Domestic Religion in Ancient Athens

Question 1 of 23

1

The family in ancient Athens included:

Select one or more of the following:

Immediate relatives
Extended Relatives
Slaves
Cattle
Property
Family Gods

Explanation

Question 2 of 23

1

The head of the family was:

Select one or more of the following:

the oldest unmarried child
the oldest free male
in charge of all religious observance in the home
in charge of keeping the home clean and tidy
resposible for keeping the family together
the only one allowed to pray to the gods

Explanation

Question 3 of 23

1

Select from the dropdown lists to complete the text.

Hestia was the Goddess of the ( fire, water, property, ancestors ) and ( hearth, property, boundaries, earth ). She was worshipped regularly because of the importance of ( fire, water, earth, air ) to daily life. An offering was made to her at the beginning and end of every ( feast, day, supper, bath ). She was also honoured at the festival of ( Amphidromia, Dionysus, Hestiavation, Lights ) when a new baby was carried around the ( hearth, well, lake, bonfire ) so it would come under the protection of Hestia.

Explanation

Question 4 of 23

1

Zeus ❌ was the god of household property. He was worshipped in a ceremony in which samples of household necessities for example grain, ❌, water and a ❌ were all placed in a jar. The intention was to ensure prosperity and ❌ for the family.

Drag and drop to complete the text.

Ktesios

Herkeios

Patroos

olive oil

vinegar

the wifi password

coin

tissue

diamond

sufficient food

political gain

clean water

Explanation

Question 5 of 23

1

Fill the blank spaces to complete the text.

was the god of the boundaries of the property. There was usually an altar to him in the courtyard where offerings fruit, grain and were made - sometimes a sacrifice of a pig would be offered.

Explanation

Question 6 of 23

1

Apollo ❌ was the god of ancestors, and protected family and property; Apollo ❌ kept people safe as they attended their daily business.

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Patroos

of the streets

Herkeios

Ktesios

on the streets

Patros

Herkeius

Ktesion

Explanation

Question 7 of 23

1

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Outside one's house there would be a small statue of the god ( Hermes, Zeus Ktesios, Hecate, Hestia ). Athenians would touch it in the same way that modern people might touch a ( lucky charm, door-knocker, phallus, tree branch ). At dinner parties, it was common for guests to hang ( garlands of flowers, cloves of garlic, jewelery, locks of hair ) on the Herm as they left the house. The purpose of this was to ward off evil spirits which might bring danger to the family.

Explanation

Question 8 of 23

1

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It was ( not unknown, uncommon ) for Athenians to have a statue of Hecate at the door of their houses. She was a major goddess linked with the ( black arts, pure magic ), so by having her on your side you would be ( protected from, seeked out by ) other forces of evil.

Explanation

Question 9 of 23

1

Birth was a time of great anxiety to a family, and so the help of the gods were enlisted. This was done by:

Select one or more of the following:

taking omens before birth
praying to Eileithyia for a safe delivery
praying to Artemis when labour began for the safety of the woman
praying for the health of the baby
making an offering of thanks to the shrine of Artemis after the birth
praying to the goddess Kalligeneia on the last day of Thesmosphoria so that all the babies of the year were well-formed and healthy
bathing the baby and wrapping it in swaddling clothes
sacrificing the mother to hades after the birth
the mother keeping chastity while pregnant
praying to Dionysus for a fruitful birth

Explanation

Question 10 of 23

1

It was generally believed that the Fates visited the baby's home shortly after its birth to give it its destiny.

Select one of the following:

True
False

Explanation

Question 11 of 23

1

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On the fifth day after the birth came the ceremony of the ( Amphidromia, Annidonia, Amphibiania, Accendia ) - this involved washing of hands to signify the removal of ( the pollution, the blood, the evil, the holiness ) of the birth. The father then lifted the baby to signify that he ( accepted the child, will raise the baby like a mother, will put the baby up for adoption, accepted the loss of his sanity ) and carried it around the fire to put it under the protection of ( Hestia, Zeus, Dionysus, Apollo ). Sometimes the child was given a ( lucky necklace, rattle, bandage, shot of vodka ) to protect them through childhood. The ceremony ended with a ( sacrifice to all the household gods, family dance, game of hide and seek, feast ) at the altar in the courtyard of the house.

