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Ancient History and Religion with Peter Eyland

Ancient Greek Religion Glossary P -> Z

palaestra

 

wrestling school, gymnasium [<Greek palaiô to wrestle]

Neils p185

palladion

Παλλάδιον, τό Παλλάς , άδος , ἡ ,

Statue of Pallas
Pallas, epithet of Athena.

Buxton p24, 205; LSJ

Panathenaia

 

"rites of all Athenians" mid-summer games held every four years. Celebrated on 28 Hekatombaion i.e late July or early August or 1.5 months after Skira.
pyrrhichê and aprobatês are a form of weather magic where the spirits of bad weather are overcome by a display of intimidating violence.
There was a grand parade from the Leokoreion "mashaling of the host".
The Panathenaic procession started at the Pompeion and ended at the temple on the Acropolis where the peplos was presented.

Neils p56, 57, 96

Pandrosos

 

A daughter of Kekrops, worshipped on the Acropolis at Athens. She decided in favour of Athena over Poseidon. Athena entrusted the care of Erichthonios to the three daughters of Kekrops with instructions not to open the basket/chest where the baby was. Her sisters, Aglauros and Herse opened the chest and saw Erichthonios was half snake and threw themselves off the Akropolis.

Neils p81, p82

pankration

 

combination of bare-knuckle boxing, kicking and wrestling, which continued until one of them surrendered (or died).

Neils p97

pannychis

 

All night celebration at the Panathenaia may have included musical competitions and dancing

Neils p97

par excellence

 

French: pre-eminently

Guinagh

parabates

 

or apobates; a person in a race at festivals who leaped from his chariot in full armour and nimbly back again

Buxton p63

pars pro toto

 

Latin: metonymy; one part standing for all

Buxton p28

patriai

 

can be equivalent to phratry

Buxton p35

pentekosiomedimnoi

 

citizen order

Buxton p70

peplos

πέπλος

The Peplos is an earlier version of the Chiton. It has an Apotygma or deep overfold.
www.greyhawkes.com/blacksword/Spartan%20Combat%20Arts%202001/1-Pages/HowTo/Clothing/Chiton.htm

 

perikatharma

 

scapegoat

Buxton p276

perikatheirein

 

a circumambulation to purify around

Buxton p287

periodos

 

The crown games circuit - Olympia (Olive wreath) Delphi (Laurel wreath) Isthmia (Pine wreath) Nemea (Celery wreath) Neils p96

Neils p115

peripsema

 

scapegoat

Buxton p276

peristyle

περίστυλος , ον

surrounded with a colonnade, "aulê"
II. Subst. peristyle, colonnade round a temple or round the court of a house; also, area surrounded by a colonnade,

LSJ

pharmakos

 

scapegoat

Buxton p272

phiale

 

flat libation bowl

Buxton p206

phratrioi

 

phratery gods

Buxton p35

phratry

ϕράτρα , ἡ

prop. brotherhood, but among the Greeks always in polit. sense
I. in Hom., tribe, clan,
II. later, political subdivision of the "phylê"; sub-division of a tribe; of groups celebrating festivals, e.g. the Carnea at Sparta; or the Jewish Passover
2. used to translate Lat. curia
3. later, of any league or association, esp. in bad sense, conspiracy (in the form "fatria" )

LSJ

Phye

ϕυή , ἡ

Phye (who is beautiful and ~1.8m tall) is dressed as Athena in a chariot procession to bring Pisitratus into Athens (as reported by Herodotus).
also:
growth, stature, esp. fine growth, noble stature, in Hom., always (as in Hes.) of the human form,
2. after Hom., of animals, plants, or objects,
II. poet. for "physis", nature, genius
III. the flower or prime of age
IV. substance, "anaimôn esti phyê meleôn"; "nephroi tên phye adenôdees".
V. "meropôn phyê" the race of men,
VI. produce of a year, harvest.

