Church and State in Ancient Greece 9/26/07 2:56 PM

← Religion and the polis

← The public hearth (hestia)

As in oikos: perpetual fame at spiritual center

Maintained at or near agora

o Often in central government building (prytaneion)

Connection to Pan-Hellenic sanctuaries

o Renewal of sacred flame

Reception of dignitaries (ambassadors, statesmen etc)

o Symbolic incorporation into community

← Religion and the polis

← Foundation of colonies: consultation of oracle

Example: thera founds colony of Kyrene in north Africa

o Polis consults Delphi about drought: colonize Libya

o Political myth: divine imperative for appropriation of land

Transfer of cult from mother-city (model of family)

o Sacred flame, cult images and practices etc.

← Religion in day-to-day government

← Sacred calendar

12 months named after gods and their festivals

polis schedules rituals, festivals

o sacred days: for sacrifice, festivals, processions etc

o profane days: for government, war, business etc

archon basileus reconciles solar-lunar cycles

o yearly, biennial, quadrennial festivals

o one level of control over polis business

← religious and political geography

altar of the Twelve Gods in the Athenian agora:

o point from which distances in Attika calculated

← council (boule): dogs preside, inspire good government

Athens: Zeus Boulaios, Athena Boulaia

← Assembly

Opening prayer, sacrifice

o Athens: piglet sacrificed, blood sprayed on officers

Fist business relates to religion

Elected officials: dokimasia (investigation), horkoi (oaths)

← Public finances

Treasury of poliad deity doubles as polis treasury

Polis raises funds for temples, priests etc

Leitourgia: state imposes contribution by wealthy

o Festivals, cults (equivalency with military expenses)

← Religious financing and politics

Athenian empire: “donations” made to “to Athena”

← Religion and the law

← Polis jurisdiction over sacred property

Destruction of, boundaries, lawsuits

← Murder incurs miasma (contagious guilt)

Ex: Oidipous, Orestes

Punishment: exclusion from cult

o Permanent: execution

o Temporary: exile purification

← Sacrilege incurs criminal penalties

Ex: Alkibiades and Sacrilege

o Sokrates and New Gods

← Alkibiades of Athens: convicted of profaning the Eleusinian

Mysteries (415 BCE)

← Leading statesman, general, “radical democrat”

← Aggressive foreign policy (Peloponnesian War)

← Charges

Destruction of Herms (boundary markers)

Profanation of Eleusinian Mysteries

o Revealing secrets to uninitiated

o Parodying rites

Motivation: opposition to his politics and policies

Result: flees Athens for Sparta

o Recalled in 407 (Athens losing war)

← Sokrates of Athens: convicted of introducing new gods (399

BCE)

Philosopher, craftsman, soldier

Friend of Alkibiades

399: aftermath of Athens’ loss to Sparta

o political payback by democracy

charges include

o introducing new gods (without state sanction)

o failure to recognize state gods

results: convicted; option of exile or death

← religion and political reform: salon

← solon of Athens (early 6th century)

enacts major constitutional reforms

implementation of laws = overhaul of (sacred) calendar

debt restructuring = moving horoi

sumptuary laws

o grave goods (private religious expression)

o festival prizes (public expression)

← take-home lesson:

political reform involves religious reform

← religion and political reform: Peisistratos

← reorganization of cults linked to political reform in Athens

Peisistratos and sons: mid-late 6th c. “tyrants”

o Public works as propaganda for one-man rule

o Reorganize Panathenaia

Opportunities for patronage

Reform of sacred texts (epics?)

Broaden Pan-Hellenic appeal

o Found/reorganize City Dionysia

Dramatic performances

← Religion and inter-polis politics

← Basis for diplomacy

Treaties: signed with sacrifices and oaths by gods

Sacred truce: interstate travel for religious festivals

o Opportunity for informal diplomacy

← Festivals as arena for inter-polis rivalry

One end of spectrum ending in war

Pan-Hellenic cults

o Treasuries: building, votives

o Competition: athletics; epic poetry, hymns

← Introduction of cults to benefit polis

Ex: Thracian goddess endis

o 432: becomes state cult in Athens

goddess of wild places

alliance between Athens and Thrace

o 413: add festival

Athens holding empire together

← Religion formalizes, sanctifies alliance

Symbolic compensation of allies

← Religion and political power

Control of Pan-Hellenic festivals

o Ex: repeated meddling by powerful poleis in Olympics

Influencing oracles

o Ex: “sacred Wars” for control of Delphi

6th, 5th, 4th centuries (part of every major conflict)

Athens and the Delian League (480 – 404 BCE)

o Fund for defense against Persians

o Movement of treasury (from Delos to Athens)

9/26/07 2:56 PM

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9/26/07 2:56 PM

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