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Financing of holidays in Athens of the second half of the 5th – early 4th centuries BC according to the lease agreements of temenos

https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6339-2024-1-12-21

Abstract

The article deals with the issue of financing festive ceremonies in ancient Athens in the middle of the 5th – early 4th centuries BC Epigraphic material is used as the main source – inscriptions dedicated to the leasing of sacred land plots (temenos). In ancient Greece, there were a large number of holidays that were held pompously. Judging by the information of ancient authors, data from archeology and epigraphy, a large expenditure of funds was spent on their conduct, which came from various sources. The analysis of the content of the inscriptions on the leasing of temenos suggests how festivals were financed in ancient Attica during the leasing of sacred lands. The analysis of the epigraphic data shows that, in accordance with the terms of the temenos lease agreements, landlords (demes, phratries and religious communities) ordered tenants to transfer funds to finance public celebrations (Panathenaea, Apaturia, Dionisii), as  well  as  for  local  holidays.  In  addition,  part  of  the  grown  crops  and  livestock  were  sent  to  the  solemn  sacrifices  that  accompanied  every  Greek  holiday.  The  receipt of those funds was monitored by officials of the Athens polis.

About the Author

E. V. Bulycheva
Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Federation

Elena V. Bulycheva,  Cand. of Sci. (History), associate professor

6, Miusskaya Sq., Moscow, 125047



References

1. Bulycheva, E.V. (2015), “The lease of temple lands and the financing of religious ceremonies in Attica in the 4th century B.C.”, RSUH/RGGU Bulletin. “History. Philology. Cultural Studies. Oriental Studies” Series, no. 9, pp. 9–17.

2. Bulycheva, E.V. (2018), Drevnyaya Attika v kontse V–IV vv. do n. e.: Rasporyazhenie obshchestvennoi zemlei v polise [Ancient Attica at the end of 5th – 4th centuries B.C. The disposal of public land in the polis], RGGU, Moscow, Russia.

3. Gvozdeva, T.B. (2013), “Prizes in Panathenaic games”, RUDN Journal of World History, no. 3, pp. 85–96.

4. Parke, H.W. (1986), Festivals of the Athenians, Cornell University Press, N ew York, USA.

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7. Skrjinskaya, M.V. (2010), Drevnegrecheskie prazdniki v Ellade i Severnom Prichernomor’e [Ancient Greek holidays in Hellas and the N orthern Black Sea region], Aleteyya, Saint Petersburg, Russia.


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For citations:


Bulycheva E.V. Financing of holidays in Athens of the second half of the 5th – early 4th centuries BC according to the lease agreements of temenos. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin Series "Political Science. History. International Relations". 2024;(1):12-21. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2073-6339-2024-1-12-21

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ISSN 2073-6339 (Print)