panhellenic religion Flashcards
(89 cards)
1
Q
what does panhellenic mean
A
all of greece
2
Q
who was worshipped at delphi
A
pythian apollo
3
Q
who was worshipped at olympia
A
olumpian zeus
4
Q
who was worshipped at nema
A
nemean zeus
5
Q
what does pythian apollo refer to
A
apollo who slew pytho, a mythical snake that terrorised the area
6
Q
what games were held at delphi
A
pythian games
7
Q
what games were held at olympia
A
olympian games
8
Q
what games are held at nema
A
nemean games.
9
Q
foundation of the olympic games 1 heracles
A
heracles’ 5th labour war to clean the Augean stables (hadnt been cleaned in years). however he used his wit to do so and redirected the flow of two rivers to wash the filth in a single day.
heracles is said to have founded the olympic games to celebrate his success and honour his father zeus.
10
Q
foundation of the olympic games 2 - funeral games
A
Hippodamia was the daughter of Oinomaos (king of Pisa (near olympia)). he received an oracle saying he’d die once his daughter got married, so he set up a chariot competition challenging anyone who wanted to marry her in a race. pelops came along and bribed Oinomaos’ charioteer to replace the bronze linchpins of his chariot with wax. in the race, the heat from the wheel melted the wax and Oinomaos died. pelops married hippdamia and set up the olympics as funeral games for oinomaos
11
Q
what is on the site of olympia x7
A
- stadium
- treasuries
- altar of zeus
- temple of zeus
- echo stoa
- sanctuary called altis
- oracle of zeus on site
12
Q
olympia treasuries info
A
- 12 set up by city-states to house dedications to the gods.
- Their prime location ensures maximum visibility on the way to the stadium and therefore self-promotion.
- A series of bronze statues of Zeus stood in front (zanes) depicting the god about to throw a thunderbolt. Paid for with fines imposed on cheating athletes. They warned athletes not to cheat.
On the first day of the Games, all athletes and judges swore an oath not to cheat and to judge fairly to Zeus Horkios (protector of oaths).
13
Q
echo stoa at olympia
A
- the competition for trumpeters and heralds was held here on the first day of the Games - the winner would be the official ppl for the competition.
14
Q
stadium at olympia x4
A
- athletes emerged through a vaulted tunnel (dramatic
- 192 m long - Hercules believed to have run it in a single breath. another myth says it was 600m long.
- built in 560BC and later refurbished.
- only judges and priestess of demeter Chamyne (only women allowed to watch) had assigned seats.
15
Q
the altar of zeus at olympia
A
- apparently where Zeus struck his lightning bolt form mt olympus
- 7m tall high with ash
- one of the oldest structures in olympus (important!)
16
Q
how was the altar of zeus described by pausanias
A
“some say it was built by heracles, others by the local heroes two generations later”
“wven when the festival is not being held, sacrifice is offered to zeus by private individuals”
17
Q
temple of zeus at olympia
A
- 64 x 27m
- east pediment - Oinomaos and Pelops
*west pediemnt - the centauromachy (battle between greek lapiths and centaurs) = symbolises the victory of civilisation over barbarism. apollo was in the centre, dominating the scene as a god of justice and order.
*cult statue
*metopes of doric frieze - 12 labours of heracles
18
Q
the cult statue olympia
A
in the temple of zeus
* 13m tall
* gold and ivory
* crafted by phidias
* added 448BC - 8 years after temple completed
* wears a highly decorated robe sculpted with flowers and animals
* olive oil pool helped maintain the ivory
19
Q
who descrives the cult statue at olympia
A
pausanias
“the god sits on a throme, and he is made of gold and ivory. on his head lies a garland which is a copy of olive shoots. in his right hand, he carries a victory. in the left hand of the god is a sceptre”
20
Q
heracles’ 12 labours
A
- the erymanthian boar
- the mares of diomedes
- the cattle of geryon
- heracles and athena with atlas and the apples of hesperodes
- the capture of cerberus
- heracles and athena in the augean stables
- the girdle of the amazons
- the cerynean hind
- the knossian bull
- heracles and athena with the stymphalian bull
- heracles and the hydra
- heracles with the nemean lion.
21
Q
what were the olympic games preceded by
A
a 30 day period of preparation - athletes required to observe a vegetarian diet and sexual abstinence.