Buxton p60, p63; LSJ

phylê

ϕυλή , ἡ

a race, tribe;
but acc. to Dicaearch.Hist.9 a union formed in an organized community (whether po/lij or e)/qnoj )
: hence, tribe, i.e.
I. a body of men united
1. by supposed ties of blood and descent, clan (but also of subdivisions of the tribe ( [skh=ptron] )
2. by local habitation, such as the ten local tribes at Athens formed by Cleisthenes,
3. subdivision of the priests in each Egyptian temple
II. military contingent furnished by a tribe, among the Athenians,
2. representatives of a tribe, on political bodies
III. of things, = "genos" , kind, species

LSJ

phylobasileis

 

tribal kings

Buxton p28;35

pinax (s)
pinakes (pl)

πίναξ, ακος , ὁ

painted votive plaque

board, plank: hence of things made of flat wood, metal, etc.,
1. drawing- or writing-tablet; of a votive tablet hung on the image of a god; "Pinakes" tables or catalogues of authors, name of a work by Callimachus; lists of philosophers
2. trencher, platter
3. board for painting on, picture
4. generally, plate with anything drawn or engraved on it
5. board or tablet on which astronomical tables were drawn
b. prov., "ek pinakos kai pulaias" , of a trivial fiction
6. public notice-board or register, public archive).
7. strop, to sharpen knives on, .
8. toy-theatre for marionettes

Buxton p194, 195, 206; LSJ

Pindar

 

Poet

Buxton p165

Pisitratus

 

Pisitratus on return from his first exile, is brought into Athens in a chariot driven by Phye (who is beautiful and nearly 6’ tall and dressed as Athena) - reported by Herodotus.

Buxton p60

Plynteria

 

Washing festival of Athena on 25 Thargelion. Part of the Cleansing festival of the wooden Athena image where the robe is removed and washed whle replaced with a veil.

Neils p48

poliouchos

 

city protecting

 

polis

πόλις, ἡ

City, ie the civic body. Each polis was a religious system
The citadel at Athens was in early times called simply "polis", while the rest of the city was called "asty".
2. one's city or country
3. "ho epitês poleôs" city governor = Lat. praetor urbanus.
II. country, as dependent on and called after its city.
III. community or body of citizens (opp. "asty" their dwellings, but in "dêmos te polis te" Od.11.14 , polis denotes the town)
2. state or community; esp. free state, republic,
3. rights of citizenship,
IV. "polin paizein", a game resembling backgammon

Buxton p13; LSJ

politeia

πολιτεία , ἡ

Constitution
condition and rights of a citizen, citizenship: pl., grants of citizenship, Arist.Ath.54.3.
2. the daily life of a citizen,
3. concrete, body of citizens
4. = Lat. civitas in geographical sense
II. government, administration: pl., acts of policy
2. tenure of public office
III. civil polity, constitution of a state
2. esp. republican government, free common-wealth,

Buxton p23; LSJ

politeuma

πολίτευμα , ατος , τό

business of government, act of administration: more freq. in pl., measures of government or institutions,
II. the concrete of politei/a , the government,
III. citizen rights, citizenship
IV. concrete, body of citizens
2. corporate body of citizens resident in a foreign city
b. generally, corporate body, association

LSJ

Pompeion

 

A building constructed at the end of the 5th centure BCE. It was within the city-wall of Themistokles and stood between the Sacred Gate and the Dipylon. It was the place of gathering for the Panathenaic procession ( pompe  procession)

Neils p96

popana

 

sacrficial cakes

Buxton p223

Praxithea

 

Praxithea was the first priestess of Athena Polias. She was the wife of Erechtheus who (to win the war against Eleusis as prophesied by the oracle at Delphi) gave up her daughter to be killed by Erechtheus. She gave 5 reasons.
1. she is proud to be an autochthonous citizen of Athens
2. she gave birth to protect the altars of the gods and her fatherland (no M/F distinction)
3. she would be selfish to refuse one life when many could be saved by that.
4. a son would have been sent into battle to die for Athens anyway
5. if children die bravely they will win lasting fame and glory.

Neils p85, p87

prohedria

 

Front row seats as prizes

Neils p115

promanteia

προμαντηΐα, ἡ

right of consulting an oracle (freq. of the Delphic oracle) first

Buxton p16

prothurou kosmon

πρόθυρον , τό

front-door, door-way, esp. of the entrance to the "aulê"; of the entrance to the "megaron".
2. porch, portico
3. space before a door, whether or not it is a porch or portico: before the outmost entrance; before the entrance of a "neôkorion".

