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Hiera Orgas

April 15, 2024

The 'Hiera Orgas' (Ancient Greek: ἱερὰ ὀργάς), meaning ‘sacred meadow’, was a site which featured in at least two conflicts between Athens and Megara.[1]

Identification edit

 
IG II3 1, 292, stele erected by the Athenians in 352/1 BC outlining the procedure taken in seeking advice from Delphi concerning the cultivation of a tract of sacred land (the Hiera Orgas) situated on the frontier between Athens and Megara.

The Hiera Orgas was a circular, fertile area of land sacred to the Eleusinian goddesses, Demeter and Persephone. It was probably situated on the Megarian side of the Northern reaches of the Iapis River in the borderland between Athens and Megara.[2]

As no boundary markers (ὅρος|ὅροι) have survived, it is not possible to be more specific. Its location between the two states meant that control of the site was always going to be controversial. Megara and Athens had a history of territorial conflict dating back to the sixth century BC, including armed conflict over the island of Salamis.[3]

Restrictions on the use of sacred land edit

Prohibitions on the use of sacred land outside the cities, similar to the Orgas, were common in Greek states (poleis) throughout the Classical period. A range of laws and customs protected the integrity of many country sites from deliberate or accidental contamination by people and livestock.[4] The Athenians seem to have considered it to be a sacred precinct (temenos), which deserved to be kept inviolate and protected under religious law. This view does not seem to have been shared by the Megarians. The Athenians, at least, deemed the cultivation of the Hiera Orgas as a distinct religious pollution (miasma), which, if left unresolved, would anger the gods and, therefore, compromise the ongoing fertility and wellbeing of the state itself. The geographer and antiquarian, Pausanias (3.4.5-6), reported a late tradition in which the Spartan king, Cleomenes, was said to have defiled the Orgas. According to the tradition, for his act of impiety, Cleomenes was punished by the gods with madness.[5]

Significance in the Peloponnesian War edit

Thucydides (1.139.2) and Plutarch (Pericles, 30.2) record that the cultivation of the Hiera Orgas by a number of Megarians was one of the complaints cited by the Athenians to justify the implementation of the Megarian exclusion decree, which, in turn, became one of the main causes of the Peloponnesian War. There has been considerable debate over the etiology of the war and the genuineness, or otherwise, of the Athenian response to protect the integrity of the Hiera Orgas by excluding Megarians from all ports and markets under Athenian control in 432 BC.[6] The Megarians, themselves, are not recorded as having denied the accusation, but their ambassadors did complain of the severity of the Athenian response.

It is possible that Pericles used the dispute for his own political purposes, but the success of his public stance in protecting the Hiera Orgas, serves to demonstrate the significance of the religious considerations at play in the dispute.

Fourth-century dispute edit

Athens and Megara came into conflict over the Hiera Orgas again in 350/49 BC. This time, there appeared to be no clear political context to bring into question Athenian motives.

The orator, Demosthenes (13.32) provided the earliest record of the recurrence of the dispute. He describes the Megarians as ‘accursed’ (karatoi) for their impious encroachment upon the Orgas. Shortly afterwards, the Athenian Assembly voted to settle the matter by seeking independent arbitration from Apollo’s oracle at Delphi.[7] The Athenians stipulated complex and expensive arrangements for determining the will of Apollo concerning the site.[8] According to the inscription (pictured), which recorded the process, Apollo was given the choice between two inscribed tin sheets concerning the question of the cultivation of the Hiera Orgas.[9] These sheets were rolled and wrapped in wool before being placed into a bronze ballot-urn. The two identical sealed packages were then placed into separate pitchers; one gold, one silver. The Pythia was then asked to choose between them on behalf of the god. Apollo’s decision would then be inscribed on a stele. As it turned out, Delphi decided that no cultivation be permitted.

