women and religion - athenian and roman priestesses

Question 1

greek word for priestess

Answer 1

hiereia

Question 2

where and who would a greek priestess work for

Answer 2

would work at a particular temple within a particular sanctuary in honour of a particular god

Question 3

how can a greek woman become a priestess

Answer 3

elected position , lottery, inherited from parent

Question 4

main roles of a greek priestess

Answer 4

• looking after sanctuary and buildings inside
• supervising attendants work as they washed/clothed cult statue
• presiding at sacrifices and certain public festivals

Question 5

benefits of being a greek priestess

Answer 5

• salaried position (P of Athena Nike was paid 50 drachma/year and kept scraps from blood sacrifice to sell for profit)
• had influence and were highly respected

Question 6

who was the Priestess of Athena Polias and why was she so important

Answer 6

Athena Polias - protectress of the city

the cult of the Athene Polias was the most important faction of Athenian religion since it ensured that the city walls wouldn’t be broken down by invading armies

most important religious position in Athens - atypical

Question 7

were men or women more dominant in religion and why

Answer 7

the vast majority of priests were men
–> this is because religion and politics were closely intertwined (Roman women were not allowed in politics) and members of the same influential families held the most important roles

Roman women also weren’t allowed to make blood sacrifices

Question 8

who were the Vestal Virgins and why were they so important

Answer 8

the VV were the priestesses of Vesta
Vesta was Rome’s protector and a fire in the temple represented that
if the fire went out, it depicts the absence of Vesta meaning Rome is in danger due to no protectress

Question 9

what were the VV responsibilities

Answer 9

• to tend to the sacred fire and make sure it never accidently went out
• once a year, extinguish, clean, purify temple and relight fire
• attend certain public festivals and rituals
• assist with worship of the Bona Dea & Vesta –> blood sacrifice (atypical)
• baked sacred salt cake used at state sacrifices

Question 10

rights that VV got to enjoy

Answer 10

• lived in a palatial residence
• free from paterfamilias (no longer under the control of father)
• right to manage own property and write own will
• the only women allowed to travel by carriage with a lictor (armed attendant)
• protected as harming a VV was seen as sacrilegious and punishable by death
• if they met a person on their way to be executed, they could save them
• had special seats at public festivals and shows

Question 11

what restrictions did the VV have

Answer 11

• staying a virgin
• not neglecting duties at all
  (both punishable by death)
• couldn’t succumb to temptation

Question 12

prescribed source:
the house of the vestal virgins/the atrium vestae

Answer 12

date: 113 CE (after republican period)
location: in the Roman forum next to Temple of Vesta
significance: home to the college of VV

like a palace, 50 rooms, 3 storey, built around courtyard, 2 pools, private rooms for each Vestal, private shrine, kitchen, mill, oven for salt cake

Question 13

who were the flamines

Answer 13

a college of 15 priests - each one associated with the worship of a single olympian deity

Question 14

which god did the Flaminica Dialis serve

Answer 14

priest of Jupiter or Juno (not specified)

Question 15

how did the FD get her job

Answer 15

she was the wife of the Flamen Dialis –> ceremony of Confarreatio to get married and she had to be chaste
(no training involved)

Question 16

duties of Flaminica Dialis

Answer 16

• sacrificing a ram to Jupiter every 8th day of the month
• weaving a ceremonial cloak for Flamen Dialis
• attending certain festivals alongside husband
• avoid religious pollution by observing superstitions (not cutting hair or nails in June)

Question 17

3 reasons that the VV were more important than the FD

Answer 17

1) FD required no training and became FD by marrying a Flamen Dialis but VV were chosen from noble families and had to be chaste for 30 years
–> VV required more training

2) information collected on the FD is significantly less than on the VV and there are disputes about FD and the certainty of her facts whereas information on the VV is certain
–> people wrote about VV more and the facts are certain and set in stone

3) FD consequences for not fulfilling her duties were minor or nothing but the VV punishment for any wrong were SEVERE
–> VV duties that they were entrusted with were more important because they had worse punishment