Gerarai
Encyclopedia
Gerarai were priestesses of Dionysus
(Bacchus to the Romans
) in ancient Greek
ritual. They presided over sacrifices and participated in the festivals of Theoinia and Iobaccheia that took place during the month of Anthesteria
, among other duties. Fourteen in all, they were either sworn in by the Athenian Basilinna
or the Archon Basileus
(either the queen or king). One of their primary duties during the Anthesteria was to assist in performing the sacred marriage rites of the queen to Dionysus, and thus held to secrecy. According to a folk etymology, they were called Gerarai, from the Greek word γηράσκω - gerasko "I grow old", because older women were chosen for the role.
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
(Bacchus to the Romans
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
) in ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
ritual. They presided over sacrifices and participated in the festivals of Theoinia and Iobaccheia that took place during the month of Anthesteria
Anthesteria
Anthesteria, one of the four Athenian festivals in honour of Dionysus , was held annually for three days, the eleventh to thirteenth of the month of Anthesterion ; it was preceded by the Lenaia...
, among other duties. Fourteen in all, they were either sworn in by the Athenian Basilinna
Basilinna
Basilinna was the title of the wife of the Archon Basileus of ancient Athens. During the festival of Anthesteria, the basilinna was given as the ceremonial bride to Dionysus. She was attended to by the fourteen gerarai at this time...
or the Archon Basileus
Basileus
Basileus is a Greek term and title that has signified various types of monarchs in history. It is perhaps best known in English as a title used by the Byzantine Emperors, but also has a longer history of use for persons of authority and sovereigns in ancient Greece, as well as for the kings of...
(either the queen or king). One of their primary duties during the Anthesteria was to assist in performing the sacred marriage rites of the queen to Dionysus, and thus held to secrecy. According to a folk etymology, they were called Gerarai, from the Greek word γηράσκω - gerasko "I grow old", because older women were chosen for the role.
External links
- Bacchanalia
- The Anthesteria Bibliotheca Arcana (1997)
- The Anthesteria The Hellenic World (2002)
- Gerarai / The Fourteen The Advent of Dionysus (1997)
- Dionysos at Athens: Tragedy, Comedy, and Cult