Explanation

Question 12 of 23

1

On the ❌ day after the birth, the baby was named in front of friends and family and ❌ was made to the household gods. If the baby was male, it had to be accepted into the Phratry - this took place at the first annual festival of the ❌ after the birth. After a sacrifice, the father had to swear to the clan that the baby's mother was ❌ - if no one ❌, the child was ❌

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tenth

fourth

eleventh

a sacrifice

an oath

Apatouria

Fairies

Dionysia

an Athenian

a virgin

good housewife

agreed

disagreed

accepted into the Phratry.

sacrificed to Hades

put up for adoption

Explanation

Question 13 of 23

1

When a boy was about 16, he was given full membership of the phratry at the Apatouria when he:

Select one or more of the following:

offered wine to Heracles
offered wine to his companions
took part in a ceremonial cutting of the hair
celebrated with a sacrifice and a feast
wore the phallus crown
ceremonially smashed his wine glass
prayed to Apollo for his welfare in manhood
sacrificed a pig to the household gods

Explanation

Question 14 of 23

1

When a boy was 18, he began two years of military service; before this he had to swear an oath:

Select one or more of the following:

not to dishonour his weapons
not to abandon a comrade in batlle
to help make Athens greater
to obey the city's laws
to honour the cults of the fathers
not to take a wife or mistress
to defeat the Hun
to love his gods
not to show mercy when regarding the enemy
not to take his own life

Explanation

Question 15 of 23

1

The night before the wedding:

Select one or more of the following:

both families made sacrifices to various gods including Zeus Teleios, Hera Teli and Artemis
The bride dedicated toys to Artemis to symbolise the end of her childhoos
the bride offered a lock of her hair to Artemis, Hera, or the Fates to ensure their protection against evil magic
The bride bathed in water from the spring of Callithoe in a special pot
The groom took a ritual bath.
The bride and groom consummated their love
The groom made a sacrifice to Aphrodite for favour in love and sex in marriage
The mothers of both families gifted each other a token
The bride prayed to Hera

Explanation

Question 16 of 23

1

The wedding ceremony took place in the ❌'s house which was decorated with ❌. The day began with a ❌ at the family altar. This was followed by a meal, during which a boy wearing a crown of ❌ handed out ❌ to the guests from a basket inscribed with the words "❌". This symbolised marriage as the mark of ❌ life. Sesame cakes were then served, a symbol of ❌.

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bride

groom

laurel and olive branches

glitter

garlic and onions

beads and flowers

sacrifice

interpretive dance

thorns and corn

phalluses

bread

shots

I have banished evil and found good

Hakuna Matata

civilised

the end of free

fertility

honesty

love

compromise

tradition

lust

Explanation

Question 17 of 23

1

Before the wedding:

Select one or more of the following:

The marriage was arranged between the bride's father and the groom (or his father)
The couple proclaimed their love for each other
The girl was expected to be a virgin
The boy must have two living parents and no contact with death
Parents and children had The Talk
The father of the groom paid the father of the bride a large sum of money

Explanation

Question 18 of 23

1

After the wedding, the bride was escorted to her new home in a chariot ❌. She would sit ❌ the bridegroom and one of his close friends or relations. This would be one of the ❌ she would ever make. During the procession a wedding song was sung to ❌ and the couple received ❌ from the crowd.

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drawn by mules or oxen

of fire

between

on

longest public appearances

biggest mistakes

most awkward situations

the music of pipes

the Psycho theme music

greetings and congratulations

sass and bitchy comments

Explanation

Question 19 of 23

1

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On arrival the bridegroom's house, ( the mother-in-law, Daddy Zeus ) was waiting to greet the bride with a ( lighted torch, bouquet of flowers ). The couple was showered with ( nuts and fruit, semen ) to symbolise fertility. The bride was then led around the hearth to symbolise her acceptance into the family. There would then be another ( feast, prayer ) before the bride and groom headed to bed. Outside the bedroom door a ( hymn was sung, chain of flowers was hung ). The couple would share a quince - a symbol of fertility and supposedly warded off evil spirits.

Explanation

Question 20 of 23

1

When someone died, it was traditional for:

Select one or more of the following:

The family to partake in three days of fasting
a cypress branch or a lock of hair to be hung on the door
a bowl of water to be placed outside the door (so visitors could purify themselves)
The eyes and mouth of the dead person to be closed by the nearest male relative
the body to be washed and clothed by the woman of the house
the body to be given a crown of gold or parsley
to celebrate the deceased's life with memories
the family to partake in a two day feast
young unmarried women to be buried in their wedding clothes
the next of kin to lead a sacrifice to Hades.

