`From the North-west corner of the Agora to the Acropolis`. Discuss the spatial sequence that would have been experienced by participants in the great panathenaic procession of 424 BC

The Panathenaic Festival

Between 500 and 400 B .C . there existed a great nation called Greece Its impressive attributes - of its citizens , philosophers and military leaders combined - can still be felt today especially in the Western World where the essence of its ideals rest . And within its bs one can find one of the most , if not the most culturally advanced city in the world - Athens , home of the goddess Athena

Every year , ancient Greece proclaims their love and respect for Athena by participating in religious ceremonies and other traditional activities

. But once every four years the celebration turns grand and it was known as the Panathenaic Festival , a celebration whose complexity cost , and significance is still as awe inspiring today as it was thousands of years ago

This will take a closer look at the Panathenaic festival celebrated in ancient Greece in the 5th century BC . This study will also look at the major components of the festival such as the Panathenaic way - the major roadway used for the procession the games the music animal sacrifice and of course the feasting that followed

Athens

According to Paul Hellander , the acropolis , .was first inhabited in Neolithic times . The first temples were built during the Mycenaean era in homage to the goddess Athena . but in 510 BC the Delphic oracle declared that it should be the province of the gods ' Piety , it seems is the simple explanation for the festival and the sacred procession

But W .S . Davis asserts that there is another reason , Theseus one of its distinguished rulers decided to institute the festival as a way of celebrating the unity in the land , .an ever fortunate union , which saved the land from the sorrowful feuds of hostile hamlets ' It will be shown later that the games and other activities will show that indeed the festival is more than a religious obligation

The Festival

There are actually two festivals : .the Lesser Panathenaic Festival took place annually on Athena 's birthday , and the Great Panathenaic Festival was held on every fourth anniversary of the goddess ' birth The purpose of the festival is to honor the goddess that watches over the city . The event probably lasted a week

Based on inscriptions found at the site , historians are now able to ascertain that , during the first few days of the festival , the musical competition would have been held in the odeion . Historical data can also be found in earthenware , Vase representations of musical on Panathenaic amphoras . attest to musical competitions earlier than the mid-fifth century . The musical categories included singing and recitation by rhapsodes

On days four and five it would be athletics events . Then on the sixth day , horse races will be the main attraction . Aside from the usual horse and chariot races , there were , in the words of one writer , .numerous additional and unusual equestrian contests : races for war horses javelin-throwing from horseback , a mounted torch race , and a mock cavalry battle ' To have an...