Download Subject: Greek Drama Attributed to: Literature Humanities Instructor

Subject: Greek Drama
Attributed to: Literature Humanities Instructor Staff
Date: Electronic Version, August 1998
Herodotus: Glossary
anagnorisis. Recognition, a term used by Aristotle an’d modern scholars to designate the
denouement in a Greek tragedy
anakalupteria The unveiling, the part of the Greek wedding ceremony when the veil of
the bride is lifted up for the first time
Anthesteria. "Festival of the Flowers" at Athens and other Ionian cities, celebrating,
among other things, the new vintage and the annual marriage of Dionysus and the
basilinna; it comprises three days: the Pithoigia ("Opening of the Wine Jars"), the Choes
("Feast of the Cups"), and the Chytroi ("Feast of the Pots")
aoroi The untimely dead, a term usually applied to children who died before their time
and were believed to linger about and haunt their survivors
appas. Foster father of Dionysus, and subsequently the title of a cult official in Dionysiac
cult in Magnesia
arkhimustes. Leader of the initiates at the mysteries
Atthidographers. Hellenistic historians of the city of Athens and of Attica, the territory
that encompassed it
Bacchus. "The Frenzied One," an epithet or alternate name for Dionysus in Greece, as
well as the wine god in Italy
bakkhai. Female worshipers of Dionysus
bakkheia. Wild frenzy or revelry that was essential to the maenadic worship of Dionysus
bakkheion. A term used in Dionysiac cult inscriptions to refer to a Bacchic organization
or to the building used by that organization for its meetings
bakkhoi. A generic term for worshipers of Dionysus
basileus. King; one of the nine archons (elected public administrators of Athens), who
played a central role (allegedly performed by the king in the monarchic era) in important
civic festivals
basilinna. Queen; the wife of the "king" archon, who played a central role (allegedly
performed by the queen in the monarchic era) in important Athenian festivals, especially
in the Anthesteria, where she was escorted as a bride and was "married" to Dionysus
boukolos. Cowherd, a term for a Bacchic initiate
Bromius. "The Boisterous One," an epithet or alternate name for Dionysus caduceus.
Staff or scepter, especially the one carried by Hermes in his role as the messenger god
cantharus. High-handled drinking cup associated with Dionysus and often seen in the
god’s right hand in vase paintings
catharsis. Cleansing or purification, a term used by Aristotle and modern scholars to
designate the positive effect that the performance of a Greek tragedy has in purging
destructive emotions
chiton. Linen gown or tunic worn by both men and women Choes. "Feast of the
Pitchers," the second day of the Anthesteria chthonian. Epithet of divine powers who
belong to the earth or the underworld cithara. A kind of lyre with seven strings, played by
professional musicians claritas et distinctio. Clearness and distinctness, the formulation of
the Cartesian test of truth, criticized and developed by Leibniz
corymbus. Cluster of ivy berries, a symbol or token of Dionysus or his devotees cothurni.
Leather buskins of the type worn by actors in performances of Greek tragedies
Dionysia. Various festivals of Dionysus at which the god was celebrated with dramatic
performances; the Greater or City Dionysia were held at Athens in the spring in honor of
Dionysus Eleuthereus, while the Lesser or Country Dionysia were held in the various
demes in the autumn
Dionysiastai. Members of a private religious association devoted to the worship of
Dionysus
dromena Actions (of a ritual), as opposed to words ependutes. Overgarment, usually a
tunic or a robe
epiphany. The self-revelation of a Greek god appearing in human form euhoi.
Characteristic ritual cry of bakkhai or maenads
euias (pl. euiades). Rare term for a female follower of Dionysus Faliscan. Pottery made at
Falerii, an Etruscanized city near Rome (Latium) genos. Race, clan, or family
Genucilia plate. A particular type of pottery made at or near Rome herm. A semi-iconic
image, usually of the god Hermes, consisting of a plain shaft surmounted by a head;
sometimes a phallus is affixed to the shaft as well hetaira (pl. hetairai).
Courtesan, usually a slave or a noncitizen woman hierophant. Priest of the mysteries who
revealed the sacred tokens hieros gamos. Sacred marriage, a religious celebration
enacting the wedding of a divine couple, usually Zeus and Hera
himation. Outer garment or cloak worn over the chiton
hubris. Overweening pride in one’s strength or accomplishments, or wanton violence
arising from such pride
hupotrophos. Nurse of Dionysus, and subsequently the title of a cult official in Dionysiac
cult in Magnesia
hydria. Large jar, used by women to carry water
hyporcheme. Form of choral lyric found in Greek tragedy, originally performed with
dances in honor of Apollo or Artemis
initiation. Ritual procedure marking a transition in the life course or admission into a
civic, social, or family group
Iobakkhoi. Worshipers of Dionysus connected with the festival of the Iobakkheia
kalaurops. Cowherd’s crook (see boukolos), a symbol or token of Dionysus or his
devotees
kentron. Goad or sharp point
khous (pl. khoes). Special pitcher used for drinking wine which gives its name to the
second day of the Anthesteria festival at Athens, Choes
kiste Basket or hamper used in Dionysiac processions to carry secret tokens komos
Revel, merrymaking, or a band of revelers
krater. Large bowl used to mix wine and water together at the Greek symposium
kredemnon Woman’s headdress or veil that is loosened and lifted during the wedding
ceremony
krokotos Saffron-dyed, Eastern style of dress or robe worn by Dionysus in Aristophanes’
play The Frogs
lekane. A flat, heavy dish with handles and a lid
lekythos. Small flask, usually used to hold valuable oils and ointments
Lenaia. Festival of Dionysus celebrated with dramatic and other competitions at the
Lenaion, a sanctuary to the west of the Athenian acropolis
lex sacra (pl. leges sacrae). A religious statute (usually inscribed on stone and erected m a
