Weaving for Athena: The Arrhephoroi, Panathenaia, and Mundane Acts as Religious Devotion

TY - JOUR

T1 - Weaving for Athena

T2 - The Arrhephoroi, Panathenaia, and Mundane Acts as Religious Devotion

AU - Mackin Roberts, Ellie

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - This article examines the young girls aged between seven and eleven year old who are elected to serve in the cult of Athena Polias, patron deity of Athens, in the classical period (roughly 5 th century, BC). I look at the creation of the dress given to Athena at the yearly Panathenaia festival, the creation of which is the main activity of their year-long tenure on the Acropolis. I argue that though the participation in the making of this dress, these young girls exhibit discernible belief in the goddess and in the practice of preparing and making the dress means we can move towards an understanding not just of haptic practice, but also of haptic belief.

AB - This article examines the young girls aged between seven and eleven year old who are elected to serve in the cult of Athena Polias, patron deity of Athens, in the classical period (roughly 5 th century, BC). I look at the creation of the dress given to Athena at the yearly Panathenaia festival, the creation of which is the main activity of their year-long tenure on the Acropolis. I argue that though the participation in the making of this dress, these young girls exhibit discernible belief in the goddess and in the practice of preparing and making the dress means we can move towards an understanding not just of haptic practice, but also of haptic belief.

M3 - Article

SN - 1748-7811

VL - 12

SP - 61

JO - Journal of Hellenic Religion

JF - Journal of Hellenic Religion

ER -