Английская Википедия:Basilinna
Шаблон:For The basilinna (Шаблон:Lang-grc-gre) or basilissa (Шаблон:Lang), both titles meaning "queen", was a ceremonial position in the religion of ancient Athens, held by the wife of the archon basileus. The role dated to the time when Athens was ruled by kings, and their wives acted as priestesses (Hiereiai).Шаблон:Sfn The duties of the basilinna are described in the pseudo-Demosthenic speech Against Neaira,Шаблон:Sfn which is the main source of evidence about the position.Шаблон:Sfn
The laws which set out the qualifications for a basilinna were inscribed on a stele which stood in the sanctuary of Dionysus at Limnai. She was expected to be of Athenian birth and not previously married,Шаблон:Sfn though Noel Robertson argues that these requirements may have been ignored as inconvenient.Шаблон:Sfn
The most important duty of the basilinna appears to have been taking part in a sacred ritual marriage to the god Dionysus as part of the Anthesteria. This ceremony seems to have taken place at the Boukoleion, near the Prytaneion.Шаблон:Sfn Most scholars consider that this would have happened on the second day of the festival ("Choes").Шаблон:Sfn However, Robertson suggests that it in fact happened on the first day of the festival ("Pithoigia").Шаблон:Sfn Ludwig Deubner has proposed a full reconstruction of the ceremony, in which Dionysus was taken in a procession to the sanctuary at Limnai and married to the basilinna; both the basilinna and Dionysus were then taken in a wedding procession to the Boukoleion, where the marriage was consummated, with the archon basileus playing the part of Dionysus.Шаблон:Sfn
The basilinna was also responsible for administering an oath to the gerarai, women priests apparently appointed by the archon basileus.Шаблон:Sfn This took place on the second day of the Anthesteria, and Robertson argues that it must have taken place after the wedding.Шаблон:Sfn
References
Works cited
Further reading
- Otto, Walter F. Dionysus, Myth and Cult. Spring Publications (1989). Шаблон:ISBN
