Sparta 4.Religion

Question 1

What religion did the people of Ancient Sparta practice

Answer 1

POLYTHEISTIC- 12 gods of Olympic Pantheon
>Zeus: 2 Kings = Chief Priests of
-Zeus Lacedaemonios
-Zeus Uranios
>Artemis/Orthia: goddesses of childbirth and protectors
>Apollo: God of light, harmony/peace, power of the sun
>Athena: ‘Guardian of the city’
>Poseidon: God of the sea (what the sea affects i.e. earthquakes)
>Demeter: Goddess of harvest

Question 2

Describe Spartan approach to religion and faith

Answer 2

-transaction:
–>do tings for the gods(libations/sacrifice)
=they will look after you (fertility, good crops, success in battle)
——–FAIL=they will punish you
-Archaeological evidence shows the gods armed
—>matching Sparta’s military nature

Question 3

Religious practices of ancient Sparta

Answer 3

-shrines/sanctuaries/ temples
-cults
-libations}liquid offerings
-votive offerings}figurines or objects
-sacrifices}animals
-hero worship(Menelaus and Helen of Troy were not Gods but rulers in the ancient world)

Question 4

their attitude towards Religious Festivals

Answer 4

-strict adherence to festivals prevented them from going to battle
>Battle of
Marathon(spartan
forces came a day
late bc of festival)
>Battle of
Thermopylae(King
Leonidas led army to
confront Persia only
AFTER festival)

Question 5

the Karneia

Answer 5

APOLLO & KARNEIOS(Ram god)–HARVEST FESTIVAL
-procession with model rafts}symbolise return of Herakles’s sons
-race }runner prays to gods, then runs away—If caught=Good Omens

Question 6

the Hyakinthia

Answer 6

[accidental] DEATH OF HYKINTHUS (Prince of Sparta) BY APOLLO
-3 day festival
>Day1;
Grief/Mourning}via
chanting, wailing
>Day2;Rejoicing}chorus/song/dance/feast/ sacrifice to Apollo & procession to Amyclae
>not much known abt day 3

Question 7

the Gymnopaedia

Answer 7

HONOURED THOSE SLAIN AT BATTLE OF THYREA + APOLLO
-honoured Apollo as thanks offering for military success via “festival of the naked boys”
-singing/dancing/
gymnastics/wrestling by
—>Boys(am)
—>Men(arvo)
—>Old men (pm)

Question 8

Spartan burial

Answer 8

PIT GRAVES}rectangular pit, body lid on wooden tray
CIST GRAVES}lined rectangular pit
———————————–
CENTOTAPHS}grave memorials w.out a body
2 STOREY TOMBS}lower storey for primary burial>bones + offerings moved to 2nd storey
PILLOW BURIAL}skeleton in weird position, stone for pillow, stones places around the body following curve of the spine
PITHOS BURIAL}bones in large jars

Question 9

Funerary Customs/Rituals

Answer 9

-deceased female relatives conducted rituals
-11 day strict mourning
-12th day is sacrifice to Demeter}Goddess of Harvest =End of grieving
-viewed death as familiar/normal