Religions 7: Gender and Religions 7: Gender and TransformationsTransformations

GenderGender

Study of social and cultural position of man Study of social and cultural position of man and and womanwoman

put on the map by Sarah Pomeroyput on the map by Sarah Pomeroy Initiation rituals:Initiation rituals:- ArrephoroiArrephoroi- ‘‘Bears’ at BrauronBears’ at BrauronFeatures: physical endurance, beauty (Helen),

dancing and women’s tasksIn course of archaic period: only aristocratic

girls (not in Athens); marriage

Patriarchal societyPatriarchal society

Women associated with dirt and Women associated with dirt and pollutionpollution

No access to ‘macho’ gods, e.g. No access to ‘macho’ gods, e.g. PoseidonPoseidon

Negative portrayal in art and myth (see Negative portrayal in art and myth (see below)below)

Only temporary freedom: women’s Only temporary freedom: women’s festivals (see below)festivals (see below)

Role in mystery cultsRole in mystery cults

Representations of womenRepresentations of women On vases: mostly negative; otherwise conforming to On vases: mostly negative; otherwise conforming to

female rolesfemale roles Myth:Myth:- Young girls to be tamed/domesticated (Io)Young girls to be tamed/domesticated (Io)- Betrayal of family (Helen, Medea, Ariadne) > does not end Betrayal of family (Helen, Medea, Ariadne) > does not end

wellwell- Married women: betrayal of husbands (women of Lemnos)Married women: betrayal of husbands (women of Lemnos)

- Older women frightning (Medusa, Moirai, Erinyes)- Older women frightning (Medusa, Moirai, Erinyes)- Women outside Greek world: ‘barbarian’ (Amazons)Women outside Greek world: ‘barbarian’ (Amazons)- Women in tragedies: tragic heroines, but are destroyed by Women in tragedies: tragic heroines, but are destroyed by

own feminity (Medea)own feminity (Medea)- Goddesses not role models, as they often take on aspects Goddesses not role models, as they often take on aspects

of the male world (Athena, Artemis) of the male world (Athena, Artemis)

Women’s festivalsWomen’s festivals

Thesmophoria: Thesmophoria:

3 days (like Anthesteria), for aristocratic, married 3 days (like Anthesteria), for aristocratic, married women, under male supervision:women, under male supervision:

Day 1: Anodos Day 1: Anodos (Ascent): to sanctuary of Demeter, procession with pigs (victim of Demeter), antaphrodisiac plants symbolising temporary leaving of marriage (Danaids)Day 2: Nesteia (Fasting): reversal, cf. AnthesteriaDay 3: Kalligeneia (Beautiful Birth): pigs sacrificied, offerings to Kalligeneia

MaenadsMaenads Eating raw meat, ecstatic dance, walking bare Eating raw meat, ecstatic dance, walking bare

feet on hills, wear panther or deer skin, carry feet on hills, wear panther or deer skin, carry staff or thyrsusstaff or thyrsus

Followers of Dionysus; perhaps background in Followers of Dionysus; perhaps background in initiationinitiation

Euripides, Euripides, Bacchae Bacchae (Friday!)(Friday!) Effect: Leaving home and talking to other Effect: Leaving home and talking to other

women, religious experience, temporary escape women, religious experience, temporary escape from bonds of polis (cf. shamanism)from bonds of polis (cf. shamanism)

However: participation only of aristocracy, only However: participation only of aristocracy, only every other year, male supervisionevery other year, male supervision

TransformationsTransformations

From ca. 500 onwardsFrom ca. 500 onwards1.mystery cults (mysteria); features: secluded, initiation, hereaftera.Eleusinian mysteriesSanctuary of Demeter and Kore = PersephoneAutumn festival + initiationMyth: Demeter started cult after regaining daughter > ritual: gift of life = cornAgricultural > eschatological character after V

b. Orphism: Orpheus, starts ca. 500, connection b. Orphism: Orpheus, starts ca. 500, connection with Pythagoreanism and Bacchic riteswith Pythagoreanism and Bacchic rites

Interest in hereafter, vegetarianism, reincarnationInterest in hereafter, vegetarianism, reincarnation

Derveni papyrus (ca. 325 BCE): Theogony, central Derveni papyrus (ca. 325 BCE): Theogony, central text in Orphic mystery cultstext in Orphic mystery cults

First movement in which holy books become First movement in which holy books become centralcentral

Tickets to the underworld: initiatory or funerary?Tickets to the underworld: initiatory or funerary?

Important in Hellenistic/Late Antique periodsImportant in Hellenistic/Late Antique periods

Derveni papyrus

Compare with ‘normal’ Compare with ‘normal’ Greek religion: what are the Greek religion: what are the

differences?differences?

1.1. Exclusivity instead of inclusiveness Exclusivity instead of inclusiveness of Greek religionof Greek religion

2.2. Private initiation instead of Private initiation instead of openness/communal character of openness/communal character of Greek religionGreek religion

3.3. Afterlife vs. here and nowAfterlife vs. here and now

4.4. Focus on one godFocus on one god

5.5. Holy books vs. oral characterHoly books vs. oral character

Other transformations (than Other transformations (than 1. mysteries):1. mysteries):

2. Increasing criticism/blurring of gods2. Increasing criticism/blurring of gods

3. New gods: Asklepios (ca. 425), Cybele, 3. New gods: Asklepios (ca. 425), Cybele, Adonis, Bendis: ecstatic, private pietyAdonis, Bendis: ecstatic, private piety

4. Preference for one god: ‘Lord’ vs. 4. Preference for one god: ‘Lord’ vs. ‘servants, slaves’, Dionysus becomes ‘servants, slaves’, Dionysus becomes ‘Saviour’ (characteristic of Hellenistic ‘Saviour’ (characteristic of Hellenistic period)period)

5. Private cults: Brasidas (foreshadowing 5. Private cults: Brasidas (foreshadowing of Hellenistic ruler cult)of Hellenistic ruler cult)

Kaineus mythKaineus myth