- preceded by a procession from Elis to Olympus
22
Q
how did the olympic games open
A
sacrifices, preliminary for pelops and great ox sacrifices for zeus
23
Q
who was not able to compete and attend
A
- women
- married women werent allowed to attend either. if you were caught you would be thrown from a mountain into the river
24
Q
what was the prize for olympics
A
- crown made from olive leaves and entitled to have a statue of yourself
25
where did the oldest stadion lead to and who described it
led directly to the altar of Zeus
Philostratus: "the runners were one stadion away form the altar; the victor put fire to the sacred portions and so went away olympic victor"
26
shite about phillip 2 of macedon coins
- he depicted his victory in a chariot race.
- he was on the fringes of the greek world so wanted to show off his power and success, and to be more part of greece. `
27
how did the buildings honour Olympian zeus x7
* the altar and offerings were to zeus = central position
* treasury had zanes (statues people would pay for if they cheated) - showed their repentence to breaking their oath incl zeus
* the festival opens with sacrifices + great ox sacrifices to Zeus
* giant pile of ash at altar
* you run towards the sanctuary
* the stoa was ornate colonnades - honouring
* the statue was 13m. depicted him holding nike and a sceptre - emphasises his role as king of the gods and power as a victor
28
how did the buildings at Olympia showcase wealth adn power x4
* the treasuries demonstrated the wealth of the cities as they had lavish decorations and celebrations
* there was a stadium adn other facilities which showed the resources invested into hosting the games
* gold and ivory statue of zeus
* echo stoa is grand and ornate
29
TWE were the olympic games just athletic games x3
- had religious significance as was held in honour of zeus, there were sacrifices and rituals, centred around running towards his sanctuary
- political, city states used the games to display their dominance through athletics (eg phillip 2 of macedon)
- done for honour and also cultural impact.
=whilst the games were the focus of the olympics, they were a platfom for religion, politics, culture and community
30
examples of things at the olympic games
foot races, jumping, discus throwing, javelin throwing, wrestling, the pentathlon, and boxing.
31
who was the oracle at dodona to
an oracle of Zeus in Epirus
also supposedly the oldest oracular sanctuary in greece (as told by hesiod, homer and xenophanes)
32
what does homer say about oracle of dodona
in odyssey "by odysseus had gone to dodona, to hear the will of Zeus"
33
what does hesiod say about oracle of dodona
Fragments 240 "at the end of hellopia is the city of dodona, whic zeus chose to be his oracular seat"
34
what does herodotus say about the oracle at dodona
Histories 2.55 "the prophetesses of dodona say: that two blach doves had come flying and had settled in an oak tree, and there uttered human speech, declaring that a place of divination from zeus must be made there; the people of dodona therefore established the oracular shrine"
35
what do the sources tell about the oracle x4
homer, herodotus, hesiod
- it is well recognised in the greek world
- it is old
- it is important
- the lore behind the oracle's establishment.
36
what is unsure about the oracle at dodona
- exactly how the oracle gave its messages in mythical times - herodotus and hesiod mention the oracular responses emanated form the rustling of leaves of the sacred oak or from doves sitting in the tree.
37
what questions were posed at dodona and how were different from delphi
most were form individuals.
xenophon - which god to pray to
tablets - travel, marriage, health, campaigns and wars
=they were concerned about more basic things eg health, fertility.
38
TWE was the oracle largely respected x4, -1
+ people paid for these services as there were thousands
+ they were related to the gods, so to deny that is not good
+ in homer etc
+ theyd travel there, costly and unsafe
- many dont have a lot of authority eg dice
39
examples of oracles
in the athenian agora, there were dice.
40
delphi origins
Two eagles released by Zeus from opposite ends of the earth met here, identifying Delphi as the centre of the world. On this spot there was a stone guarded by a serpent called the Pytho.
When Apollo killed the Pytho he made Delphi his home and established the site as the best place to seek his guidance.
41
how widely would people travel from to visit delphi oracle
greece, sicily, egypt, afghanistan
42
where does it mention the delphian origin thing
homeric hymn to pythian apollo
"this is why the place is now called pytho, and men call the lord apollo by another name, Pythian"
43
who was the pythia
the priestess who spoke the oracle. was possessed by apollo)
44
what was the delphian stone called
omphalos (belly button) - where the centre of the world was
45
sanctuary at delphi information
- run by the Amphictyonic league - a local association of greeks as a panhellenic sanctuary.