Buxton p212; LSJ

protochorein

 

Dance in the first rank

Neils p98

Proxenos

 

Consul; intermediary for xenoi

Buxton p14

prytaneion

 

magistrates’ or Town Hall

Buxton p25; 285

prytaneis

 

presidents

Buxton p40

Psyche

 

soul. The free soul active when unconscious. The body soul animates the body

 

pyrrhichê

 

"red dance" at Panathenaia where naked dancers leapt and whirled with shield and spear

Neils p56

pyrrhichistai

 

The pyrrhic dance is fast and warlike, sometimes called kheironomia (gesticulation). Danced by boys in armour

Neils p98 100

repoussé relief

 

chased or embossed

Buxton p196; ACOD

sacra

 

ancestral sacra - "hiera ta patroa"

Buxton p53

scholion

σχολιον

marginal note (< Greek skolion=disputation) also written scholium.

Neils 59

seisachtheia

 

shaking-off-of-burdens

Buxton p72

sikue

 

medical cupping instrument

Buxton p203

sikyon

Σικυών

a town 18 km NW of Corinth, famous for Art

Neils p96

sine qua non

 

Latin: "without which not" ie an indispensible condition

Neils p118; Guinagh

sitesis

 

free meals as prizes

Neils p115

skaphephoria

 

carrying of trays

Buxton p49

skêptron

σκῆπτρον , τό

badge of command
staff or stick, used by the lame or aged, of a blind man feeling his way:--the Prose word is bakthri/a .
II. staff or baton, esp. as the badge of command, sceptre: in Hom. borne by kings and chiefs, and transmitted from father to son; by speakers, who on rising to speak received it from the herald. In oaths or protests it was held up, the gods being called to witness; used as a stick or cudgel to punish the refractory.
2. as a symbol of royalty, kingly power, etc.,
III. = Hebr. Shevet, of the tribes [phylai] of Israel, LXX 3 Ki.11.13,al. (but in 1 Ki.10.20 sq., "phylê" is a sub-division of "skêptron" ).
IV. = "lychnis stephanômatikê"

LSJ

skiadephoria

 

carrying of sun shades

Buxton p49

Skira

 

The threshing festival of Athena and Demeter at Athens. skira = white (objects) i.e. threshed grain.
Erechtheus kills Eumolpos (champion of Eleusus) and is killed by Poseidon’s trident (i.e. rushing water) or Zeus’ lightning (i.e. rain)

Neils p52 53

Skirophorion

 

a month name

Buxton p30; Neils p51

Solon

 

Solon legislated civic rewards for Panhellenic victors

Buxton p59 68 116

Solonian law

 

laws from the Solonian Constitution instituted by Solon in the early 6th century BCE

Buxton p49

sophia

 

wisdom, knowledge

Buxton p74

Sparta

Σπάρη

city-state on the River Eurotas in the South of the Peloponnese. Principal enemy of Athens during the Peloponnesian War (431 to 404 BCE)

Buxton p27

squill

 

Bulbous plant of genus Scilla i.e. stinging nettle

Buxton p281; ACOD

stadion

 

A foot race
100 orgyai (NBD)= 600 Greek feet or 1/8 Roman mile (A-S) or 184.9m (NBD) [D.Phillips 192m]

A-S; NBD

stemmata

 

Woolen fillets, (fillets: as in binding hair with an encircling ornamental band [<Latin filum to thread])

Neils p179; ACOD

stephanitic

στεϕανος

relating to crown games (Panhellenic) rather than chrematitic (local aristocratic money) games

Neils p117

sumpolity

συμπολὶτεία , ἡ

federal union of several states, with interchange of civic rights, confederacy,
2. sharing of political life.
"ho sympolitês", fellow-citizen

Buxton p90; LSJ

sunoikismos

συνοικισμος

union

Neils p95

synoris

 

race with 2 horses or mules pulled a cart

Neils p97

tagoi

 

commanders

Buxton p36

tamata

 

embossed gold or silver plates in Greek churches

Buxton p196

tamiai

 

sanctuary treasurer

Buxton p39

technia

 

Skill

Buxton p74

temenos

τέμενος , εος , τό

A piece of land cut off and assigned as an official domain, esp. to kings and chiefs,
II. a piece of land marked off from common uses and dedicated to a god, precinct
in it stood the temple or shrine,
the Pythian race-course is called a "temenos"
the sacred valley of the Nile is the "Neiloio pion temenos Kronida"
the lake formed by the Cephisus is the "temenos Kaphisidos"
the Acropolis is the "hieron temenos" (of Pallas), Ar.Lys.483 (lyr.):
III. temple.

