Religion - packages of information PDF

Preview

Summary

Download Religion - packages of information PDF

Description

Religion in Sparta – packages of information 1. Spartan deities:  The Spartans were an extremely religious people. Herodotus tells us that they “considered the things of the gods more weighty than the things of men.” He gives us two famous examples of this. In 490 BC they refused to send troops to fight at Marathon till after their religious festival was over. Again, in 480 they were only willing to send 300 soldiers to Thermopylae because the timing conflicted with the festival of Karneia, in honour of the god Apollo.  The main Spartan gods and goddesses were Artemis Orthia, Poseidon and Apollo. All these deities were depicted with weapons in hand, as might be expected in a society as highly militarised as Sparta’s. The Spartans also worshipped Apollo Karneios, Athena Chalkioikos, Helen and Leucippides.  Artemis Orthia was the fertility goddess. She was also the goddess of hunting. She had a significant temple in her honour in the city of Sparta.  Poseidon was the god of the sea. He was also the god of earthquakes. The Spartans were very concerned about earthquakes, as these occurred regularly in the Peloponnese. One in the 460s triggered a helot uprising which the Spartans had difficulty suppressing.  Apollo was the god of light and the sun. His worship was important all across Greece. 2. Myths and Legends  The story of Lycurgus was the most important myth in Sparta. The Spartans themselves believed completely in his existence. Modern historians are not so sure.  The Spartans took the story of the Dioscuri very seriously. There were the twin sons of Zeus – Castor and Polydeuces (later called Pollux by the Romans). These mythical figures were associated with horsemanship, athletics and warfare, and were seen as protectors of Sparta.  The Spartans also took the pronouncements of the Oracle of Delphi very seriously. They would consult the Oracle regularly on matters pertaining to the state. 3. Festivals:  Festivals were integral to Spartan society. Everyone had to participate.  The main festival was the Karneia, named after Apollo Karneios, the god of the herd. He is depicted as having horns. This festival was held in August-September. While it was on, the Spartans were not allowed to go to war. We know that the festival involved a procession with model rafts, then a series of athletic contests and games.  Another important festival was the Hyakinthia, which mourned the death of Hyakinthus, the son of an ancient Spartan king. There were processions, dancers, chariot races and feasts. The highlight was a chorus of boys singing songs of praise to the gods.  The Gymnopaedia was a five day festival celebrating the men who died in the Battle of Thyrea – a clash occurring in Sparta’s earlier years. This festival involved dancing, gymnastics and various athletic contests. 4. Religious practices:  Spartans could sacrifice and make offerings to the gods at shrines or in their homes.

1





The state was also involved in religious practice. It controlled the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, and regularly sent envoys (pithioi) to Delphi to consult with the priestess of Apollo (the pythia). These envoys were appointed by the king, and shared his tent at Delphi when he visited the sanctuary. Xenophon tells us that the king was required to make sacrifices before leading the army out of Sparta. The army would only leave if the omens were good.

5. Religious sites:  Sparta, unlike other Greek cities, had no significant public buildings. Its religious sites were either on the outskirts of the city or beyond its perimeter. These included the...