Greek Worship II

Question 1

what is a sanctuary?

Answer 1

• hieron = “the holy place”
• area where visitors worship the gods

Question 2

what is a temple?

Answer 2

• the most sacred part of a sanctuary
• where sacrifice is made
• the dwelling place of a god (naos/neos)
• other gods can sometimes be honoured in temples designated to another god

e.g. Sanctuary of Despoina (possibly Persephone) at Lycosura houses a statue of Demeter

Question 3

what was the selection process for priests?

(qualifications differ by site)

Answer 3

• gender & age only sometimes specified
• can be hereditary
• can be purchased (more common in Anatolia than Greece)
• appointed annually by lot (year long position, must be a citizen of that city)
• appointed by a god (by oracle)

appointment by lot favoured by Athens (democratic)

Question 4

what are the responsibilities of priesthood?

Answer 4

• must be present at santuary from end of winter to late fall
• authorized to impose fines for misconduct in the santuary (up to 5 drachmas)
• must be the one to make prayers over victims & place offerings on altar when present
• serve as a representative to the god of the santuary

must be present for min. of 10 days a month w/ no more than 3 days off at a time

Question 5

what role did priests play in sacrifice?

Answer 5

• pray over the animal to be sacrificed
• cuts the hair off the animals but someone else kills/sacrifices it
• a shoulder from each animal sacrifice is given to the priest

Question 6

what was pay like for priests?

Answer 6

• not always paid → priesthood is a position, not a job
• were given honour more than any other forms of compensation
• honour = major currency in Athens

Question 7

what is the function of sacrifice?

Answer 7

• animal sacrifice absolves humans for acts of violence (i.e. eye for an eye/blood for blood)
• made to est./endure a reciprocal relationship b/w humans & divine
• reaffirms that gods, humans, & animals are all different (each play a different role in the ritual)

Question 8

what was the procedure for making sacrifice?

Answer 8

• hieropoioi (sacrifice-makers) provide animals for sacrifice
• sacrifice made in the temple (at the altar)
• made by a priest when possible
• sacrificer does it themselves when priest is not on site

Question 9

what are some critiques of sacrifice?

Answer 9

• obeying the gods is better than making sacrifice (obey first, sacrifice second)
• not all offerings are the same (your blessing is worth what you sacrifice → problematic idea that the rich have easier access to the divine)