Welcome to Athenian Religion

In this chapter, we are exploring Religion and its significance in the culture of Athens between c. 460 and c. 399 BC. For the people of Athens, religion wasn't just something they did on Sundays—it was woven into the very fabric of their daily lives, their politics, and even their wars. By the end of these notes, you will understand how the Athenians viewed the gods, how they celebrated them through festivals like the Panathenaea, and why the relationship between Athena and Poseidon was so important to the city's identity.

1. Understanding the Relationship: Men and the Divine

To understand the Athenians, we have to look at how they viewed the gods. Unlike some modern religions, Greek religion wasn't based on a "holy book" or a set of moral commandments. Instead, it was based on reciprocity—the idea of "I give so that you might give."

Key Concepts:

  • Eusebeia (Piety): This meant showing proper respect to the gods through traditional actions, such as sacrifices, libations (pouring out wine), and prayers.
  • The Contract: Athenians believed that if they looked after the gods by building beautiful temples and performing sacrifices, the gods would look after Athens.
  • Public vs. Private: While individuals prayed to gods for personal reasons, religion was primarily a community activity. If one person offended the gods, the whole city might be punished (for example, by a plague or a lost war).

Quick Review: Religion was about "doing" rather than just "believing." If you performed the rituals correctly, you were doing your duty to the state.

2. The Power Couple: Athena and Poseidon

While the Athenians worshipped many gods, two stood out as the most significant for their city: Athena and Poseidon.

Athena: The Patron Goddess

Athena was the heart of the city. She was worshipped in different "versions" or roles:

  • Athena Polias: The protector of the polis (city-state).
  • Athena Parthenos: The virgin goddess, representing the city's power and purity.
  • Athena Nike: The goddess of victory.

The Athenians believed they were Athena's chosen people. This gave them a huge sense of civic pride and justified their leadership of the Delian League.

Poseidon: God of the Sea

Since Athens was a naval superpower, Poseidon was vital. He represented the sea that provided Athens with its wealth and empire. The Temple of Poseidon at Sounion (one of your prescribed archaeological sites) served as a landmark for sailors and a reminder of his power over the waves.

The Contest for Athens

A famous myth tells of a contest between Athena and Poseidon to become the city's patron. Poseidon offered a salt-water spring (representing naval power), but Athena offered the olive tree (representing peace and prosperity). Athena won, but the Athenians continued to honor Poseidon to keep the sea on their side. This balance shows how the Athenians valued both their land and their navy.

3. Celebrating the Gods: The Panathenaea

Festivals were the "high points" of the Athenian calendar. The most important was the Panathenaea, held every year, with a "Great Panathenaea" held every four years.

What happened during the Panathenaea?

  1. The Procession: A massive parade of citizens, including magistrates, priests, and even metics (resident aliens), marched through the city to the Acropolis.
  2. The Peplos: A specially woven robe (the peplos) was presented to the ancient wooden statue of Athena. This was a gift from the women of Athens.
  3. Sacrifice: The hecatomb—a sacrifice of 100 oxen. This was a religious act, but also a massive BBQ for the citizens, as the meat was distributed to the people.
  4. The Games: Athletic and musical competitions. Winners of the athletic events received Panathenaic Amphorae—large jars filled with high-quality olive oil.

Did you know? The Panathenaea was a way for Athens to show off its wealth and power to the rest of Greece. It was as much a political statement as it was a religious one.

4. Religion, Politics, and Drama

In Athens, religion and politics were inseparable. You cannot study one without the other.

  • The Ecclesia (Assembly): Meetings of the Assembly began with a religious sacrifice and a prayer to ensure the gods favored their decisions.
  • Dramatic Festivals: The City Dionysia and the Lenaea were religious festivals in honor of the god Dionysus. While we think of plays like those by Aristophanes or Euripides as "entertainment," for an Athenian, watching them was a religious duty.
  • The Parthenon: Built using funds from the Delian League, this temple was a "thank you" to Athena for the victory over the Persians and a treasury for the city's wealth.

5. Challenges to Traditional Religion

During the late 5th century BC, new ideas began to challenge traditional religious views. This is explored more in the chapter on "New Thinking," but it is important to note here:

  • The Sophists: Some teachers began to question whether the gods existed or if they were just human inventions to keep people in line.
  • Socrates: He was eventually put on trial (c. 399 BC) for impiety (not believing in the city's gods) and introducing new deities. This shows how seriously the Athenians took religious threats—they believed that if the gods were offended, the whole city would suffer.

6. Using Your Sources

To succeed in the exam, you must refer to the prescribed sources. Here is how some of them connect to religion:

  • Thucydides: In his account of the History of the Peloponnesian War, he records Pericles' Funeral Oration, which highlights the importance of festivals as a "refreshment for the spirit." However, Thucydides also notes how the Plague caused people to abandon religious traditions because they felt the gods weren't helping them.
  • Aristophanes: In plays like Clouds and Thesmophoriazusae, he often makes fun of the gods or shows characters trying to trick them. This suggests that Athenians could be deeply religious while still having a sense of humor about their deities.
  • The Old Oligarch (Pseudo-Xenophon): Complains that the democracy uses religious festivals to give the poor "meat and public sacrifices" at the expense of the rich.
  • Archaeology: The buildings on the Acropolis (Parthenon, Erechtheion) are physical proof of the massive financial and emotional investment Athens put into religion.

Key Takeaways for Revision

  • Religion was civic: It was about the success and safety of the city-state (the polis).
  • Athena and Poseidon: Represented the twin pillars of Athenian identity: the land/olive and the sea/navy.
  • Festivals like the Panathenaea: Combined religious worship, athletic competition, and political propaganda.
  • Impiety was a crime: Because religion was a "contract," offending the gods was seen as a danger to everyone (as seen in the trial of Socrates).

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume that because Aristophanes mocked the gods in his comedies, the Athenians didn't take religion seriously. They were perfectly capable of being pious and enjoying a joke at the same time!