The Role of the Pythia at Delphi: Ancient and Modern Perspectives
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An Echo of Delphi: the Pythian Games Ancient and Modern Steven Armstrong, F.R.C., M.A
An Echo of Delphi: The Pythian Games Ancient and Modern Steven Armstrong, F.R.C., M.A. erhaps less well known than today’s to Northern India, and from Rus’ to Egypt, Olympics, the Pythian Games at was that of kaloi k’agathoi, the Beautiful and PDelphi, named after the slain Python the Good, certainly part of the tradition of Delphi and the Prophetesses, were a mani of Apollo. festation of the “the beautiful and the good,” a Essentially, since the Gods loved that hallmark of the Hellenistic spirituality which which was Good—and for the Athenians comes from the Mystery Schools. in particular, what was good was beautiful The Olympic Games, now held every —this maxim summed up Hellenic piety. It two years in alternating summer and winter was no great leap then to wish to present to versions, were the first and the best known the Gods every four years the best of what of the ancient Greek religious and cultural human beings could offer—in the arts, festivals known as the Pan-Hellenic Games. and in athletics. When these were coupled In all, there were four major celebrations, together with their religious rites, the three which followed one another in succession. lifted up the human body, soul, and spirit, That is the reason for the four year cycle of and through the microcosm of humanity, the Olympics, observed since the restoration the whole cosmos, to be Divinized. The of the Olympics in 1859. teachings of the Mystery Schools were played out on the fields and in the theaters of the games. -
Summaries of the Trojan Cycle Search the GML Advanced
Document belonging to the Greek Mythology Link, a web site created by Carlos Parada, author of Genealogical Guide to Greek Mythology Characters • Places • Topics • Images • Bibliography • PDF Editions About • Copyright © 1997 Carlos Parada and Maicar Förlag. Summaries of the Trojan Cycle Search the GML advanced Sections in this Page Introduction Trojan Cycle: Cypria Iliad (Synopsis) Aethiopis Little Iliad Sack of Ilium Returns Odyssey (Synopsis) Telegony Other works on the Trojan War Bibliography Introduction and Definition of terms The so called Epic Cycle is sometimes referred to with the term Epic Fragments since just fragments is all that remain of them. Some of these fragments contain details about the Theban wars (the war of the SEVEN and that of the EPIGONI), others about the prowesses of Heracles 1 and Theseus, others about the origin of the gods, and still others about events related to the Trojan War. The latter, called Trojan Cycle, narrate events that occurred before the war (Cypria), during the war (Aethiopis, Little Iliad, and Sack of Ilium ), and after the war (Returns, and Telegony). The term epic (derived from Greek épos = word, song) is generally applied to narrative poems which describe the deeds of heroes in war, an astounding process of mutual destruction that periodically and frequently affects mankind. This kind of poetry was composed in early times, being chanted by minstrels during the 'Dark Ages'—before 800 BC—and later written down during the Archaic period— from c. 700 BC). Greek Epic is the earliest surviving form of Greek (and therefore "Western") literature, and precedes lyric poetry, elegy, drama, history, philosophy, mythography, etc. -
Cleansing the Cosmos
CLEANSING THE COSMOS: A BIBLICAL MODEL FOR CONCEPTUALIZING AND COUNTERACTING EVIL By E. Janet Warren A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Theology and Religion College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham November 14, 2011 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSRACT Understanding evil spiritual forces is essential for Christian theology. Evil has typically been studied either from a philosophical perspective or through the lens of ‘spiritual warfare’. The first seldom considers demonology; the second is flawed by poor methodology. Furthermore, warfare language is problematic, being very dualistic, associated with violence and poorly applicable to ministry. This study addresses these issues by developing a new model for conceptualizing and counteracting evil using ‘non-warfare’ biblical metaphors, and relying on contemporary metaphor theory, which claims that metaphors are cognitive and can depict reality. In developing this model, I examine four biblical themes with respect to alternate metaphors for evil: Creation, Cult, Christ and Church. Insights from anthropology (binary oppositions), theology (dualism, nothingness) and science (chaos-complexity theory) contribute to the construction of the model, and the concepts of profane space, sacred space and sacred actions (divine initiative and human responsibility) guide the investigation. -
Oracle of Apollo Near Oroviai (Northern Evia Island, Greece) Viewed in Its Geοlogical and Geomorphological Context, Βull
