Festivals Flashcard

• How many days of the Greek year were given over to celebrations?

  Around 140
• How many days of the Roman year were given over to celebrations?

  Around 159
• Panathenaia


  An annual Athenian festival celebrating Athena's birthday
• Great Panathenaia


  Athenian festival that took place every four years and was longer than the Panathenaia
• Why was it the most important part of the year?

  Athena was the patron goddess of Athens
• Who was believed to have founded the Panathenaia?

  Theseus
• Day 1 of the Great Panathenaia

  Rhapsodic and musical contests
• Day 2 of the Great Panathenaia

  Boys' and youths' athletics
• Day 3 of the Great Panathenaia

  Men's athletics
• Day 4 of the Great Panathenaia

  Equestrian events
• Day 5 of the Great Panathenaia

  Tribal contests
• Day 6 of the Great Panathenaia

  All-night celebration, procession and sacrifice
• Day 7 of the Great Panathenaia

  Apobates and boat race
• Day 8 of the Great Panathenaia

  Prize-giving
• What was recited at the rhapsodic contests?

  Passages from the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey
• Rhapsode

  Someone who recites epic poetry at a festival competition
• Aulos


  An oboe-like instrument
• Kithara


  A harp-like instrument
• Panathenaic amphora


  Storage jars containing olive oil given as prizes at the Great Panathenaia
• What was depicted on the Panathenaic amphorae?

  Athena and the sport in which it was won
• Stadion


  Running event (they would run the length of the stadium)
• Who was believed to have introduced wrestling as a sport?

  Theseus after defeating Cercyon of Eleusis
• What was not allowed in wrestling?

  Biting, kicking or punching
• Why was boxing so dangerous?

  Most of the blows were to the head
• Pankration


  Mix of boxing and wrestling with kicking moves
• What were the two rules of pankration?

  No eye gouging and no biting
• Pentathlon

  Discus, javelin, long jump, stadion and wrestling
• Equestrian events

  Chariot race, javelin contest and apobates
• Apobates

  'dismounter'- a chariot race in which the rider would dismount and remount his chariot
• Tribal events

  Strength trials, boat race at Piraeus and a war dance
• Where was the torch race run?

  Two miles from the Dipylon Gate to the altar on the Acropolis
• Peplos


  A Greek dress
• What was stitched into the peplos?

  The Gigantomachy
• What was special about the sacrifice?

  Only Athenians were allowed on the Acropolis
• When was the City Dionysia thought to have been founded?

  Sixth century BC
• Eleutherae


  A town on the northern border of Attica
• What happened when the Athenians rejected the statue of Dionysus?


  A plague affected the men
• When did the City Dionysia take place?

  Over five days in mid-March
• Where was the sanctuary of Dionysus?

  South side of the Acropolis
• Eponymous archon

  Athenian magistrate elected for one year