Goddess and Polis

Jenifer Neils

While the Olympics, because of their modern revival, enjoy the greatest fame today, in ancient Greece other religious festivals were equally elaborate and impressive spectacles. This work is devoted to the Panathenaia, the most significant of these festivals to be held in ancient Athens. Founded in 566 BC, this complex ritual performed of the goddess Athena vied with other Greek festivals in grandeur and importance and was particularly distinguished by the works of art commissioned in its service. Among these were the painted vases known as Panathenaia amphoras, each of which contained 40 litres of olive oil, awarded to athletic and equestrian victors. The contests depicted on these vases are the best extant illustrations of Greek sport. Although women were excluded from the competitions, they had an important role to play in the weaving of the peplos, an elaborate textile that took...

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