public space) that stipulates calendrical sacrifices and other ritual measures for a city,
sanctuary, or religious organization
liknon. Special basket used for winnowing grain and carrying infants
lusis. Deliverance or release, in the context of mystery cults usually indicating a release
from trials and tribulations both in this world and in the next
lussa. Rage or fury
maenad Mad woman, a term frequently used to describe a female votary of Dionysus
maenadism. A modern term used to describe the ritual behavior of the ecstatic female
followers of Dionysus in myth and in cult
makarismos (pl. makarismoi). Blessing pronounced at the wedding celebration mania,
madness or ecstasy
maya. magic or nature, a Sanskrit term used by Hindus and subsequently by historians of
religions to indicate the power by which the phenomenal world is manifested or created
metabole. Transition or transformation, a general term used by Aristotle in his discussion
of Greek tragedy to indicate a class of important transitions, the two most important
being the anagnorisis and the peripeteia
mimesis. Imitation or representation, a Greek philosophical term used to describe how a
work of art imitates or represents reality
musteria. The mysteries, secret cults presupposing initiation mustes (pl. mustai). An
initiate into a mystery cult
Nysa. The mountain where the infant Dionysus was raised by nymphs; also the name of
the wet nurse and foster mother of Dionysus
oikos. Home or household
oinochoe. Small pitcher used for ladling or pouring wine
olbos. Prosperity or happiness, in the context of mystery cults usually indicating a muchcoveted state of bliss or well-being both in this world and the next
omophagy or Omophagia. The ritual consumption of raw flesh described in mythical
accounts of maenadism
omphalos. Navel or center point of the world, said by the Greeks to be located at Apollo’s
Delphic sanctuary
oreibasia. Wandering or dancing on the mountain, part of a biennial maenadic ritual
orgia. Secret rites or worship practiced by the initiated in ancient mystery cults
Orphika. A body of poems said to have been composed by the legendary singer Orpheus
Orphikoi. Followers of Orpheus or his doctrines
palmes. Young shoot of the grapevine, a symbol or token of Dionysus or his devotees
paterfamilias. The head of the ancient Roman family, who had extraordinary absolute
power and authority over his own and his sons’ families
peripeteia. Sudden change or downfall, a term used by Aristotle and modern scholars to
designate an unexpected reversal of fortune experienced by the protagonist of a Greek
tragedy
petasos. Broad-brimmed hat worn by travelers and by Hermes, the patron deity of
travelers
phallagogein. Cart used to carry the phallus in processions in honor of Dionysus poliadic.
Tutelary, having to do with the protection of the polis
polis. City-state, the basic political unit in classical Greece
pompe (pl. pompai). Solemn procession to or from a god’s temple during a religious
festival
psukhe. The spirit or immortal soul of a human being
Pythia Priestess and prophetess of Pythian Apollo at Delphi
ritualistic. An adjective used to designate a modern theoretical approach that defines
myth as a derivation from ritual
Rosalia. Roman festival during which the graves of the dead were decorated with roses
sacramentalism. The mentality or theme of the Christian rite of communion
satyr. Horse-human hybrid, a frequent companion of Dionysus who is prone to
cowardice, wine drinking, and sexual license
scapegoat. Sacrificial victim (sometimes human) that is driven out of a community in the
belief that it takes along the community’s ills with it
silenus. Satyr, usually an old one
soma. Body, as opposed to soul (psukhe)
soteria. Deliverance or preservation, in the context of mystery cults usually indicating
safety from trials and tribulations both in this world and in the next
sparagmos. Ritual dismemberment of animals and humans, described in mythic accounts
of maenadic ritual
speira. Organization of worshipers, usually (but not always) worshipers of Dionysus
speirarkhos. The leader of a speira
splanchna. Innards (e.g., heart, lungs, liver) of sacrificial animals, which were ritually
cooked and tasted by the sacrificers
stole. Sacred or otherwise special vestment or equipment worn or used by those
participating in solemn rituals or public performances
sumbolon (pl. sumbola) Token or sign (usually of deep religious significance), carried
and revealed to initiates during the orgia of mystery cults
summustes. A fellow initiate in the mysteries
technites (pl. technitai). Skilled artisan, expert; often (in a Dionysiac context) a theatrical
artist
telestes (pl. telestai). Expert in the rites (teletai) of the mysteries telete (pl. teletai). Rite,
especially one of initiation into the mysteries temenos. Sacred precinct, usually the land
surrounding a temple or sanctuary
theomachos. A hubristic person who foolishly fights against a god (e.g., Pentheus)
theophagy. Consumption of a divine being or substance
Thesmophoric. Having to do with the Thesmophoria, a women’s festival of Demeter
thiasos. Company or troop of worshipers, usually of maenads but also referring to less
exotic religious clubs or institutions
thuias (pl. thuiades). Raving woman, a generic term for a maenad who worships at Delphi
thusia. Burnt offering, a sacrifice of incense or meat that is burnt for the gods on their
altars
thyrsus. Wand or staff consisting of a fennel stalk (narthex) with ivy leaves attached at
the top; frequently handled by Dionysus and his followers in their processions and dances
Titans. Divine beings of an early generation of gods; in one myth they appear as the
enemies of the infant Dionysus, whom they kill and dismember
tumpanon. Type of drum or tambourine, often carried by worshipers of Dionysus or of
Cybele
xenia. The ritual hospitality shown toward a guest and the permanent state of friendly
relations that is created as a result
xenos. Outsider or stranger, but also a guest, who by virtue of the display of ritual
hospitality (xenia) becomes a permanent friend