Terms and Glossary Flashcards
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Anthropomorphism
Attribution of human characteristics or behaviours
Often used in literature and religion to explain the actions of gods or animals.
Reciprocal relationship
Asking for something in return for the relationship such as a votive offering for ‘protection’
This concept emphasizes mutual benefit in interactions.
Panhellenic
Belonging or relating to all of Greece
Used to describe events or institutions that involve all Greek city-states.
Polytheistic
Worshipping many gods
Commonly associated with ancient religions such as those in Greece and Rome.
Aetiology
The reason or cause for something
Often used in the context of myths and explanations of natural phenomena.
‘do ut des’
‘I give so you may give’
This phrase encapsulates the idea of reciprocity in relationships.
Agora
Public open space for assemblies or markets
Central to social, political, and economic life in ancient Greek cities.
Phratry
A tribe-like group
These groups often consisted of multiple families and served social purposes.
Epithet
Words attached to a name to tell us something about them. Also used to distinguish between the different roles of gods. Such as Zeus Horkaios (Zeus of oaths)
Heroisation
Process by which a person becomes a hero
Often involves acts of bravery or significant achievements recognized by society.
Heroa
where a hero’s bones are laid
Refers to the burial site of heroes in ancient Greek culture.
Deme
Village or district in the Athenian democratic system
It was the smaller political constituency in the Athenian democratic system.
Apotheosis
Bringing a mortal up to Olympus, immortalising
A process often associated with the deification of significant figures.
Votive offerings
An object left without intention of recovery in a sacred place to a hero/god etc.
These offerings are made to deities as a sign of gratitude or devotion.
Cosmology
Explanation of the creation of the universe
It encompasses various beliefs and theories about the origin and structure of the universe.
Tholos
Circular building found in a sanctuary used to worship the god it’s dedicated to
Oikos
Family
It signifies the basic unit of society in ancient Greece, encompassing household and kin.
Polis
City-state
A fundamental political unit in ancient Greece, consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.
Aletris
Athenian daughters that made the cakes offered at the Panathenaic festival
Their role was significant in the religious practices of the festival.
Arrēphoros
A sacred ritual associated with the temple of Athene Polias in Athens. Two girls (7-11) called Arrephoroi would live for a year on the Acropolis and concluded this with a mystery rite called the Arrhephoria. They would unknown objects into a cavern, and there exchanged them for other unknown objects. Mysterious.
Involved young girls carrying sacred items to the temple.
Arkteia
A ritual every Athenian girl took before she could marry at 12 in which they would dress up as a bear and dance in a ritual at the festival to Artemis at Brauronia. (happened 4 times a year)
This rite of passage was crucial in Athenian society.
Archon Basileus
The ‘King magistrate’ in Athens. They superintended the ceremonies of the mysteries and was responsible for the proper observance of certain festivals and sacrifices.
Responsible for religious matters and ceremonies.
Eponymous archon
The chief archon in Athens. They presided over meetings and remained the head of state even under the democracy (though with much reduced political importance) (translates to ‘lord’)
Held significant political power and was key in governance.
Polemarch archon
Commander of the military in Athens. They were simply in control of the military in the city state (translates to ‘warleader’)
Responsible for military affairs and leadership.
Epimelētai
Overseers of religious festivals, rituals etc. in Athens. They were appointed to keep control of festivals and finances. They were political figures that would ensure the priests are doing their job properly.
They ensured the proper conduct of religious observances.
Miasma
Impiety or pollution in relation to the gods
Considered a serious offense that could have societal repercussions.
Temenos
A wall around sanctuary sites. This was significant as it represented a divide between the sacred and profane.
Serves as a sacred boundary marking holy spaces.
Profane
Meaning not sacred, ordinary
Refers to things that are secular or unrelated to religious practices.
Bouleutērion
A council chamber
A place where the council of Athens would meet and deliberate.
Prytaneion
Government seat
The central location for civic administration in Athens.
Hecatomb
A great public sacrifice, originally 100 oxen (though this would differ based on how well off the city was at the time)
This term exemplifies significant religious ceremonies in ancient Greece.
Pompē
Public religious procession in Athens (part of the Panathenaia)
These processions were crucial to Athenian religious life.
Panathenaic way
A road that leads from the main gate to the acropolis in Athens. This was used for the procession in the Panathenaia.
It was the main route for the Panathenaic festival processions.
Pompeion
They gather here before starting the procession in the Panethenaia.
A large courtyard in Athens where nobility would eat sacrificial meat during the Panathenaia
This area was central to festival celebrations.
Kerameikos
Where the hecatomb meat was received by the people during the Panathenaia in Athens
It served as a gathering place for communal feasting.
Propylaea
A gateway entrance to a sacred site.
An example is the one leading onto the Acropolis
This architectural feature marked a significant entry point to the temple.
Dipylon
The sacred gate and entrance to Athens
It held both practical and symbolic importance in Athenian culture.
Erechtheion
Temple to Athena on the Acropolis in Athens
Known for its unique architecture and significance in worship.
Pankration
A fighting competition at the Panathenaia festival
This event combined elements of boxing and wrestling.
Dolichos
Three mile race at the Panathenaia festival
It was a long-distance running event that showcased athletic prowess.
Erchia
The deme that has a complete sacrificial calendar
Its rituals and festivals were meticulously planned throughout the year.
Kanēphoroi
Basket bearers in the Panathenaia festival
They played an important role in the ceremonial processions.
Peplos
A body length garment established as tyical attire for women. It’s worn by Athena and is part of the Panethenaia (they drape a custom made one over a wooden statue of her in her temple on the Acropolis)
Naos or Cella
the inner chamber of a temple
Xoanon
Effigies of images of gods that have fallen from the heavens
Caryatid
A stone carving of a female figure used as a collumn -
Pelanos
a votive sacred cake that had to be given to see the Delpheric Oracle
Temenos
a piece of land cut off from common use and dedicated to a god -
Peplos
a body length garment established as typical attire for women in ancient Greece
Frieze
A frieze is decorated strip on a building
Doric Frieze
A ‘broken’ frieze with multiple different images
Ionic Frieze
One unbroken sculpture that goes right round the temple
Pediment
the triangular part under the roof
Metopes
This is a picture in the broken frieze (the doric fieze)
Mache
battle (E.G. titanmache, battle between the titans and the gods)
Chryselephantine statue
Any statue made of gold and ivory
Adyton
A secret sacred room that can be found in temples, off limits to the majority
Peripteros
Collonade, pillar surrounding a temple
Plynteria
A festival celebrated yearly at Athens where they wash the statue in the Parthenon.
This ritual is undertaken by the priestesses and the festival is closed for this time.
The Delphic Amphictyonic league
A religious association of Greek tribes formed to support the site of Delphi
A Pythia
This is the name of the oracle at delphi
Stoa (building)
A building open at the front with a façade of columns
The Sacred Way
The path into Delphi