Mariolakos, E., Nicolopoulos, E., Bantekas, I., Palyvos, N., 2010, Oracles on faults: a probable location of a “lost” oracle of Apollo near Oroviai (Northern Evia Island, Greece) viewed in its geοlogical and geomorphological context, Βull. Geol. Soc. of Greece, XLIII (2), 829-844. Δελτίο της Ελληνικής Γεωλογικής Εταιρίας, 2010 Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece, 2010 Πρακτικά 12ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου, Πάτρα, Μάιος 2010 Proceedings of the 12th International Congress, Patras, May, 2010 ORACLES ON FAULTS: A PROBABLE LOCATION OF A “LOST” ORACLE OF APOLLO NEAR OROVIAI (NORTHERN EUBOEA ISLAND, GREECE) VIEWED IN ITS GEOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CONTEXT I. Mariolakos1, V. Nikolopoulos2, I. Bantekas1, N. Palyvos3 1 University of Athens, Faculty of Geology, Dynamic, Tectonic and Applied Geology Department, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 157 84, Athens, Greece, [email protected], [email protected] 2 Ministry of Culture, 2nd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, L. Syggrou 98-100, 117 41 Athens, Greece, [email protected] 3 Harokopio university, Department of Geography, El. Venizelou 70 (part-time) / Freelance Geologist, Navarinou 21, 152 32 Halandri, Athens, Greece, [email protected] Abstract At a newly discovered archaeological site at Aghios Taxiarches in Northern Euboea, two vo- tive inscribed stelae were found in 2001 together with hellenistic pottery next to ancient wall ruins on a steep and high rocky slope. Based on the inscriptions and the geographical location of the site we propose the hypothesis that this is quite probably the spot where the oracle of “Apollo Seli- nountios” (mentioned by Strabo) would stand in antiquity. The wall ruins of the site are found on a very steep bedrock escarpment of an active fault zone, next to a hanging valley, a high waterfall and a cave. -
"So Help Me God" and Kissing the Book in the Presidential Oath of Office
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal Volume 20 (2011-2012) Issue 3 Article 5 March 2012 Kiss the Book...You're President...: "So Help Me God" and Kissing the Book in the Presidential Oath of Office Frederick B. Jonassen Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmborj Part of the Constitutional Law Commons Repository Citation Frederick B. Jonassen, Kiss the Book...You're President...: "So Help Me God" and Kissing the Book in the Presidential Oath of Office, 20 Wm. & Mary Bill Rts. J. 853 (2012), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmborj/vol20/iss3/5 Copyright c 2012 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmborj KISS THE BOOK . YOU’RE PRESIDENT . : “SO HELP ME GOD” AND KISSING THE BOOK IN THE PRESIDENTIAL OATH OF OFFICE Frederick B. Jonassen* INTRODUCTION .................................................854 I. THE LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE OF “SO HELP ME GOD” AS HISTORICAL PRECEDENT IN THE PRESIDENT’S INAUGURATION ...................859 A. Washington’s “So Help Me God” in the Supreme Court ..........861 B. Newdow v. Roberts.......................................864 II. THE CASE AGAINST “SO HELP ME GOD”..........................870 A. The Washington Irving Recollection ..........................872 B. The Freeman Source ......................................874 C. Two Conjectural Arguments for “So Help Me God” Discredited ...879 D. One More Conjecture .....................................881 III. THE EVIDENCE THAT WASHINGTON KISSED THE BIBLE ..............885 A. First-Hand Accounts of the Biblical Kiss ......................885 B. The Subsequent Tradition ..................................890 1. Andrew Johnson......................................892 2. Ulysses S. Grant......................................892 3. Rutherford B. Hayes...................................893 4. James A. -
Parables and Riddles in Ancient and Modern Teaching
Parables and Riddles in Ancient and Modern Teaching Parables and Riddles in Ancient and Modern Teaching: Achilles, a Hare and Two Tortoises By Kalman J. Kaplan and Matthew B. Schwartz Parables and Riddles in Ancient and Modern Teaching: Achilles, a Hare and Two Tortoises By Kalman J. Kaplan and Matthew B. Schwartz This book first published 2019 Cambridge Scholars Publishing Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2PA, UK British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Copyright © 2019 by Kalman J. Kaplan and Matthew B. Schwartz All rights for this book reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. ISBN (10): 1-5275-1607-5 ISBN (13): 978-1-5275-1607-6 The authors dedicate this book to friends and family who have kept alive the tradition of parables to make learning sweet and filling. TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ....................................................................................................... ix Foreword ................................................................................................... xi By Michael Shapiro, Ph.D. Chapter One ................................................................................................ 1 Achilles, a Hare and Two Tortoises: Chapter Two ............................................................................................ -
Archaic Eretria
