polis religion Flashcards
(29 cards)
literary source that outlines importance of the acropolis to athenians
Herodotus - describing the persians sacking the acropolis
some abandoned but some athenians stayed to defend the acropolis
brief history of the acropolis X4
- was a mycenaen palace.
- then 7th to 6th century became the acropolis
- 480 Darius sacked and burnt the acropolis. athenians were evacuated to salamis
- 447 BC contruction began. led by pericles.
- DESIGNED BY PHIDIAS
persian wars names X4
marathon (greeks won)
thermopulae (the pass is narrow) spartans fought to the death and it slowed persian invasion
then salamis
They won the war at plataia
def of sanctuary
The sanctuary was a holy area in a city or town that contained a temple and an altar to a god.
the altar acropolis x2
- Built outside and was a very important part of the sanctuary as this was where the sacrifice and offering to the god took place. (This was the most communal part of the god’s worship and could involve the whole city if it took place within a festival).
The altar faced east so that priests performing rituals would face the rising sun.
doric frieze parthenon x5
stretches around the parthenon
Stories of war - but nothing about the greeks and persians.
METOPES >
Centauromachy - represents the persians
Amazonomachy - eastern barbaricness
Gigantomachy - gods fighting the titans
Trojan war (troy is persia)
how did the parthenon show off athens’ wealth x4
- Cult statue 13m of gold and ivory
- Opisthodomos (treasury of the Delian League)
- Size of parthenon + marble expensive
- Intricacy of friezes - elaborate, needs artists and designers
how did the parthenon show off athens’ military strength
- Metopes 1,2,3,4
- Athena on the pediments, is the goddess of battle tact, showing that their patron god divinely supports them in this and ensures they are strong.
- Nike on the cult statue
how did the parthenon show off athens’ piety
- Nike on the cult statue
- East and West pediment promoting athena.
- Gigonomachy - piety to gods, shows strength
- Named after athena parthenos
- Ionic frieze depicts procession to sacrifice at G. Panathenaia
statue at acropolis x4
- 13m tall
- Added to Parthenon 438BC
- Made gold and ivory chryselephantine
- Holding Nike, representing Athenian victory
ionic frieze parthenon X1
-Procession of Athenians at the Great Panathenaic festival = celebrates the power and wealth of Athens and respects Athena
West pediment acropolis x1
birth of athena story featured
east pediment acropolis x1
-Competition between athena and poseidon for patronage of athens by giving gifts
Key sites on the acropolis x6
- erechtheion - temple dedicated to godesses athena and erechtheus
- propylaia - monumental gateway to the acropolis
- temple of athena nike - athena goddess of victory
- brauroneion - sanctuary dedicated to Artemis Brauronia, goddess of protection and childbirth.
-sanctuary of zeus polieus - site dedicated to zeus as the protector of the city
-chalkothike - storage area for bronze weapons and other items
the city dionysia summary day 1-5
day 1 - pompe, dithyrambic contests, komos
2 - 5 comedies
for test is 3 tradgedies 1 satyr-play
day 5 included then prize giving.
what was pompe x2
-Pompe (grand procession) took place on the first morning. The procession accompanied the wooden statue of Dionysusto the sanctuary of Dionysus. It resembled a carnival with drinking, dancing and general revelry taking place in the god’s honour.
Men also carried phalloi commemorating the plague visited upon the Athenians by Dionysus, and weapons to commemorate Athens’ power.
what was komos x1
- After pompe procession occurred, in the evening the komos which was a drunken revelry. only men!
ppl brought leather phalluses.
what was the dithyramb contest
a choral dance in honour of dionysus on the 1st day
what were satyr-plays
comic relief from tragedies. often rude and crude
what was the panathenaia x3
- A festival for Athenians and resident foreigners.
- Celebrated annually, in honour of Athena’s birthday.
- A lesser Panathenaia held yearly and a greater Panathenaia occurred every 4th year.
events such as x5
rhapsodic musical contest
athletics (eg stadion, pankration, boxing, wrestling, pentathlon)
equestrian events
all night celebration, procession and sacrifice.
boat race
tribal contests
what was the pompeion x1
The Pompeion was a large building constructed specifically for the Panathenaia.
what was the peplos x2
At the conclusion of pompe the wooden statue of Athena in the Erechtheion was dressed in a Peplos.
The peplos was woven by a group of Athenian women and young girls, who likely began preparing it nine months before the festival.
why is ionic frieze of parthenon unique x2 (w/ included)
it depicts athenians alongside their gods, not a story.
included sacrificial animals men on horses solemn women, seated gods, charioteers and someone with a peplos
