Week 4 Flashcards
Go over each different festival
Who is protected by the gods?
Suppliants, heralds, strangers, and beggars
What is miasma?
Pollution of society, homicide the gods’ greatest concern
Forms of worship of the gods?
- offering of food and drinks
- animal sacrifice
- purification
- prayer
- supplication
What was the purpose of ritual sacrifice?
Replenish the relationship and hierarchy between gods, animals, and humans
What mixture was scattered over the animal?
Grain, mixed with salt, then water to make its head move
What were the preliminary parts of the ritual?
Purification/washing of hands
Victim led in a procession
Prayers said in the preliminary part of the ritual
How is the animal killed in a ritual sacrifice?
Cutting its throat
What part of the animal is of particular importance?
The liver
What was done with the thigh bones?
They were wrapped in fat and burned, creating a thick smoke the gods were thought to enjoy
What was the gods portion?
Sacrum bone and tail
- curvature of the tail as it was burned signified the acceptance of the gods’ sacrifice
What was done with the carcass afterwards?
Butchered and split evenly for the participants
What is holochaust?
Whole thing is burnt, very rare and did not get eaten by participants
What is katharma?
The purified place the ritual took place
Format of prayer to the gods?
- Gods addressed using names and titles
- Previous offerings given to the god
- Specific request was made
- More honours could be promised if request was granted
What were the requirements of supplication?
Physical contact, usually touching of knees or chin
Under what conditions did one become a suppliant?
To escape extreme danger
What is temenos?
lit. “cut off” - a space cut off from normal use and reserved for cult
What is temple in greek?
naos
What is the largest temple of the Athenian acropolis?
Parthenon, dedicated to Athena
What are the two sectors of the gods patronage?
Boule council and the agora
What was a phratria?
Group of citizens that performed religious practices at a common cult place - membership in one provided proof of citizenship
What greek month marked the beginning of the year?
Hekatombaion (June-July)
- beginning of the year
- Festival of Athena celebrated during this month
When is Athena’s birthday?
Hekatombaion 28th
What is the mythology surrounding Athena?
- daughter of metis (wisdom, skill) and Zeus
- Hephaestus split open Zeus’ head to relieve his headache
- Athena came out adult and armed
