1. Journal of Ancient History 1 (292)
  2. Problems of Organization of Religious Life in Attic Demes in the 5th–4th Centuries BC

Problems of Organization of Religious Life in Attic Demes in the 5th–4th Centuries BC

Lenskaya Valeria S.

The article considers some problems of cult in the Attic demes in the 5th–4th centuries BC, primarily the problem of fi nancing cults, as well as the activity of the offi cials connected with organization of deme cults. Demes organized their religious cults on their own. After Cleisthenes’ reforms control over temples gradually passes from genos-appointed priests to deme administration and the magistrates appointed specially for managing problems connected with cult. Demes get hold of both lands belonging to sanctuaries and the temples’ fi nances (“gods’ money”). Supreme control over organization of cults in the demes was exercised by the demarchoi. The main sources of financing the cults were: (1) leasing the sacred land, partly belonging to a temple, partly being just a deme’s temenoi not connected with certain sanctuaries; (2) loans at interest from the “gods’ money”; (3) private contributions. Priesthood, which before the 440s had consisted of the gennetai, began to change: some of positions (connected mainly with old cults) were still fi lled by the gennetai, others were taken over by the demotai. Priests could take part in fi nancial and administrative activities, but normally these functions were fulfi lled by local magistrates, priests’ tasks being limited to performing rites and taking care of the sanctuaries.

Keywords: ancient Greece, Attica, demes, religion, cult, priesthood
References:
  1. Andreev V.N. 1967: Atticheskoe obschestvennoe zemlevladenie V–III vv. do n.e. // VDI. 2, 48–76.
  2. Lenskaya V.S. 2001: Arhont-basilevs v Afinah // VDI. 4, 126–141.
  3. Lenskaya V.S. 2011: Mladshiy kultovyiy personal v drevney Gretsii // PIFK. 4, 322–336.
  4. Lenskaya V.S. 2012: Ieropei v drevney Gretsii // PIFK. 4, 179–191.
  5. Lenskaya V.S 2013a: Zhrets i zhertvoprinoshenie v drevney Gretsii // PIFK. 2, 315–331.
  6. Lenskaya V.S. 2013b: Afinskiy rod Salaminiev i ih kultyi // Studia historica. XIII, 27–40.
  7. Paltseva L.A. 2003: Grecheskie mnemonyi // Mnemon. 2, 31–52.
  8. Frolov E.D., Nikityuk E.V., Petrov A.V., Sharnina A.B. 2002: Alternativnyie sotsialnyie soobschestva v antichnom mire. SPb.
  9. Blok J. 2010: Deme Accounts and the Meaning of hosios Money in Fifth-Century Athens // Mnemosyne. 63, 61–93.
  10. Blok J.H., Lambert S.D. 2009: The Appointment of Priests in Attic Gene // ZPE. 169, 95–121.
  11. Feaver D. 1957: Historical Development in the Priesthoods at Athens // Yale Classical Studies. 15, 123–158.
  12. Ferguson W. 1932: The Treasurers of Athena. Cambr. (Mass.).
  13. Ferguson W.S. 1944: The Attic Orgeones and the Cult of Heroes // Harvard Theological Review. Cambridge. 37. 2, 61–174.
  14. Garland R. 1984: Religious Authority in Archaic and Classical Athens // Annual of the British School at Athens. 79, 75–123.
  15. Georgoudi S. 2005: Magistrats, fonctionnaires, agents au service des dieux // Thesaurus cultus et rituum antiquorum. V. Los Angeles, 31–60.
  16. Haussoullier B. 1884: La vie municipale en Attique: essai sur l’organisation des d.mes au quatrième siècle. P.
  17. Henrichs A. 2008: What is a Greek Priest? // Practitioners of the Divine. Greek Priests and Religious Officials from Homer to Heliodorus. Harvard, 1–14.
  18. Hepding H. 1913: Hieromnemones // RE. 8. 1490–1496.
  19. Humphreys S.C. 2004: The Strangeness of Gods. Historical Perspectives on the Interpretation of Athenian Religion. Oxf.
  20. Jameson M.H. 1982: The Leasing of Land in Rhamnous // Hesperia. Suppl. 19. Princeton.
  21. Jones N.F 1999: The Associations of Classical Athens. The Response to Democracy. N.Y.–Oxf.
  22. Lambert S.D. 1993: The Phratries of Attica. Ann Arbor.
  23. Lambert S.D. 2010: A Polis and its Priests: Athenian Priesthoods before and after Pericles’ Citizenship Law // Historia. 59, 143–175.
  24. Lambert S.D. forthcoming: Aristocracy and the Attic Genos: A Mythological Perspective.
  25. Linders T. 1975: The Treasurers of the Other Gods in Athens and their Functions. Meisenheim am Glan.
  26. Martha J. 1882: Les sacerdoces Ath.niens. P.
  27. Matthaiou A.P. 2009: Attic Public Inscriptions of the 5th c. BC in Ionic Script // Greek History and Epigraphy: Essays in Honour of P.J. Rhodes. Swansea, 201–212.
  28. Meiggs R., Lewis D. 1969: A Selection of Greek Historical Inscriptions to the End of the Fifth Century BC. Oxf.
  29. Mikalson J.D. 1977: Religion in the Attic Demes // AJPh. 98, 424–435.
  30. Oliver J. 1935: Greek Inscriptions // Hesperia. 1935. 4. 5–70.
  31. Papazargadas N. 2011: Sacred and Public Lands in ancient Athens. Oxf.
  32. Parker R. 1997: Athenian Religion: A History. Oxf.
  33. Parker R. 2005: Polytheism and Society at Athens. Oxf.
  34. Pirenne-Delforge V. 2005: La cité, les dèmotelè hiera et les prêtres // Ἰδίᾳ καὶ δημοσίᾳLes cadres “privés” et “publics” de la religion grecque antique. Li.ge, 55–68.
  35. Pouilloux J. 1954: La forteresse de Rhamnonte. P.
  36. Schlaifer P. 1943: Demon of Paeania, Priest of Asklepius // CPh. 38, 39–43.
  37. Thompson W.E. 1967: Notes on Athenian Finance // Classica et mediaevalia. XXVIII, 216–239.
  38. Thompson W.E. 1971: The Neokoroi of Poseidon Hippios // Hesperia. 40, 232–234.
  39. Töpffer J. 1889: Attische Genealogie. B.
  40. Traill J.S. 1975: The political Organization of Attica. A Study of the Demes, Trittyes and Phylai, and their Representation in the Athenian Council. Princeton.
  41. Wade-Gery H.T. 1931: The Financial Decrees of Kallias // JHS. 51. 57–85.
  42. Wade-Gery H.T., Meritt B.D. 1947: The Decrees of Kallias // Hesperia. 16. 279–286.
  43. Whitehead D. 1986: The Demes of Attica 508/7–250 B.C. A Political and Social Study. Princeton.