46
example of delphian bribery
Herodotus suggests that a noble Athenian family had "bribed the Pythia to bid any Spartans to set Athens free". however was only accused on a handful of occasions.
47
features of the delphic site x6
- theatre of dionysus
- **SACRED WAY**
- Temple of Apollo
- treasuries
- serpent column
- individual monuments.
48
treasuries at delphi
the sacred way was surrounded by treasuries where City-states from all over the Greek world set up treasuries, stoas and monuments.
49
treasuries of people examples delphi
eg treasury of the Siphnians on the bottom left side of the pathway was made of marble and elaborately decorated, presenting the island good.
or treasury of the athenians (on sharp right turn). where most worshippers would pass and thus footfall means more are impressed. Marble and heavily sculpted. Stoa in front (on plateau directly below temple of Apollo) – worshippers waiting to consult the oracle would have waited here. Excellent for Athenian self-promotion.
50
what did the sacred way do
led delphian worshippers from from the entrance TO the temple of apollo.
51
serpent column x4
- set up by the greeks in thanksgiving to apollo for defeating the persians. reflects unity and alliance of the greeks (as youd expect for a panhellenic sanctuary)
- 9m high with three bronze serpents coiled together into a column and a golden tripod on top
- names of the 31 greek cities who fought persia were inscribed plus more
= represent pytho and the tripod corresponds with the tripod the the pythia sat on
52
monuments at delphi
- showcase and promote individual military victories
- many were at the entrance - eg there was an athenian monument to commemorate their victory against persia at marathon
- when sparta defeated athens after the peloponnesian wars, they set one up directly opposite. had 38 statues -3x the size of the athenian dedication
53
what was the temple of apollo at delphi's history
- pausanias states that 5 temples to apollo were built (1. hut, 2. beeswax and feathers, 3. made from bronze by hephaestus, 4. limestone, 5. marble prolly)
- doric
54
who funded the temple of apollo
the Alcmaeonid family from athens.
55
what did the eastern pediment of the temple of apollo show
east - apollo alongside artemis and leto
56
what did the western pediment of the temple of apollo show
west -likely the gigantomachy
57
what did the metopes of the temple of apollo show
now weld the shields taken from the defeated persian and galation invasions
58
what are features in the building of the temple of apollo
- adyton (the forbidden room at the back)
- naos (the main room where god's image was kept)
- pronaos (a portico at the front of a greek temple enclosed by side walls)
- the altar
59
what was the altar - temple of apollo
- in front of the temple. dedicated by the poeple of Chios to give them the privilege of consulting the oracle at first.
(**promachia** - to be first in queue)
60
what was the naos - temple of apollo
- main room
- the omphalos was kept here
- possibly a wooden and gold statue of apollo as well as a laurel tree whose leaves the pythia would chew on.
61
what was the adyton - temple of apollo
- hidden room (only pythia)
- where she would pronounce her prophecies
62
what was the delphic charioteer - temple of apollo
- located behind the temple
- had four horses
- dedicated by Polyzalus the tyrant of Gela to celebrate his victory at the Pythian games.
63
what was the decorations - temple of apollo
- decorated with inscriptions and sculpture (eg know thyself, nothing in excess)
64
what was the sacred way - delphi
- was constructed in the final phase of the sanctuary’s history – it unites a series of buildings, mostly treasuries and stoas (covered walkway), and monuments that preceded the focal parts of the sanctuary.
65
who writes about how nice the sanctuaries at delphi were
herodotus, histories 3.57
66
what was the theatre - delphi
- reflects the presence of dionysus
- originally there was a pythian festival held every 8 years - 1 contest, singing a hymn to apollo.
67
what was the stadium - delphi
- however athletic contests were distinct from religious practice. one inscription forbids the removal of sacrificial wine from the stadium
68
how was the temple of apollo religious x3, political x2, social x1
RELIGIOUS
- Centre of oracular prophecy and it housed communication with the divine.
- The Eastern pediment now displayed Apollo alongside Artemis and Leto.
- The Western pediment likely showed the Gigantomachy.
POLITICAL
- Approval for political decisions was given here
- eg Creusus of Lydia asking if he should go to war with his neighbouring nation. If you go to war, a mighty nation will fall - his does.
SOCIAL
- Altar as people used that as communal worship through sacrifice.
