Greek «calendars» and symbolic representation of the cosmic order : Seasonal rites for Demeter
Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.6, No.3, 2006, pages 121-127
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Pages:
121-127
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Articles
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Abstract:
Ancient Greeks made no use of a liturgical text in order to prescribe their annual religious time,since it was marked by diversity in month names between different cities and communities, as well asby a great number of individual festivals imposed in different periodical cycles, that in addition weresubject of continuous changes according to the city and histoncal penod. Those parameters produceextra difficulties in any attempt to reconstruct the date of specific festivals. We will deal with this questionthrough epigraphic evidence implying existence of festivals with movable dates, including seasonalntes celebrated in honor of Demeter and related deities. If some of these rites were actuallymobiles, and the moment of their celebration was changing from year to year, there must be surely animpact of this eventual fact in the study of the orientation of temples and sanctuaries associated tothose cults and their receivers.
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Keywords:
Greek religion, Festivals date, Movable rites
