Rituals and priests
Priests and Priestesses:
● Only place where women can have a public role
● Close to equality between gender in occupation
Role:
● Performance of sacrifice
● Upkeep and care of temples and shrines- clean, tidy, fixed, God standard
● Employed by the city- council/magistrate had control over you
● Assisted the city magistrates- trials
● May interpret oracles
● Unpaid or part time
● Many privileges- front row at the theatre, best bits of sacrificial meat,
respect and prestige
Aristocracy:
● Could inherit the role
● Could get it by lot
● Could purchase it
● Hereditary priesthood were dominated by certain families (political)
● Link between religion and politics- corruption
● Protected by law and politics
● Not the best for the job or most religious
Case study- Priestess of Athena Polias:
● From the Eteoboutadae family- old, traditional and mythological
● Appeared beside political figures- important political figure
● Frieze of the Parthenon- archon hands her the peplos
● Led procession- very important woman
● Generally men for gods Women for Goddess
, ● Very visible woman in society
Important Priestesses:
● Pythia
● Priestess of Hera in Argos
● Lysimache- priestess of Athena Polias for 64 years- link to Aristophanes'
play Lysistrata
● Some cults were exclusively for women
● Women had a big role in death and funeral rituals
● More freedom and social status
Benefits of being a Priest:
● Respect and prestige
● Protected by the law and politics
● Best bits of sacrificial meat
● Front row at theatre
● Women can have a public role
● Serving the Gods- will be rewarded
Drawbacks of being a Priest:
● Unpaid or part time
● City/ magistrates had control over them
● Not awarded on merit
Sacrifice:
Blood sacrifice- thysia
● Higher level than votive offering
● Served dual purpose- honour/respect/ask for something, eating meat
● Dependent on budget and request and festival
● Sheep, goat, pig, cattle, dogs, horses, fowl, fish
Human sacrifice is wrong- against nature
Priests and Priestesses:
● Only place where women can have a public role
● Close to equality between gender in occupation
Role:
● Performance of sacrifice
● Upkeep and care of temples and shrines- clean, tidy, fixed, God standard
● Employed by the city- council/magistrate had control over you
● Assisted the city magistrates- trials
● May interpret oracles
● Unpaid or part time
● Many privileges- front row at the theatre, best bits of sacrificial meat,
respect and prestige
Aristocracy:
● Could inherit the role
● Could get it by lot
● Could purchase it
● Hereditary priesthood were dominated by certain families (political)
● Link between religion and politics- corruption
● Protected by law and politics
● Not the best for the job or most religious
Case study- Priestess of Athena Polias:
● From the Eteoboutadae family- old, traditional and mythological
● Appeared beside political figures- important political figure
● Frieze of the Parthenon- archon hands her the peplos
● Led procession- very important woman
● Generally men for gods Women for Goddess
, ● Very visible woman in society
Important Priestesses:
● Pythia
● Priestess of Hera in Argos
● Lysimache- priestess of Athena Polias for 64 years- link to Aristophanes'
play Lysistrata
● Some cults were exclusively for women
● Women had a big role in death and funeral rituals
● More freedom and social status
Benefits of being a Priest:
● Respect and prestige
● Protected by the law and politics
● Best bits of sacrificial meat
● Front row at theatre
● Women can have a public role
● Serving the Gods- will be rewarded
Drawbacks of being a Priest:
● Unpaid or part time
● City/ magistrates had control over them
● Not awarded on merit
Sacrifice:
Blood sacrifice- thysia
● Higher level than votive offering
● Served dual purpose- honour/respect/ask for something, eating meat
● Dependent on budget and request and festival
● Sheep, goat, pig, cattle, dogs, horses, fowl, fish
Human sacrifice is wrong- against nature