ARCHAIC ERETRIA This book presents for the first time a history of Eretria during the Archaic Era, the city’s most notable period of political importance. Keith Walker examines all the major elements of the city’s success. One of the key factors explored is Eretria’s role as a pioneer coloniser in both the Levant and the West— its early Aegean ‘island empire’ anticipates that of Athens by more than a century, and Eretrian shipping and trade was similarly widespread. We are shown how the strength of the navy conferred thalassocratic status on the city between 506 and 490 BC, and that the importance of its rowers (Eretria means ‘the rowing city’) probably explains the appearance of its democratic constitution. Walker dates this to the last decade of the sixth century; given the presence of Athenian political exiles there, this may well have provided a model for the later reforms of Kleisthenes in Athens. Eretria’s major, indeed dominant, role in the events of central Greece in the last half of the sixth century, and in the events of the Ionian Revolt to 490, is clearly demonstrated, and the tyranny of Diagoras (c. 538–509), perhaps the golden age of the city, is fully examined. Full documentation of literary, epigraphic and archaeological sources (most of which have previously been inaccessible to an English-speaking audience) is provided, creating a fascinating history and a valuable resource for the Greek historian. Keith Walker is a Research Associate in the Department of Classics, History and Religion at the University of New England, Armidale, Australia. -
The Lighting of God's Face During Solar Stands in The
Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 18, No 3, (2018), pp. 225-246 Copyright © 2018 MAA Open Access. Printed in Greece. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.2543786 THE LIGHTING OF GOD’S FACE DURING SOLAR STANDS IN THE APOLLO TEMPLE DELPHI Vlachos, A.1, Liritzis, I.1 and Georgopoulos, A.2 1University of the Aegean, Dept of Mediterranean Studies, Lab of Archaeometry, 1 Demokratias Str, Rhodes 85132, Greece 2National Technical University of Athens, School of Rural & Surveying Engineering, Dept of Topography, Iroon Polytechniou 915773 Zografos, Athens, Greece Received: 01/07/2018 Accepted: 25/11/2018 Corresponding author: I. Liritzis ([email protected]) ABSTRACT The direction of solar light and how it relates with the Apollo Temple in Delphi is investigated. Following up earlier investigation of defining the time to delivering an oracle and the historical reported position of a golden Apollo statue in the rear of the main structure (opisthodomos, adyton or Temple‘s sanctum) the sun lighting the statue‘s face during selected solar stands is virtually constructed. Based on both ancient and con- temporary sources, an accurately-oriented 3D model of the Temple was created, which incorporated win- dows in the sanctum area. A light and shadow study followed to establish the movement of shadows and presence of sunlight around and inside the Temple, during the important days for the ancient cult. It is shown that the shining of God‘s golden statue would have been possible, through windows, giving a dis- tinct impression of Apollo‘s presence in Delphi especially during his absence in the three winter months to the hyperborean lands between winter solstice and spring equinox. -
Caitlin Mckevitt EFRT 449 Greek Mythology Lesson Plan Day 1
Caitlin McKevitt EFRT 449 Greek Mythology Lesson Plan Day 1 Discuss with the students Aphrodite, Apollo and Ares. Aphrodite o Family: As one of the twelve main gods, Aphrodite’s relatives and offspring appear in many well-known myths. Below are the beginnings of a chart of Aphrodite's family, including her children by various mortals and gods. Students can then use this chart to learn about Aphrodite and her family and to create a family tree for the goddess. Family Member Relation Uranus Father Zeus Father Dione Mother Erinyes Sisters Giants Brother/Sister Aeneas by Anchises Son Lyrus by Anchises Son Eros Son Priapus Son Harmonia by Ares Daughter o The Many Faces of Aphrodite: As the goddess of Love, Aphrodite has a reputation in ancient Greek texts as both a positive and a negative force. The anthropomorphic version of Aphrodite possesses all manner of allurements that can be both good and bad. Aphrodite could represent purity and what the Greeks considered the common act of sexual intercourse. Students should look at following primary text entries for Aphrodite and investigate the many aspects of Aphrodite’s “personality.” o Associated Items & Beings: A god or goddess alone is inadequately defined since the people, beings, animals and things associate with a god or goddess say a lot about them. Through visual aids and texts, students can learn about the whole god or goddess by the items, people, beings, animals, and things that accompany them or that are used in their exploits. o Epithets: The names of gods and goddesses are often accompanied by a finite number of traditional epithets that describe the personality or associations of the divinity. -
The Phocian Betrayal at Thermopylae