The Megarians seem to have been unimpressed and persisted with their encroachments. The Athenians sent a force under the general, Ephialtes, to delimit the site and its hinterland and to enforce the god’s decision.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ H.G. Liddell, R. Scott and H.S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon, (sixth ed.) Oxford, 1869, p. 1245.
  2. ^ J. McDonald, ‘Athens and the Hiera Orgas’ in M. Dillon (ed.), Religion in the Ancient World: New Approaches and Themes, Amsterdam, 1996, pp. 321-323. Cf. J. Ober, Fortress Attica: Defense of the Athenian Land Frontier, 404-322 BC, Mnemosyne, supplement 84, p. 108 (with the map on p. 208).
  3. ^ A. French, ‘Solon and the Megarian Question’, Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 77 (1957), pp. 238–246; G.L. Cawkwell, "Anthemocritus and the Megarians and the Decree of Charinus", REG, vol. 82 (1969), pp. 331–332.
  4. ^ J.W. Hewitt, ‘The Major Restrictions upon Access to Greek Temples’ TAPhA, vol. 40 (1909), pp. 83–91; R. Parker, Miasma: Pollution and Purification in Early Greek Religion, Oxford, 1983, pp. 163–164; J. McDonald, ‘Athens and the Hiera Orgas’ in M. Dillon (ed.), Religion in the Ancient World: New Approaches and Themes, Amsterdam, 1996, pp. 324–328.
  5. ^ J. McDonald, ‘Athens and the Hiera Orgas’ in M. Dillon (ed.), Religion in the Ancient World: New Approaches and Themes, Amsterdam, 1996, p. 328.
  6. ^ E.g. the competing views of G.E.M. de Ste. Croix (The Origins of the Peloponnesian War, London, 1972, pp. 285–289.), K. Völkl, (‘Das Megarische Pephisma’, RhM, vol. 94 (1951) pp. 330–336) and R.P. Legon (Megara: the Political History of a Greek City-state to 336 BC, Ithaca, 1981, pp. 224–225).
  7. ^ G.D. Rocchi, ‘La Hiera Orgas e la Frontiera Attico-Megarica’ in Instituto di Storia Antica, Cisalpino, 1987, pp. 98-99.
  8. ^ P. Amandry, La Mantique Apollinenne à Delphes, New York, 1975, pp. 151-153; J. McDonald, ‘Athens and the Hiera Orgas’ in M. Dillon (ed.), Religion in the Ancient World: New Approaches and Themes, Amsterdam, 1996, pp. 328-332.
  9. ^ The inscription is Inscriptiones Graecae II3 1, no. 292.
  10. ^ G.L. Cawkwell, ‘Anthemocritus and the Megarians and the Decree of Charinus’, REG, vol. 82 (1969), p. 331.

Bibliography edit

  • Engen, D. (1999). "IG II2 204 and On Organization (Dem. ? 13): The Dispute over the Sacred Orgas of Eleusis and the Chronology of Philip of Macedon." In". In Mellor, R.; Tritle, L. (eds.). Text and Tradition. Studies in Greek History and Historiography in honor of Mortimer Chambers. Claremont. pp. 135–52.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Scafuro, A. (2003). "IG II2 204: Boundary Setting and Legal Process in Classical Athens". In Thür, G.; Nieto, F.J.F. (eds.). Symposion 1999 : Vorträge zur griechischen und hellenistischen Rechtsgeschichte (Pazo de Mariñán, La Coruña, 6.–9. September 1999). Cologne. pp. 123–43.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Matthaiou, Angelos P. (2021). Mackil, E. M.; Papazarkadas, N. (eds.). Greek epigraphy and religion : papers in memory of Sara B. Aleshire from the Second North American Congress of Greek and Latin Epigraphy. Leiden: Brill. pp. 71–89. ISBN 978-90-04-44254-2.

External links edit

  • "IG II3 1, 292: On the boundaries of the sacred tract, translation and notes". Attic Inscriptions Online. Retrieved 24 January 2023.

