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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