Rituals and Priests Flashcards
Necessity of priests?
In Athens the archon basileus was in charge of all religious matters but individual priests and priestesses were employed for each deity
Advantages of being a priest
front row seats in the Theatre of Dionysus, best cuts of sacrificial meat, well-regarded in society
Ways to become a priest/ priestess?
inheritance, by lot or through purchase
most important female priesthood
the priestess of Athene Polias. Priestesses were provided by the noble family of Eteoboutadae. The role of this priestess had enormous significance in the Athenian society and even if she was not directly involved in politics she appeared side-by-side with the most important political officials ie. she’s hown sitting beside the Archon Basileus on the frieze of the Parthenon. This is important as women were normally excluded from the male sphere of politics
Priestly tasks
Anyone could perform a sacrifice, priests responsible for rituals celebrated in the sanctuary and for its physical care.
Steps of a blood sacrifice
preparation, killing, handling of meat,
Votive offerings
show the reciprocal nature of relationship with the gods. Often given at pivotal life stages ie. on becoming adolescents, children offered toys or locks from their first haircut
Sacrifice as food for the gods and scholar disagreeing
Aristophanes’ Birds- starve gods by blocking sacrificial smoke. Peter Wilson- they merely liked the smell
Bremmer deciding animals for blood sacrifice
‘matter of economic calculation as well as ritual obligation’
Bremmer religiosity of sacrifice
prayer was an ‘absolutely indispensable part of sacrifice’
Burkert sacrifice for community
‘primarily led to the founding of community’
Meuli purpose of sacrifice
‘nothing but ritual slaughter’
Detienne/Vernant purpose of sacrifice
‘killing for eating’
Chaniotis religiosity of priests
for some was because of a ‘deep religiosity’ ie. Damas in Miletus tho took a 2nd term. For others it was just for money
Chaniotis were priests experts?
Could rely on other people ie. butcher, a lot was written down ie. Asclepius at Epidauros. Local religious peculiarities more likely required experts
Peter Wilson sacrifice
‘sacrifice was an absolutely central social and religious institution in Greece.’
Example of hereditary priesthood
Two families which provided priests for the mysteries of Eleusis. At Eleusis, the Eupolpidae provided the priests called hierophants for the mysteries. Kerykes provided the second most important priest to the hierophant, the dadouchos (torchbearer)
Naiden blood sacrifice
the sacrifice served to maintain and stabilise the relationship between the mortals and the gods
Bukert priests
‘Greek religion might almost be called a religion without priests’
Sacrifice as celebration
Celebrating victory at the end of the Olympic games, for example, honoured both gods and human achievement. The Great Panathenaia celebrated both Athene and the Athenians (ie. showing democratic nature)
Reasons for votive offerings
1) Thanks for good will/ helpful intervention ie. good childbirth
2) Vow, sometimes with special instruction promising: ‘if I achieve xy/recover from my illness/become pregnant I will offer a shrine/sanctuary/tenth of my income to the gods (one god)
3) Punctuate life stages
4) Showcasing wealth ie. Themistocles set up temple after his victory over the Persians
