Women In Religon

Question 1

What were the 3 significant festivals for Athenian Women?

Answer 1

The panathenasia
The thesmophoria
The Dionysian

Question 2

The great Panathenasia

Answer 2

• held to honour birthday of Athena
• also celebrates victory of Gods over titans, Gigantomachy
• every 4 years the great panathenaia was held which lasted 8 days w many events

Question 3

Events of the Panathenaia(8)

Answer 3

1) Poetry reciting
2) Boys athelitic competition
3) Men’s athletic competition
4) Equestrian competition
5) Strength, darling and dancing of diff tribes
6) All night torch race
7) Chariot and boat racing
8) Prize giving

Question 4

Women in the Panathenaia(4)

Answer 4

• couldn’t take part allowed to watch
• the role women played in the festival was weaving peplos known as the Ergastinai.
• wove intricate pictures depicting famous battles and giants (gigantomachy)
• women to active role in profession on 6th day
  Evidence = frieze

Question 5

The Thesmophoria (3)

Answer 5

• Annual greek festival for married women
• Held in Autumn
• Primary function of the festival is to ensure success of next year harvest

Question 6

Who was Demeter (2)

Answer 6

• Goddess of agriculture, fertility and harvest

- Demeters significance aspect was motherhood.

Question 7

Story of Persephone (4) Part 1

Answer 7

• The abduction of her daughter Persephone by Hades
• Unable to find her (Demeter), went to a deep grief, which brought end to all fertility.
• No crops would grow, life would perish
• Eventually she found who took her and asked Zeus to intervene.

Question 8

Story of Persephone (7) Part 2

Answer 8

• Zeus commanded hades to release Persephone but it was too late
• She ate seeds which means shes bound there forever.
• Demeter said she would never bring back fertility so Zeus made a compromise.
• Persephone had 3 seeds meaning she would only spend a portion of year w Hades
• This is how the season formed
• Persephone returning in Spring= Fertility returning
• Persephone leaving= Barren in winter

Question 9

How long was the festival and what happened on each day? (3)

Answer 9

• 3 days
• 1st day - temporary shelters
• 2nd day- fast and sit on the ground
• 3rd day- pray for blessings relating to fertility.

Question 10

What offerings were made to the goddess? (1)

Answer 10

• Piglets

Question 11

Why might Athenian women have particularly enjoyed attending this festival? (2)

Answer 11

• It was the only times they weren’t under control of the kyrios.
• They can socialise and make new friends.

Question 12

Why is it hard for us to know exactly what happened at this festival? (1)

Answer 12

• Mystery cult, Men wrote things.

Question 13

What four different things was Dionysus the God of (4)

Answer 13

• Wine
• Theatre
• Escasty
• Madness

Question 14

How did maenads worship Dionysus? (1)

Answer 14

• Women went out into the countryside became drunk, sang and dance.

Question 15

Why is it difficult for us to know exactly what went on this worship. (3)

Answer 15

• Its difficult because its mystery cult
• Sources based on incomplete idea of what happened ritually.
• could be biased. male authors

Question 16

What can we learn from figure 1.40?

Answer 16

• Draped w leapord skin, sacred to Dionysus, his worshippers wore leopard skin
• Holding staff of ivy leaves, thurus, symbol of dionysus
• Loose hair= maenad, athenian wear hair up, hair down= frenxy and wildness.
• snake wrapped around her head, shows temp madness.

Question 17

In bacchae, what do maenads including own mum and aunts do to king?

Answer 17

They kill him because they mistake him for a lions cub, chase him and tear him limb from limb.
Only at end they see what theyve done

Question 18

Why might have women enjoyed this?

Answer 18

-One with nature and fertility.