The City Dionysia: Origins Flashcards
What are the two names for the festival of Dionysus ?
City Dionysia and the great Dionysia
When was the festival founded ?
The city Dionysia was founded in the 6the century BC
When did the date coincide with ?
The alliance between Eleutherae and Athens
How did the festival start ?
-The Athenians rejected a statue from Eleutherae
-The city was then plagued by a disease affecting mens genitalia
- The city connected the events to Dionysus and from then on honoured him with Drama and revelry in the city Dionysia
- once they accepted the statue all men got cured
Why did the Athenians honor him in such a way ?
Dionysus was the god of revelry, wine and drama
So the Athenians honoured the god through their favoured form of entertainment drama
When and why did the festival take place when it did ?
Five days in mid March
This is due to Dionysus being accounted with rebirth so the festival therefore took place in spring
How did the festival start but where did most of it take place?
Started with a parade from the gates of Athens
Majority took place in the sanctuary of Dionysus
