Temples Flashcards
Hiereus
Man working in temple looking after temple and sacrifices to a god
Hiereia
Women working in temple looking after temple and sacrifices to god
Mantis
Greek soothsayer who read entrails of animal or bird sights to predict the outcome of the future
Auger
A person who reads the flight of birds to predict the outcome of future events
Pontifex
A Roman priest in charge of protecting temples, regulating religious law and overseeing the religious calendar
Vestal virgins
Female priests in charge of the cult of the goddess Athena
Haruspex
A Roman priest who read omens of entrails
What is a temple?
Consecrated place or area dedicated to the gods and their purpose is to house the cult statue of which the temple was dedicated to.
Where is the temple located?
In a sanctuary
Location of alter
Outside the temple so the public could take part in sacrifices
Who can go inside the temple
Only priests/ priestess can go into the temple but you were allowed if you wanted to see the cult statue
How is the goddess Vesta represented in Rome
As the a flame
What 2 things does the flame represent
Continuing of Romes power
Continuing virginity of vestal virgins
How many vestal virgins were there
6
Roughly what age would a vestal virgins be chosen
Between 6 years old and 10 years old
What criteria would she have had to fulfil to be a vestal virgin ( 4 things )
Both parents alive
Between 6 and 10
Fit and healthy
Elite and powerful family
For how many years would a vestal virgin have to serve
At least 30 years
What would happen in the 1st 10 years of being a vestal virgin
Training
What would happen in the 2nd 10 years of being a vestal virgin
Carry out duties
What would happen in the 3rd 10 years of being a vestal virgin
Carry out duties
Name 4 duties of the vestal virgins
Tending to flame
Collecting water
Learn the religious calendar
Make the mola salsa
What Would be the punishment of the vestal virgins if the flame went out and who would carry the punishment out
Whipped
Pontifex maximus - chief priest
What would be the punishment if a vestal virgin was accused of incestum
Buried alive
Why were the punishments so severe
Given a lot of benefits in society and they believed if the flame went out Rome would fall