Explanation

Question 21 of 23

1

Fill the blank spaces to complete the text.

An was placed on the body to pay the fare to Charon. The body was placed on a , covered up with the facing the door. Around the bier were and jars of oil. The stood around the bier singing laments. The relatives , wore filthy clothing and beat their chests.

Explanation

Question 22 of 23

1

Burials mainly took place along the main roads outside the city. Burials usually involved:

Select one or more of the following:

A hearse being pulled by mules in silence without stopping
Wine being offered to the dead
The body being buried or cremated
In the case of cremation, the nearest male relative collecting the ashes in an urn
A meal at home
Speeches in praise of the deceased
Singing hymns in the honour of the dead
In the case of a burial, the coffin was lowered by specialist priests
a sacrifice of a black animal

Explanation

Question 23 of 23

1

Select from the dropdown lists to complete the text.

Visits to the tomb were made on the ( 3rd, 1st, 5th ), 9th and ( 30th, 15th, 100th ) days after the death. A visitor to the tomb would first ( pray, sing, cry ), then pour an offering of ( honey, pinot grigio, juice ), milk or olive oil, while others sang laments, and then ( smashed, donated, abandoned ) the offering jugs. Relatives ( paid regular visits to, rarely visited, sat on ) the grave, since the Greeks believed the dead needed ( food, love and attention, company ), and so they made sacrifices.

	Created by Siobhan Meldrum almost 9 years ago

Higher Classics Quiz on Domestic Religion in Ancient Athens, created by Siobhan Meldrum on 02/02/2016.

Domestic Religion in Ancient Athens

Domestic Religion in Ancient Athens

Question 1 of 23

The family in ancient Athens included:

Select one or more of the following:

Explanation

Question 2 of 23

The head of the family was:

Select one or more of the following:

Explanation

Question 3 of 23

Select from the dropdown lists to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 4 of 23

Zeus ❌ was the god of household property. He was worshipped in a ceremony in which samples of household necessities for example grain, ❌, water and a ❌ were all placed in a jar. The intention was to ensure prosperity and ❌ for the family.

Drag and drop to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 5 of 23

Fill the blank spaces to complete the text.

was the god of the boundaries of the property. There was usually an altar to him in the courtyard where offerings fruit, grain and were made - sometimes a sacrifice of a pig would be offered.

Explanation

Question 6 of 23

Apollo ❌ was the god of ancestors, and protected family and property; Apollo ❌ kept people safe as they attended their daily business.

Drag and drop to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 7 of 23

Select from the dropdown lists to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 8 of 23

Select from the dropdown lists to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 9 of 23

Birth was a time of great anxiety to a family, and so the help of the gods were enlisted. This was done by:

Select one or more of the following:

Explanation

Question 10 of 23

It was generally believed that the Fates visited the baby's home shortly after its birth to give it its destiny.

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 11 of 23

Select from the dropdown lists to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 12 of 23

Drag and drop to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 13 of 23

When a boy was about 16, he was given full membership of the phratry at the Apatouria when he:

Select one or more of the following:

Explanation

Question 14 of 23

When a boy was 18, he began two years of military service; before this he had to swear an oath:

Select one or more of the following:

Explanation

Question 15 of 23

The night before the wedding:

Select one or more of the following:

Explanation

Question 16 of 23

Drag and drop to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 17 of 23

Before the wedding:

Select one or more of the following:

Explanation

Question 18 of 23

After the wedding, the bride was escorted to her new home in a chariot ❌. She would sit ❌ the bridegroom and one of his close friends or relations. This would be one of the ❌ she would ever make. During the procession a wedding song was sung to ❌ and the couple received ❌ from the crowd.

Drag and drop to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 19 of 23

Select from the dropdown lists to complete the text.

Explanation

Question 20 of 23

When someone died, it was traditional for:

Select one or more of the following:

Explanation

Question 21 of 23

Fill the blank spaces to complete the text.

An was placed on the body to pay the fare to Charon. The body was placed on a , covered up with the facing the door. Around the bier were and jars of oil. The stood around the bier singing laments. The relatives , wore filthy clothing and beat their chests.

Explanation