1. Religion and worship in Athens
Revision notes
GCSE
Classics

2. Temple : home of the gods
Worship
Temple : home of the gods
beautiful buildings
spent more money on temples
than on their own homes
No worship happened in temple
Huge cult statues (1 per temple) in the Noas
e.g. Athene made of gold and ivory
12 meters tall

3. Alter: Outside the Temple
Worship
Alter: Outside the Temple
Practical purposes
Soil soaked up the animal blood
(think of 100 oxen being killed in 1 day!)
Still inside sanctuary walls:
Sacred ground
Animals sacrificed (not humans!)

4. Worship Sacrifice #1 Sacrifice dedicated to the god/goddess Food
Thanks for the benefits already received Cakes and fruit
Drink
Or in the future Milk and wine
A present for the gods Items
Cow pig goat sheep
Soldiers’ shield:
success in battle
Animals sacrifices
Everyone ate the meat in a great feasts

5. The process of animal sacrifice
The animal was brought at market
Animal is prepared for sacrifice: ribbons were put on the head and horns painted with gold
The animal is led to the sanctuary – a good omen if it goes willingly
All participants wash themselves and put on garlands
A maiden carried a basket full of barley grain (a knife was hidden underneath)
A flute player played throughout the ceremony
The priest pours water on the animals head so it nods in agreement
The priest them says a pray and approaches the animal with the knife
Another attendant stuns the animal by hitting it on the head with a club
The priest cuts the animals throat
The blood is collected in a bowl and then poured on top and the sides of the alter
The meat is then cut up and treated three ways:
1. the thigh bone is wrapped in fat and burnt on the alter (a gift to the gods)
2. the guts are inspected for omens (battles to be won)
3. the rest is boiled and shared as part of a great feast

6. Athens and the Panathenaia

7. Look at the images: What happened at the Panathenaia?
Athena – wrestling – running – chariots - peplos

8. The Panathenaia
The Panthenaia was the celebration of Athene’s birthday
It took place at the end of July each year
The celebration began at dawn at the Dipylan Gate and processed to the Acropolis
Along the route 100 sacrificial animals (usually oxen) where driven along the procession route [hecatomb]
Greeks from all levels of society participated in the procession (women and slaves included)
A peplos was offered to Athene (both big + small olive wood statue) as a present
It was gold and purple with scenes of the victories the Olympic gods had over the Giants (order over chaos)
After the animals were sacrificed at the alter the meat was cooked and a large feast took place

9. The Great Panathenaia This happened every four years
It was an eight day celebration in honour of Athene
Several competitions took place to mark this occasion
Sports: included boxing, penthalon, wrestling, horse events and stadion (200 meter sprint)
All Greeks could participate in these
Tribal competitions: only open to members of the 10 tribes of Athens: boat race in Athens harbour + Torch race from Dipylon Gate to the acropolis (gave the festival a local feel!)
Music: men competed to play the lyre and Aulos best
Prizes included money or a gold crown
Rhapsodes (Men to recite epic poetry) competed to retell the Iliad and odyssey

10. The order of procession
4 little girls carrying peplos
Priestesses of Athena + women carrying gifts
Sacrificial animals
Metics wearing purple robes and carrying offerings of cakes
A colossal peplos
Old men carrying olive branches (olive wood link)
4 horse chariots with fully armed men
Craftswomen (who made the peplos)
Infantry + cavlary
Victors in the games
Ordinary people arranged by deme

11. Why was the Panathenaia important?
Feasting and distribution of sacrificial meat
Celebration of founder of the city
Communal worship
Gives a sense of unity for the city
All levels of society allowed to celebrate

12. Why was the Panathenaia important?
Sense of patriotic pride
Impressive to watch
- Leisure and relaxation-
Competitions
Chance to win glory (and progress position in society)
Chance to win money

13. Why was the Panathenaia important?
Politics
To impress non-Athenians
power
Wealth
Importance of religion
Show of democratic system

14. Athens and the City Dionysia

15. What was it? Second most important festival Held in March
Dionysus = god of drama
A grand Drama Festival
Play wrights wrote scripts specifically
Plays were judged

16. Preparation A chorego, a wealthy citizen, would sponsor the play
The city’s magistrates, archon, selected play wrights
3 to write tragedies
1 to write a satyr-play (a light hearted parody of a tragedy)
3 to write comedies
The play wrights had to hire the cast and practice for over 6 months
A chorego, a wealthy citizen, would sponsor the play
Paid for costumes, special effects and props
This would win the chorego popularity and respect in society

17. The festival Begins with a torch light procession
A wooden statue of Dionysos is led into the city and into the cities theatre
Military cadets accompany the statue
Day 1: another grand procession: animals taken to the temple of Dionysos and sacrificed (poorest in city given meat!),
Day 2: a magnificent opening ceremony in the theatre. Money paid in tax by Athens allies is displayed + orphaned boys (whose fathers died fighting for the city) are paraded in. Individual citizens are awarded prizes for good deeds.
Day 2- 4: plays are performed.
1) Tragedies and satyr-play in the morning
2) after lunch a comedy is put on
Day 5: Judging the plays

18. Complicated but democratic!
Judging
Judges taken from audience
Complicated but democratic!
Each tribe puts names in a urn before festival
Everyone welcome to watch plays
One name from each urn is chosen
There are 10 judges
Locals sat in 10 tribes sections
Tablets put in an urn
Day 5: list plays in order [separate tablets for comedy and tragedy]
Archon drew 5 of the 10 tablets. Play wrights with most votes WINS

19. Why was the City Dionysia important?
Worship of Dionysos to ensure continuing favour of god for fertility
Parade of tribute is symbolic of the city’s continuing success
Competition between demes important because demes were central to citizenship, promotion of pride in demes also promoted civic pride
Emphasised difference between Athenians and non-Athenians as non-Athenians could not vote or write plays
Honours Athens leading citizens and given them the opportunity to become a choregos
Meat given to the city’s poor
Raises significance of drama in society
Act of communal worship
Enjoyment of communal ceremony