LSJ

tenon

 

A plug to fix a statue to a pedestal

Buxton p194

tethrippon

 

4 horse chariot race

Neils p97

thallophoroi

 

handsome old men who carry branches in the Panathenaic procession

Neils p98

Thargelia

 

A festival for Apollo. The scapegoats were expelled on 6th Thargelion.

Buxton p291

Theogamia

 

The heiros gamos celebrated in Athens on 27 Gamelion

Buxton p31

theoriai

 

sacred embassies

Buxton p16

theoroi

 

ambassadors

Buxton p16

theos

 

The word for god is the pre-Mycenaean thes-os

 

Theseus

 

he was from the Peloponnese who came to represent the typical Athenian

Neils p9

Thesmophoria

θεσμοϕόρια , ων , τά

The festival of Demeter - most widespread Greek festival
Festival at Athens and elsewhere, in honour of Demeter "Thes mophoros"(q.v.), Hdt.2.171, Ar.Av.1519, Th. 80, 182, al.; "thesmophoria hestian tas gunaikas" to furnish the women's feast at the Th., Is.3.80; at Ephesus, Hdt.6.16.

Buxton p20,35; LSJ

Tholos

θόλος , ἡ

round building with conical roof, rotunda.
2. at Athens, the Rotunda, in which the Prytaneis, etc., dined; a similar building at Epidaurus; at Magnesia on Maeander.
II. "ho tholos", in public baths, vaulted vapour-bath.
2. bandage for the head, invented by Diocles.

Buxton p181; LSJ

Thorikos

θορικός , ή , όν

a city
also, of or, for the semen.

Buxton p31; LSJ

thyechos

 

variant of thoskoos sacrifice watcher (seer)

Burkert

torma offerings

 

offering cakes used in Tibetan scapegoat rituals

Buxton p290

trittoia

 

Three sacrificial victims, a bull a sow and a sheep. In Roman art called souvetaurelia

Neils p182

trittyes

 

subdivisions of the tribes

Buxton p28, 32

tumulus

 

Ancient sepulchral mound, barrow, mound raised on the place of the pyre [< Latin tumêre swell]

LSJ; ACOD

tupoi egmaktoi

 

embossed small gold or silver plates

Buxton p196

Tyche

 

fortune

 

votive

 

What is offerered or consecrated in fulfilment of a vow (<Latin votivus)

ACOD

xenia

 

guest-friendship

Neils p107 118

Xenophon of Ephesus

 

Greek novelist. His surviving work is the Ephesian "Tale of Anthia and Habrocomes"

Buxton p63

xenos

ξένος , ὁ

I. guest-friend, applied to persons and states bound by a treaty or tie of hospitality; later freq. coupled with "philos",
2. of parties giving or receiving hospitality; mostly of the guest, opp. the host; "ha xeina" the visitor; of guests at a club, opp. "syndeipnoi",
II. stranger, esp. wanderer, refugee (under the protection of "Zeus xenios" ),
III. generally, stranger, foreigner, opp. "endêmos"; opp. "epichôrios": coupled with "metoikos"; opp. a member of the family.
b. as a term of address to any stranger..
2. = "barbaros", at Sparta.
IV. hireling; esp. mercenary soldier.
B. as Adj. "xenos , ê , on", foreign.
II. c. gen. rei, strange to a thing, unacquainted with, ignorant of it.
III. strange, unusual.

Buxton p13; LSJ

xoanon

ξόανον , τό , ξέὠ

Image carved of wood, E.Ion1403, X.An.5.3.12 :
then, generally, image, statue, esp. of a god, Acus.28 J., E.IT 1359, Tr.525 (lyr.), 1074 (lyr.), BMus.Inscr.1012 (Chalcedon, i B. C./ i A. D.), Paus.8.17.2, al., Porph.Abst.2.56 ;
also of a representation on a scarab, PMag.Leid.V.9.22.
II. musical instrument, "xoan hêdumelê"= S.Fr.238 (anap.).

Neils p185; LSJ

zeugitai

 

citizen order - marching

Buxton p70


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