Church and State in Ancient Greece 26/09/2007

12:56:00
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)
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26/09/2007 12:56:00