Festivals: Practice Questions

In the context of the City Dionysia, what was the primary purpose of the parodos in the theatre?

During the Roman festival of Saturnalia, which specific inversion of the social order was a defining characteristic of the celebrations?

Regarding the Great Panathenaia, what was the primary reward for winners of the athletic competitions, such as the stadium race?

In the City Dionysia, the dithyramb was a choral hymn sung in honor of Dionysus. How many men or boys made up a single dithyrambic chorus representing one of the ten tribes?

Regarding the Great Panathenaia, what was the primary purpose of the peplos presented during the festival?

During the City Dionysia, what was the primary purpose of the komos, and which group of individuals typically took part in this event?

Explain the specific role of the King of the Saturnalia (Saturnalicius princeps) during the Roman festival of Saturnalia and how this role related to the theme of social reversal.

During the City Dionysia, the eisagoge reenacted the arrival of Dionysus in Athens. How did the origins of this ritual reflect the initial Athenian response to the god's cult?

The Great Panathenaia was a grand celebration of Athenian identity and religious devotion.

(a) Identify the specific officials known as the athlothetai and state how many were appointed for the festival.
(b) Describe the primary prize awarded to the victors of the musical and athletic contests.
(c) Explain the significance of the peplos in the festival's final day rituals.

During the Roman festival of Saturnalia, the social fabric of Rome was famously turned upside down.

(a) Identify the god honored during this festival and explain the mythological era this celebration was intended to recreate.
(b) Explain how the programme of the festival affected the relationship between masters and slaves.
(c) Name two specific participants' gifts typically exchanged during the Sigillaria and describe what they represented.