Religion and society:
Religion in the home:
Structure of household:
● Eldest male figure- head of the house (usually father)
● Kyrios- political and religion in home
● Women move household when married
● Covers: worship for all members of house, respect, and upkeep of
shrines, grave site, getting people involved
● Act as priest- lead sacrifices and libations and supplication etc
● Would make offerings every day to three main household gods
● Remember gods have lots of different responsibilities within their remit
● Everyone has 3 main gods
Household Gods:
Zeus Ktesios- protector of property and wealth
● Represented by two handled vase, draped in white cloth holding seeds,
oil and water
● Can be anywhere, can be any vase
● 3 main ways people gain wealth, oil, trade and farming- earn Athens
most wealth
● Pray at vase everyday- ask for health, good property (safe and secure)
and protection of household wealth
Zeus Herkeios- protector of the enclosure of the house (central courtyard and
garden)
● Statue or votive offering in courtyard- has something to do with snakes,
does not have to be big
● Warns off bad luck- protects the outside from bad luck
● Do not have to worship everyday- built into courtyard
Apollo Agyrios- protects house from outside (Z protects inside)
● Depicted on door by statue, small pillar or statue of Herakles
● Stops plagues and bad stuff coming in
, Religious areas:
Hearth- central fire
● Dedicated to Hestia
● New members of household would walk around hearth
● Showered by dried nuts and flowers
● Represents the family in the home
Gods that protect the inside, outside and the family
The Herm- protective symbols along street
● Act as half way markers on road
● Very distinctive- columns
● Protection on journey/ travels
Surrounded by protectors and Gods everywhere you go
Religious duties:
men
● Kyrios tends to all cults and gods in house
● Tended to family tombs (appearance and commemoration)
● Offerings, libations, garlands offered to remember the dead
women
● Women could take part in a number of cults
● basket bearer- carried basket at occasions such as Panathenaic
procession
~
● Grinder- ground meal for cakes to give to Athena
● Arrephoros -secret ritual associated with temple of Athena Polias
(Athena of the city), arrephoroi (two chosen maidens) would carry
baskets on their heads not knowing what they contained and took them
to sanctuary of Aphrodite
● Participation changes once married
● only participate in festivals such as Thesmophoria (women only festival
to Demeter) or Eleusinian mysteries
● Had to tend to the corpse after death
Religion in the home:
Structure of household:
● Eldest male figure- head of the house (usually father)
● Kyrios- political and religion in home
● Women move household when married
● Covers: worship for all members of house, respect, and upkeep of
shrines, grave site, getting people involved
● Act as priest- lead sacrifices and libations and supplication etc
● Would make offerings every day to three main household gods
● Remember gods have lots of different responsibilities within their remit
● Everyone has 3 main gods
Household Gods:
Zeus Ktesios- protector of property and wealth
● Represented by two handled vase, draped in white cloth holding seeds,
oil and water
● Can be anywhere, can be any vase
● 3 main ways people gain wealth, oil, trade and farming- earn Athens
most wealth
● Pray at vase everyday- ask for health, good property (safe and secure)
and protection of household wealth
Zeus Herkeios- protector of the enclosure of the house (central courtyard and
garden)
● Statue or votive offering in courtyard- has something to do with snakes,
does not have to be big
● Warns off bad luck- protects the outside from bad luck
● Do not have to worship everyday- built into courtyard
Apollo Agyrios- protects house from outside (Z protects inside)
● Depicted on door by statue, small pillar or statue of Herakles
● Stops plagues and bad stuff coming in
, Religious areas:
Hearth- central fire
● Dedicated to Hestia
● New members of household would walk around hearth
● Showered by dried nuts and flowers
● Represents the family in the home
Gods that protect the inside, outside and the family
The Herm- protective symbols along street
● Act as half way markers on road
● Very distinctive- columns
● Protection on journey/ travels
Surrounded by protectors and Gods everywhere you go
Religious duties:
men
● Kyrios tends to all cults and gods in house
● Tended to family tombs (appearance and commemoration)
● Offerings, libations, garlands offered to remember the dead
women
● Women could take part in a number of cults
● basket bearer- carried basket at occasions such as Panathenaic
procession
~
● Grinder- ground meal for cakes to give to Athena
● Arrephoros -secret ritual associated with temple of Athena Polias
(Athena of the city), arrephoroi (two chosen maidens) would carry
baskets on their heads not knowing what they contained and took them
to sanctuary of Aphrodite
● Participation changes once married
● only participate in festivals such as Thesmophoria (women only festival
to Demeter) or Eleusinian mysteries
● Had to tend to the corpse after death