historia 68, 2019/4, 413–435 DOI 10.25162/historia-2019-0022 Jeffrey Rop The Phocian Betrayal at Thermopylae Abstract: This article makes three arguments regarding the Battle of Thermopylae. First, that the discovery of the Anopaea path was not dependent upon Ephialtes, but that the Persians were aware of it at their arrival and planned their attacks at Thermopylae, Artemisium, and against the Phocians accordingly. Second, that Herodotus’ claims that the failure of the Pho- cians was due to surprise, confusion, and incompetence are not convincing. And third, that the best explanation for the Phocian behavior is that they were from Delphi and betrayed their allies as part of a bid to restore local control over the sanctuary. Keywords: Thermopylae – Artemisium – Delphi – Phocis – Medism – Anopaea The courageous sacrifice of Leonidas and the Spartans is perhaps the central theme of Herodotus’ narrative and of many popular retellings of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE. Even as modern historians are appropriately more critical of this heroizing impulse, they have tended to focus their attention on issues that might explain why Leo- nidas and his men fought to the death. These include discussion of the broader strategic and tactical importance of Thermopylae, the inter-relationship and chronology of the Greek defense of the pass and the naval campaign at Artemisium, the actual number of Greeks who served under Leonidas and whether it was sufficient to hold the position, and so on. While this article inevitably touches upon some of these same topics, its main purpose is to reconsider the decisive yet often overlooked moment of the battle: the failure of the 1,000 Phocians on the Anopaea path. -
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES in the SANCTUARY of HERA at SAMOS. a PROPOSAL for a NEW INTERPRETATION of TEMPLAR EDIFICES Rita Sassu
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN THE SANCTUARY OF HERA AT SAMOS. A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW INTERPRETATION OF TEMPLAR EDIFICES Rita Sassu ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome, Italy 1. An overview of the archaeological evidence The Samian extra-urban sanctuary of Hera is located 6 km far from the city.1 Traces of religious practice inside the area date back to XIII century B.C., while the goddess cult was probably introduced in XI- X century, replacing an earlier cult connected to a fertility deity. The complex architectural organization of the sacred area shows an extensive use of templar buildings, whose function is not always comprehensible, so that one of the main problems concerning the study of the Heraion regards the buildings interpretation. Hence, the aim of the present paper is trying to partially solve this issue through the proposal of some edifices’ identifications, by taking into account the archaeological, epigraphic and philological documentation and underlining the importance of economic activities carried out by the sanctuary. In IX century, the temenos consisted of a sacred area focused on a simple rectangular altar. The bomos was the kingpin of sacrificial practice; therefore, archaeological findings referring to this period – mainly ritual utensils such as bowls and cups, animal and feminine figurines2 – were prevalently discovered around the bomos.3 The altar underwent several reconstructions, finally acquiring a monumental form in the VI century B.C. (archaeological investigations leaded to the identification of seven previous architectural phases). The 1 For a history of Samos: Shipley 1987. 2 Concering findings in the Samian Heraion, related both to this period and the subsequent ones: Brize 1985; Brize 1989–90; Brize 1992; Gehrig 1964; Kyrieleis 1988; Jantzen 1972; Jarosch 1994; Schmidt 1968; Schattner 1990; Vierneisel 1961; Webb 1978. -
DIVINATION SYSTEMS Written by Nicole Yalsovac Additional Sections Contributed by Sean Michael Smith and Christine Breese, D.D
DIVINATION SYSTEMS Written by Nicole Yalsovac Additional sections contributed by Sean Michael Smith and Christine Breese, D.D. Ph.D. Introduction Nichole Yalsovac Prophetic revelation, or Divination, dates back to the earliest known times of human existence. The oldest of all Chinese texts, the I Ching, is a divination system older than recorded history. James Legge says in his translation of I Ching: Book Of Changes (1996), “The desire to seek answers and to predict the future is as old as civilization itself.” Mankind has always had a desire to know what the future holds. Evidence shows that methods of divination, also known as fortune telling, were used by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Babylonians and the Sumerians (who resided in what is now Iraq) as early as six‐thousand years ago. Divination was originally a device of royalty and has often been an essential part of religion and medicine. Significant leaders and royalty often employed priests, doctors, soothsayers and astrologers as advisers and consultants on what the future held. Every civilization has held a belief in at least some type of divination. The point of divination in the ancient world was to ascertain the will of the gods. In fact, divination is so called because it is assumed to be a gift of the divine, a gift from the gods. This gift of obtaining knowledge of the unknown uses a wide range of tools and an enormous variety of techniques, as we will see in this course. No matter which method is used, the most imperative aspect is the interpretation and presentation of what is seen.