the Thargelia festival?

Answer 16

A sheep was sacrificed to Demeter

Included unique practices such as stoning two ugliest men in Athens.

Question 17

What was done with first-fruits during the Thargelia festival?

Answer 17

They were carried in procession and offered to the god

This was part of the celebratory ceremonies.

Question 18

What was the role of children during the Pyanepsia festival?

Answer 18

They affixed branches of olive bound with wool to doors

Originally intended to avert crop failure.

Question 19

What was the prize for musical contests during the Thargelia?

Answer 19

A tripod

Competitions included choruses of men and boys.

Question 20

True or False: Festivals in Athens were often dedicated to multiple deities.

Answer 20

True

Reflects the diverse religious practices of the Athenians.