Erichthonius or Theseus, who established the Panathenaea?
- Authors: Gvozdeva T.B.1
-
Affiliations:
- Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)
- Issue: Vol 13, No 3 (2021): Ancient Greece and Rome: Politics and Economics
- Pages: 259-268
- Section: ECONOMY AND POLITICS OF ANCIENT GREECE
- URL: https://journals.rudn.ru/world-history/article/view/27320
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.22363/2312-8127-2021-13-3-259-268
Cite item
Full Text
Abstract
The sources know two versions of the establishing of Panathenaia, the main public holiday of the Athenian polis. The earliest version of aition of Panathenaia is associated with the history of the Athenian indigenous king Erichthonius. The son of Gaia and Hephaestus, Erichthonius was raised by the goddess Athena on the Acropolis, and after becoming king of Athens, he dedicated the feast of Panathenaia to the goddess. In the source, he is the first founder of the holiday. However, two types of Panathenaia were known in Athens: the Lesser Panathenaia, which were held annually, and the Greater Panathenaia, which, like the Olympic Games, were held every four years. Gradually, there appear pieces of new information about the history of the establishing of the Panathenaia in the mythological tradition. Now the authors distinguish two stages in the history of the feast, wherein the earlier one was called Athenaia. Gradually Erichthonius was relegated to the background, as founder Athenaeus, whereas the holiday got a new name - Panathenaia. This process was often associated with the synoekismus of Theseus, when he had united all the Athenians into one urban community. The cult of Theseus became especially popular in Athens after the reforms of Cleisthenes. Theseus' exploits are becoming a popular theme in Attic vase painting, especially scenes depicting the struggle, which Theseus was believed to be the founder of in Athens. At the same time, the program of the Panathenaic Games was expanding, the Panathenaia gradually acquired a supra-regional character.
About the authors
Tatiana Borisovna Gvozdeva
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)
Author for correspondence.
Email: tbgvozdeva@rambler.ru
PhD in History, Associate Professor of the Department of World History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
6 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow, 117198, RussiaReferences
- Deubner L. Attische Feste. Berlin, 1956.
- Davison JA. Notes of the Panathenaea. Journal of Hellenic Studies. 1958;(78):23–42.
- Gvozdeva TB. Pravo uchastija v Velikih Panafinejah [The right to participate in the Great Panathenaea]. Economics, law, and power in the Ancient World. Dedicated to the memory of V. I. Kuzishchin. St. Petersburg, 2021. P. 258–300.
- Robertson N. Festivals and Legends: the Formation of Greek Cities in the Light of Public Ritual. Phoenix. Suppl. Vol. 31. Toronto, 1992.
- Parker R. Polytheism and Society at Athens. Oxford, 2005.
- Shear JL. Polis and Panathenaia: the History and Development of Athena’s Festival: PhD. Ann Arbor, 2002.
- Neils J. The Panathenaia and Kleisthenic Ideology. The Archaeology of Athens and Attica under the Democracy. Oxford, 1994. P. 151–160.
- Zakharova IN. Cikl junosheskih podvigov Teseja v atticheskoj vazopisi VI–V vv. do n.je. [The cycle of Theseus’ youthful exploits in the Attic vase painting of the VI–V centuries BC.]. Bulletin of the RSUH. The Series “History. Philology. Cultural studies. Oriental Studies”. 2018;8(41). Part 2. P. 196–214.
- Schefold K. Kleisthenes. Der Anteil der Kunst an der Gestaltung des jungen attischen Freistaates. Museum Helveticum. 1946;(3):59–93.
- Hall JM. Politics and Greek Myth. The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology. Ed. R.D. Woodard. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. P. 331–54.
- Gvozdeva TB. Sostjazanie apobatov na Velikih Panafinejah [The contest of Apobates on the Great Panathenaea]. Ancient East and the Ancient World. 2002;(5):40–49.
- Lunt DJ. Athletes, heroes, and the quest for immortality in ancient Greece: PhD. Pennsylvania State University, 2010.