TOPIC 05
RITUALS AND PRIESTS
Sections:
5.1: Ideas about why ritual was performed
5.2: Priests and priestesses, including:
5.21: The role of the priest in conducting rituals
5.22: The connection between aristocratic families and priesthoods
5.23: The role of women is religious rituals
5.3: The purpose, process and significance of blood sacrifices
5.4: The role of libations in both private and state contexts
5.5. The role of votive offerings in both state and private contexts
Topic 5 | Rituals and Priests
,DEFINITIONS
Archon basileus
He is the King magistrate but has the ultimate religious authority in Athens
Hiereus /hiereia
The Greek words for priest and priestess
Participatory sacrifice
People taking part, coming together as a community in sacrifice
Hectomb
Sacrifice of 100 oxen
Ololyge
Wailing of the women when the animals are sacrifice- very tribal, similar to the wailing of women
in lamentation
Libation
Liquid offering to the gods in thanks or in anticipation of something- for the good will of the gods
Votive offering
Offering as a result of thanks or appeasement
2
, RITUALS
- No Greek word for ‘ritual’
- Ritual= dance, contest, prayer, hymn, procession, sacrifice
- Sacred laws- displayed in public spaces
Purpose:
- Organise space and time (e.g. daily sacrifice/ libation/ prayer to household gods/
sacrificial calendars/ programme of festivals)
- Define the relationship between mortals and gods (e.g. worship of Asclepius
introduced in Athens after plague/ mortal subordination)
- Confirm social bonds/ hierarchies (e.g. deme/ polis/ Panhellenic festivals/ specific
roles and positions in sacrifices and processions)
- Provide a reassuring/ comforting sense of tradition/ predictability
- Source: Thucydides- departure of Athenian felt for Sicily
PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES
Role:
- Not a way of life
- Responsible for rituals performed in their sanctuary
- Non-priests also performed religious rites (e.g. neokoroi- took care of day-to-day
business, practical assistant)
- Invoke good will of the gods on behalf of community
- Performance of sacrifice
- Duties of the priests include: seers, doctors, butchers, financial administrators, sanctuary
maintenance
Example:
- Source: Inscription from the Amphiareion at Oropos
3
RITUALS AND PRIESTS
Sections:
5.1: Ideas about why ritual was performed
5.2: Priests and priestesses, including:
5.21: The role of the priest in conducting rituals
5.22: The connection between aristocratic families and priesthoods
5.23: The role of women is religious rituals
5.3: The purpose, process and significance of blood sacrifices
5.4: The role of libations in both private and state contexts
5.5. The role of votive offerings in both state and private contexts
Topic 5 | Rituals and Priests
,DEFINITIONS
Archon basileus
He is the King magistrate but has the ultimate religious authority in Athens
Hiereus /hiereia
The Greek words for priest and priestess
Participatory sacrifice
People taking part, coming together as a community in sacrifice
Hectomb
Sacrifice of 100 oxen
Ololyge
Wailing of the women when the animals are sacrifice- very tribal, similar to the wailing of women
in lamentation
Libation
Liquid offering to the gods in thanks or in anticipation of something- for the good will of the gods
Votive offering
Offering as a result of thanks or appeasement
2
, RITUALS
- No Greek word for ‘ritual’
- Ritual= dance, contest, prayer, hymn, procession, sacrifice
- Sacred laws- displayed in public spaces
Purpose:
- Organise space and time (e.g. daily sacrifice/ libation/ prayer to household gods/
sacrificial calendars/ programme of festivals)
- Define the relationship between mortals and gods (e.g. worship of Asclepius
introduced in Athens after plague/ mortal subordination)
- Confirm social bonds/ hierarchies (e.g. deme/ polis/ Panhellenic festivals/ specific
roles and positions in sacrifices and processions)
- Provide a reassuring/ comforting sense of tradition/ predictability
- Source: Thucydides- departure of Athenian felt for Sicily
PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES
Role:
- Not a way of life
- Responsible for rituals performed in their sanctuary
- Non-priests also performed religious rites (e.g. neokoroi- took care of day-to-day
business, practical assistant)
- Invoke good will of the gods on behalf of community
- Performance of sacrifice
- Duties of the priests include: seers, doctors, butchers, financial administrators, sanctuary
maintenance
Example:
- Source: Inscription from the Amphiareion at Oropos
3
