@AimeeMaroux@mastodon.socialToday would be the start of the #Panathenaia, a festival honouring #Athena. The festival would begin with a banquet in the Agora of Athens, where meat would be cut up to be distributed using a ceremonial kopis, a heavy knife. The Panathenaic Games, competitions in honour of Athena, start with the…
@AimeeMaroux@mastodon.socialAthletic events at the #Panathenaia were held in three age categories: boys from 12-16 years of age, ephebes / youths of 16-20 years and men over 20. Today, on day 3 of the Panathenaia, the athletic competitions for the men would have been held. This year is a year of the "Lesser Panathenaia" or Panathenaia ta Mikra, so I am not certain how long the Games were during the Lesser Panathenaia. Since it's still a 7 day event, maybe the competitors were just from Athens?
#ancientGreece #paganism
@AimeeMaroux@mastodon.socialA torch race was run by Athenians only, a contest of single runners carrying torches lit from the fire on the altar of Eros in the Academy outside the Dipylon Gate. They raced two miles uphill to the Acropolis. The first runner to arrive with his torch still alight was the winner and his torch was used to light the fire to burn the sacrifices.
Other athletic events included foot-race (stadion), pentathlon, wrestling, boxing and pankration.
📸 #Panathenaia #paganism
