Impact of Religion

Question 1

Why is religion important to study in the fifth cent G world?

Answer 1

it overlaps with important events to a significant degree

Question 2

With respect to religion, what is continuous in athens from the tyrant period to the reign of democracy?

Answer 2

temple building as a show of piety and civic spirit

Question 3

As part of the coming of democracy, what figures were elevated to a divine status by the Athenians? Evidence of? Why?

Answer 3

Harmodius and Aristogeiton
first mortals to be displayed in the agora
reputedly removed the old tyrannical order to allow the emergence of the new democratic constitution

Question 4

How were public assembly meetings arranged in order to press importance of religion?

Answer 4

sacred matters (hiera) were heard first and foremost

Question 5

What power did the assembly and council have in democ athens that shows political signif of religion?

Answer 5

Religious authority meaning they could decide what would be important for the state with respect to relig e.g. omens and prophecies received by priests

Question 6

What cult is attested as having state regulation in a decree from the 2nd quart of 5th cent? What regulations were introd? Significance?

Answer 6

Cult of Eleusis
‘sacred truce’ and initiates’ entrance fees
Unlikely that this cult had had no state interference previously but this form was more intrusive than before

Question 7

What taxes were put towards religious funds in Athens? Paid by whom?

Answer 7

landing-taxes
ship owners and merchants who were generally foreign (taxes often put on foreigners in Greek world)

Question 8

What is the priesthood that we first know to have become elected by lot from ALL citizens, rather than the elite? When?

Answer 8

Priestess of Athena Nike
440s

Question 9

What religious things could be patronised by liturgists?

Answer 9

festivals, feasts, buildings (shrines, temples), processions

Question 10

At the peak of Athens’ power and wealth in the 5th cent BCE, what happened to the system of liturgy?

Answer 10

became somewhat defunct with the state monopolising the opportunities with its immense wealth

Question 11

What does Thucydidean Pericles outline as the benefit of relig festivals? Reference?

Answer 11

‘relief from labour’
2.38

Question 12

What high up magistracy dealt with religion? When was this opened up to ALL citizens by vote?

Answer 12

basileus (pretty much head of relig)
487

Question 13

What changed about the office of preisthoods? Significance?

Answer 13

No longer elite ancestral positions held for life.
Their distinction and esteem declined.

Question 14

What is a caveat to the democratization of relig offices in Athens?

Answer 14

the elite were still able to control appointments and held on to magistracies

Question 15

Alongside the reverence of the gods in 5th cent Athens, what became almost cult like in its worship?

Answer 15

the reverence and admiration citizens showed/were expected to show towards the state

Question 16

What were the religious elements of the state funeral in Athens? (2)

Answer 16

dedications to those who have died
games and competitions in music, athletics, and horse-racing

Question 17

What is the theorised link between changes in ancestral and democratic funerary behaviour c500 BCE?

Answer 17

ban on ostentatious funerary display and the emergence of public funerals to honour the war dead

Question 18

What appears to have been a belief about the war-dead and their status?

Answer 18

likely on par with semi divine heroes or at least held in higher regard than usual by the Gods

Question 19

What was the main function of the Funerary Oration in terms of religious nature/worship etc?

Answer 19

build up a state/civic mythology and reverance

Question 20

What myth is used by Athenians to confirm their preminence among the Gods?

Answer 20

conflict between Poseidon and Athena over patronship of the city

Question 21

What was the religious requirement put on allies with respect to Athenian religious tradition? When did this begin? From what did it originate ?

Answer 21

send a cow and panolpy to Great Panathenaea that would participate, with reps from allies, in procession
440s
tradition of colonies contributing to relig traditions of mother cities

Question 22

What did the Panathenaea become as Ath Empire reached its peak?

Answer 22

an IMPERIAL festival that showed the displays of imperialism and subjection of the G world

Question 23

What Eleusian tradition did the Athenians enforce upon their allies and when? From what did this originate?

Answer 23

sending their first crops of corn and barley to Eleusis
420s
Triptolemus’ mission to teach the greeks about agriculture, after Demeter had taught him the art - his city was Eleusis from which he apparently received cult honours after his death

Question 24

What proportion of the Athenian tribute revenue was set aside to be paid almost literally to Athena?

Answer 24

1/60th

Question 25

What is the religious aspect of the imperially important Ionian identity?

Answer 25

Ion was a mythical hero, an illegitimate son of Apollo who was rejected by his mother and father, and then brought up by Delphic priestess. Later, said to have founded Ionian tribe

Question 26

What island, due to its sacred importance was particularly important to Athens in its imperial phase? What did Athens do in an intense period of interference and when?

Answer 26

Delos
All graves dug up with no birth or death being allowed there again
revived the Delia festival, likely an exclusively Ionian religious celebration to stand in for Panhellenic one during Pelo war
expulsion of inhabitants then restoration a year later
420s, the last being in 422

Question 27

How does Thucydides explain the interference of Athens in Delos? Diodorus? Scholarly suggestions?

Answer 27

Religiously motivated
indications of negotiations with the Spartans
desire to have complete control over a culturally and politically important sacred place

Question 28

What are three specific examples of Thuc seemingly supressing the religious elements in his history?

Answer 28

escaping Plateans had right foot bare which Thuc suggests was practical but rather there was a local tradition influencing it
absence of pelo Attica invasion due to earthquake in 426 is not specified by Thuc as religious or not
Thuc provides no reason from Ath’s purification of Delos (poss motivated by appealing to Apollo post-plague)

Question 29

How does Aristophanes suggest Thuc may have ommitted religion in Sp’s decision to not invade attica post-earthquake?

Answer 29

Archanians: Dikaiopolis calls upon ‘Poseidon, Earthshaker’ to punish Sps for destroying their land.