Women in Religion Flashcards
Hiereia:
A Greek priestess
A Hiereia did not have to dedicate her life instead…
positions were only held for a year
The Pythia [3]:
- She resided at the sanctuary of Apollo at Pelphi
- People visited her to remove religious pollution
- People also visited her to get advice
Hiereia did not have to…
go through any special training as they were not reponsible for the spiritual or moral wellbeing
Greek phases of sacrifice part one [6]:
- The priestess would direct the ritual
- They offered up prayers to the gods asking for particular favour or made a blessing
- They would oversee the animal being killed at the altar outside the
- They shout ‘ololyge’ at the moment of death
- The priestess would pray then direct the ritual to carve the meet
- A communal feast followed
Greek phases of sacrifices part two [3]:
- Afterwards the Mantis would examine the entrails
- The Mantis would study the texture and colour of the entrails
- She would make predictions based on the entrails
The Pythia’s identity- Theory one [4]:
- She was a local peasant woman
- Over the age of 50
- born in Delphi
- Lived a blameless life
The Pythia’s identity- Theory two:
She was a virgin maiden
Once chosen the Pyhtia…[2]:
- Was the priestess for life
- She had to refrain from sex for this time
The Castalian Spring [2]:
- Had sacred water
- Spring of poetic inspiration
In July The Pythia would…[2]:
- Dress herself in Apollo’s sacred plant
- She would then bathe herself in the Castalian Spring
Encounters with the Pythia [5]:
- Men and only men would make a sacrifice then ask her a question
- She sat on a 3 legged stool in the innermost room in the temple
- In the room was a chasm into the earth
- She burned barley and layrel leaves as an offering to Apollo then breathed deeply
- Once intoxicated she was ready to answer questions
When a Pyhtia died…
a new woman would be chosen to replace her
As a general rule godesses…
Were served by priestesses
The main roles of a Hiereia [3]:
- Look after the sanctuary and buildings inside it
- Supervise the work of temple attendants
- Presiding at sacrifices and certain public festivals
Benefits of being a Hiereia [4]:
- It was a salaried position
- Some were paid very well
- They could eat meat
- She could sell meat for profit
In Rome…
men held the vast majority of priesthoods
The Vestal Virgins [5]:
- One of the most important Roman female roles in religon
- Six women
- They were charged with taking care of the temple of Vesta and the ceremonial fire
- They as the name implies could not have sexual relations
- They came from high class
The main responsibilities of he Vestal Virgins were to…[6]:
- Tend to the sacred fire
- Once a year she had to extinguish the fire to purify and clean the temple
- Attend certain public festivals
- Assist with the worship of Bona Dea and Vesta by making blood sacrifices
- To bake the sacred salt cake used at state sacrifices
- Act as guardians of important documents including wills and treaties
Dionysius of Haclcamassus [4]:
- Tells the story of Amelia a Vestal Virgin
- She was accused of letting the fire go out
- She was suspected of being unchast
- She was put to death
When a Vestal was negligent and let the fire go out they would be…
- Beaten By the Pontifex Maximus
If a Vestal Virgin lost her virginity was…[4]:
- Death
- She would be entombed and die of starvation and dehydration
- The guilty virgin would be trapped under the weight of stones and Earth
- This death may have been to mirror the death of Tarpeia who was crushed by shields
Privileges the Vestal Virgins enjoyed [6]:
- They were free from paterfamilias
- They had the right to manage their own property and write their own will
- They were protected
- They could pardon people on their way to be executed
- Special seats were reserved for them at shows and festivals
- They lived in a Palatial residence
To harm a Vestal Virgin was…[2]:
- Sacrilegious
- Punishable by death
