Ancient Greek Ritual

[Arion]

I'm a bit confused about what is considered a "ritual" when it comes to ancient Greek religion, and what a typical ritual would have consisted of. I know there are specific ways to pray, make sacrifices to the gods, and whatnot, but what would happen in a full organized ritual? Is there a specific framework to go by?

[Fiamma]

I'm a bit confused about what is considered a "ritual" when it comes to ancient Greek religion, and what a typical ritual would have consisted of. I know there are specific ways to pray, make sacrifices to the gods, and whatnot, but what would happen in a full organized ritual? Is there a specific framework to go by?


I am momentarily without internet access at home, otherwise I'd offer to send you some of the stuff that I have on my computer, including a sample noumenia ritual

(I'm switching providers so it'll be a week or so but if you'd be interested in me doing that, PM me and i'll give you my email address. then you can send me a reminder to do so once i have net access again..)

in the meantime, check out http://sponde.com/ for some good starting points and resources.

[Arion]

I am momentarily without internet access at home, otherwise I'd offer to send you some of the stuff that I have on my computer, including a sample noumenia ritual

(I'm switching providers so it'll be a week or so but if you'd be interested in me doing that, PM me and i'll give you my email address. then you can send me a reminder to do so once i have net access again..)

in the meantime, check out http://sponde.com/ for some good starting points and resources.

Thanks, that would be great! I'll check out that site too.

[ModernKnight]

I'm a bit confused about what is considered a "ritual" when it comes to ancient Greek religion, and what a typical ritual would have consisted of. I know there are specific ways to pray, make sacrifices to the gods, and whatnot, but what would happen in a full organized ritual? Is there a specific framework to go by?

Quite frankly, in many cases we don't know. Most types of full rituals like that were considered secret and were never recorded. The Eleusinian Mysteries were considered one of the most important of the cults in classic Greece, but we have only the most sketchy details of what the rites involved. Check Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleusian_Mysteries) for the few details that have survived. For other cultic practices, we know even less.

[Arion]

Good point, ModernKnight. I wonder what modern Hellenics use to reconstruct the rites.

[Fiamma]

Good point, ModernKnight. I wonder what modern Hellenics use to reconstruct the rites.

Walter Burkert's Greek Religion is one source of info for several folks that I know. That's the primary source of info for the one ritual that I have.

I know I had a really decent booklist around, it *might* be in my email. If I can find it, I'll post ithere.

Things like the mysteries are impossible to really reconstruct, but say, offertory rituals (a libation, for example) are much easier. Heck, a libatrion can be as simple as pouring some water on the ground and offering a prayer to the god/s of your choice.

[Arion]

Walter Burkert's Greek Religion is one source of info for several folks that I know. That's the primary source of info for the one ritual that I have.
I'm still working my way through that book :lol:

Things like the mysteries are impossible to really reconstruct, but say, offertory rituals (a libation, for example) are much easier. Heck, a libatrion can be as simple as pouring some water on the ground and offering a prayer to the god/s of your choice.
Haha, very true. Are there longer, more formal rituals practiced by Hellenics, or are they usually as simple as that?