Greek Worship I

Question 1

what is pollution?

Answer 1

• matter out of place
• renders an individual ritually impure
• cure = ritual washing and/or time

Question 2

what kind of things render an individial as impure?

Answer 2

• birth
• sex
• disease
• death

all are messy bc they’re part of the life cycle

Question 3

what is purity/impurity?

Answer 3

• impurity = unfit to visit a sancuary
• entire cities can be rendered impure

Question 4

what is purification ritual?

Answer 4

• ritual washing → signals you’re getting close to the gods
• animal sacrifice (e.g. a piglet for Zeus)
• necessary in serious cases caused my pollution (e.g. murder)

Question 5

what are avenging spirits?

Answer 5

• the Furies (i.e. 3 goddesses of vengeance)
• the spirit of (or acting on behalf of) the deceased
• thought to harass murderes
• polluted individuals must make sacrifice to satisfy them

Question 6

how did prayer function?

Answer 6

• most address the gods for something specific (e.g. healing, propserity, & protection)
• sometimes addressed to a diety to maintain the well-being of an individual/community
• opens a line of communication w/ the gods → creates goodwill & reciprocity

Question 7

what is prayer?

Answer 7

• vows = prayer formulas promising an offering to the gods if they grant the worshipper’s request
• prayer = an act of piety

piety = whatever is dear to the gods (honour, prayer, esteem, gratitude)