April 15, 2024
hiera, orgas, ancient, greek, ἱερὰ, ὀργάς, meaning, sacred, meadow, site, which, featured, least, conflicts, between, athens, megara, contents, identification, restrictions, sacred, land, significance, peloponnesian, fourth, century, dispute, references, bibli. The Hiera Orgas Ancient Greek ἱerὰ ὀrgas meaning sacred meadow was a site which featured in at least two conflicts between Athens and Megara 1 Contents 1 Identification 2 Restrictions on the use of sacred land 3 Significance in the Peloponnesian War 4 Fourth century dispute 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksIdentification edit nbsp IG II3 1 292 stele erected by the Athenians in 352 1 BC outlining the procedure taken in seeking advice from Delphi concerning the cultivation of a tract of sacred land the Hiera Orgas situated on the frontier between Athens and Megara The Hiera Orgas was a circular fertile area of land sacred to the Eleusinian goddesses Demeter and Persephone It was probably situated on the Megarian side of the Northern reaches of the Iapis River in the borderland between Athens and Megara 2 As no boundary markers ὅros ὅroi have survived it is not possible to be more specific Its location between the two states meant that control of the site was always going to be controversial Megara and Athens had a history of territorial conflict dating back to the sixth century BC including armed conflict over the island of Salamis 3 Restrictions on the use of sacred land editProhibitions on the use of sacred land outside the cities similar to the Orgas were common in Greek states poleis throughout the Classical period A range of laws and customs protected the integrity of many country sites from deliberate or accidental contamination by people and livestock 4 The Athenians seem to have considered it to be a sacred precinct temenos which deserved to be kept inviolate and protected under religious law This view does not seem to have been shared by the Megarians The Athenians at least deemed the cultivation of the Hiera Orgas as a distinct religious pollution miasma which if left unresolved would anger the gods and therefore compromise the ongoing fertility and wellbeing of the state itself The geographer and antiquarian Pausanias 3 4 5 6 reported a late tradition in which the Spartan king Cleomenes was said to have defiled the Orgas According to the tradition for his act of impiety Cleomenes was punished by the gods with madness 5 Significance in the Peloponnesian War editThucydides 1 139 2 and Plutarch Pericles 30 2 record that the cultivation of the Hiera Orgas by a number of Megarians was one of the complaints cited by the Athenians to justify the implementation of the Megarian exclusion decree which in turn became one of the main causes of the Peloponnesian War There has been considerable debate over the etiology of the war and the genuineness or otherwise of the Athenian response to protect the integrity of the Hiera Orgas by excluding Megarians from all ports and markets under Athenian control in 432 BC 6 The Megarians themselves are not recorded as having denied the accusation but their ambassadors did complain of the severity of the Athenian response It is possible that Pericles used the dispute for his own political purposes but the success of his public stance in protecting the Hiera Orgas serves to demonstrate the significance of the religious considerations at play in the dispute Fourth century dispute editAthens and Megara came into conflict over the Hiera Orgas again in 350 49 BC This time there appeared to be no clear political context to bring into question Athenian motives The orator Demosthenes 13 32 provided the earliest record of the recurrence of the dispute He describes the Megarians as accursed karatoi for their impious encroachment upon the Orgas Shortly afterwards the Athenian Assembly voted to settle the matter by seeking independent arbitration from Apollo s oracle at Delphi 7 The Athenians stipulated complex and expensive arrangements for determining the will of Apollo concerning the site 8 According to the inscription pictured which recorded the process Apollo was given the choice between two inscribed tin sheets concerning the question of the cultivation of the Hiera Orgas 9 These sheets were rolled and wrapped in wool before being placed into a bronze ballot urn The two identical sealed packages were then placed into separate pitchers one gold one silver The Pythia was then asked to choose between them on behalf of the god Apollo s decision would then be inscribed on a stele As it turned out Delphi decided that no cultivation be permitted The Megarians seem to have been unimpressed and persisted with their encroachments The Athenians sent a force under the general Ephialtes to delimit the site and its hinterland and to enforce the god s decision 10 References edit H G Liddell R Scott and H S Jones A Greek English Lexicon sixth ed Oxford 1869 p 1245 J McDonald Athens and the Hiera Orgas in M Dillon ed Religion in the Ancient World New Approaches and Themes Amsterdam 1996 pp 321 323 Cf J Ober Fortress Attica Defense of the Athenian Land Frontier 404 322 BC Mnemosyne supplement 84 p 108 with the map on p 208 A French Solon and the Megarian Question Journal of Hellenic Studies vol 77 1957 pp 238 246 G L Cawkwell Anthemocritus and the Megarians and the Decree of Charinus REG vol 82 1969 pp 331 332 J W Hewitt The Major Restrictions upon Access to Greek Temples TAPhA vol 40 1909 pp 83 91 R Parker Miasma Pollution and Purification in Early Greek Religion Oxford 1983 pp 163 164 J McDonald Athens and the Hiera Orgas in M Dillon ed Religion in the Ancient World New Approaches and Themes Amsterdam 1996 pp 324 328 J McDonald Athens and the Hiera Orgas in M Dillon ed Religion in the Ancient World New Approaches and Themes Amsterdam 1996 p 328 E g the competing views of G E M de Ste Croix The Origins of the Peloponnesian War London 1972 pp 285 289 K Volkl Das Megarische Pephisma RhM vol 94 1951 pp 330 336 and R P Legon Megara the Political History of a Greek City state to 336 BC Ithaca 1981 pp 224 225 G D Rocchi La Hiera Orgas e la Frontiera Attico Megarica in Instituto di Storia Antica Cisalpino 1987 pp 98 99 P Amandry La Mantique Apollinenne a Delphes New York 1975 pp 151 153 J McDonald Athens and the Hiera Orgas in M Dillon ed Religion in the Ancient World New Approaches and Themes Amsterdam 1996 pp 328 332 The inscription is Inscriptiones Graecae II3 1 no 292 G L Cawkwell Anthemocritus and the Megarians and the Decree of Charinus REG vol 82 1969 p 331 Bibliography editEngen D 1999 IG II2 204 and On Organization Dem 13 The Dispute over the Sacred Orgas of Eleusis and the Chronology of Philip of Macedon In In Mellor R Tritle L eds Text and Tradition Studies in Greek History and Historiography in honor of Mortimer Chambers Claremont pp 135 52 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Scafuro A 2003 IG II2 204 Boundary Setting and Legal Process in Classical Athens In Thur G Nieto F J F eds Symposion 1999 Vortrage zur griechischen und hellenistischen Rechtsgeschichte Pazo de Marinan La Coruna 6 9 September 1999 Cologne pp 123 43 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Matthaiou Angelos P 2021 Mackil E M Papazarkadas N eds Greek epigraphy and religion papers in memory of Sara B Aleshire from the Second North American Congress of Greek and Latin Epigraphy Leiden Brill pp 71 89 ISBN 978 90 04 44254 2 External links edit IG II3 1 292 On the boundaries of the sacred tract translation and notes Attic Inscriptions Online Retrieved 24 January 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hiera Orgas amp oldid 1178737269, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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