Women in Religion

Question 1

Who was the Pythia

Answer 1

priestess of Apollo in Delphi, though to be one of the most reliable in the world

Question 2

what was a Hiereia?

Answer 2

a Greek priestess

Question 3

what was a Pantheon

Answer 3

a group of gods and goddesses

Question 4

what were sacrifices and where were they

Answer 4

Sacrificing was the most important way for Greeks to worship the gods, and would be left at the alter

Question 5

what were libations

Answer 5

liquid offerings poured into the ground

Question 6

who would examine the organs of a sacrifice

Answer 6

a mantis

Question 7

what was a mantis

Answer 7

a Greek prophet seer or soothsayer

Question 8

what were the two opportunities where unmarried Athenian girls could take part in religious worship

Answer 8

1. The Arrephoroi (bearers of secret offerings)

.four girls selected from age 7 to eleven were selected to live on the Acropolis and would fetch baskets containing sacred items for the festival of Arrephoria

2. Bears, girls 5-10 would be selected as bears and spend time honering the goddess Artemis

Question 9

what would cause the Pythia to become intoxicated

Answer 9

most likely the burning of laurel leaves inside her room

Question 10

who would interpret for the Pythia

Answer 10

priests

Question 11

define religious pollution

Answer 11

state of uncleanness acquired in a number of different ways that offended the gods and prevented participation in religious festivals.

Question 12

what were the three religious festivals that were particularly significant for women

Answer 12

.The Thesmophoria

.The Cult of Dionysus

.The Great Panathenaea

Question 13

Who did the Great Panathenaia celebrate

Answer 13

Festival held every four years to honour the birthday of Athena patron goddess of Athens

Question 14

what is a Peplos

Answer 14

.Greek dress, a peplos is weaved for the olivewood statue of Athena

Question 15

who were the Ergistini

Answer 15

female weavers that made the Peplos

Question 16

what is a frieze

Answer 16

a painted decoration depicting a scene

Question 17

what did the ergistini weave onto the peplos

Answer 17

mythical battle of the gods VS the giants (gigantomachy)

Question 18

what frieze dipicted the Great Panathenaia

Answer 18

The Parthenon frieze on the Parthenon building

Question 19

what did the frieze depict

Question 20

where would the peplos end up

Answer 20

on the Acropolis

Question 21

what was the Chiton

Answer 21

a long woollen dress

Question 22

who was Demeter

Answer 22

goddess of fertility and harvest

Question 23

what was the primary function of the Thesmophoria

Answer 23

to ensure good success for next years harvest

Question 24

which story was mirrored in the ritual of the Thesmophoria

Answer 24

the abduction of Persephone

Question 25

What were the stages of the Thesmophoria

Answer 25

day 1. worshippers would set up temporary shelters near the Pnyx day 2. worshippers fasted and covered themselves in ash to mourn like Demeter day 3. worshippers said blessings related to fertility, children or bountiful crops

Question 26

what was the pnyx

Answer 26

the hill on which the Athenian Assembly met

Question 27

what would happen to the piglets before The Thesmophoria ritual and why?

Answer 27

.pigs would be lowed into a chasm and brought back up after decomposing .this symbolised the Persephone's journey into darkness then back into light. .The decomposed bits would be mixed with corn and later spread onto the fields

Question 28

what was the Thesmophoria a good chance for women

Answer 28

.weren't under direct control of her Kyrios .an opportunity to socialise and make new friends .they were allowed to be rude and joke with each other

Question 29

what was a mystery cult

Answer 29

a type of religious worship only open to certain people

Question 30

define ekstasis

Answer 30

experience of being someone other than yourself

Question 31

what were Maenad/bacchant

Answer 31

female worshippers of Dionysus

Question 32

what was (briefly) the cult of Dionysus

Answer 32

.women would go out to the countryside, get intoxicated dance and sing and dance. .it helped women to shake of patriarchal constraints

Question 33

what does the Maenad cup depict

Answer 33

a very detailed image of a Maenad

Question 34

who could bury family members

Answer 34

only direct relatives or woman over sixty

Question 35

how was the body prepared

Answer 35

.body anointed with oils .clothed .coin would be placed in the mouth to pay Charon and cross the river styx

Question 36

the vestal virgins main roles

Answer 36

.attend religious festivals .bake the sacred salt cakes .tend to the sacred fire

Question 37

how many vestal virgins were there and how were they picked

Answer 37

.6 .chosen from rich families in Rome

Question 38

what was the consequences of letting the fire die

Answer 38

buried alive to sacrifice to Dona Dea

Question 39

Where was the house of the vestal virgins

Answer 39

in the civic heart of Rome in the forum

Question 40

Who were the flamines

Answer 40

a college of fifteen priests, each priest associated with a single deity

Question 41

which god did the Flamen Dialis serve

Answer 41

Jupiter

Question 42

who was the Flaminica Dialis

Answer 42

the wife of the Flamen Dialis

Question 43

what were the duties of the Flaminica Dialis

Answer 43

.sacrifice a ram every eigth day .weaving the ceremonial clock for their husband .attending religious ceremonies with her husband .avoid religious pollution by following certain superstitions

Question 44

define Pudacitia

Answer 44

Roman feminine sexual modesty

Question 45

what was the cult of Patricia Pudicitia? Who could join?

Answer 45

a cult dedicated to the worship of the goddesss in a shrine in the forum Boarium .only open to women of the high/Patrician class

Question 46

define Univira

Answer 46

a Roman woman whos only married once

Question 47

what was the Plebeian class

Answer 47

commoners in Ancient Rome

Question 48

who started the Cult of Plebeia Pudicitia and why

Answer 48

.Verginia .She was of noble class but married a Plebian so was not permitted to join .a Temple of Plebeia Pudicitia was built on the Quirinal Hill

Question 49

who was the Sybil

Answer 49

. Roman prophetess or female mantis

Question 50

who and what were the keepers of the Sibylline Books in Rome

Answer 50

the Quindecemviri were 15 men who were the books keepers

Question 51

what colour was the Peplos dyed?

Answer 51

purple and saffron

Question 52

What dish is the Dionysus source painted on

Answer 52

A kylix