69
how was the serpent column religious, political, social
RELIGIOUS
represents the pytho, linking to apollo's slaughter of it and saving the people and making it his holy site.
POLITICAL
victory of greece against the persians. success in war
SOCIAL
promoted social cohesion
Celebrated the victory against the persians by inscribing names of the 31 Greek cities who fought Persia. Celebrated unity.
70
how were the treasuries religious, political, social
RELIGIOUS
piety of the states who donated dedications and statues
POLITICAL
wealthy states could demonstrate their prowess
also competiton between athens and sparta
SOCIAL
tourist sites
71
how was the theatre religious
RELIGIOUS
dedicated to dionysus.
song competition dedicated to apollo held there
72
how was the stadium religious x3
contests were honoured to the gods
libations given there
also you couldnt bring sacrificial wine out.
73
how often could the pythia be consulted
- on 9 days of the year
- only if the goat which was sprinkled with water shuddered. it'd then be sacrificed.
74
who could consult the oracle
only men. for public or private reasons
75
what was the lot oracle
performed at the corycian cave. questions required yes or no answers, and answers were given by a black and white dice.
76
plutarch on the delphic oracle
"if they shall conquer; if they shall marry; if it advisable to sail; if to farm; if to travel."
77
xenophon on the delphic oracle
"because of their foreknowledge, they indicate to me the result of every action, dreams and omens tell me what i ought to fo and what i ought not"
"when i have sometimes disobeyed in the past I have been punished for it"
78
promachia
- citizens of delphi were permitted to consult the oracle first
- cities who provided suitable large donations were granted promanteia eg the stoa of athens and the altar dedicated by chios
79
what was the payment for delphic oracle
- bought a pelamos (sacrificial cake) from the delphians and burnt it on the altar
80
consultation process of the delphic oracle
1. make the sacrifice
2. either spoke to the pythia or an intermediary priest
3. the pythia would enter her prophetic state
81
how did the pythia get into her prophetic state
- inhaling vapours which emanated through a crack
- consuming laurel leaves
82
source for delphic oracle
attic kylix depicting a consultation of the pythia
83
attic kylix depicting a consultation of the pythia x8
- red figure
Pythia
- Modest + veiled
- Barefoot
- Sat on tripod (commonly assoc with apollo)
- Holding a laurel branch (assoc with apollo)
- Holding kylix (wine bowl)
- They are indoors (big pillar) - in the adyton (assumed)
man
- Could be a priest, supported by him wearing laurel wreath = suggests that the people got their message from the oracle via the priest who interprets it.
Or he could be a customer wearing laurel wreath
84
why is the attic kylix depicting a consultation of the pythia useful x5
USEFUL
- pythia consulted indoors (column). infers she is in the adyton.
- pythia was a modest woman/priestess as she is covered = modest
- presence of symbols of apollo, laurel wreath, tripod. = suggests that the greeks were wanting to communicate with apollo
- proves that men could consult with the pythia directly or that the priest was an intermediary
- bowl suggests that the pythia would mkae offerings to apollo in order to reach her prophetic state and hear his messages.
85
why is the attic kylix depicting a consultation of the pythia limited x3
- unclear of the man's role
- unable to learn of the content of the prophecies, at dodona there was physical evidence that the questions were yes/no
- also learn from other sources that they were riddle like answers eg Croesus
86
Croesus and the war with persia
When King Croesus of Lydia consulted the Oracle about going to war with Persia, she prophesied that if he did, he would destroy a great empire
(Herodotus).
Croesus misinterpreted this to mean he would win, but ultimately, he was defeated, leading to the destruction of his own empire.
87
x
88
Aegus and the sealed wineskin
Theseus' father
The Athenian King Aegeus, desperate for an heir, asked the Oracle how he could have children, and she said ‘Do not loosen the bulging mouth of the wineskin until you have reached the height of Athens, lest you die of grief’ (Plutarch). He visited King Pittheus of Trozen who was known for wisdom. The king got Aegeus drunk and introduced him to his daughter Aethra, leading to the birth of Theseus and ultimate death of Aegeus when he threw himself from a cliff thinking (mistakenly) that Theseus was dead.
89
delphic oracle has personal interests/ isnt neutral
Thucydides says that there was a concern from Delphi to solve the rift between two royal families and athens and sparta
= suggests delphi has a personal interest in keeping peace - they dont want a war for financial reasons. also used its ability of the oracle to manipulate things to go their way.
